SPORTS
UW, UT face off on New Year’s
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Also by Kevin Hagstrom:
- Family comes 1st for ex-Badger WR (December 11, 2007)
- Nothing special about UW power play (December 10, 2007)
- Confident UW squad faces off against Minnesota State (December 7, 2007)
- Sophomores to play for U.S.A. (December 6, 2007)
- Hill of a pickle for UW tailback (December 5, 2007)
Related Stories:
- 'Let's go Outback': Badgers bound for Tampa bowl (November 29, 2007)
- Michigan and Ohio State accept bowl bids (November 26, 2001)
- Tennessee named as bowl foe (December 3, 2007)
- Arkansas to take on Wisconsin in Capital One Bowl on New Year's day (December 4, 2006)
- Brown likely Outback starter (December 10, 2007)
by Kevin Hagstrom
Thursday, December 13, 2007
While it isn’t the bowl game some thought Wisconsin might be
competing in after entering the season with the No. 7 ranking in hand, the
Outback Bowl marks the fourth consecutive year the Badgers will play on New
Year’s Day.
That’s something UW head coach Bret Bielema says the program
can take pride in.
"What we want to do is play Jan. 1," Bielema said. "I think
it's a great stat that we're one of three teams in the country to play on Jan.
1 for the last four years — USC and West Virginia, I think [are the other two].
It speaks for itself when you have that type of exposure and that type of
program."
On Jan. 1, Wisconsin (9-3, 5-3 Big Ten) will attempt to end
its season on a high note when it takes on Tennessee (9-4, 6-2 SEC). But it
must do so without the services of starting running back P.J. Hill, who is set
to miss his second consecutive game and third overall with a nagging lower left
leg injury.
Freshman Zach Brown, as was the case to conclude the year,
will get the start, with sophomore Lance Smith serving as his backup. For the
latter, the Outback Bowl serves as the first opportunity he can travel with the
team this year after a suspension prevented him from partaking in any Badger
road games during the regular season.
Per the norm, the Badgers will look to set the pace of the
game with Brown, Smith and their ground attack on offense. The Volunteers will
counter with a potent passing attack, led by play-caller Erik Ainge. The senior
has thrown for 3,157 yards and 29 touchdowns already this year and is dangerous
with the football.
"I realize they have very gifted athletes," Bielema said.
"The quarterback Ainge is very gifted."
Ainge will certainly provide a different look from the
run-oriented Razorback offense that the Badgers faced last year in their date
with New Year’s Day at the Capital One Bowl. Or even what they faced this
season in a run-heavy Big Ten.
"Arkansas was a dramatically different bird because their
best players were the running backs; the quarterbacks were kind of subbing in
and out," Bielema said. "Obviously because of Ainge and what he's able to do
with the throwing game, it's a little different there."
Still, the Volunteers have a capable back in junior Arian
Foster. The hard runner has 1,162 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
The allure of the Outback Bowl is that it pits the Big Ten
versus the SEC. Bielema, however, approaches the conference clash as he would
any other game.
"I don't really see a conference, I see an opponent,"
Bielema said. "People are going to make an issue of the SEC versus the Big Ten.
We're only playing Tennessee. We're not playing Auburn, we're not playing
Georgia, we're not playing LSU or anybody else."
The Badgers may not have met preseason expectations, that
much is true. But from Bielema’s standpoint, to have finished where the team
did and earn another Jan. 1 bowl berth given all that it has endured this year,
is worth something.
"This season showed me probably more than anything how well
they believed in ‘the next man in’ and the ability to do the job," Bielema
said.
Henry’s status uncertain
According to a team source, Henry was injured during
practice Sunday and has not practiced since. Henry has also reportedly been seen
using crutches to get around campus in the days since.
A team spokesman said Wednesday UW head coach Bret Bielema
had no comment on the matter, and Bielema is not scheduled to speak with the
press again until Friday.
A potential loss of Henry would be bad news for an
already-depleted Wisconsin secondary. Henry had taken over starting duties from
Allen Langford, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the team's
third-to-last regular season game.
It would be especially damaging considering Tennessee quarterback
Erik Ainge was the SEC's second-leading passer this season, throwing for 3,157
yards and 29 touchdowns.
Senior Ben Strickland or junior Josh Nettles would be the
most likely candidates to replace Henry.
— Ben Voelkel
contributed to this report.
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