Wisconsin at Michigan Post-Game Notes
September 27, 2008 | Football
ATTENDANCE
Today's attendance was 109,833.
COIN TOSS
For the fourth consecutive game, Wisconsin won the coin toss and took the ball.
WISCONSIN CAPTAINS
DL Mike Newkirk, OL Kraig Urbik, LB DeAndre Levy, FB Chris Pressley
HEAD COACH BRET BIELEMA
UW head coach Bret Bielema now owns a 24-6 (.800) record at Wisconsin.
TAKING IT AWAY
Wisconsin recorded five turnovers (three fumble recoveries and two interceptions) in the first half. UW scored 16 points off those five turnovers. It was the first time Wisconsin has recorded five takeaways in a game since intercepting three passes and recovering two fumbles vs. Purdue on Oct. 22, 2005. UW has taken the ball away 11 times in its last three meetings with Michigan (three interceptions in 2006 and 2007).
SHOWING SOME LEG
Freshman kicker Phillip Welch booted four field goals in the first half, tying a UW record for most field goals in a game. The last Badger to kick four FGs in a game was Vitaly Pisetsky against Michigan State on Oct. 23, 1999. Welch also connected on a career-long 52-yard field goal. That boot is tied for the fourth-longest FG in Wisconsin history and was the longest by a UW kicker since Taylor Mehlhaff hit a 52-yarder vs. Arkansas in the 2007 Capital One Bowl.
DEANDRE ON THE SPOT
Linebacker DeAndre Levy recovered a fumble in the first quarter, his fifth career fumble recovery. It was also his second consecutive game with a turnover as he recorded an interception at Fresno State.
BIG HITTER
Junior defensive back Aubrey Pleasant, a native of Flint, Mich., forced the fumble that Levy recovered, the first forced fumble of his career.
'SPECIAL' TEAMS
In the second quarter, William Hartmann and Mickey Turner combined to force and recover a fumble off a Michigan punt return. It was Hartmann's first career forced fumble and the second fumble recovery of Turner's career. He also recovered one at Penn State last year on punt coverage. The fumble recovery set up Wisconsin's first touchdown.
BIG-PLAY CLAY
John Clay's 46-yard run in the second quarter was the longest of his career and tied for the longest run by a Badger this season. Clay scored on a five-yard run on the next play. P.J. Hill ripped off a 46-yarder vs. Akron in the season-opener.
NO FIRST-GAME JITTERS
A pair of true freshmen, Antonio Fenelus and Devin Smith, set up Welch's third field goal of the game by forcing and recovering a fumble on the kickoff following Clay 's TD. It was Fenelus' first career forced fumble and Smith's first career recovery.
MOVING UP THE CHARTS
Shane Carter recorded his second interception this season and ninth of his career in the second quarter. That puts him in a tie for eighth place on UW's career interception list. It was his third career INT against Michigan as he picked off two passes against the Wolverines last year.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
Jonathan Casillas intercepted a pass on the last play of the second half and nearly returned it for a touchdown, going 49 yards to the Michigan 8-yard line before being pushed out of bounds. For Casillas it was his second career interception. It was the longest interception return for a Badger since Jack Ikegwuonu's 62-yard INT return vs. Purdue on Oct. 22, 2005.
