Asked at a press conference Monday whether he thought there was a need to control the hype surrounding this weekend’s game against undefeated Ohio State, senior linebacker Jeff Mack fumbled around a bit before finding the correct, if ironic answer: “I don’t know how to answer that question,” Mack said, “probably because I’m too hyped up right now.”

That is the air surrounding the Badger team this week. Quarterback Jim Sorgi had a hard time containing his own enthusiasm.

“I think this will be the biggest game we’ve played since I’ve been here. [A] top quality opponent, it’s going to be at the Camp, eight o’clock at night, there’s going to be a chill in the air. It’s going to be football the way football’s supposed to be played. Speaking for the team, this is probably the most excited we’ve ever been to play a football game.”

But if enthusiasm is taking over the Badger locker room, head coach Barry Alvarez is trying to make sure that the enthusiasm is controlled.

“Probably the worst thing a coach could do is make a big deal out of it,” Alvarez said, “It’s a big enough deal; the players know that.”

Alvarez said that he would talk to his team at practice to remind them “it’s just another football game.”

“You can’t do that much more anyhow. You just want your guys to play and play well. The important thing is to prepare well this week.”

UW’s leading tackler Mack agreed. “You can’t get too overworked or too overhyped about it now. You can’t play the game today, you can’t play it tomorrow … we have to know the keys and practice with a purpose.”

Sorgi was slower to admit that controlling the team’s enthusiasm might be for the best. “I don’t think you can ever have too much hype,” he said.

He agrees with Mack, though, that the Badgers need to concentrate their excessive energy on preparation efforts.

“It’s an extra half hour of film every day instead of going and laying on the couch. It’s talking to the coaches a little bit more about the game plan. It’s all the stuff we know we need to do, but just magnified a little bit more.”

Sorgi is setting his own sights on simply playing a solid game.

“I don’t have to make an extraordinary effort to win this game. I just have to go out there and play solid, make plays when they come to me and protect the ball.”

Going the extra yard to prepare may be crucial for the Badgers in order to catch up with the Buckeyes, who, with a bye last weekend, have had an extra week’s rest and research under their belts.

“I would anticipate that with two weeks preparation, we’ll see some formations and some things that we’ve never seen before,” Alvarez said, “The guys will have to be sound enough and understand the defense well enough that they can adjust when they see something for the first time.”

On paper, there is plenty of reason for the Badgers to believe in their chances. Ohio State ranks last in the Big Ten in offense, and playmaker Maurice Clarett is gone. But nobody is underestimating what the national champs are capable of doing.

“The thing that’s really impressive to me is how many close games they’ve won,” Alvarez said. “What that tells you is they expect to win. They’ve got a lot of winners.”

One of those winners is quarterback Craig Krenzel, who will return this week after missing two straight games with a hyperextended elbow.

“He keeps the chains moving. He never loses a game,” Alvarez said. “That’s what you want from a quarterback: to get the ball to your playmakers and, when you have to, to make a big play.”

Also back to full health for the Buckeyes are standout center Alex Stepanovich, who had been sidelined for two games with a sprained ankle, and fullback Brandon Joe, who had seen limited time so far this season after tearing a pectoral muscle. The Buckeyes got a bye week at just the right time.

“I wish we’d had one,” said Alvarez. “We’ve been nicked up … you’d like to have a week to regroup and get healthy.”

Alvarez wouldn’t comment on any of the injuries suffered in Saturday’s game against Penn State. Jeff Mack, who suffered an injury to his ankle, though, was optimistic. While he admitted to lingering soreness in his ankle, he planned on being on the field at game time Saturday.

Star tailback Anthony Davis’s status is unclear, as is Dwayne Smith’s, but Jim Sorgi did comment, saying, “Something would have to be seriously wrong to keep any of us out of this one.”

After coming close to winning last year against the Buckeyes, the Badgers hope to pull off the upset this time around.

“[Last year] we had our opportunities, but we didn’t make the plays,” Alvarez lamented. With the level of enthusiasm growing in Madison, this Saturday night’s game will give Sorgi, Mack, Alvarez and the rest of the team a chance to make up for last year’s close call.

“It’s a great setup,” Mack said, “It’s going to be a great game.”