With the college football season finally complete, it’s time for the final installment of my Heisman Watch series—an early preview of 2015’s potential candidates.
No Frank Kaminsky, no Traevon Jackson, major problems for the Wisconsin Badgers. The result: pandemonium in Piscataway.
No. 4 Wisconsin received a fitting welcome to the Big Ten season three games in, outlasting Purdue 62-55 in an ugly, competitive game Wednesday.
Though the temperature outside in Evanston, Illinois dipped into the single digits, the Wisconsin offense was on fire Sunday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena, where the Badgers downed the Northwestern Wildcats 81-58.
TAMPA - Melvin Gordon has left his final mark on Wisconsin football. In a season defined by broken records, national accolades and dominant performances, Gordon can add one last highlight to his repertoire: a victory in his final game as a Badger.
It seems simple enough. Pound the ball with Melvin Gordon, force defenses to stack the box, then take advantage of soft coverage in the secondary with a devastating play action pass.
Discussing Wisconsin’s offensive productivity feels inherently wrong with the memory of its nightmarish 59-0 embarrassment at the hands of Ohio State still fresh. Yet, prior to that forgettable night in Indianapolis, the Badgers ranked 20th in total offense and were the 14th-best scoring team in the nation. They had put up at least 34 points in six of their prior seven games, and by all measures appeared to be a nearly unstoppable offensive force.
Playing its first game in nine days, one might have expected No. 6 Wisconsin to look a little rusty against California. However, the Badgers (11-1) picked up right where they left off, defeating the Golden Bears (10-2) 68-56 Monday night at Haas Pavilion.
It has been a tumultuous past few weeks for No. 17 Wisconsin. From the euphoria of a Big Ten West title to the demoralizing loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship and the shocking departure of head coach Gary Andersen, there are few emotions the Badgers haven’t experienced lately.
It’s amazing what one week can do for a program.
When Paul Chryst arrived in Madison to become the next head football coach at Wisconsin, he looked out at Camp Randall from his window at HotelRED and recalled memories of a program that has been an integral part of his life since childhood.
The Badgers (10-1) aced the easiest final they will see all week Saturday in the Kohl Center, an 86-43 beatdown of Nicholls State (1-5).
The record-breaking Badgers’ (18-1 Big Ten, 31-3 overall) season had to come to an end eventually, but to have it come from fellow Big Ten competitor Penn State (18-2, 34-3) made it sting just a little more. Wisconsin fell in four sets 25-22, 16-25, 22-25, 19-25 Saturday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky.
Despite a historically strong campaign in his first year as a starter, Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon finished second in the 80th annual Heisman Trophy balloting Saturday behind Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
For the third time in a row, the No. 2 Badgers (31-2 overall) defeated No. 18 Ohio State (23-12) in the NCAA tournament, giving them their third win against the Buckeyes this season. Unlike the past two contests, Ohio State pushed the Badgers to a fifth set after getting swept in their first two matchups.
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus, current Pittsburgh head coach and former UW assistant Paul Chryst is poised to become the next head coach of the Badgers.
We have reached the end. The 80th annual Heisman Trophy will be awarded to one of three finalists Dec. 13—Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon or Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper.
Say this for Bret Bielema: When he bolted from Wisconsin, it at least made a lick of sense. “Bert” was apparently unhappy with how much he was allowed to pay his assistants (which is fair, considering NC State pays its assistants more than Wisconsin) and had seen coaching staff after coaching staff lose key football minds to more aggressive schools. The sparkle and money of the SEC shone bright, so Bielema made a career move that was at the very least lateral and was understandable when you consider what the SEC was at the time: the only way to win a national championship.
If there were any concerns remaining about Sam Dekker’s lingering ankle injury going into Wednesday night’s game in Milwaukee, they were to put to rest by the junior forward’s outstanding performance.
Once again, the position of Wisconsin Badgers head football coach is open thanks to Gary Andersen’s shocking decision to leave Madison for Oregon State. Countless names are already being thrown around as possible candidates, but here are a few names that athletic director Barry Alvarez would do well to consider, along with a 1-to-5 rating of how interested fans would be in them and how likely they would take the job if offered. (Disclaimer: The following list of possible candidates is pure speculation. Their interest in the Wisconsin job and Wisconsin’s interest in them is unknown at this point in time.)
Read on Issuu
Solutions by The State News
