UW defensive back and co-captain Jim Leonhard has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Badgers’ game at Northwestern last Saturday.

Leonhard registered his first career sack on the Wildcats’ opening possession of the game and had a career-high 19 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. He also tallied his fifth interception of the season, which is tops in the Big Ten.

The honor marks the second time this season Leonhard has been recognized by the conference for his play on the field. He was also named special teams player of the week Oct. 6 after his performance in UW’s victory over Penn State — a game in which he returned three punts for a total of 82 yards, including a 65-yard return for a touchdown.

Evans surpasses 3,000 yard mark

UW wide receiver and co-captain Lee Evans cracked the 3,000-yard career receiving mark during Wisconsin’s matchup with Northwestern Saturday. The standout senior’s career total for receiving yardage now stands at 3,017, leaving him just 294 yards shy of the Big Ten’s all-time record.

Wisconsin’s football game at Minnesota Nov. 8 will kick off at 11 a.m. CST and will be televised live by ESPN, the Big Ten Conference announced. It will mark Wisconsin’s fifth appearance on ESPN this season.

Game times for the Badgers’ last two regular-season games, at home against Michigan State and Iowa, will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Wisconsin football program has agreed to play a two-game series against Bowling Green in 2005 and 2006, Badger head coach and athletic director designee Barry Alvarez announced.

The two teams will square off in Madison in 2005 and play the following season in Cleveland Browns Stadium. These games will replace Wisconsin’s originally scheduled contests with Oregon State, but UW is working with OSU to re-schedule those games.

“I’m pleased that we were able to schedule these games with Bowling Green,” Coach Alvarez said. “We will be facing a quality program, and I know our players and fans, especially those in the northeast Ohio area, will enjoy the experience at Cleveland Browns Stadium.”

Wisconsin and Bowling Green have met just once, a 39-18 Badger victory in Madison in 1992. BGSU has won two of its last three games against Big Ten opponents — winning at Northwestern in 2001 and Purdue in 2003, while losing at Ohio State in 2003.

“This is very exciting for Cleveland,” said David Gilbert, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “This game will bring a lot of people and visibility to our community, as well as continue to build our reputation as a top host for major sporting events. Cleveland has a hunger for college football, and Bowling Green versus Wisconsin will be sure to satisfy.”

“We are very excited to be hosting a college football game between Bowling Green and Wisconsin in 2006,” President and CEO of the Cleveland Browns Carmen Policy said. “We continually attempt to bring as many diverse events to Cleveland Browns Stadium as our schedule and climate permit, and this matchup between well-respected schools from the Mid-American Conference and the Big Ten Conference will be invigorating for the passionate football fans in northeast Ohio.”

— compiled from staff reports