Wisconsin’s all-time winningest quarterback, Joel Stave, offered candid advice to current Badgers starter Braedyn Locke on Tuesday.
Stave was asked during a radio interview what he’d say to Locke about how he should handle ongoing criticism amid the Badgers’ rough stretch of play.
Here’s what Stave told host Jim Rutledge:
“The big thing is do everything you can to ignore the noise,” Stave said. “Focus on you. Focus on what you can control. It’s been a tough year. There have certainly been some high points, (and) there have obviously been some low points, too. He’s played a tough, tough schedule. I think he does have a lot of positive things to draw back on, but it’s ignoring anything that’s not focused on the team.”
Here is his full answer:
"Ignore the noise. Focus on you, focus on what you can control." #Badgers all-time winningest QB, Joel Stave, on what advice he'd give Braedyn Locke for the final two weeks of the season. #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/WM3UrOCgMd
— ESPN Madison (@ESPNMadison) November 19, 2024
Stave represented Wisconsin from 2011-15 and left Madison with a 31-10 record as a starter. The 31 victories made him the winningest quarterback in program history, and his .756 win percentage is No. 3 among UW quarterbacks all time, per Wisconsin athletics.
As a starter, Stave experienced excellence for Wisconsin football. He played in three bowl games and captured Offensive MVP honors in the 2015 Holiday Bowl.
Locke, meanwhile, has struggled this season, leading some fans to call for true freshman Mabrey Mettauer to suit up under center for the remainder of the season,
In nine games as a redshirt sophomore, Locke has completed 129 pass attempts for 1,514 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has 10 turnovers in seven starts since taking over for Tyler Van Dyke against Alabama.
Stave’s comments come at the perfect time for Locke. After completing 12 of 28 passes for 96 yards, one touchdown and one interception in UW’s loss to No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 16, the critics have grown louder.
UW is tasked with defeating Nebraska on Nov. 23 in Lincoln. If the program wishes to reach its 23rd straight bowl game, Locke needs to protect the ball and drown out the noise.