WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill did have himself a relatively good day Saturday. With 161 yards on the ground to go with two touchdowns, it wasn't that the effort wasn't outstanding, it is just that Hill has set the bar so high.
However, what made his performance extraordinary was the fact that his offensive line had to prepare for Purdue's defense without the counsel of UW offensive line coach Bob Palcic. Palcic spent the larger part of the week back in his hometown of Gowanda, N.Y., taking care of his family after the passing of his mother.
Palcic did make it back to West Lafayette for the Badgers' game against Purdue, but did not interact with his players until Thursday, as his mother, Jane, died at age 81 earlier in the week. Palcic left the team Sunday for the East Coast, but didn't make it back in time before his mother passed away.
"When you lose your mom, it's rough. She was a great fan and a great mom," a teary-eyed Palcic said after the game. "[At the eulogy], I said, 'Mom, now that I know that you're up there with the guy that makes the decisions, I got a tough road game this weekend against Purdue, sure could use your help, maybe a long run or a couple touchdowns by P.J."
Palcic praised his linemen for their efforts during the week in his absence. Tight ends coach Bob Bostad, who has 16 years of experience coaching the offensive line, took over most of Palcic's duties, along with offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and running backs coach John Settle.
"They played their butts off," Palcic said. "That wasn't the best game that we played of the year this year by any stretch, but we did what we had to do against a good football team on the road, in a tough environment."
Palcic said he called Joe Thomas during the week for updates on the line's progress, and asked for his all-American tackle to take charge of the young line during the week.
"It was big because we knew he was out there and he had his mom die before he got out there," Thomas said. "It was kind of a special week for us because we've really kind of taken to Coach Palcic, and I think the guys really respect him and really like what he's done.
"It was a big week for us to have a good game for Coach Palcic."
Special teams
Zach Hampton fumbled yet another punt return, this time deciding to pick up a seemingly dead punt at UW's own eight-yard-line, but dropped the ball before he could run with it. Badgers defensive back Ben Strickland recovered the fumble in a sea of Boilermakers, but it appeared UW fans would once again be questioning Hampton's position as punt returner after the game.
But this time, Hampton was able to redeem himself after the blunder. The fifth-year senior broke a 22-yard punt return around the left end early in the fourth quarter, leading UW head coach Bret Bielema to believe the winds of change may come about for Hampton.
"I do like the guttiness that he has," Bielema said. "I knew that if you put the ball in his hands, and he has a little bit of success … if he gets one play, it just expands."
The other special teams mishap came on a fake punt, when punter Ken DeBauche put a beautiful pass dead-on to a wide-open Jonathan Casillas. Just 15 yards from the end zone, Casillas dropped the ball, giving Purdue possession around midfield.
Seeing as the drop had no impact on the game's outcome, DeBauche was able to joke after the game about his missed opportunity at a passing touchdown.
"I was waiting for that play all year, [and] we finally had a good opportunity to do it when we needed it in a game," DeBauche said. "I don't think I really had to say anything, he got enough crap from the guys in the locker room for dropping the pass."
DeBauche punted four times with a 48.0 yard average, tying his best game of the year, and Taylor Mehlhaff kicked a career-long 51-yard field goal in the second quarter.
"I had a few attempts over last year and one this year, they said I couldn't quite sneak one in, it felt good to finally break that barrier," Mehlhaff said. "I know I can make field goals back there, it's a matter of doing it in the game.
Strickland said besides the two drops by Hampton and Casillas, the struggling special teams unit made some positive things happen in the road win over Purdue.
"I think overall, we redeemed ourselves a little bit," Strickland said. "Now we just got to keep building off of this week and get ready for next week."
