Wisconsin Likes Playing the MAC

[Rollo83]

Going through the Wisconsin media guide, I discovered that they have a long history of playing MAC schools. Almost all of these games have been during the Alvarez tenure.

Here are the games (all won by the Badgers):

1989 23-10 Toledo
1990 24-7 Ball State
1991 21-6 Eastern Michigan
1992 39-18 BG
1994 56-0 Eastern Michigan
1996 24-3 Eastern Michigan
1998 48-0 Ohio
1999 50-10 Ball State
2000 19-7 Western Michigan
2002 24-21 Northern Illionois
2003 48-31 Akron
2004 34-6 Central Florida

Other than a couple of years, they haven't exactly dominated the MAC schools. Plus, I believe that all these were played in Camp Randall.

Lets hope we can finish what Western, Northern and Akron haven't been able to do over the last few years.

As much as we talk about Omar and our offense, this game will hinge on our defense's ability (or inability) to keep the Badgers out of the endzone. I still have those huge holes in our defense lines in my mind from the Toledo and Northern Illionois games. If the Badgers can score quick and often on us, it puts to much pressure on Omar and the offense to keep up.

[kdog27]

BGSU rolls 49-30. We are that good. Call me out if I am wrong, I will eat my crow. This offense will not be shutdown by any team.

[Rightupinthere]

If the Badgers can score quick and often on us, it puts to much pressure on Omar and the offense to keep up.

I agree that the D must make stops but I disagree that there will be pressue on the Offense to "keep up."

Wisconsin's game plan isn't to score quick - although they seem to be implementing a no-huddle this year. They need to control the ball.

The true pressue will be on the young Wisconsin secondary to be able to be discinplined to their assignments and for the coaches to set the proper coverages. That's a pretty big assignment since their defense is not built for nor do the coaches have that much experience with the spread offense.

I'm still uncertain of who wins. I said it before that "it depends." There's a fair amount of confident on my part that it won't be a blowout and that BG wins. My confidence hinges on the Wisky secondary and how they handle the pressure.

[BelieveNBG]

We also need to be ready to handle the "home field advantage" for Wisconsin. I understand that NIU was winning that game late into the final minutes of the game and Wisky benefitted from a phantom call that led to a score in the end. NIU was devastated.

[BGDrew]

Camp Randall is probably one of the best home field advantages in the Big 11.

[BGSUFootballFan]

Camp Randall is probably #2 to the Big House in terms of Home Field Advantage, with the Shoe being a close 3rd

[tekekini]

Camp Randall isnt that impressive in my opinion. Students arent even back in school yet (assuming Whisky on quarters). its an 11 AM game.. (their time) students make that crowd.

the jump around thing in the student section is kind of gay, but I guess their worthless band only has a handful of boring worthless songs to play none of which are too outstanding to get the crowd going.

Atleast BG and OSU and michigan can play their OWN songs to perform long time traditions and not just some dumb rap song thats only been around for 15 years or so. It's all pretty lame. There is a bar right across the street from the stadium that hosts tailgate parties and when I was there they played Piano Man and Barry Manilow. Way to get the crowd goin fellas.

Whisky was a dissappointment. The part of town where the stadium is is rotten and smells like stale beer. Very unimpressive. Madison is a beautiful town..campus area definately not from what I saw

[brianthedog]

1. Students started moving in Friday. Wisconsin is on semesters, and has been for, christ, more than 20 years--at least.
2. It is a sell out, the students will be there, although there is a history of "late arrivals."
3. The Oakcrest does not play Manilow. I dare you to find a Manilow disc on any jukebox of a non-gay bar in Madison. Or does Van Morrison sound like Manilow to you? I know "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Moondance" are really tough songs to place.
4. What the %$#@ is your problem, telk-whatever? Did someone piss in your beer when you were in Madison? Get turned down by every girl you tried to hit on? I hope to show my fellow BG alum and fans a good time in Madison, but have no desire to roll out the welcome mat to someone who obviously has a chip on his shoulder.

[Bleeding Orange]

1. Students started moving in Friday. Wisconsin is on semesters, and has been for, christ, more than 20 years--at least.
2. It is a sell out, the students will be there, although there is a history of "late arrivals."
3. The Oakcrest does not play Manilow. I dare you to find a Manilow disc on any jukebox of a non-gay bar in Madison. Or does Van Morrison sound like Manilow to you? I know "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Moondance" are really tough songs to place.
4. What the %$#@ is your problem, telk-whatever? Did someone piss in your beer when you were in Madison? Get turned down by every girl you tried to hit on? I hope to show my fellow BG alum and fans a good time in Madison, but have no desire to roll out the welcome mat to someone who obviously has a chip on his shoulder.

I'd be willing to bet that tele was in Madison in 2003 when Wisky beat the vaunted Buckeyes. Tele is an unappologetic Aggie fan and has made comments like this about other schools in the Big 10. I mean no offense to tele by saying this, but I take anything he says regarding anything to do with the Big 10 with a grain of salt.

[BGDrew]

I've been to the Big House, that place isn't even close to being loud. All the sound goes straight up. In my opinion, places like the Shoe and Camp Randall are designed for the home field advantage.

Personally, I think the section around the Shoe is a dump. Just look at the "mighty Olentangy."

[tekekini]

i dont have a chip on my shoulder...they did play barry manilow they played copacabana... i believe that is barry manilow...and they played piano man by billy joel. I know what I am talking about. The only words 3/4th the town knows on gameday is f**k and you.


and I STILL think the student section juping around to a gay rap song is a joke. Maybe if the band had a catchy song to play that they could jump around too then fine. we do it to AZZ which OUR BAND plays.. its college sports not the NFL....the band should be involved in that tradition..thats just my opinion..


There was a guy in the bathroom eating a hamburger while holding his dick and taking a piss and telling us to F***ing go home

now thats class!

None of that bothered me cos i love people talking s**t cos i will talk it right back..i think thats the most fun part fop going to away games..

I was just NOT impressed.... if your BG alum why are you taking my trashing of the university so personal? i said the town of madison was nice...the campus area not so much..

[Schadenfreude]

I dare you to find a Manilow disc on any jukebox of a non-gay bar in Madison.

Tekeini probably thinks all the bars in Madison are gay.

:coo-coo:

[Schadenfreude]

None of that bothered me cos i love people talking s**t cos i will talk it right back..i think thats the most fun part fop going to away games..

It's not fun on a message board, though.

[Oscoe]

The true pressue will be on the young Wisconsin secondary to be able to be discinplined to their assignments and for the coaches to set the proper coverages. That's a pretty big assignment since their defense is not built for nor do the coaches have that much experience with the spread offense

Um, no. UW plays at least two teams each year in-conf, each with different variations of the spread: Purdue (spread) and Northwestern (spread-option, or whatever you want to call it). UW also tries to schedule one or more Non-Conf opponents each year who feature the spread: Cinci in '99 & '00, Oregon in '01 & '02, WVA in '02 & '03, UNLV in '03 & '04, Akron in '03, UCF in '04, and YOU GUYS this year. Barry Alvarez has been gradually rebuilding UW's defense since 2000 PRECISELY to be able to match up against the spread, since it's become all the rage in CFB now. We now have VERY FAST LB's who can all cover, and have over-recruited the DB position (at the expense of the OL) over the past few years in order to get 7 - 8 dependable DB's who can play lots of nickel & dime and cotinually rotate to stay fresh against spread teams.

Thanks to PU & NU and others, the Badger staff is VERY experienced playng spread offenses, and thanks to their outstanding recruiting efforts over the past few years, we finally have the personnel to match-up quite well with this type of offense. On Saturday, you will see UW employ 8 - 9 different DB's throughout the game under various circumstances. The spread is nothing new to Camp Randall -- including fans, coaches, and players.

This is going to be an entertaining game....I'm sure you're all looking forward to it as much as I am.

[Myles Longer]

Specifically, how well they match up to four very different RBs. I expect three tailbacks to get carries. Calhoun is as quick as you will see all year, until Walker gets in as the third back. Stanley is a bruiser. Your D has NEVER faced a FB like Bernstein.

The second challenge for your D will be bringing pressure on Stocco. This is where I see BG having their best chance to win. All you guys on the Internet can thump your chests (and in at least one case appear to be crazy - BArry Manilow?!?!?!), but I guarantee you that your DC has seen plenty of film of Stocco, and knows that given time (like most decent QBs), he can be very dangerous.

Your D holds the key. If it's hot on the field Saturday, your D must avoid seven minute Badger drives (even if they yeild no points).