First ' Goal: Dec. 21
December 21, 2009 | Football
Dec. 21, 2009
MADISON, Wis. --
The 411
Wisconsin will face Miami (9-3 overall, 5-3 ACC Coastal Division) in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29 at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CST. ESPN will televise the game live.
The team will have its usual Monday off before returning to practice Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.
Tolzien has earned respect of teammates
Junior quarterback Scott Tolzien has proven he can take a hit this season. He can also take a joke. Tolzien has impressed his University of Wisconsin football teammates with the way he has hung in the pocket, calmly delivering the ball on time before absorbing a hit. He showed good comedic timing, as well, at the recent football awards show, Tom Mulhern of Madison.com writes.
Nortman showing growth
Brad Nortman believes that his overall punting is more consistent than it was in 2008, which was his freshman season at Wisconsin. As No. 24 UW (9-3) prepares to face No. 14 Miami (9-3) in the Champs Sports Bowl Dec. 29 in Orlando, Fla., a comparison of Nortman's numbers supports his assertion, according to Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Extreme makeover: Jordan Kohout edition
Defensive tackle Jordan Kohout has changed so much in the last 12 months, it's hard for him to know where to start when describing the differences. A year ago at this time, Kohout was getting ready to graduate early from Waupun High School and enroll at the University of Wisconsin, writes Tom Mulhern of Madison.com.
Utilizing the fullback
For a long time now, the fullback position has been a staple of the University of Wisconsin football team’s offense. It still is, although that might be hard to believe after an examination of the Badgers’ roster. There’s not one true fullback on the team, which would seem to imply UW is following a national trend by phasing out the position. That’s not the case at all, according to the coaching staff, writes Jim Polzin of Madison.com.
Bowl preview
It wouldn’t be a stunner if [the Champs Sports Bowl] was a BCS-level matchup in 2011 (after the 2010 season). Miami and Wisconsin had good seasons, solid seasons, successful seasons, no matter what happens in Orlando, but they were both in the same boat of being really close to doing big things and coming up short in the big spotlight games. However, this is going to be a good exhibition, and a strong measurement, for the preseason polls for next season, and that’s why this game will matter more than most bowls, writes Pete Fiutak of CollegeFootballNews.com.
Miami loses starting left tackle
According to the Associated Press, after playing in pain most of the season, Miami left tackle Jason Fox finally succumbed to the inevitable. The 14th-ranked Hurricanes’ MVP for 2009 will miss the Champs Sports Bowl against No. 24 Wisconsin after having surgery on his left knee.
Without Fox to protect Jacory Harris' blind side, Miami could have its hands full with Wisconsin senior defensive end O'Brien Schofield, says Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com. It's critical for the Badgers to pressure Harris in the bowl, and Schofield leads the pass rush. Michigan State and Purdue were the only two teams to keep Schofield from recording a tackle for loss this season. The senior is tied for second nationally with 22.5 TFLs.
Wisconsin defensive line coach Charlie Partridge can offer the UW staff a solid scouting report on Orlando Franklin, Miami's new starting left tackle. Partridge, an assistant at Pittsburgh before coming to UW in 2008, recruited Franklin for the Panthers, writes Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in his notes column.
Badgers honored by CollegeFootballNews.com
Wednesday saw the Sporting News announce Chris Borland and Peter Konz to its Freshman All-America Team, while Thursday featured more honors for the Badgers as the Sporting News and Phil Steele named their All-Big Ten and All-America teams, respectively. Now it’s CollegeFootballNews.com’s turn. They have chosen their 2009 All-America Team, as well as their 2009 All-Big Ten Team and the top 30 players in the Big Ten. Read the full release on UWBadgers.com.
Check out the Bowl Memories page
Before the No. 24/22 Wisconsin football team takes on No. 14/15 Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl in eight days, re-live past bowl games with the Bowl Memories page at Bowl Central.
Vote for Bucky’s Bests of the Decade
The first decade of the 21st century is coming to a close at the end of December. This momentous occasion has given the Wisconsin Athletics Communications staff pause to remember some of Bucky's best performances over the past 10 years.
Here is an opportunity to relive the best moments by Wisconsin since 2000. Fans are encouraged to vote during the month of December on UW's Best Plays, Teams, and Athletes of the Decade.
Enjoy the trip down memory lane as you review the top moments, the best performances, and the tremendous success of Wisconsin's teams and student-athletes. Complete the registration and continue to the voting pages. Vote daily as often as you wish.
Badgers in the Pros
• After finding themselves in a 10-point hole in the second quarter of Sunday's home finale against the Browns, it was starting to look like the Chiefs are on their way to yet another loss. But Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles, and Chris Chambers weren't ready to cry uncle, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.
• The Buffalo Bills hosted the “Fuel Up to Play 60” event on Dec. 15 at the Bills Field House for approximately 150 students from fifteen Buffalo Public Schools. Bills wide receiver Lee Evans and linebacker Chris Draft spoke to the kids about the importance of nutrition and being active for 60 minutes a day.
Tweet of the Day
buckybadger Congratulations to our UW brethren in Whitewater for winning the Division III National Championship!!! Posted Dec. 21 at 8:05 a.m.
Follow us at Twitter.com/BadgerFootball and Coach Bielema at Twitter.com/BretBielema.
What you won’t find on Facebook
By his senior year, sophomore defensive end J.J. Watt is hoping to bulk up to over 300 pounds. He is listed at 287 pounds right now.
Note of the Day
Wisconsin leads the Big Ten and ranks 21st in the country in scoring offense, averaging 32.8 points per game. That would be the third-best scoring average in school history, behind only 2005 (34.3 ppg.) and 1999 (34.1 ppg.).
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If you have any links that you think would be worthy of First & Goal, email them to Karl Anderson at kga@athletics.wisc.edu.
