The yearly tradition that is the Wisconsin spring football game
will have a slightly different twist in 2004. Due to the renovation
of Camp Randall Stadium, the intersquad exhibition will be held at
Madison La Follette High School’s Lussier Stadium Saturday at
1 p.m. Originally cancelled due to the construction of new south
endzone bleachers, head coach Barry Alvarez and the Badgers decided
to move the contest.
The game is expected to have its usual format, with the
first-teamers taking on the reserves.
“We plan on doing it similar to the past few years, where
we’ll go ones against the rest,” Alvarez said.
“We’ll have some kids that play on both
sides.”
Alvarez plans on playing the first, second and third quarters to
the normal regulation time, then utilizing a running clock in the
fourth quarter.
In order to avoid injuries in an exhibition game, some of the
more prominent Badgers will not suit up for the game.
“We’ll hold out some of the guys who have been
starters for several years,” Alvarez said. “Jimmy
Leonhard won’t play, Anthony (Davis) won’t
play.”
In the 2002 spring game, All-American wideout Lee Evans saw his
season come to an end before it ever began when he suffered a knee
injury after making a reception.
Wide receivers Brandon Williams and Darrin Charles are also not
expected to play, as neither has practiced yet in the spring due to
injuries. Also watching from the sidelines have been injured
defensive ends Darius Jones and Jonathan Welsh.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback John Stocco has taken a firm hold
on the starting quarterback position, but the backup situation is
still up in the air.
Senior Matt Schabert has plenty of experience, most notably in
Wisconsin’s 17-10 victory over Ohio State Oct. 11, 2003.
Tyler Donovan, who redshirted a year ago, brings athleticism to the
Wisconsin huddle. The newest entry into the Badger quarterback
picture is Sean Lewis, who enrolled in classes a semester early in
order to take part in spring workouts.
Schabert, Donovan and Lewis will look to solidify their places
on the depth chart with strong showings Saturday.
Without Williams, Charles and the graduated Evans, more playing
time will be available for juniors Jonathan Orr and Brandon White,
as well as 6-foot-5, 232-pound freshman Brandon Tobias.
At tailback, without Davis, there will be more carries for
Dwayne Smith, Booker Stanley and sophomore Phillip Fuller.
Wisconsin fans will get their first look at new defensive
coordinator Brett Bielema’s unit, which features a new-look
group of linebackers containing the likes of LaMarr Watkins, Reggie
Cribbs and Brandon Kelly, while Elliot Good and Mark Zalewski nurse
injuries.
Leonhard’s absence could move sophomore Roderick Rogers
into the first team. Hailing from Stone Mountain, Ga., Rogers
appeared in seven games as a freshman in 2003.
Another battle is at the boundary corner position, where junior
Brett Bell has been slowed by injury. Freshman Jameson Davis is
listed second behind Bell on the spring depth chart. Like Lewis,
Davis graduated from high school a semester early and enrolled at
UW, allowing him to get some spring reps in.
