First ' Goal: Dec. 8
December 08, 2009 | Football
Dec. 8, 2009
MADISON, Wis. --
The 411
Wisconsin will face Miami (9-3 overall, 5-3 ACC Coastal Division) in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29 at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CST. ESPN will televise the game live.
The team will be off until Friday, when they will then reconvene.
Bowl Talk
Chris Maragos sensed a strong sentiment in the days leading to the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl. In short, Wisconsin's free safety got the impression both UW fans and most college football analysts figured the Badgers wouldn't be able to handle Florida State's speed and overall athletic ability. The Seminoles' 42-13 victory, which left many UW players embarrassed, was proof enough. Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel details how the players are feeling heading into this year’s version of the Champs Sports Bowl.
Much of what the University of Wisconsin football team has accomplished this season can be traced back to the humbling 42-13 loss to Florida State last season in the Champs Sports Bowl. The seeds for this season's 9-3 turnaround were planted in the fertile soil of extreme disappointment, writes Tom Mulhern of Madison.com.
The Badgers’ victory in Hawaii on Saturday is very important because it proves that Bret Bielema’s squad can go to a beautiful, warm weather destination and stay focused on the task at hand when kickoff rolls around, Jordan Schelling writes in the Badger Herald.
Senior defensive back Chris Maragos, junior quarterback Scott Tolzien and sophomore wide receiver Nick Toon met with the media Monday to talk about Wisconsin’s upcoming Champs Sports Bowl matchup with Miami. The players talked about how they found out about the bowl selection, the matchup with Miami, the challenge the Hurricanes present, returning to the Champs Sports Bowl for the second consecutive year and many other things. Watch the video of their comments.
Badgers host inaugural Football Awards Show
Badger fans are invited to celebrate with the team and coaching staff at the Wisconsin Football Awards Show on Friday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Kohl Center. Admission is free. A brand new event designed for fans of all ages, the Wisconsin Football Awards Show will feature presentations of the program’s post-season awards including Rookie of the Year, Scholastic Player of the Year, Badger Power Award, Team MVP and more. Fans also have the chance to vote for the Play of the Year.
Dynamic Duo
University of Wisconsin defensive ends O'Brien Schofield and J.J. Watt reacted as expected when told that they finished the college football regular season as the top tandem for TFLs. After all, the duo had been talking about becoming the nation's leader in tackle for losses amongst teammates all throughout the Badgers' bye week leading up to Saturday night's game at Hawaii, Benjamin Worgull writes.
Terrific Trio
Sophomore running back John Clay, sophomore defensive end J.J. Watt and junior wide receiver David Gilreath were all named Big Ten Players of the Week after Wisconsin’s 51-10 victory over Hawaii on Saturday. Read the full release from UWBadgers.com.
Sherer takes advantage of opportunity
When fifth-year senior quarterback Dustin Sherer was approached by the University of Wisconsin football coaching staff to play late in a game earlier this season, he turned down the opportunity because he felt it would be better for the program if redshirt freshman Curt Phillips got some much-needed experience. Sherer couldn't turn down the chance to play late Saturday night in the Badgers' 51-10 victory over Hawaii at Aloha Stadium -- because he knew he might not get another one, writes Jim Polzin of Madison.com in his notes column.
Fitting end
The Badgers’ 51-10 mauling of Hawaii can be seen in several different lights. It could be seen as the second truly complete game the Badgers put together this season, their 37-0 win over Purdue being the other one, or perhaps an example of the Badgers finally playing the way they can and dealing with an inferior team in the way they should have all season. But the best way to see this game, says Ben Breiner of the Daily Cardinal, has to be as the perfect end to a bounce-back year.
Badgers in the Pros
• DeAndre Levy started at linebacker for the fourth game in a row and had exactly eight tackles for the third game in a row, but Detroit lost to Cincinnati, 23-13.
• Chris Pressley got the first carry of his career on Sunday, but according to Stephen F. Holder of TampaBay.com, the play was not designed for him.
Tweet of the Day
FCSports: Champs Sports Bowl DYK?: Wisconsin is 10-10 in bowls, with 12 of the 20 coming in the last 14 years. Their only misses were '97 and '01. Posted Dec. 8 at 10:24 a.m.
Follow us at Twitter.com/BadgerFootball and Coach Bielema at Twitter.com/BretBielema.
What you won’t find on Facebook
The best piece of advice that Nick Toon says he has ever received came from his from his father: “Without credibility, you don’t have anything.”
Note of the Day
The Badgers are almost perfectly balanced on offense, gaining 2,510 yards through the air (209.2 per game) and 2,480 yards on the ground (206.7 per game). UW has averaged at least 200.0 yards passing and rushing for a season just twice in school history (1993 and 2007). Wisconsin is one of just six teams in the country to average at least 200.0 yards on the ground and through the air (TCU, Florida, Stanford, Fresno State and Auburn are the others). Those six teams have a combined record of 56-17 (.767).
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If you have any links that you think would be worthy of 1st & Goal, email them to Karl Anderson at kga@athletics.wisc.edu.
