Though personally motivated, Biegel prefers to put focus on his team
July 24, 2016 | Football, Mike Lucas
Senior linebacker recognizes the reality of his final season at Wisconsin
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Among his "likes" is the Octagon, the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
"I'm a big UFC guy," declared Wisconsin outside linebacker Vince Biegel. "More than that, I'm a big Brock Lesnar fan."
Lesnar is the "Beast Incarnate" — a former NCAA wrestling champion and two-time Big Ten heavyweight titleholder from the University of Minnesota.
"I remember watching him in middle school and high school," Biegel said of the 6-foot-3, 286-pound Lesnar, a hybrid pro wrestler and mixed martial arts $uper$tar.
"Whether it's wrestling or UFC, I really enjoy the type of competitor that he is and the true passion that he has for his sport. It's hard to emulate that kind of passion in your game."
Among his "dislikes" is Pokémon Go.
"I'm not much of a gamer at all," confessed the 23-year-old Biegel. "I didn't buy into that. I don't own the app. I don't partake."
Among his "likes" is country music, especially Jason Aldean.
"But I went to Summerfest and saw the Paul McCartney concert — my girlfriend is a huge fan," Biegel said. "I enjoy watching true legends. I saw Stevie Wonder the year before."
Among his "dislikes" is talking about himself during media interviews.
"To be honest," Biegel said, "I'm not a huge media guy."
Stop the presses (do operational presses still exist?). Stop the hard drives.
Protestations aside, Biegel is accessible, cooperative, engaging, animated and quotable. All of which will be on display and heightened at Tuesday's Big Ten kickoff event in Chicago.
"I'm going to do it and definitely run with it and I'm going to be excited to be there," Biegel promised. "But at the end of the day, you conduct your business on the field."
Biegel, cornerback Sojourn Shelton and tailback Dare Ogunbowale will represent Wisconsin at the two-day function. Biegel hasn't checked to see who will be there from other schools.
"More than mingling with my peers," Biegel said, "it's about representing the University of Wisconsin and conducting myself the way I should be — by the standard that we have set here.
"Me, Sojourn and Dare have high expectations for this season and I definitely want to voice that and voice what our team is thinking.
"But I don't want the attention to be on myself. I want it to be on the team. I'll answer all of those questions (about returning for his senior year rather than opting for the NFL draft).
"And I came back for a lot of reasons," suggested Biegel, who submitted his name to the NFL Draft Advisory Board. "It's definitely a question that I will be asked."
He will also be quizzed on feeling "snubbed" on the first-team All-Big Ten ballot in 2015, though he has seemingly put in that in his rearview mirror and moved on to other motivations.
"The focus is going to be Wisconsin," Biegel pledged, "the university, this football team and all the young men that are in that locker room."
Biegel hasn't visited Chicago since he was in high school at Wisconsin Rapids.
"It's really funny," he said. "My mom loves reading up on the all the (preseason) magazines or whatnot. And she really encouraged me to come up with a few one liners, a few new ones."
Biegel is on the regional cover of Lindy's 2016 Big Ten Preview magazine. Inside, he's tabbed as the "Best Pass Rusher" in the conference. But he was not projected as a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
Ohio State's Raekwon McMillan, Michigan Jabrill Peppers and Northwestern's Anthony Walker were chosen on the first unit. McMillan and Walker will be in Chicago.
Lindy's put Biegel on the second team, along with Michigan State's Riley Bullough and Iowa's Josey Jewell. They also will be on hand to discuss their status at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place.
Many other national honors have come Biegel's way during this offseason. Pro Football Focus listed him as the No. 1 outside linebacker versus the run and rushing the passer.
Biegel has been showing up on a lot of preseason watch lists, too, including the Butkus Award, the Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award.
"I don't know who else is on those lists because I really haven't looked," he said. "But I know that I've been nominated for some extremely prestigious awards, which I'm grateful for."
However, he summarily offered this very important disclaimer which really speaks to his mindset going into his fifth year: "If I'm not performing on the field, it's all very meaningless."
Playing in the shadows of All-American outside linebacker Joe Schobert last season, Biegel still recorded some noteworthy numbers: 66 tackles, 14 TFLs, 8 sacks and 9 quarterback hurries.
Unexpected or not, Biegel's junior season was not a springboard into the NFL.
"When you're a senior, you really have a different mindset because it's your last go-around," he said. "I thought I had that mindset going into last year because I wanted to have an amazing season.
"But this year I've been fully invested in every part of my life, whether it's football, nutrition, film, or how I've conducted myself on and off the field. I've been extremely focused.
"If you ask any of my family members, they'd say exactly the same thing."
Nobody is more vocal about his family ties than Biegel.
"My family is very important to me," he stressed. "Over the (five) years at the university, I've definitely matured a lot and settled down and found my niche on what I need to do."
It points to a peace of mind, he agreed.
"Your college experience is one that you will never forget," said Biegel, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten pick. "I wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities that presented themselves.
"This summer, I came out every single day and attacked the weight room, I attacked my nutrition and I also attacked the business world (as an intern at Merrill Lynch)."
Meanwhile, Biegel's commitment to the Badgers Give Back program has resulted in his nomination to the AFCA Good Works Team for community service and "enriching the lives of others."
One of his tweets reflected that spirit: "You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give."
Another recent tweet underscored Biegel's defensive pride and mentality: "Three and out. #MyFavorite3WordCombo."
To this end, he made getting stronger an offseason priority.
"If you look at my numbers, I'm at the top in my squats, power cleans and bench," said Biegel, whose body weight has been floating around 250 pounds. "I'm PR-ing in all of those areas."
Biegel singled out UW strength coach Ross Kolodziej. "He has been doing a phenomenal job of preparing us," he said, "leading us up to LSU."
Since giving up football because of injuries, Arthur Goldberg has been working in the weight room at Camp Randall Stadium. Goldberg and Biegel have been roommates for three years.
A defensive lineman, Goldberg played in 24 career games with 14 starts, eight last season.
"Arthur has been doing an amazing job," Biegel said. "It has been kind of fun to watch this transition role. To see his mindset change and for him to take full ownership has been awesome.
"The guys really respond well to Arthur. They have a lot of respect for him. He definitely serves a vital role on this team. It's not on the field, but it's providing that Badger fellowship.
"It's being a leader off the field, which is important to us."
That's among his "likes." And what he has tried to be this offseason: a strong leader. It may have manifested itself in this tweet: "Your best work is still to come #BelieveInYourself."
In Chicago, he will be tasked with making others believe in the Badgers. "I'm excited about what this year is going to be," he said. "And I'm excited about how this team is looking."
Biegel will leave it at that until he can get on the field and #ProveIt.
