Tag: big ten fall season

Wisconsin stays put in new Amway Coaches Poll

The Wisconsin Badgers were not in action this weekend with their game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers being canceled due to rising…

The Wisconsin Badgers were not in action this weekend after their game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers was canceled due to rising COVID-19 positives within the Badger football program.

Although they didn’t play yesterday, Paul Chryst and his team stayed put at No. 11 in the newest Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.

Other Big Ten teams in the rankings are Ohio State at No. 3, Indiana at No. 13 and Michigan at No. 25.

Related: Wisconsin joins the top 3 in ESPN’s latest SP+ rankings

As seen in these rankings and others around the college football world, the craziness and upsets from the first two weeks of the Big Ten season have seen the Badgers emerge as the clear No. 2 team in the conference behind the Ohio State Buckeyes.

 

Paul Chryst and his team will be back in action on Saturday against the Purdue Boilermakers, though that game is still in question with Wisconsin continuing to announce more positive COVID-19 tests.

When they do return to the field the team will look to continue their impressive start to the 2020 season and continue their rise in the national rankings.

 

Next…the full rankings

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Wisconsin jumps two spots in latest AP Poll

After an offseason full of question marks, a decision to cancel the season, the season then getting reinstated and a month of waiting, it…

After an offseason full of question marks, a decision to cancel the season, the season then getting reinstated and a month of waiting, it is finally Wisconsin Badger game week.

Check in to BadgersWire throughout the week as we preview the contest, preview Week 1 in the Big Ten and tell you what the Badgers will need to do to defeat the Illinois Fighting Illini and start their season 1-0.

If you’re a fan of college football you know the SEC, ACC and Big 12 have already completed up to five weeks of their regular seasons, weeks which have seen several highly-ranked teams getting upset and dropping in the national rankings.

Due to this, despite the fact that the Badgers are yet to take the field, the team continued its rise in the AP Poll this weekend and jumped two spots up to No. 14 in the nation.

Their spot at No. 14 is up five spots since Big Ten teams returned to the poll in Week 4, up two spots from their Week 5 and Week 6 rankings and keeps them as the No. 3 team in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and Penn State.

Other notable moves in this week’s poll include Texas A&M jumping from No. 11 to No. 7 after their win against Mississippi State, North Carolina dropping from No. 5 to No. 14, Auburn falling out of the rankings and the trio of Coastal Carolina, NC State and Marshall joining the top 25.

The poll is likely to be shaken up even more when the Big Ten returns to the field this weekend, but even though the Badgers sit at 0-0 they are still receiving praise from Associated Press writers as teams around them lose games and plummet in the rankings.

Badgers rise one spot in new Amway Poll

Despite not having taken the field yet this season the Wisconsin Badgers continue to rise in the national rankings. In the newly…

Despite not having taken the field yet this season the Wisconsin Badgers continue to rise in the national rankings.

In the newly-released Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports the team rose one spot to No. 14 in the nation, still slotted as the No. 3 team in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and Penn State.

Big movers in the poll include North Carolina dropping seven spots to No. 13, Coastal Carolina shooting up into the rankings and Auburn falling out of the top-25 after their loss at South Carolina.

The Badgers are now five days away from opening their season at home against the Illinois Fighting Illini, beginning the quest for their first conference championship since 2012.

If we’ve seen one thing so far this season its been sloppy play, blown coverages and questionable decision making. If there’s one year where the most buttoned-up programs will find success it’s this one. Yes, one of those well-coached, well-prepared teams are the Wisconsin Badgers.

 

Next…The Complete Amway Coaches Poll Top 25

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WATCH: Joel Klatt gives high praise to the Badger football program

With Paul Finebaum being commonly known as the media face of the SEC, there has begun to be a similar sentiment shared about…

With Paul Finebaum being commonly known as the media face of the SEC, there has begun to be a similar sentiment shared about FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt and his coverage of the Big Ten.

On Wednesday Klatt was on The Herd with Colin Cowherd and they played a game where one would name a football program and the other would say what their expected win total during a full season should be.

Klatt’s answer for Wisconsin? 10.5 wins.

Here is his reasoning:

His one quote perfectly sums up the Badger football program and the reason it has had so much success since the late 1990s.

“If you’re asking me about which team, fanbase, administration knows themselves better than anybody else in the country, it’s Wisconsin,” Klatt said. “They know who they are, how they have success, why they have success, and that’s why they do have success year, over year, over year.”

If we’re being honest here, he’s completely right.

There is not one program in the country that has a better understanding of who they are and what they need to do well. Then you add in an intelligent fanbase, talented players and stellar coaching and it’s clear why Wisconsin has been such a consistently good football team for now more than 20 years.

And to Cowherd’s initial reaction: Yes, they should be looked at higher than USC.

Where Wisconsin HC Paul Chryst’s salary ranks amongst the sport’s elite coaches

USA TODAY Sports released a full list of college football head coaches’ salaries yesterday and where Wisconsin HC Paul Chryst lands on…

USA TODAY Sports released a full list of college football’s head coaches’ salaries yesterday and where Wisconsin HC Paul Chryst lands on the list may be a surprise to many.

At the top are some names that you would expect: Alabama’s Nick Saban, LSU’s Ed Orgeron, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh and Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher.

You then must scroll down all the way to No. 28 to find Chryst. Yes, all the way down at No. 28 for a coach that many consider being one of the best and most consistent in the nation.

One of those people is FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt, who went on The Herd yesterday and raved about the culture that Chryst and the Badger program have developed:

The total annual number for the Badger Head Coach is $4,250,000, $4,850,000 less than Saban.

Other Big Ten coaches above Chryst are Harbaugh at No. 4, Ohio State’s Ryan Day at No. 12, Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald at No. 13, Michigan State’s Mel Tucker at No. 14, Nebraska’s Scott Frost at No. 17, Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz at No. 19 and Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck at No. 24.

Some of the numbers are affected by a pandemic-related salary reduction, Chryst’s being $318,750.

For more on the salaries check out USA TODAY’s 5 biggest findings from the coaches compensation database and which coaches whose contracts are too big to buy out.

Wisconsin announces new guidelines for attendance at home football games

The Wisconsin Badgers will kick off their 2020 football season on the weekend of Oct. 24 against the Illinois Fighting Illini, a day that…

The Wisconsin Badgers will kick off their 2020 football season on the weekend of Oct. 24 against the Illinois Fighting Illini, a day that cannot come soon enough.

On October 1 the program announced their original plan for fan attendance at those games: only family members of players and staff allowed in the stands, amounting to approximately 1,000-1,500 people watching live.

Well, due to the growing COVID-19 numbers in the state the program reversed course this week, now announcing that only players, coaches, essential stadium operations personnel and a limited number of family members will be allowed at the games.

“It’s unfortunate that circumstances will no longer allow us to invite families to attend, but we support this decision and know that the safety of our students, staff and community has to be our top priority,” Athletic Director Barry Alvarez stated in a release. “We know Badger games are usually a time when we can come together, but right now we are urging everyone to watch our games safely and responsibly.”

Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank discussed the reasoning behind the change, saying “given the high rates of infection in the state of Wisconsin, we don’t want anyone in the stadium who doesn’t need to be there.”

The university also released updated gameday guidelines for the city as a whole:

  • Tailgating, loitering, and open containers will not be permitted anywhere on campus
  • Campus lots will be closed, except for UW employees with a baselot permit, using it for work purposes. Lots will be staffed to ensure that no tailgating occurs.
  • During all home football weekends, there will be no game day sponsor activations or hospitality events
  • Normal traditions, such as Badgerville and Badger Bash, will not be held.
  • The Badger Band and Spirit Squad will not be present at the football game or perform on campus.
  • Breese Terrace will be open to vehicular traffic for all games.
  • Campus and City of Madison vending and merchandise locations will not be available along Breese Terrace or in the park area between Breese, Regent and Monroe. The main Bucky’s Locker Room at Gate 1 will remain closed during game days.

 

We are now just two weeks away from the return of Badger football and even though it will look a lot different in the city of Madison and on our television screens, at least there is a football season on the horizon.

WATCH: Graham Mertz connects on a beautiful deep ball in practice

Last week Wisconsin starting quarterback Jack Coan went down in practice with a foot injury and is now out indefinitely, giving way to…

Last week Wisconsin starting quarterback Jack Coan went down in practice with a foot injury and is now out indefinitely.

When the news came out, many expected the starter to then be redshirt freshman Graham Mertz, the highest-rated quarterback recruit in program history. Well, in a press conference yesterday Quarterback Coach Jon Budmayr confirmed that sentiment, saying “That’s the path we’re on right now.”

Related: Five takeaways from Coach Budmayr and Graham Mertz’s press conference

So, with Mertz on track to be the Week 1 starter there comes one big thing: practice highlights.

First of all, the pass to wide receiver Danny Davis goes at least 55 yards in the air. Second, it is the exact definition of “thrown on a rope.”

After hearing from the quarterback and his position coach at their press conference, it’s clear that both they and the team are confident in what Mertz will be able to do when he takes the field and in his ability to lead the team in Coan’s absence.

Related: Mertz and the rest of the quarterback room give high praise to a freshman wide receiver

Here are some more highlights from the practice, including an impressive one-on-one win by freshman wide receiver Chimere Dike.

 

There are now only two weeks until Mertz and the Wisconsin Badgers take the field against the Illinois Fighting Illini. Though there is a question mark surrounding how Mertz will perform in his first collegiate start, videos of 55-yard ropes sure help whatever doubts people may have.

Graham Mertz and the rest of the quarterback room give high praise to a freshman wide receiver

In their press conference today quarterbacks Chase Wolf, Danny Vanden Boom and Graham Mertz were asked about which offensive players…

In their press conference today quarterbacks Chase Wolf, Danny Vanden Boom and Graham Mertz were asked about which offensive players have stood out in fall camp thus far.

One guy that was constantly brought up and received high praise from all three quarterbacks? Freshman wide receiver Chimere Dike.

Before their quotes, here is a little video evidence of Dike’s skills on the outside:

First up was Wolf who had clear words about what he’s seen from Dike thus far: “He’s a stud.”

Vanden Boom then continued the sentiment, noting Dike as a young wide receiver that has stood out and saying “he’s a student of the game and asks a lot of questions.”

Finally, Mertz had a colorful answer when asked about who has stood out on offense. He started by saying that he “could go on and on” about the playmakers on offense and noted freshmen Devin Chandler and Isaac Smith, the older guys at wide receiver, the running backs, the offensive line and more.

“If you want me to keep going on for days I can,” Mertz said.

His comment on Dike, though, was a funny one, joking that “I heard people talking about Chim a little bit. To be honest, he’s not that good” with a big smile on his face.

Dike, a Waukesha, Wisconsin native, was a three-star recruit coming into the program and the No. 4 player from the state of Wisconsin.

From the practice video and the comments from his quarterbacks it’s become clear that he is set to be a productive player for the Badgers for years to come.

Maybe Mertz has already found one of his long-term connections.

Coach Budmayr and the quarterback room on what it was like seeing Jack Coan go down on Saturday

Earlier today Quarterback Coach Jon Budmayr and quarterbacks Chase Wolf, Danny Vanden Boom and Graham Mertz met with the media…

Earlier today Quarterback Coach Jon Budmayr and quarterbacks Chase Wolf, Danny Vanden Boom and Graham Mertz met with the media and discussed the upcoming season.

Among the topics discussed, understandably, was senior quarterback Jack Coan’s injury last Saturday and what it was like to see him get hurt.

“It was really hard to see him go down. I love that kid,” Coach Budmayr said. “Saturday was a tough day just because of who Jack is and what he brings”

Budmayr continued to note that despite the injury and the impending surgery Coan was still the first one out on the field on Sunday and didn’t stop being a leader.

The guys in the quarterback room shared similar sentiments about Coan as a leader and about his injury.

Wolf, first, noted that he saw Coan limping off the field on Saturday and didn’t know anything was really wrong until they got back to the locker room.

“We got a bit emotional about it because he’s our leader, he’s our guy,” Wolf said. “As much as we want him to be healthy, now that he’s out we have to play for him. We have to do what he would do.”

Vanden Boom when asked a similar question said “Jack’s a special guy, he’s a special player,” and continued to note that he has been like another coach since the injury and that “it’s tough when you lose a guy like Jack.”

When presumed starter Graham Mertz finished the press conference he was asked what Coan has taught him through his play and through his preparation.

“Jack knows every coverage and where he’s going with the ball,” Mertz said, continuing in his comment to note how Coan has helped him grow a lot in that area.

It’s been made clear through testaments from those close to the senior quarterback that the injury was a tough one to see, with his character as a person and as a leader making it even tougher.

All four made sure to mention, though, the work as a leader that Coan has done since the injury with the players on offense and with the whole team, noting that despite the injury he is still out there to help the team succeed and win football games.

Coan’s recovery timeline is not yet known, and it is close to a guarantee that Mertz will lead the Badgers onto the field when they open the season against Illinois later this month. What can be taken away from today, though, is that Coan’s injury means a lot more to the team than just his absence on the football field.

A Badger coach and player give high praise to DC Jim Leonhard

Earlier today Wisconsin defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield and senior defensive ends Garrett Rand and Isaiahh Loudermilk met…

Earlier today Wisconsin defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield and senior defensive ends Garrett Rand and Isaiahh Loudermilk met with the media and discussed the upcoming season.

Among the topics covered was their thoughts on Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard, a guy many Badger fans know well as a former player with the program and now one of the best coordinators in the nation.

“He’s smart,” Breckterfield said. “[He] does a great job finding the matchups and finding who those playmakers are and putting them in a position to win.”

Related: Coach Breckterfield and Isaiahh Loudermilk rave about freshman QB Graham Mertz

The Badger position coach continued to note that Leonhard “doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low and the players appreciate that. He gets the most out of the unit as a whole.”

For Loudermilk the answer to the question was clear and concise.

“He’s a genius,” the defensive lineman said.

2020 will be Leonhard’s No. 5 year with the program as a coach and his No. 4 as defensive coordinator after walking on as a player back in 2002.

While there is talent all over the 2020 defense, much of the coordinator’s work this year will be trying to recreate the defensive production that was lost with Chris Orr and Zack Baun going to the NFL. If there’s anybody up for the job, though, it’s Leonhard. “A genius” as Loudermilk said and many would agree.

Whether pursuing a head coaching job in the near future is on the table for Leonhard is anybody’s guess, but it’s clear through his results and the comments of those that work with him that he’s a special coach and a huge reason for the team’s success year after year.