Seeing Red: Woe is Wisconsin

Seeing red

The Badgers are 0-4 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1996. We asked staff writer Bob Asmussen to figure out what's gone wrong

The band

The trip to Michigan was bad on the field (a 27-25 loss) and off of it. Just ask the Wisconsin folks carrying tubas and trumpets.

Wisconsin temporarily suspended the band's travel rights after an investigation uncovered inappropriate hazing and alcohol-related activities during the trip.

Dean of Students Lori Berquam said her investigation confirmed a "broad pattern of inappropriate and humiliating behavior" that often involved upperclassmen bullying freshmen.

The band missed the Oct. 4 game against Ohio State, the first time in 40 years the band hadn't played at a home Wisconsin game.

On Sunday, the band was allowed to travel to Green Bay to play at halftime of the Packers-Colts game. The band is expected in the stands Saturday.

Recruiting

The troubles actually started early in Bret Bielema's career when the school had trouble landing top skill players.

"I think that's one area where we've seen Wisconsin fall down a little bit," said Jeremy Crabtree, national recruiting expert for Rivals.com. "They still have some tremendous linemen and they do a good job on that. But we saw a couple situations where they didn't land a couple skill guys that we got accustomed to."

Remember, the Badgers had gone to New Jersey to land Ron Dayne (above) and to Ohio for Lee Evans. Rivals.com ranked the 2006 Wisconsin class No. 42, the '07 class at No. 34 and the '08 class at No. 41

"There were some lumps," Crabtree said. "There's no question. Obviously, you can go back and look at that time period where Bielema came in and Barry (Alverez) left. Any time you have a transition like that it's going to make it very difficult with that first or second recruiting class."

The quarterbacking

Kansas State transfer Allan Evridge (right) started the first six games of the season, completing 54 percent of his passes, with five interceptions and five touchdowns.

Bielema decided to make the switch to Dustin Sherer before the Iowa loss and the results weren't great. Sherer threw two interceptions against the Hawkeyes and doesn't have a touchdown pass this season.

The Badgers got used to solid quarterback play from Brooks Bollinger, Jim Sorgi, John Stocco and Tyler Donovan.

"It's not just the quarterback position for us," Bielema said. "The quarterback is always critical. Illinois obviously has a lot of success now because of the development and growth of Juice Williams."

The playmakers

The Alvarez/Bielema era Wisconsin offense has never been built around the quarterback. It's always been a combination of running backs (P.J. Hill), tight ends and receivers. This year, it's an area where the team is coming up short.

"They have a group of very young, inexperienced wide receivers, the oldest of which who are starting are second-year sophomores," Wisconsin radio analyst Mike Lucas said.

"A year ago, they had Paul Hubbard and Luke Swan, who were decent Big Ten receivers. They don't have that right now. And the receivers are small."

When they get near the end zone, the Badgers haven't been able to close.

A lack of playmakers has been part of the problem. There are a pair of talented tight ends, Travis Beckum and Garrett Graham, but they have each missed two games.

"It's never allowed them to develop any kind of continuity at the one position that has been a strength here for X number of years," Lucas said.

The wrong guy?

After he started his Wisconsin career with a 12-1 record, Bielema (above) could have been named lifetime coach. But some of the luster has worn off.

The Badgers slipped to 9-4 last season and are in danger of missing a bowl game this year.

"The fanatics want him fired already," Milwaukee radio host Steve "Homer" True said. "I think if I was (athletic director) Barry Alvarez, I would be concerned for the first time. You look at the numbers, from 12-1 to 9-4. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to think, 'How much of it was a carryover from Alvarez's teams?' As we move into the Bielema era, it gets worse."

True doesn't see the program getting better next year

"If they're not thinking that or at least recognizing the possibility, then they're just blind," True said. "Up until a couple weeks ago, you would have never even suggested that maybe it wasn't a good hire. Now, I think you've got to look at it."

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