Coming off of an exciting, down-to-the-wire victory over Michigan, Barry Alvarez's weekly Monday press conference at Camp Randall seemed different. Maybe it was the exhilaration of the recent win still in the Madison air, or maybe it was just Alvarez's bright pink shirt that seemed to light up the room.
However, when the questions started coming, it was back to business for the head coach. A win is a win for the Badgers (1-0 Big Ten, 4-0 overall), and the popular phrase \1-0"" from last season was echoed again this year. The goal of this week for Wisconsin is to put the elation caused by the 23-20 win over the Wolverines behind them, and regroup for an undefeated Indiana team (0-0, 3-0).
""That's something we'll address with the team and that's being mature enough to handle a big win,"" Alvarez said. ""Putting a win behind you and moving forward and having tremendous preparation this week for Indiana. They're 3-0, and they're a good football team. You have to be mature enough about that win and start refocusing on 1-0.""
Alvarez was singing an old, familiar tune, and the same seemed to rub off on the hero of the game, junior quarterback John Stocco, who was last seen Saturday being mobbed by teammates in the end zone. Stocco's four-yard run on a surprise quarterback draw call from the sidelines gave Wisconsin the win with 24 seconds left. He believes that despite the uplifting victory, there are still kinks to be worked out.
""It's still really early in the season. We still have a lot of games left,"" Stocco said. ""There is still a lot of football to be played and guys are still hungry. I think it would be a different story if I was sitting here and said, 'We had played our best game,' because right now I don't think I can say that. We still have a lot of work we need to do and a lot of things to correct.""
Stocco and the Badgers, though, refuse to brush this off as just another win. There is a sense of pride that they were able to help Alvarez defeat Wolverine head coach Lloyd Carr for the first time, and Michigan for the first time since 1994.
""Obviously, it felt good to end the game. I was really proud of all our guys and really happy for coach Alvarez,"" Stocco said. ""He hasn't had a lot of success against those guys in the past. It was great to get that for him.""
Still, despite his players' pride and satisfaction, Alvarez refuses to place a victory over Carr and his club on a pedestal.
""It's not about Lloyd Carr, it's just a win Saturday. You don't go into games and look at your record,"" Alvarez said. ""I wouldn't ask the kids for anything for me. It's about this football team and us as a staff just trying to get maximum potential and getting them to play hard.""
Maybe it was the ecstatic post-game bear hugs Alvarez gave to his coaches, or maybe it was the all-out fist pump that almost took the head coach off his feet as he headed past the student section to chants of ""Barry! Barry!,"" but there certainly was something special about this weekends' past win for Alvarez, whether he wants to admit it or not.
With sophomore defensive linemen Jamal Cooper (likely done for the year with a torn ACL) and Justin Ostrowski (battling knee problems) injured, the Badges could not afford another lineman down. Alvarez assured Badger fans that freshman Jason Chapman was fine and noted that he even re-entered the game Saturday. Alvarez called junior defensive back Joe Stellmacher's injury a ""stinger"" and said he would rejoin practice Wednesday.
