SPORTS
Demoted Broussard heads for Toledo
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Also by Drew Hansen:
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by Drew Hansen
Friday, August 30, 2002
Badger strong safety Jim Leonhard ran through the tunnel at Camp Randall Aug. 23 to play in all the glory of an unheralded walk-on in the Badgers’ season-opener against Fresno State. The sophomore had a dazzling debut, recording two interceptions and breaking up the Bulldogs’ final desperation pass in the game’s waning moments. Leonhard’s play promptly made Badger fans overlook the fact that Michael Broussard held the strong safety job prior to fall camp.
Broussard, the Badgers’ starting strong safety in 2001, transferred to Toledo after being demoted to third-string strong safety, behind Leonhard and Robert Brooks. Unhappy with Broussard’s complacency in fall camp, UW’s new defensive-backs coach Ron Cooper decided to demote the junior. Broussard was productive for the Badgers in 2001, recording 51 tackles and tying for a team-leading three interceptions.
But Aug. 23, the former Badger was celebrating his 20th birthday in Toledo, watching his former team on television.
While most fans marveled at the play of the Badgers’ new strong safety, Carrie Linskens, and five other close friends of Michael Broussard paid homage to their friend by wearing No. 8 jerseys, Broussard’s former Badger number. But other than these few fans, Broussard will be remembered for how he left the Badgers as opposed to how he played on the field.
Head coach Barry Alvarez announced Broussard was leaving the Wisconsin football team at a press conference 11 days prior to the Badgers’ opener. With little guarantee of seeing significant playing time again as a Badger, Broussard decided it would be best for him to move on. Alvarez hinted at Broussard’s intentions after his departure, stating that his brother Quinton is currently a freshman tailback at Toledo. “I think that’s probably where he’ll end up,” Alvarez stated.
As of Aug. 21, Michael Broussard had traveled and settled in Toledo, where he was in the midst of filing for transfer. He will sit out this season as per NCAA regulations.
Toledo head coach Tom Amstutz confirmed that Michael Broussard would play strong safety next season. Amstutz welcomes the addition of an upperclassman in that spot for the Rockets; the team will use two underclassmen this season.
“Mike [Broussard] will play strong safety in the secondary, and we’re really looking forward to having him contribute to the football team next season,” Amstutz said.
Broussard came to UW as a tailback, but due to the abundance of talent at that position, the Badgers moved the prep star to defensive back as a freshman, and later to safety as a sophomore. Broussard recorded 3,242 rushing yards in his high school career at The Colony in Carrolton, Texas, where he received all-state honors as a senior.
Broussard’s demotion was the first major depth chart change made by Coach Ron Cooper as an assistant with the Badgers. The move surely sent a signal throughout the defensive backfield, if not the entire team — that complacency would not be tolerated.
However, if the play of Jim Leonhard has been any signal, Broussard’s job would have been in jeopardy regardless of any supposed lackadaisical play.
“Depth changes are a natural thing in football,” Amstutz stated. “Mike really liked UW; he thinks it’s a great school, and he had a great time there. But his demotion and the fact that his brother is real close by, I think, led to his interest in transferring here to Toledo.”
