Tag: Brett Bielema

NEWS: Illinois hires a former Wisconsin Badger head coach

The Illinois Fighting Illini hired former Wisconsin Badger head coach Brett Bielema today after parting ways with Lovie Smith last weekend.

The Illinois Fighting Illini fired head coach Lovie Smith last weekend after the team’s 2-5 regular season.

This morning the program found their new man at the helm, and it’s former Wisconsin Badger head coach Brett Bielema.

The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach reports that it is a six-year deal beginning with an annual salary of $4.2 million.

Bielema, who went 68-25 in his seven years in Madison before leaving to become head coach at Arkansas, will now work to get an Illini program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2011 headed in the right direction.

 

Minnesota preview:

Five things the Wisconsin Badgers must do to keep Paul Bunyan’s Axe

Minnesota team preview

What Minnesota HC P.J. Fleck is saying about Wisconsin before the game

HC Paul Chryst gives an update on the status of WRs Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis

Film room: The good, the bad and the questionable from Graham Mertz’s performance against Iowa

10 players to watch

Wisconsin’s bowl history over the past 20 years

Since Barry Alvarez took over as head football coach in 1990, the Wisconsin Badger football program has experienced an impressive…

Since Barry Alvarez took over as head football coach in 1990, the Wisconsin Badger football program has experienced an impressive run of consistent success.

It started in 1993 when Alvarez led the team to a conference championship, then the program’s five conference championships since then and now and the even greater height of the Badgers at some point each year finding themselves in the nation’s top 10.

Related: Studs and duds from the Badgers’ onslaught of the Michigan Wolverines

We know the names that have led the program to success: Russell Wilson, Ron Dayne, Montee Ball, Melvin Gordon, Jonathan Taylor, J.J. Watt and more.

We also know the list of coaches as, aside from Gary Anderson, Alvarez, Brett Bielema and Paul Chryst have done nothing but win. That winning is continuing this season, with the team currently sitting at No. 10 in the nation with a 2-0 record and a combined point margin of 94-18.

A Bowl Game seems to be on the horizon for Graham Mertz and this team, given them being able to play enough games to qualify.

So here, on the Monday after an impressive victory over Michigan, is the program’s bowl history over the last 20 years:

 

Gameday work:

Mike Griffith found what SEC teams each Big Ten fan should cheer for this season

Georgia football writer and Heisman voter, Mike Griffith, commented on an article about where each Big Ten fanbase should cheer for in the SEC this season, and used his research of resources and personalities of these conferences to find the most similar equivalent of each team.

Georgia football writer and Heisman voter, Mike Griffith, commented on an article about where each Big Ten fanbase should cheer for in the SEC this season, and used his research of resources and personalities of these conferences to find the most similar equivalent of each team.

Griffith found that Wisconsin was most like the Arkansas Razorbacks in the SEC West. I guess that could make sense if it is in terms of the personalities of our coaching staffs and the resources in the football programs, but in terms of results, the difference could not be more drastic.

Wisconsin finished last season 10-4 with two of those losses coming in the Big Ten Championship Game and the Rose Bowl. They were a very good football team that beat Minnesota and Michigan in the regular season, whereas Arkansas went 0-8 in conference play and 2-10 overall in the season. Their only two wins came against Tulsa and Portland State.

Many Wisconsin fans would also not have fond memories of the Razorbacks after Bret Bielema left Wisconsin to become the head coach for Arkansas, even though the Badgers got the better end of that with hiring Paul Chryst. Bielema was fired after a few poor seasons with the Razorbacks that they still haven’t recovered from.

The article by Saturday Down South that Griffith commented on had a more favorable equivalent for Wisconsin, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Connor O’Gara stated that the teams have both been very successful, but Wisconsin has never been able to get over the hump to the College Football Playoff or a National Championship. Cheering for Alabama this year will give us Wisconsin fans the experience of being in the College Football Playoff or a National Championship game.

I personally like O’Gara’s perspective and am seriously considering becoming an Alabama fan for this season, but I know I will not be cheering for the 2-10 Razorbacks.

Former Badger and current Texas cornerback coach making waves on the recruiting trail for the Longhorns

Patrick Conn of LonghornsWire wrote a piece today on former Badger cornerback Jay Valai and his current efforts as cornerback coach…

Patrick Conn of LonghornsWire wrote a piece today on former Badger cornerback Jay Valai and his current efforts as cornerback coach and recruiter for the Texas Longhorns.

Valai played at Wisconsin from 2007-2010 during which he played in 48 games at cornerback for Brett Bielema’s team and recorded a total of 154 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack and two interceptions.

The Texas native then went on to become an assistant coach at Georgia from 2016-2017, a quality control coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, the cornerback coach at Rutgers in 2019 and now the cornerback coach for the Texas Longhorns.

Conn wrote about the former Badger’s recruiting efforts this offseason with the Longhorns still working to return to their national championship form seen throughout the early 2000s.

Valai has been credited with the recruitments of recent commits Jamier Johnson, J.D. Coffey and Ishmael Ibraheem. All three are four-star prospects for the 2021 class. For the 2022 class, he is hot on the trail for another California product Domani Jackson. The three commits that Valai has been getting to come to the Longhorns did so without a single visit.

Due to the NCAA’s dead period, coaches and players are prohibited from face to face visits. Given that all of their contact is done through video messaging, phone calls or texts messages Valai is proving his worth already. Even before coaching a single game, it appears as if Ash was right to bring in one of his former players to help mold this defense into his vision.

It did not take long for Valai to find employment in the coaching ranks and given his current trajectory, it appears the former Badger is in for a long, successful coaching career.

The Badgers’ all-time record against each of their 2020 opponents

As things stand today the Wisconsin Badgers are set to begin their season September 4 against the Indiana Hoosiers. A lot is still…

As things stand today the Wisconsin Badgers are set to begin their season September 4 against the Indiana Hoosiers.

A lot is still obviously up in the air about if the games take place, where they will be held and if fans will be able to attend.

One thing we can do now, though, is go through the Badgers’ 2020 schedule and check in on their all-time record against each of their opponents.

 

Week 1: vs Indiana

NCAA Football: Gator Bowl-Indiana vs Tennessee
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Jamar Johnson (22) leads the celebration following an interception return for a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half in the 2020 Taxslayer Bowl. Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

All-time record: 41-18

Current win streak: 10 (Wisconsin)

 

The Badgers and Hoosiers have only played once since the 2013 season but the Badgers still own a 10-game win streak with the last Indiana victory coming in 2002.

The largest margin of victory in any matchup between these two teams came in 2010 when the Brett Bielema-led Badgers beat Indiana 83-20.

 

Up next…Week 2 vs Southern Illinois

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By the numbers: the best Wisconsin Badger to wear jersey No. 4

Today’s “by the numbers” focuses on former Badger wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, the best Wisconsin Badger to wear jersey No. 4…

Today’s “by the numbers” focuses on former Badger wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, the best Wisconsin Badger to wear jersey No. 4.

Abbrederis came to Madison out of Wautoma High School in Wautoma, Wisconsin–a place where he played seemingly every position except for wide receiver.

The Wisconsin native started his high school career as a quarterback and received all-conference honors three of his four years as a starter. His junior and senior seasons, additionally, he played defensive back and received additional all-conference honors for his work in the defensive backfield.

His high school career finished with 3014 passing yards, one second-team all-conference honor as a quarterback, two first-team all-conference honors as both a quarterback and defensive back and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association first-team all-state quarterback and conference offensive player of the year as a senior.

His high school production landed him in Madison in 2009 as a walk-on spread quarterback, but then-head coach Brett Bielema quickly realized his receiving potential and switched him to the position before his redshirt freshman season began in 2010.

Though his freshman production wasn’t much to be in awe about–the Wisconsin native finished the season with 13 games played, 20 receptions, 289 yards and three touchdowns–it was impressive production for a walk-on that hadn’t yet played the position.

It was then going into his sophomore season that Abbrederis made a massive jump–playing in 14 games and catching 55 passes for 933 yards and eight touchdowns.

Not much more needs to be said about Abbrederis’ junior seasons but his stats were as follows: 13 games, 49 catches, 837 yards and five touchdowns as a junior and 13 games, 78 catches, 1081 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior.

The former Badger finished his Wisconsin career with a school-record 202 receptions, the Burlsworth Trophy for the best student-athlete to begin their career as a walk-on and a then-Rose Bowl record 348 all-purpose yards (a record broken by current NFL running back Christian McCaffrey a few years later).

His college production was enough to get him drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

His professional career, though, was not nearly as productive as his time in Madison.

The former Badger played four years in the league–three for the Packers and one for the Detroit Lions–during which he recorded a total of 21 games played, 13 catches, 163 yards and zero touchdowns.

Nevertheless, his story going from a walk-on quarterback to becoming the school’s all-time leader in receptions is an inspiring one and makes him the best Wisconsin Badger to ever wear jersey No. 4.

Tune in tomorrow for jersey No. 5–the first quarterback on the list and one who lead the Badgers to arguably their best stretch of success of any four-year period (no, it isn’t yet four-star recruit Graham Mertz, as only time will tell what his legacy in Madison will be).

Ranking the top five Wisconsin football teams since 2000

The NFL draft has come and gone and college football’s summer offseason programs have yet to receive a date for when they can…

The NFL draft has come and gone and college football’s summer offseason programs have yet to receive a date for when they can get underway, leaving us with not a lot of news relating to Wisconsin football.

So today, in prime offseason and no sports form, we’re outlining the best Wisconsin football teams since 2000.

As a disclaimer, this is only a ranking of the best teams, not necessarily the seasons we’ve watched with the most accomplishments.

 

5. 2016

NCAA Football: Big Ten Championship-Wisconsin vs Penn State
Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions safety Malik Golden (6) during the Big Ten Championship college football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

The 5-3 range on this list simply came down to ranking the Big Ten Championship-losing teams from the last four years.

Though the 2016 squad fell 38-31 to then-No. 8 Penn State in the conference championship game, this Badger team was better than many remember it to be and was an easy selection for this list.

On offense the team was led by a young Alex Hornibrook, current Philadelphia Eagle running back Corey Clement and Troy Fumagalli and Jazz Peavy on the outside.

The defensive unit was led by T.J. Watt, T.J. Edwards, Leo Musso, Jack Cichy, D’Cota Dixon, Sojourn Shelton and Derrick Tindal and was a squad that ranked No. 4 in the nation in opponent points-per-game.

Highlights of the season came Week 1 when they defeated No. 5 LSU at Lambeau Field, Week 4 when they upset No. 8 Michigan State 30-6, a 23-17 win against No. 7 Nebraska and their 24-16 Cotton Bowl victory against No. 12 Western Michigan.

Simple Rating System is a statistic used by Sports-Reference.com that analyzes teams based on a combination of their strength of schedule and average point differential.

Paul Chryst‘s 2016 unit received a 15.30, with zero being the average, which is good for No. 3 among Badger teams since 2000.

So why isn’t this team higher on the list, as they were in the AP Top 10 every week from Week 2 to the end of the season and their three losses all came against other top-10 teams?

Two reasons, the first of which being offensive efficiency and quarterback play.

The offense finished the year ranked No. 67 in the nation in points-per-game and were led at quarterback by Hornibrook who finished the season with a 9-7 touchdown-interception ratio and had an adjusted-yards-per-attempt of only 6.2.

The second is the fact that they were unable to beat the Nittany Lions in the conference championship despite being the higher-ranked team and winners of their last six games.

History will still look upon this team finely, though it was hard to rank them above other recent teams given their lack of adequate quarterback play and overall offensive efficiency.

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Where are they now: Gary Andersen

The “where are they now” series continues today with a shift in focus from the field to the sidelines as we catchup on former Wisconsin…

The “where are they now” series continues today with a shift in focus from the field to the sidelines as we catchup on former Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen‘s career after spending two unforgettable seasons in Madison in 2013 and 2014.

The first of the two, the 2013 season, was understandably a tough one as Andersen was taking over from the successful Brett Bielema era after Bielema left to take a job at Arkansas. The team finished 9-4 that year, losing to No. 8 South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl, but showed promise with an improving quarterback in Joel Stave, a backfield of Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement and a defense headlined by Chris Borland, Michael Caputo and Sojourn Shelton.

What followed in 2014 was an absolute rollercoaster of a season, one which ended in turmoil and set the stage for Paul Chryst to step into the head coaching job going forward.

The 2014 campaign began with Andersen’s Badgers ranked No. 14 in the nation as they prepared to face the No. 13 LSU Tigers Week 1. The Badgers led 24-7 as one point in that game but ended up falling 28-24 and starting the season 0-1. In only one game there was already a peak and a valley, what seemed to be the theme during Andersen’s tenure.

The team then peeled off three out-of-conference victories, returning to No. 17 in the polls, but followed it up in Week 5 with a loss at unranked Northwestern that put them 3-2 on the season and out of the top-25. Valley number two.

Andersen’s unit then went on a seven game winning streak, all in-conference, with ranked victories against No. 11 Nebraska and No. 22 Minnesota. The most notable of the seven contests was the victory at Camp Randall against the Cornhuskers as Gordon broke the NCAA single-game rushing record with a 408 yard, four touchdown performance. Peak number three.

The team was riding high with 10-2 record entering the Big Ten Championship against No. 6 Ohio State who saw their starting quarterback J.T. Barrett break his leg the week prior, opening the door for sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones to start his first collegiate game.

As Badger fans know too well, Ohio State beat Wisconsin 59-0 that day, handing the Badgers their worst loss since 1972 and punching their ticket to the College Football Playoff in its inaugural year. Valley number three.

Andersen left the program four days later to take the head coaching job at Oregon State, giving way to Barry Alvarez to take over as interim head coach for the team’s 34-31 Outback Bowl victory against No. 19 Auburn.

It later surfaced that Andersen was unhappy with Wisconsin’s academic standards for athletes, something that was a driving force for him to leave the program in search of head coaching jobs elsewhere.

Gary Andersen’s tenure in Madison came to an end with a record of 19-7 (13-3 in the Big Ten) and the infamous 59-0 defeat in the 2014 conference championship game.

That became the coach’s best two seasons record wise during his coaching career as his team at Oregon State from 2015-17 held an abysmal record of 7-23 and he and the school parted ways after a 1-5 start to the 2017 season.

2018 saw Andersen return to The University of Utah, his alma mater and the place where he began his coaching career, as a defensive assistant and the assistant head coach.

Now on to last season, the coach returned to Utah State, the place he coached for four years before coming to Madison, and had a 7-6 record including a 51-41 Frisco Bowl loss to Kent State.

His quarterback was now-Green Bay Packer Jordan Love, a player who excelled in 2018 during the old coaching regime and struggled for the most part in 2019. Much was said during his draft process about the talent that graduated after 2018, but also about the coaching difference between Matt Wells, his coach for his first two years, and Andersen who led him last season.

Looking forward to 2020 the former Badger head coach is still at the helm at Utah State as he looks to improve upon the team’s 7-6 record from 2019 and reach his first conference championship game since the infamous 2014 defeat at the hands of Jones and the Buckeyes.