When Wisconsin kicks off its season Saturday, it will be the first game in the newly renovated Camp Randall Stadium. But for the Badgers, it is a big game for another reason altogether-the opponent. The game will be a trial by fire for the untested defense. The contest versus the Bowling Green Falcons does not look to be an easy one.
The Badgers will field a defense that is relatively young and inexperienced in comparison to last season's. Only junior linebacker Mark Zalewski and senior cornerback Brett Bell started every game in 2004. While there is no doubt they were important to the success of last year's defense, there has been some doubt as to whether this year's defense with its numerous new faces will be as solid.
Head coach Barry Alvarez is not overly concerned with the number of new starters this season.
\I think we have enough guys who have played and have enough experience that can carry over for the few that haven't played much,"" he said.
Bell is realistic, but has confidence in his new secondary.
""I think they're ready for it, I really do,"" Bell said. ""Maybe it will take that first hit for them to really realize what they're in and the speed of the game, but after that they'll be alright.""
However, the fact remains that Saturday is the first time this defense has played together-there are bound to be some kinks to work out; unfortunately for defensive coordinator Bret Bielema, Bowling Green is not a team on which to test your fresh starters.
Bowling Green's spread offense is solid, both in the air and on the ground. They return two starting senior receivers-Charles Sharon, who recorded 66 receptions for 1,070 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, and Steve Sanders, who posted 55 catches and averaged 17.9 yards per reception. They also return senior tailback P.J. Pope, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, in addition to being Second Team all-Mid-American Conference. But the most notable returner the Falcons have is junior Omar Jacobs.
Jacobs might be the best college quarterback in the country. At least that's what last year's numbers say. He led all divisions in touchdown passes (41) and points responsible for (22.5) and logged only four interceptions on 462 pass attempts. He threw for 4,002 yards and ran for 300, making him an obvious choice for First Team all-MAC and MAC Offensive Player of the Year. He was only a sophomore, yet he generated as much buzz among NFL scouts as USC's Matt Leinart-and there's even been early Heisman talk about him.
On Monday, Zalewski recalled a similar game from 2004 where the Badgers went head-to-head with an outstanding quarterback.
""I don't think there was a better feeling than last year at Purdue when we had the same thing with [Kyle] Orton coming in being on all the Heisman watch lists,"" he said.
Zalewski was referring to last season's game against Purdue when Orton fumbled the ball that Scott Starks returned for a touchdown to seal both the Badger W and Orton's Heisman hopes.
History favors the Badgers: They are 11-4 in season-openers and 11-0 against teams from the MAC under Alvarez. They have not lost to a MAC team since 1988. The Falcons are 3-1 against Big Ten teams and are strong starters themselves, going 3-1 in season-openers the past four seasons, and they are favored to win the MAC Conference title in 2005.
