With the lackluster 2001 football season a distant memory, the Wisconsin football team looks to rebound in grand fashion in 2002.
Returning the nucleus of the team's offense from last season and a new-look defense, the Badgers will try to prove to the Big Ten that they will be ready for the 2002 season.
After a disappointing 5-7 season that ended without Wisconsin playing in a bowl game, the Badgers spent the spring working hard to make sure that there would be a different outcome this fall.
Returning key offensive threats in senior quarterback Brooks Bollinger and junior quarterback Jim Sorgi, sophomore running back Anthony Davis and sophomore wide receiver Darrin Charles, the Badgers' offense looks to be as explosive as any in the Big Ten.
\When I look at our strengths I look at the offense, with a number of proven veterans, beginning with the line,"" Head Coach Barry Alvarez said. ""We have depth and they have all improved. We have two proven QBs who understand our system and have been productive. Anthony Davis returns after a great year and the emergence of [senior fullback] Erik Bickerstaff gives us a nice one-two punch.""
The obvious concern of the football team in 2002 is the health of All-American senior wide receiver Lee Evans. Evans damaged ligaments in his knee during the spring football game in late April and had surgery on the damaged knee May 22.
As the Big Ten receiving leader in 2001, Evans was considered by many to be a Heisman Trophy candidate going into the season. Evans led the Badgers and the Big Ten in receiving yards last year with 1,545 and also scored nine touchdowns.
Evans will continue to go through rehab throughout the summer, but the status of his health for the Badgers' season opener Aug. 23 against Fresno State is unknown.
With the possibility of Evans being sidelined for much of the 2002 season, Charles will have to step up big at the wide receiver position. After an impressive spring season and an excellent performance in the spring game, Charles said he is ready to become a big-time receiver.
""I just need to take [this season] in stride,"" Charles said. ""Given my position, I just need to make plays and I need to get it done regardless of the situation. Any way I get the ball is fine with me. As long as I catch it, I am happy.""
With Evans' status still questionable, Bollinger will look to carry the offense this year. After a somewhat disappointing 2001 season'which was plagued by a midseason injury'Bollinger looks to return to Camp Randall and lead the Badgers to a more successful year.
Bollinger and Sorgi shared time throughout the season, but Bollinger seems poised to take control of the offense and improve on last season, when he was 91 for 177 and had six touchdowns.
Davis, who led the Big Ten in rushing as a freshman last year with 1,466 yards, also returns for the Badgers. Davis broke onto the scene in 2001 and finished averaging an impressive five yards a carry with 11 touchdowns. With a nucleus of the offensive line returning as well, Davis looks to be well-protected again this fall.
In addition to the impressive offense that the Badgers look to put on the field in 2002, the defense has a lot of improvements to make from a shaky season last fall and must also deal with the loss of defensive stalwarts Wendell Bryant and Nick Greisen to graduation.
With the addition of new secondary coach Ron Cooper, the secondary will undergo some serious restructuring in 2002.
Returning sophomore defensive backs Scott Starks and Brett Bell and senior defensive back B.J. Tucker from last year, the Wisconsin defense will look to contain opposing offenses enough to let the powerful Badgers offense put up some impressive numbers.
""I thought our defense got better every day this spring,"" Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. ""For the most part, they have a tremendous attitude and everyone is getting better. The guys are starting to understand what we are doing and I think we have a lot of guys who can contribute right now.\
