SPORTS
Badgers move on after stunning loss in East Lansing
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Also by Benjamin Worgull:
- Tech-nically sound, UW faces test (February 23, 2007)
- O Captain! My Captain! Joudrey fulfills role (February 20, 2007)
- Forecheck sparks Badger success (February 19, 2007)
- Taylor saves his best for last (February 15, 2007)
- Seniors hit key 'junction' (February 13, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Calm down: UW still in title hunt (November 17, 2004)
- Turnovers predicate UW's blowout loss (November 22, 2004)
- Badger offense looks to ground Spartans (October 23, 2002)
- Badgers fall to Spartans (April 21, 2003)
- Badgers look to extend perfect season against Spartans (November 9, 2004)
by Benjamin Worgull
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
After failing to improve to 10-0 for the first time in school history, the Badger football team (9-1, 6-1) had little time to pick up the pieces and regroup. After the 49-14 debacle in East Lansing, Mich., in which the Badgers’ top-ranked scoring defense allowed 551 total yards of offense, Wisconsin dropped five spots in both polls and a crucial eight spots in the BCS standings. While this loss was new territory for the previously No. 4-ranked Badgers, Coach Alvarez is confident that his team will bounce back in Iowa City Saturday, where Wisconsin has won two out of the last three meetings with the Hawkeyes.
“I have many losses that were more difficult than this one,” Alvarez said. “I think when you are beaten soundly, [the loss] is easier to get behind you. It wasn’t like you got beat in the last second or you walked off the field and felt should have won the game. We were beat in all phases of the game. So, you move on. You move forward and take a look at where you are, what you are playing for and what you have to correct. You never like to lose, but [our coaching staff] have many more that are more difficult to accept than this one.”
Scouting Drew Tate: After suffering a pair of blow-out losses on the road against Arizona State and Michigan in late September, the Hawkeyes have been one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, winning six straight conference games.
Iowa’s winning streak can be attributed to the resurgence of their offense, which has scored over 23 points five times during the win streak. The backbone of Iowa’s offense is first-year starter Drew Tate, who like John Stocco has quickly matured in becoming one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten. Tate ranks first in the Big Ten in passing (268 passing yards per game) and second in pass efficiency (136.4).
In Saturday’s road win over Minnesota, Tate completed 24 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season total to 15 touchdown passes this year. According to Coach Alvarez, Tate’s rise to the top of the Big Ten was no accident, and neither was Iowa’s ability to overcome its injury problems this season.
“[Iowa] at the beginning of the year, I think, was more balanced,” Alvarez said. “I don’t think they wanted to put to much pressure on the young quarterback. [Iowa] had a nice stable of running backs, but because of the injuries to their running backs, [Iowa] has had to put more of the offense in [quarterback Drew Tate’s] hands. Tate has grown with [the offense] … and they used his mobility and escapeability to get the ball around. Tate probably handles much more of the offense than you would think for a first year starter.”
Pasadena or Florida: With a national championship out of reach and the visions of roses starting to wilt, the Badgers are in a must-win situation as the Badgers finish the regular season traveling to the No. 17-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes.
In order for the Badgers to reach the Rose Bowl, they will need to beat Iowa and hope that Ohio State can pull the upset at home at Michigan. If Michigan loses and Wisconsin wins, both teams would have identical conference records but the Badgers would go to the Rose Bowl because of a better overall record.
If Wisconsin and Michigan both win, Michigan would go to the Rose Bowl and the Badgers would most likely play in the Capital One Bowl against either Tennessee or Georgia.
If the Badgers lose, Wisconsin would finish third in the Big Ten and play in the Outback Bowl in Orlando. With all the scenarios on the table, Coach Alvarez knows that all his team can control is its showdown with the Hawkeyes.
“I know we are going to a bowl, but there are just too many things that could happen,” Alvarez said. “We have been on the phone. We talked with the Big Ten yesterday and talked about situations. I talked to some of the bowl people today. I think you always want to sit down and lay off different scenarios and what could possibly happen and there’s a lot that could possibly happen. I think you saw that with our game [against Michigan State] and with other games around the country. I do know we’re going bowling and that’s all that really matters.”
Anonymous (November 16, 2004 @ 1:24pm):
I really wish the team, and especially Alverez would stop acting like this loss to MSU is no big deal. They lost the chance at a national championship. That doesn't happen all too often for teams like WI. The fucking blew it. Yeah, its still a big game next week but not nearly what it should have been. They came out saturday and got beat by a team that they are better than, and that loss cost them most likely the Rose Bowl and certainly a shot at the national championship. Last Saturday was huge and the way the Alverez and his team are talking now, it is clear that they choked and are not ready for the next level of elite teams. We will always be chasing the Michigans and other elite programs. "We're going bowling and thats all that matters". No thats not all that matters. National Championships matter, Rose Bowls matter, bullshit FL bowls do not matter. No one remembers who won the Capital One Bowl.
Anonymous (November 16, 2004 @ 2:19pm):
The previous 'anonymous' response sounds like someone who's never played a frickin sport before. A big part of a team going 10 and 1 is to learn from a loss (unless it's the last game, of course) and picking it up to win out from there.
Does this mope really think that dwelling on that loss, and moping around during this important prep week is the way to go? There is a HUGE difference between the two bowls we are qualifying for, with this last game.
Anonymous (November 16, 2004 @ 3:01pm):
I agree with the first guy, and this second guy sounds like a loser. If he ever played any sports himself, he must have sucked, because only a loser would be satisfied with the Micky Mouse Bowl when the National Championship game was in reach and the Rose Bowl was all but locked up. Michigan learned from a loss in week 2, you don't do that at the end of the season, when you are on the brink of something special. And the only difference between the 2 other bowls we may go to is the 2 hours between kickoffs.
Anonymous (November 16, 2004 @ 3:10pm):
It's amazing how quick I went from moaning that the Badgers would "only" be playing in the Rose Bowl to not caring that much which bowl.
If Michigan loses to Ohio and the Badgers still lose to Iowa, then I'll say they are complete losers.
There's still a slim hope for Roses. At least they won't be in the toilet bowl this year.
Patrick Klemz (November 16, 2004 @ 4:31pm):
Guys, considering the team's actual ability I think things are still going extremely well. I didn't think so at the beginning of the season but I certainly believe the Badgers are at least on par with the Wolverines. A trip to the Capital One Bowl isn't a catastrophe, they'll still be playing a quality SEC team, whether it's Georgia or Tennessee.
I never bought into the concept of Wisconsin in a class with Auburn, USC or even Oklahoma. Honestly, the Rose Bowl (against Cal) might be the only BCS bowl Wisconsin would have had a good to decent chance of winning. And that's still a possibility.
National Championship? Not a prayer. Oklahoma has some serious defensive holes but Auburn and USC are so ridiculously out of our league in terms of talent that the notion of Wisconsin beating them in the Orange Bowl is borderline silly.
P. Klemz
-BH Sports
Anonymous (November 16, 2004 @ 5:15pm):
I agree the team is not in the same league as the 3 teams that were ranked above them, but even if they don't deserve a chance to play in Miami, I'll certainly take the chance to play for the championship or at least the opportunity to complain about not being in that game if we had finished undefeated.
My point earlier was that I was upset with the "as long as we're bowling, its ok" attitude. You can't have that attitude and move to the next level. Yes, I think we are as good as Michigan this year, and have been in the past few heartbreaking meetings. But the programs and apparent attitudes are distances apart. Michigan expects to be in the Rose Bowl every year and have a shot at the championship game, we think its magical that we are this far and still thinking about a Rose Bowl. Barry stating any bowl game is fine, really shows me he isn't concerned with taking that next step.
Tell me 3 months ago that they will finish 10-1 and go to a new years day bowl, I would be jumping for joy. But now, after going through this amazing season and being ranked 4th in the country, having it that close, and then just pissing ourselves against a team that may not even go to a bowl game, it hurts. And as a die hard fan, it sucks to hear the leader of the team say "awe, no big deal, we'll go to some bowl".
I didn't say dwell on the loss and don't get ready for Iowa, but don't piss in my ear and tell me its raining. Orlando is nice but no Pasadena.
Whats in your wallet
- Anonymous guy 1
