In Wisconsin's annual Spring Game Saturday afternoon at Camp Randall Stadium, the Cardinal squad, comprised of the starters, were winners over the White squad, but only in terms of the score, 33-11. On both sides of the ball and between both squads, the general sentiment following the final spring practice of the year was disappointment.
""It's pretty discouraging, but like every team, you have to make improvements and we're going to take pride in it over the summer, and we're going to make huge strides to help us in the fall,"" said sophomore running back Montee Ball. ""I feel like we have a lot of improvements to make.""
Ball took the majority of the handoffs Saturday for the Cardinal team, a spring replacement for junior running back John Clay, who is continuing recovery efforts following off-season surgery. Ball ran for just 74 yards in the game and averaged only 3.1 yards per rush. Although Ball scored two touchdowns on the afternoon for the Cardinal squad, the rest of the offense for the starting core was less than impressive.
""I think in the first half, particularly when we got down there in the red zone area, you would like to see them finish things off,"" said head coach Bret Bielema. ""I also really feel that Scotty [Tolzien] probably has a better handle on what needs to happen.""
Redshirt senior quarterback Scott Tolzien was the bright spot for the team Saturday afternoon, throwing the ball accurately and consistently, even when the pass was not completed.
Windy conditions throughout the game certainly did not help. Tolzien completed 12 of 22 attempts for 138 yards, including a 22 yard shot down the field to senior wide receiver Isaac Anderson.
Senior tight end Lance Kendricks was Tolzien's favorite receiver, collecting six passes for 63 yards.
And while Tolzien played to expectations, the quarterback who garnered the most attention Saturday was his backup. After losing sophomore quarterback Curt Phillips to a season-ending knee injury this offseason, redshirt freshman Jon Budmayr has unexpectedly been forced to step into the number two role on the depth chart.
However, whether it was the fierce winds or blustery nerves, Budmayr's day was certainly one he will hope to soon forget. Budmayr completed just nine of 19 attempts for only 68 yards. Although the Illinois native began the day with a flashy 19 yard completion, the rest of his afternoon was filled with overthrown and misplaced passes. Budmayr was also sacked twice in the game.
""The thing I was most disappointed with was a couple of the same mistakes that I made earlier in spring ball,"" said Budmayr. ""So I want to learn from those and put it behind me and just make progress from here on out.""
A player who could take an enormous amount of confidence from Saturday's game is redshirt junior kicker Philip Welch. Following a 2009 season rattled with disappointing misses, Welch converted on all three attempts in the game as well as seven of eight in mid-quarter competitions, including an impressive 56 yard boot.
Although there are certainly many strides this Wisconsin team can and must make throughout the summer, Bielema looked to keep things in perspective.
""Nothing that we've done to this point will guarantee us any wins next year, so it is going to be a personal challenge that they have to all accept and hopefully move forward.""
