This weekend should prove to be the biggest of challenges in the young season for the Wisconsin Badgers in more ways than one. The opening of the Big Ten season Saturday afternoon with ESPN's College GameDay in town will prove to be a challenge for the players on the field as well as those trying to keep peace in and around the stadium.
On the field, the Badgers should face their toughest opponent thus far. While last weekend's poor performance, even in victory, was partially due to the weather, this weekend Joe Paterno and Penn State bring in the most talented program UW has faced this season.
The biggest challenge will continue to be on the Badgers' offensive end. Without senior tailback Anthony Davis, the team has struggled. Sophomore backup Booker Stanley has been serviceable, but 3.7 yards per carry is not going to get the job done against a Nittany Lion defense which is allowing just 87 rushing yards per game.
And let's face it, sophomore quarterback John Stocco has not been impressive at the passing end of the game.
Wisconsin's defense has been most impressive this season, giving up just 201 yards per game, but it will get its toughest challenge against a Penn State offense which has put up 465 yards per game so far this season.
Many times close games come down to special teams. If that is the case this weekend, Barry Alvarez better hope that it comes down to senior Jim Leonhard, the Big Ten's leading punt returner, and not senior kicker Mike Allen, who, in the past two weeks, has missed two field goals and one extra point.
However, with all of these challenges occurring on the field, it is hard to believe that the biggest challenge of the weekend may occur elsewhere on the grounds of Camp Randall.
At the beginning of this season the university launched \Rolling Out the Red Carpet,"" a campaign to build new welcoming traditions for all sports fans and create a friendlier atmosphere both in and around Camp Randall.
This weekend's game will be the first home game that does not start at 11 a.m. Afternoon and night games have been notoriously known for drunken debauchery of the fans, particularly the student section, creating an abrasive atmosphere for opposing fans.
Add to that the fact that this weekend is the first Big Ten home game and that GameDay is in town, the fans should be out in prime form. Promoters of the campaign have received nothing but positive feedback from fans so far this season, but this game may be tougher.
""We'll have a good pregame presence in the area where GameDay is set up because that always draws a lot of fans,"" said University Communications spokesperson Dennis Chaptman.
To ensure that fans of all teams have a good time at Camp Randall, the campaign has focused on greeting fans, handing out stickers and T-shirts and answering any questions fans may have. The program will have its Fan Ambassadors out in full force again this weekend, armed with extra shirts, coupons and other giveaways on board the Bucky Wagon.
But campaigners know that there are going to be those few fans who will try to ruin the gameday experience for visiting fans.
""We know that there is a tiny minority of fans that may drink too much or take it too far,"" said University Communications spokesperson John Lucas. ""Fan Ambassadors aren't designed to tackle that. They're just designed to welcome fans and say hello. Hopefully it works out this week like it has the past few.""
Hopefully they will not have the need to tackle the problem. Hopefully it will not be a problem at all. But there are too many variables leading to a potential problem to overlook.
Eric Schmoldt is the sports editor for The Daily Cardinal.
