BY MATT LEPAY
Voice of the Badgers
MADISON, Wis. —In the world of sports media, give me the first guesser anytime. The easiest thing to do is second guess, and we all do it. Some more than others. Give me the analyst who can take a stab at what is coming and be spot on with your thought.
Nice work, Mark Tauscher.
It was the fourth quarter of last Saturday's thriller of a battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. The game was tied at 17. After a Minnesota penalty, the home team had a first-and-5 from its own 18-yard line.
"I'd look here for some Jazz Peavy action with the jet sweep," said the former Badgers and Packers offensive tackle, who for the last five years has worked with us in the home radio booth. "It's only been done once today. Peavy's been such a good weapon. Now would be a good time to go to him."
Money.
Jet sweep it was. Some 71 yards later, plus a penalty against the Gophs, Peavy had the Badgers in a first-and-goal. Soon after, Wisconsin took the lead for good, keeping the Axe in this state for the 13th-straight year.
My man Tausch nailed a first guess. Better yet, Wisconsin's offense nailed the play — one of several huge second-half plays that helped the Badgers erase a 10-point halftime deficit.
It was a terrific game. Easy to say when the Badgers win, but the Gophers emptied the bucket as well. Quarterback Mitch Leidner gave Wisconsin's defense fits in the first half. Fortunately, in the second 30 minutes, it was the other way around.
So off the Badgers go to Indianapolis. Trip number four to the Big Ten Championship Game. Four more than Michigan. Two more than Ohio State.
That is not meant to be a shot at those storied programs. It is a standing ovation to a Wisconsin program that has embraced transition — multiple times — and never allowed it to be an excuse to slip.
It is a program that navigated the schedule. After being asked at least half a million times about it. After being doubted by nearly everyone outside the locker room.
It is a program that bounced off the deck after losing back-to-back heartbreakers to the Wolverines and the Buckeyes. Ohio State appears to be a lock for the College Football Playoff. At the very least, Michigan would seem worthy of being in the discussion.
So should the winner of Saturday night's game in Indianapolis.
(Warning: Paul Chryst has zero interest in this conversation. To him, it's a waste of time. One more reason why I like the guy so much.)
What we know for certain is this — Wisconsin and Penn State are playing for the conference title. The Badgers are playing for their fourth Big Ten crown in the last seven seasons. Heady stuff for a program that does not — and never will — get the free outside pub that OSU and Big Blue receive.
And that is okay. The Badgers are more than comfortable being among the doubted. Not enough five-stars. Not enough can't-miss NFL talent. Too difficult a schedule.
It certainly was fair to wonder. However, by now anyone paying attention should realize the 2016 Badgers embrace the difficult. Which is good, because Penn State will be plenty difficult. After being steamrolled by Michigan, the Nittany Lions have won eight straight.
They, too, have turned doubters into believers.
It has the makings of another Big Ten classic that could come down to a big play or two.
With that in mind, maybe I should give Tausch a call, and — you know — find out what will happen.
