Looking Back: Tolzien recalls ecstatic moments, missed opportunities in OSU series
October 12, 2016 | Football, Mike Lucas
Featured in this week's Varsity Magazine, this article is part of a feature series celebrating Wisconsin's history playing Ohio State.
- Lucas - Measuring Stick: Badgers' battles with Buckeyes often memorable
- Baggot - Globetrotting Gilreath: Trading big plays for big trips
- Lucas - Looking Back: Rare 'trash talk' from Bollinger added spice to OSU rivalry
- Lepay - The Voice: Despite the hype, Chryst stays the course
- Baggot - Running game focusing on discipline, consistency
- Alvarez - Big games showcase our best to nation
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Scott Tolzien didn't need validation for what he heard and saw that crazy October night at Camp Randall Stadium. But the former Wisconsin quarterback got it anyway in the form of unsolicited second opinions from "unbiased" sources on the Ohio State sideline.
One of his old Green Bay teammates was center Corey Linsley, a fifth-round pick of the Packers. One of his new Indianapolis teammates is guard Jack Mewhort, a second-round selection of the Colts. Both of the former Buckeyes were taken in the 2014 draft.
Both heard and saw the same things Oct. 16, 2010.
"I thought I was just biased because of the way I had it in my mind on how loud it was," Tolzien said. "But both guys (Linsley and Mewhort) on separate occasions have told me hands-down that was the loudest stadium and most hostile, raucous and crazy atmosphere that they've been a part of."
Tolzien admitted that he still gets goose bumps thinking about David Gilreath returning the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in what turned out to be a 31-18 victory over Ohio State. It was UW's first win over a No. 1-ranked team since 1981, six years before Tolzien was even born.
"We were all pumped when we found out that Sunday before the game that they (the Buckeyes) were named the number one team in the country," said Tolzien, who was 13-of-16 for 152 yards. "That's every kid's dream to have that kind of set-up — to play No. 1 and to potentially take them down.
"We had walk-throughs on the morning of night games," he went on. "But this one was just a little different. There was just a buzz on campus. That's why to this day all of us still talk about it. I remember two things: the kickoff and the fans storming the field after the game."
It was quite a role reversal from the frustration that he experienced the year before.
"I distinctly remember being on the turf in the Horseshoe (Ohio Stadium) with two guys laying on top of me," Tolzien said, "and the crowd was going nuts — 105,000 cheering — because someone was returning the ball into the end zone. I had two pick sixes and we really should have won the game."
Tolzien completed 27-of-45 for 250 yards. He threw to 10 receivers. Make that 12. Ohio State's Kurt Coleman returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown; Jermale Hines returned another 32 yards for a score. Oh, by the way, Tolzien said, "If anyone looked, we won according to the stat sheet."
Statistically, the Badgers dominated in first downs (22-8), plays (89-40), total offense (368-184) and time of possession (42:47-17:13). But along with the takeaways, the Buckeyes got a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Ray Small and handed Wisconsin its first loss of the 2009 season, 31-13.
"I remember we played them tough every year," Tolzien said wistfully.
Specifically, he pointed to Tyler Donovan's toughness in 2007.
Even though he was sacked nine times, Donovan still guided the Badgers into a 17-10 third-quarter lead over No. 1-ranked Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. But it was short-lived. Tailback Chris Wells got loose for TD runs of 31, 30 and 23 yards to snap a three-game losing streak to the Badgers on home turf.
In 2008, Wisconsin again held a second-half lead over the Buckeyes. This time it was 17-13 late in the fourth quarter after a P.J. Hill score. But cool and calm quarterback Terrelle Pryor engineered the winning drive, 12 plays, 80 yards. That heart-breaking 20-17 loss was decided in the final 68 seconds.
Throw in that aforementioned 2009 loss in Columbus — a statistical anomaly and squandered opportunity for the Badgers — and you can see why Tolzien would be moved to say, "It kind of felt like they were the big brother …" And you know how that goes for little brothers.
Despite getting a measure of satisfaction in 2010, Tolzien is still aware of how the national pundits treat the Badgers as a Big Ten stepchild, especially when mentioned in the same breath with Ohio State. But he cited the resolve of the people in the UW program and their staying power.
"It started with what Barry (Alvarez) brought to the program when he started it in the '90s – and that was consistency," Tolzien said. "The blueprint has never really changed (despite coaching changes). And when I say that I'm specifically talking about the quality of the players.
"We've never had the best recruits in the country. But we've always had guys who progressed each and every year. It comes down to who they came in as and who they leave as. It speaks to the character of the guys they bring in and to the way they are developed by the coaching staff.
"I've learned the value of that even now after six years in the NFL," he continued. "You realize that the guys that keep sticking in the NFL are no different than they are in college — they're the ones who had the character and work ethic. That's what has provided the consistency here over the years.
"That character has never waned at Wisconsin."
And he doesn't expect it to anytime soon.
