Over the course of the disappointing 2001 season that the Wisconsin football team has endured, the search for scapegoats has been unending. Key injuries, poor tackling, inadequate preparation and inspired play by seemingly overmatched Badger opponents have all been cited as possible reasons for the Badgers’ current seat near the bottom of the Big Ten standings.

One unit seemingly not responsible for the Badgers’ record (4-5, 2-3 Big Ten) is the offense. The offense has put points on the board and has produced good numbers on the season, highlighted by tremendous individual performances by the likes of flanker Lee Evans and tailback Anthony Davis.

Evans has accumulated 1,188 receiving yards on the season and only needs 248 more yards to break David Boston’s single-season record of 1,435 receiving yards. His 132 yards-per-game average is first in the Big Ten and second nationally. Evans has also caught a school-record-tying nine touchdowns.

With his 101-yard performance last week against Michigan State, Davis became only the seventh freshman in Big Ten history to exceed the 1,000-yard mark. He leads the Big Ten with 127.9 yards per game.

But looking beyond these gaudy statistics, it is clear that the offense is not free of fault for the Badgers’ disappointing results. The unit has been plagued by inconsistency throughout the season, caused in part by the rotating-quarterback situation that has arisen as a result of injuries to Brooks Bollinger and Jim Sorgi. Turnovers have been abundant, with Sorgi throwing eight interceptions and Bollinger three. The running game has generally been effective but has often seemed unable to find the end zone.

At times the Badger offense is simultaneously explosive and grinding, capable of controlling the clock while also making huge plays both on the ground and through the air. On other occasions, Wisconsin seems unable to move the football consistently. They fail to put points on the scoreboard and do not possess the ball, leaving a weary defense on the field for an extended period of time.

The Badgers will need to be at their best this weekend against a stingy Iowa defense that has very few weaknesses. The Hawkeyes (4-3, 2-3 Big Ten) have allowed only 290.7 yards of total offense per game this season, good for first in the Big Ten. The defense has many talented players and loads of experience, and it will require precise execution by the Badger offense to be effective against the unit.

The defense is led by diminutive safety Bob Sanders, the shortest player on the Iowa squad. Sanders, who is listed at 5-foot-8 and 194 pounds, has played bigger than his height in his sophomore campaign, recording 70 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.

Linebacker Fred Barr causes almost as much havoc as Sanders. He has posted 71 tackles on the season, five of which were for losses, to go along with a sack and three pass breakups.

The possible return of Bollinger to the lineup should bring some much-needed consistency back to the Badger offense. Bollinger, who is 21-5 as a starter, was just hitting his stride before he went down with groin and hip injuries against Illinois. In the two weeks prior to the Illinois game, Bollinger passed for 222 yards and 202 yards, against Indiana and Ohio State, respectively, his two highest totals of the season.

“I thought Brooks really was playing well,” said head coach Barry Alvarez. “He threw the ball very accurately, was smart about not taking unnecessary hits, just had a good grasp of everything. It’s unfortunate that as soon as he gets into a rhythm, something happens to him.”

The multitalented Bollinger and his mobility will provide the Badgers with a bit of unpredictability, which may be necessary to move the ball against an Iowa defense that has been highly effective against both the run and the pass. The Hawkeyes have allowed only 170 passing yards and 120 rushing yards per game this season, good for first and third in the Big Ten, respectively.

Bollinger hopes to rekindle his aerial relationship with Evans, who has established himself as one of the nation’s premier receivers. The quality of the performances put in by the two, the Badgers’ marquee offensive players, will likely dictate how productive the offense is.

Alvarez feels that the two will be ready for the challenge this weekend, if Bollinger does in fact get clearance to play.

“[Bollinger] has been a tremendous leader and competitor for us,” Alvarez said. “We just want to see him back out there healthy, in the groove of things. He brings to the table what you’re looking for in [the quarterback] position.”

As for Evans, Alvarez dismissed ideas that the seemingly NFL-ready receiver will bolt the college ranks for the pros after this season as an unnecessary distraction to the playmaker. He spoke of Evans’ preparation, which he hopes will be just as high for the game against the Hawkeyes.

“Lee has had a tremendous year so far, he’s just been unbelievable,” Alvarez said. “He’s been able to do that because he’s concentrated on every game. To continue talking about whether or not he’s going to leave, with three games left, that’s not fair to him.”

With the Badgers requiring wins in their final three games to be bowl-eligible, the offense will need to be at its football-moving, clock-controlling best against Iowa. Evans expressed what are likely the feelings of the entire Badger squad concerning the Badgers chances of winning their final three games, starting Saturday against Iowa.

“[Winning out] is definitely realistic,” Evans said. “With the exception of the Indiana game, the games are right there. We haven’t just been getting blown out of the water. We’ve always had a chance. We just have to take it to the next level as a team.”