I WAS interested to read in Eric Zorn’s column in Tuesday’s Chicago Tribune that some of Steve Goodman’s ashes were scattered years ago in Wrigley Field.
It got me wondering if any huge fan of the Badgers has ever had himself, or herself, scattered for eternity in Camp Randall Stadium.
Over the last few weeks, Bret Bielemaâ??s thoughtless, harmful comments regarding the violent actions of UW Badger running back Lance Smith have made it perfectly clear where his priorities lie: The head football coach certainly doesnâ??t care about the devastation of domestic abuse when football is at stake.
Even a thousand feet above Camp Randall Stadium, the crash of two football players generates enough noise to put a smile on the face of blimp pilot Andrea Deyling.
The fifth-ranked Badgers play at Illinois at 11 a.m. Saturday and their defense continues to search for consistency, leadership and playmakers.
University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema is going to stop trying to joke with the media.
He blamed reporters on Monday for not having a sense of humor and understanding he was joking after the Michigan State game on Saturday, when he said cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu “called in sick today.”
I kept telling myself that Madison is different, that it wouldn’t happen at my alma mater.
But it did.
A perfect Saturday for college football turned nasty.
Some very dear friends of ours from the Quad-Cities and Mason City, Iowa, were in town to accompany my wife, Shannon, and me to the Badger game Saturday night against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The weather was too good to be true for the opening of the 2007 Big Ten season.
With time running out in the first half, University of Wisconsin wide receiver Kyle Jefferson ran a shallow crosser; a high percentage throw designed to create a mismatch in space. Releasing off the line of scrimmage, Jefferson came under the route of tight end Travis Beckum and worked his pattern, from right to left, across the middle of the field. Jefferson barely avoided contact with the umpire (Jim Krogstad) before catching the ball. As he turned up field, Jefferson was flattened by Michigan State strong safety Nehemiah Warrick (No. 3) who clearly led with his head, thus producing the impetus for a helmet-on-helmet collision.
What happened next should not have been open to interpretation during Saturday’s game at Camp Randall Stadium. Warrick’s hit was illegal and the Spartans should have been penalized 15 yards.
….University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said Friday that it’s getting easier to watch his Badgers play from the comfort of his director’s suite high above Camp Randall Stadium’s FieldTurf.
“Definitely easier, but it’s still hard,” said Alvarez, who roamed the UW sidelines from 1990 through 2005, after which he turned the head coaching duties over to his hand-picked successor, Bret Bielema.
Don’t misunderstand — Alvarez is not second-guessing his decision to change job titles.
I’ve got an idea for those Saturday night football games that are scheduled solely for the benefit of corporate television.
Since the games are aimed at nothing more than padding the bottom lines of the networks and the NCAA’s Division 1 schools, then what could be more fair than sending them the bills for the costs incurred by the cities in which the universities are located?
Why should Disney-owned ABC, the NCAA, the Big Ten and the UW’s athletic department, for example, make a bunch of extra bucks while the taxpayers of Madison pick up the tab for extra cops, overstaffed detox centers, and the dozens of other added costs that those late games in college cities require?
College sporting events are known for their pre-game drinking traditions, but the new “Show and Blow” program at UW-Madison may put a damper on the drinking before football games for some students.
The program, proposed by the Assistant Dean of Students Ervin Cox, was launched at last Saturday’s Big Ten opener against Iowa. Students who were previously ejected from or received drinking citations at Badger games are required to blow into a Portable Breathalyzer Test to prove their sobriety.
There won’t be nearly as many University of Wisconsin men’s hockey games available on satellite TV this season, but coach Mike Eaves says that’s not a huge issue for his team.
The UW television schedule released Wednesday shows nine games being broadcast by Fox Sports Net Wisconsin, down from 20 last season. Two additional Badgers games will be live on Big Ten Network, but the dropoff is still significant.
From the moment Nick Toon was born, destiny, if you will, told him that he was going to play football.
The adage is almost as old as ice: A national championship gets the proud recipient a trophy and a bull’s-eye on his or her back.
So what does that say about consecutive national championships? Is the answer twin bull’s-eyes or does the second championship nullify the bull’s-eye theory altogether?
That is the question facing the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team, back-to-back NCAA champion, as it opens its season with a two-game non-conference series at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., this weekend. As two-time champions, the Badgers understand they are going to get their opponents’ best games night in and night out.
For the third consecutive season, the two-time defending NCAA champion Wisconsin women’s hockey team will open the year as the preseason No. 1 team in the country.
After winning two consecutive NCAA championships, the Wisconsin womenâ??s hockey team will dawn the preseason No. 1 ranking for the third-straight season.
o the delight of some and displeasure of many, the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department announced Tuesday the lottery winners of coveted basketball season tickets.
University of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, hopeful that the multi-game suspension given to sophomore tailback Lance Smith might still be modified, recently met with the university’s dean of students to discuss the matter.
Dear Editor: You tell Badgers coach Bret Bielema to focus on recruiting non-thug athletes and training them to win football games. I will decide what colors I will wear.
Matthew James, Waunakee
Gridlock hit Fish Hatchery Road and Park Street this morning, as storm sewer construction on Park Street slowed commuters down to a crawl heading into downtown Madison. The headaches have just begun.
The project isn’t expected to be completed until the end of December, said city construction engineer John Fahrney.
University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema is doing everything he can to lend a hand to suspended running back Lance Smith, and he’s hoping his help will soon pay off.
Bielema implied that he would like to see Smith’s five-game suspension reduced on his weekly television show Sunday and said he has had a recent discussion with UW Dean of Students Lori Berquam about the situation.
In this era of â??greenâ? living, universities across the nation are taking the necessary steps toward developing a sustainable society. UW-Madison is among those universities. Still, critical sustainable measures remain absent at UW-Madison. Most notably, Camp Randall and Kohl Center events offer little to no active recycling, so recycling at many UW Athletic events is essentially nonexistent.
Two state legislators called on the cable companies Time Warner and Charter Communications to provide Wisconsin residents with the Big Ten Network on Monday.
UW Badgers football coach Bret Bielema announced Monday at a press conference he talked to the dean of students office last week about trying to get â??a fair shakeâ? for his troubled running back, who is suspended for all of UWâ??s road games this season.
The new â??Show and Blowâ? procedure implemented at last Saturdayâ??s Badger football game received mixed reviews from those involved.
â??I blew zeroes which pretty much made my game day un-fun,â? said a 21-year-old UW-Madison junior on the â??Show and Blowâ? list who showed up about five minutes into the game. â??[The of-age limit of] .08 is pretty low so I pretty much didnâ??t drink at all.â?
The University of Wisconsin Athletic Board reviewed plans for a new, comprehensive Wisconsin Athletics Facilities Master Plan, which would include a new indoor ice rink to be connected to the Kohl Center.
University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema continues to fight to reduce the five-game road suspension for sophomore running back Lance Smith.
But as of now, there is no indication Smith’s penalty will be reduced.
Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema met last week with the dean of students to discuss the status of suspended running back Lance Smith.
Smith is barred from playing in the Badgers’ five road games this season as punishment for an incident in which he allegedly pushed his girlfriend in July. Bielema said Monday he met with dean of students Lori Berquam last week to discuss the case.
University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema continues to fight to reduce the five-game road suspension for sophomore running back Lance Smith.
But as of now, there is no indication Smith’s penalty will be reduced.
Bielema brought up the issue on his television show Sunday, saying he had hope Smith’s suspension could be reduced.
MADISON â?? University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema met last week with the school’s dean of students to discuss suspended running back Lance Smith.
Smith, the Badgersâ?? No. 2 running back, is barred from playing in the teamâ??s five road games this season as punishment for a July incident in which he allegedly pushed his girlfriend.
While the Badgers were scoring frequently in the second quarter of their victory over Washington State on Sept. 1, a young couple was scoring on their own in a stall in the women’s restroom in the upper deck, resulting in a court appearance today on charges of disorderly conduct.
The man, 22, of the Grant County community of Stitzer, and woman, 23, of Madison, were initially cited by University Police for lewd and lascivious conduct, but those charges were later changed to disorderly conduct when the case went to the District Attorney’s office.
UW Assistant Police Chief Dale Burke, who measures his term of service in decades, said he cannot remember a similar incident at a Badger game in the past, but added “sex is a powerful, powerful motivator.”
To misquote Shakespeare: The fault, dear Bucky, is not in our stars but in ourselves.
That is the answer to the question: Why is Madison NOT the home of the classiest college football fans in America?
To catch a glimpse of Wisconsin ‘s binge drinking problem, walk around the neighborhoods surrounding Camp Randall in Madison on a football Saturday.
Mixed with the tens of thousands of fans enjoying the tradition and excitement of Badger football, you ‘ll see hundreds for whom Saturday is an opportunity to drink — and keep drinking.
Badger football fans couldn’t have ordered a better day.
Smiles, beers and brats were served up generously under a cloudless sky as fans soaked up fine autumn weather before today’s game again Iowa.
But this afternoon, many of those tailgating around Camp Randall were thinking ahead to the night, and how they would extricate themselves from the post-game gridlock.
When an ambitious master plan to upgrade UW Athletic Department facilities was outlined Friday, it triggered a series of questions for which there were few answers. Q: How long will it take for the projects â?? which include four sites and directly affect all 23 sports and 800 student-athletes â?? to become a reality?
Finally facing a team that doesn’t run one of those pesky spread offenses, Wisconsin’s defense played as advertised for the first time this season. Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) held Iowa to 228 yards and 13 first downs in a 17-13 victory on Saturday night. An equally stubborn Iowa defense kept the game close, but the Badgers’ defense kept the Hawkeyes from cashing in on turnovers.
University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema appeared to imply Sunday on his weekly TV show that he would like to see the five-game suspension of tailback Lance Smith modified.
To misquote Shakespeare: The fault, dear Bucky, is not in our stars but in ourselves.
That is the answer to the question: Why is Madison NOT the home of the classiest college football fans in America?
The most zealous and thirsty partiers at University of Wisconsin football games are about to find themselves with a pregame appointment they’d presumably rather not attend.
Under a new policy going into effect for the Badgers’ Big Ten opener against Iowa tonight at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, students who have either received alcohol citations or been ejected from games for alcohol-related offenses will have to take a Breathalyzer test before getting into Wisconsin football games.
MADISON, Wis. â?? Badgersâ?? fans better listen up, and not drink up.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is now using a Breathalyzer to test students who have been kicked out of games for disorderly conduct before admitting them to Camp Randall Stadium.
MADISON, Wis. — University of Wisconsin-Madison students who choose to drink before Saturday night’s Badgers football game might risk their chance to enjoy the rest of the season.
The Dean of Students Office is trying to crack down on underage and excessive drinking on game day with a program dubbed “Show and Blow.”
It’s an unfortunate side effect of game day–detox sees more drunk people pass through its doors. All the partying before, during, and after the game can cause some headaches for police and doctors.
This weekend detox is ready for an influx of people. Since the Badgers take on the Iowa Hawkeyes, in a night game, tailgaters will have all day to have fun and possibly drink too much. Lt. Bill Larson is in charge of security at Camp Randall on game days and it’s busy. “It’s 83,000 people coming together to cheer on the Badgers,” said Lt. Larson.
Today’s transactions show former Wisconsin forward Ryan MacMurchy being signed by the Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals of the ECHL.
A quick peek at the Jackals’ roster shows that the member of the 2006 NCAA championship team won’t be the only Madison connection on the team.
It’s been a whirlwind summer for Annie Thomas, who got married, relocated to Ohio, found a home and landed a new job within a span of several months.
Thomas, a former standout with the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team, was hired as an assistant coach at Cleveland State. She will handle recruiting, and community and academic endeavors for the program, in addition to working with Vikings post players. Cleveland State is coached by Kate Peterson Abiad, a River Falls native who served as a UW assistant for six seasons.
Pottygoers looking for a loo after the Badger football game Saturday night won’t have to keep their legs crossed when eyeballing porta-potties inside closed and empty bar beer gardens.
The toilets can be used, according to Madison City Council President Mike Verveer, bringing relief to thousands of fans who might otherwise contemplate going behind bushes, cars, each other, etc. and risk getting not only embarassed and possibly wet shoes but city cop fines as well.
Even with the toilet reprieve, Stadium Bar owner Jim Luedtke is still upset his beer garden has to shut down before the game is over, which will result in a jammed-up Monroe Street as fans try to find their friends and family pouring out of Camp Randall stadium right across Monroe St. from the bar.
Wisconsin center Marcus Coleman was flattered to be compared to heavy machinery.
Washington State coach Bill Doba called Wisconsin’s offensive linemen road graders after they flattened his defense earlier in the season. Even with the loss of All-American tackle Joe Thomas to the NFL, the Badgers’ offensive line is still paving the way to success.
For the first time, some students going to Saturday’s Iowa-Wisconsin game at Camp Randall will have a curious check-in.
They will have to take a breathalyzer in order to take a seat.
Badger football game days may be synonymous with tailgating, but a new â??Show and Blowâ? program through the Offices of the Dean of Students may end some studentsâ?? early-morning drinking parties.
Dear Editor: It appears that the money changers are back in the temple — the Temple of Alvarez. As a Wisconsin sports fan for many, many years, and a football season ticket-holder for 37 years, I highly resented being unable to see a home game last Saturday.
MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s women’s basketball team has returned to the preseason national rankings for the first time since 2001.
Two magazines have included the Badgers among their top 25. Both Women’s Basketball Magazine, the official publication of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Athlon have ranked Wisconsin 20th after a recording-setting 23-13 season last year.
The Big Ten Network, the NFL Network and Fox Sports Net Wisconsin will soon be offered in high definition on DirecTV, as the satellite provider begins launching dozens of new HD channels.
Trade media have reported that Wednesday is a possible launch date for the first new HD channels.
MADISON â?? University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema might be getting a little thinner at running back, and that would be just fine with him.
Already with one of the best young backfields in the nation led by sophomore P.J. Hill, Bielema said Monday he’s hopeful he’ll be able to redshirt freshman John Clay, one of the top runners in Wisconsin prep history.
Red Grooms and Red Grange. Red Buttons and Red Sox and ruby-red slippers. Redheads and red hats. Red violins and red carpets. Redfaced and redshirted. Red Green. Red everywhere you look.
Especially Saturdays in September when Madison paints the town red. Or at least dons a whole lot of red clothing in support of the UW Badgers, whose football coach, Bret Bielema, has the team dressing in all-red uniforms and has asked fans to do the same.
“A total ‘sea of red’ sends a very commanding message,” says Betty Hurd, lead instructor in the fashion marketing program at Madison Area Technical College.
“Red is a regal color,” she adds. “It’s powerful and domineering, so the Badger football coach is sending the message that we’re at Camp Randall. We’re winners, and we mean business.”
Heralded freshman running back John Clay likely will redshirt this season, University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema said today at his weekly press conference.
“That’s probably the route we’re going to go,” Bielema said.
Clay, an All-State back at Racine Park who led his team to the 2005 WIAA Division 1 state title, was 11 days late to training camp as he waited for the NCAA to make a ruling on his eligibility.
The Big Ten Network vs. major cable TV providers.
The Citadel vs. Wisconsin.
What do these two matchups have in common?
Both are all about the money.
And both — um, how shall we put this — screw Joe Fan.
Not that the Big Ten Network, your cable provider or the UW truly care.
MADISON, Wis. — Badger football hit the new Big Ten Network Saturday, which meant thousands of cable customers were left without television coverage of the Badgers’ victory over The Citadel Bulldogs.
The Big Ten Network launched August 30, but it still doesn’t have a deal with Charter Cable. While fans fumed, some businesses used the situation to their advantage.
Jim Luedtke, owner of The Stadium Sports Bar & Eatery, said on Saturday, “Right now we have DirecTv, so we do get it. At this point, i love every minute of it because of the fact that that we are one of the only places in town that have it.”
Most fans walking into Camp Randall didn’t need UW’s football coach to tell them to wear red for the game against the Citadel. “I mean, we did it before those guys told us what to do,” said Marcia Oliver of Brookfield.
Earlier this week, coach Brett Bielema asked fans to show up to games in nothing but red shirts for the rest of the season. So UW shirts that are white and gray are out. “It’s a good idea,” said Larry Cooper of Madison. “Penn State does it, a lot of other places do it, so it’s a good idea.”
A decade or so ago, the University of Wisconsin put its stamp on a sports drink that was meant to become synonymous with its athletic department, and become marketable to a large-scale audience.
But Badger Max not only failed to unseat its close cousin Gatorade, which was developed at the University of Florida in the mid-1960s thanks to the curiosity of an assistant football coach, it was far from a hit at home.
Badger fans, beware.
You probably know that you can lose your season tickets to UW sports events if you engage in unruly or illegal behavior. You may not know that you can also lose the remainder of your season tickets if you give or sell a ticket to someone who commits such behavior.
Jonathan Casillas has developed into one of the Badgers’ best linebackers, but he solidified his place in Wisconsin history long ago. For all the tackles he makes now by crossing the field and all the receivers he covers seamlessly, the junior will always be remembered for one play. Two years ago, the unknown freshman blocked a punt that was recovered in the end zone with 30 seconds left against rival Minnesota to cap a 10-point comeback in the closing minutes.
Badger fans can view football games on the Big Ten Network in residence halls, and now can connect to the channel via the Internet with UW-Madisonâ??s Digital Academic Television Network.
The channelâ??s extension is the latest revision in UW-Madisonâ??s contract with BTN and made possible by the 21st Century Network Project, according to Brian Rust, communications manager for UW-Madison Division of Information Technology.
