After busting their backs to start the season undefeated, the UW football team certainly could use a few days off. When the Badgers take on Penn State Oct. 5, the players should be well rested, and deservingly so.

With the victory over the Arizona Wildcats last Saturday, the Badgers equaled their win total from last season and are 5-0 with just North Carolina State matching their record. Head coach Barry Alvarez is pleased his team has completed its non-conference schedule leaving itself in such a great position.

With the exception of some occasional lapses, the Badgers have improved in virtually every aspect of the gridiron. Alvarez has played freshmen and other raw players to give them significant experience before the start of the Big Ten season. Moreover, playing underclassmen extensively has increased the depth of the team considerably.

“We got a chance to play a lot of young people, and you think back to the way Jonathan Orr started and how Brandon [Williams] and how some of the other guys started, and how fast the game was for them and how far they have come,” Alvarez said.

The freshmen receiving duo is a prime example of raw talent that has seen extensive playing time on the field. Orr and Williams’ contributions on offense and special teams have been unquestionably crucial to the success of the program.

“There is nothing like experience, and these guys are learning under fire,” Alvarez said. “And to be able to do that and still have some success is outstanding. They should use this, and it should give them tremendous confidence for the remainder of their careers.”

Typically, freshmen have been susceptible to burning out at some point in the season, but Alvarez said his team should be able to avoid that situation due to the timing of the bye week.

“We’ve been going close to eight weeks already without a break,” Alvarez said. “I think mentally they’re going to hit it, so this hits at the perfect time.”

Playing an extra game this season could still take its toll on the team; however, looking back Alvarez believes the thirteenth game was a good addition to the season.

“I don’t think we had any major injuries in that game,” Alvarez said. “I thought we got better out of that game. And then you throw the factor in that financially it was pretty good for the department. I would classify it as a definite success.”

After a light practice Sunday, Alvarez gave the players Monday and Tuesday off. Practice resumes Wednesday and concludes again Friday morning, leaving the entire weekend to the players.

“Just to have two days off where they can be regular students, they don’t have to worry about practice,” Alvarez said. “I think that will help, and then to have an entire weekend off I think will be huge. I think they can come back re-energized.”

The Badgers are ranked No. 21 in the AP poll and No. 16 in the Coaches’ poll. The bye week is also giving Alvarez a moment to reflect on the improvement in his team. Alvarez said the most pleasing moment of the season so far has been the way his team has been able to eliminate frivolous errors.

“I think we’ve improved in all three phases,” Alvarez said. “We talked after the first game that we had 20-plus mental errors and [against Arizona] we had five on defense and eight on offense. That’s huge, that’s a tremendous improvement and that’s pretty good when you’re in the low single digits. This is a group that wants to do what the coaches ask. They’ve done a lot of good things.”

All season, team officials have been aiming at the Big Ten opener against the No. 12 Nittany Lions for Lee Evans’ return. However, Alvarez refused to hypothesize when Evans will actually see live action during the Penn State game, if at all this season.

“I don’t feel certain about anything. I don’t know until the doctor tells me that he can play. I know he wants to,” Alvarez said.

Evans has been vigorously working out, doing everything in his power to ensure a healthy comeback, but Alvarez emphasizes Evans must be indisputably ready before hitting the turf.

“I’m not asking; I’m waiting for answers,” Alvarez stressed. “We can all speculate what we want, and we can write what we think, but he still has to have approval, and when he does, he will play.”