First ' Goal: Nov. 20
November 20, 2009 | Football
Nov. 20, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -
The 411
Wisconsin hits the field one last time today to prepare for Northwestern before boarding the bus later this afternoon.
Follow the Badgers tomorrow
Tomorrow is game day and UW’s 2009 Big Ten finale will air live on the Big Ten Network, beginning at 2:30 p.m., with Wayne Larrivee, Chris Martin and Charissa Thompson on the call. Not sure if the game will be on in your area? Check out the Big Ten Network’s game finder to see what channel you can watch the game on.
You can also follow the game on the radio at 1310 WIBA to hear Matt Lepay and Mike Lucas on the call. If you’re not in Madison, you can listen to the game via the Wisconsin Radio Network.
If you’re around your computer log onto UWBadgers.com to follow along with a live in-game blog. We will also provide frequent Twitter updates throughout the game. UWBadgers.com is also your one-stop shop for complete post-game coverage from Wisconsin’s first road game of the season.
Wisconsin travels to Northwestern for Big Ten finale
The Wisconsin football team (8-2, 5-2) finishes up conference play this week and looks for its fourth-straight win as it travels to Evanston, Ill., to take on Northwestern (7-4, 4-3). Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT) at Ryan Field. With a win over the Wildcats and a loss by Ohio State to Michigan (game starts at 11 a.m. (CT) on Saturday), the Badgers would earn a share of their 12th Big Ten title and its first since 1999. Read the complete preview from UWBadgers.com.
New safety rolls with it
With Aaron Henry up and down at cornerback this season and secondary coach Kerry Cooks comfortable with the potential of Devin Smith, Niles Brinkley and Antonio Fenelus at cornerback and Chris Maragos down to only three more games at UW, coach Bret Bielema recently ordered Henry moved to safety. Maragos gives the move a thumbs-up, writes Jeff Potrykus for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Maturity yields dividend for Badgers’ Smith
Stephen Smith has always viewed his son as a bit of an overachiever. It goes back to when Devin Smith was 4 years old and a few months shy of the minimum age requirement to join a Pop Warner football league. The boy was eager to play, so Stephen Smith lied about his son’s age to get him in the league. But you never would have known Smith’s age based on how well he played against the older kids, writes Jim Polzin for Madison.com.
No regrets for Sorensen
Blake Sorensen and Bryce McNaul were best friends growing up in Eden Prairie, Minn. They played football together in high school and both became standout linebackers who were recruited by Division I schools. Now, they will meet again on Saturday, writes Tom Mulhern in this notes column for the Wisconsin State Journal.
Can Wisconsin sweep Big Ten awards?
The Big Ten will announce its all-conference teams and award winners Monday night (Big Ten Network, 8 p.m. ET), and there figures to be plenty of interest in Madison, Wis. Adam Rittenberg from ESPN.com breaks down the Badgers’ chances to sweep the Big Ten awards.
A view from the other side: Northwestern
• ESPN.com: Northwestern injury report
• Daily Northwestern: A trip down memory lane: A Q&A with six NU seniors
• Chicago Sun-Times: The perfect Fitz for Northwestern
Badgers in the Pros
• This one is not exactly about football but Lee Evans is one of a few Buffalo Bills offering up their thoughts on bling. Al Vaughters from WIVB.com asks: is gaudy expensive jewelry a thing of the past? Evans and his fellow wide receiver Terrell Owens seem to have differing opinions.
• Matt Shaughnessy will start for the Oakland Raiders Sunday. Defensive end Greg Ellis is inactive according to this story Associated Press story.
Video of the Day
Head coach Bret Bielema chatted with the media last night and you can see what he had to say with this video.
Tweet of the Day
BuckyBadger: While you're thinking about the weekend and Northwestern, remember to vote for Bucky in the Capital One Bowl: http://www.capitalonebowl.com/ Posted Nov. 20 at 8:32 a.m.
Follow us at Twitter.com/BadgerFootball and Coach Bielema at Twitter.com/Bret Bielema.
What you won’t find on Facebook
If you read Tom Mulhern’s notes column linked above, you found out that Blake Sorensen and Northwestern’s Bryce McNaul were childhood friends from Eden Prairie, Minn. You probably also found out that both committed to Northwestern and Sorensen didn’t think he’d get an offer to play for his first choice, Wisconsin. Once Sorensen received an offer, he weighed his options but decided to go with this first choice, to play for the Badgers.
Note of the Day
The Badgers currently lead the Big Ten in rushing offense and rushing defense in conference games. The only time in school history UW has led the league in both categories (conference games only) was in 1951. The last time any team led the league in both categories was Ohio State in 1996. Wisconsin is one of just five teams in the country to rank among the top 20 in both rushing offense and rushing defense (Florida, Alabama, TCU and Oklahoma State are the others).
Wisconsin’s complete notes for Saturday’s game at Northwestern can be found here.
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If you have any links that you think would be worthy of 1st & Goal, email them to Betsy Golomski at eg2@athletics.wisc.edu.
