MADISON, Wis. — The 2017 Wisconsin Football Spring Game kicks off in few hours. Here's everything you need to know from the Badgers' spring practices and details for tonight's game at Camp Randall Stadium.
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BADGER SPORTS KID FAIR
Starts at 5:00 p.m. Free admission. Held in the McClain Center, adjacent to Camp Randall. Fans young and old will enjoy interactive games and activities, the chance to meet Badger student-athletes and much more.
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WISCONSIN FOOTBALL SPRING GAME
Starts at 6:30 p.m. $5 entry with all proceeds benefitting the Waisman Center. Click here to buy your ticket.
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Lucas: Spring Previews by Position
Leading up the spring game, UWBadgers.com Senior Writer Mike Lucas has been breaking down the Wisconsin roster, position by position. Catch up on Mike's Spring Ahead series here:
Learning to Lead
With a year of experience under his belt, quarterback Alex Hornibrook is working hard to be a leader for the Badgers. And he's hungry to be better every rep.
Alex Hornibrook began making lists when he was in ninth grade "I would go into my notes folder on my phone and write up a bunch of goals for high school," he remembered. "A lot of them that I wrote down were pretty big goals, so I would check them after the season. Or even a year after. It was fun to look back on them." Hornibrook still carries those goals on his phone. ... The summer before his senior year, June of 2014, he committed to Paul Chryst, then at Pitt. When Chryst took the Wisconsin job, Hornibrook followed him. "It's pretty cool to look back on those goals," said the 20-year-old Hornibrook. Read more ...
Video: Hornibrook smoothly stepping into new role
BY MIKE LUCAS | UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
Lucas at Large:
Evolution of players starting strong
Chryst credits Badgers for growth in leadership, development
Wisconsin's Paul Chryst understood the distinction in the inquiry — "Are you where you wanted to be or where you thought you could be at this late stage of spring practice?" — and appreciated the phrasing given the fluid nature of not only player development, but the evaluation process. "There has been a lot of good work, productive work," he emphasized without hesitation. "With some of the guys that you wanted to see what their role could be, the picture is starting to become a little more clearer. That's one thing (roles) we've spent a lot of time talking to our team about." Read more ...
Video: Paul Chryst Weekly Presser: Young players make most of reps
BY MIKE LUCAS | UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
Losing the wait
After spending six days a week alongside their new teammates last season, transfers Chris James and Nick Nelson are ready for their chance to step on the field on Saturdays, too.
On the week leading up to a road game, the routine didn't change appreciably for tailback Chris James, a transfer from Pitt; or cornerback Nick Nelson, a transfer from Hawaii. Both carried out their assignments on the scout team in preparation for the opponent. Both took pride in the role they played. Both reassured each other about their future in the program. That was the extent of their participation through Thursday. Since they were ineligible to compete or travel, they were left behind to "wing it" when the Badgers left town. "I hated it," Nelson said, "because I was at home eating wings when they were playing." He wasn't alone. James was one of his roommates. "We sat at our place and ordered some wings," James confirmed, "and wished we were there." ... This spring, James and Nelson have been readying themselves for playing time. Read more ...
Video: Nelson ready to make an impact in the secondary
BY MIKE LUCAS | UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
Adversity and Opportunity
Injuries ended their seasons. But for Jack Cichy and Chris Orr, the road back has provided more than rehabilitation and healthy bodies. It's given them a clearer outlook on football and life.
The reminders are on Chris Orr's wall. Pictures of his mom, dad, grandmother and three brothers. Whenever the Wisconsin linebacker hits a snag in his rehab from knee surgery, whenever he feels the need for a pick-me-up, he gets inspiration from his family, even though they're miles away. "I kind of use that for motivation," he said. "I know they're watching." Orr is a long way from his home in DeSoto, Texas, a Dallas suburb. UW linebacker Jack Cichy, by contrast, grew up in Somerset, a village in northwest Wisconsin, a four-hour drive from campus. He has people watching over him, too, during his rehab. But he has tried to avoid reminders of his surgery. "I've thrown my sling away," he said. "I'm trying to think about it as little as possible." Read more ...
Video: Cichy and Orr back on the field
BY MIKE LUCAS | UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
SPRING BALL ALL ACCESS VIDEOS
Click here to launch All-Access Video Player with all Football videos
Waisman Center visits football practice
Making the most of spring ball
Bostad learning and leading this spring
Hornibrook smoothly stepping into new role
Continuing the success of Badger outside backers
Badger Sports Report with Paul Chryst - Spring Football
Versatility key to Badgers O-line
Nelson ready to make an impact in the secondary
Pads bring physicality, freedom and fun
Cichy and Orr back on the field
Can I Do That? - Alex Hornibrook
Badgers open spring practice
