BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Although tight end Troy Fumagalli and linebackers Jack Cichy and T.J. Edwards have probably heard many of the questions before, they will be fielding them on a grander stage Monday and Tuesday when they represent Wisconsin at the Big Ten Media Days and Kickoff Luncheon in Chicago.
"I think it will be a great experience," said Fumagalli, a fifth-year senior from Naperville, Illinois, a modest drive (less than 40 miles) from the McCormick Place Convention Center, the site of the 49th annual preseason event. "Everyone who has done it in the past has said they've had an enjoyable time."
Likely drawing interest will be the respective journeys of Fumagalli and Cichy, a fifth-year senior from Somerset, Wisconsin. Both are former walk-ons. Cichy and Edwards, a redshirt junior from Lake Villa, Illinois, will be popular interviews given the inside linebacker depth that includes Chris Orr and Ryan Connelly.
Edwards, UW's leading tackler the past two seasons, insisted that he really hasn't thought much about the competition for playing time. "It always works its way out," he said. "The coaches I'm sure have a great idea of what's going to happen. The best will play. Training camp will be fun."
Here's an update on how their training has progressed since the Cotton Bowl. (Fumagalli was the offensive MVP with six catches in the win over Western Michigan. Cichy was still sidelined with a torn pectoral muscle that kept him out of the last seven games. Edwards was the defensive MVP with 10 tackles and a key interception.)
Q. How was this offseason different, if it was, from previous years?
Fumagalli: "First off, there are different people in different roles. So, I would say that's the first difference in just getting guys comfortable (in those roles) and kind of adapting to changes. I would say the biggest difference for me is that I had kind of a different role. Obviously, I wanted to be a better leader being the older guy in the (meeting) room."
Cichy: "I don't think it was that different. It's still the same mindset that we bring in every training period. We want to really get after it and get better as individuals and as a team. From that stance, it has been a pretty normal off-season."
Edwards: "This off-season was a little different just because I'm more of a leader now and I'm trying to take on that role — leading by example and also with my voice. We have a lot of guys who genuinely care about each other which is true of every team. But this year it just feels a little different and that's why I'm so excited."
Q. Personally, what was your point of emphasis during the offseason?
Fumagalli: "In the weight room, I wanted to be bigger, stronger, and faster. I want that to be an advantage for me. Understanding defenses was another one of my big focuses — not only with what the guy in front of me is doing or what the safety is doing, but what the defense as a whole is doing."
Cichy: "I wanted to get stronger by adding strength with some speed. Coming off my surgery and a winter and spring where I was heavily rehabbing, I was really focusing on my body and I wanted to place an emphasis on getting back to my normal weight and also kind of pairing that with a becoming a more well-rounded athlete. I feel as strong and quick as I've ever felt. I'm in the best shape of my life."
Edwards: "I wanted to get healthy (a foot injury) and stay healthy. Obviously, there are always things I've got to work on. But in terms of knowing and seeing things differently, I just see them from a different point of view. I didn't do anything this spring (withheld from contact), so it's hard to tell how far I've come. But I'm excited to see."
Q. What have you learned over the years about offseason preparation that has helped you get ready for the 2017 season?
Fumagalli: "The biggest thing is that hard work pays off. Trust the process. Understand that not everything is built in a day. Take it one day at a time. Keep working hard. I've learned that from the older guys. I can't speak for anyone else but I think if you put in the hard work that does pay off over time."
Cichy: "You really have to trust the process at a place like this, especially coming from being a walk-on. A lot of times we grow kids in this program. That has been very evident. You take that from day one when you're a freshman and bring it to now (when you're a senior). It's kind of coming to fruition, which is cool to see. As cliché as it is, you have to take it day by day. It has to be the mantra this season."
Edwards: "Being physically ready is a huge thing. But, more so, it's about being mentally ready. I learned that when I was younger from some of the older guys. But now I know how big it is. Just knowing I have to work that much harder (after being sidelined) to get back to where I was."
Q. Competitively, what was your biggest challenge over the summer?
Cichy: "One of our toughest days was one of our first Friday workouts. We really got after it. Some guys were puking. Some guys were cramping up. But everybody finished. Being able to band together like that as a team, defense and offense, really shows the growth and maturity in the guys."
Edwards: "We had some grueling competitions on Friday that were just awesome. We had team drills where we're all rooting for each other. It was basically a bunch of strong man drills. We'd put squat bars on our back and walk the length of the field and back. Good old-fashioned stuff, whether it was sled pulls or prowler pushes, where you're racing the guy next to you and you want to beat him."
Q. Who has pushed you this offseason?
Fumagalli: "Garret (Dooley) and Leon (Jacobs). They're very good athletes, they work hard, they have a high motor. We try to make each other better.
Cichy: "Every time we had agility drills, me and Dools (Dooley) would compete. We're roommates and he's probably one of my best friends here. But we want to go head-to-head. We're able to push each other in the weight room and then just hang out when we get back home."
Edwards: "The guys who were hurt last year — me, Chris (Orr) Cich (Cichy) and Ryan Connelly — all kind of feed off each other. Seeing each other get better every day, and healthier, seeing everybody get back to full strength is something that drives you."
Q. What are you looking forward to the most with the start of training camp?
Fumagalli: "Honestly, it's just about getting back out there and getting ready to go again. I do miss it. I always joke that timing always works out perfectly. By the end of winter workouts, you're ready for spring ball. And by the end of summer workouts, you're ready to play football again."
Cichy: "I want to hit again. It has been a long while since I've hit. That will be a treat. I also want to get back in the groove of it. There's nothing like the fall and the season."
Edwards: "I missed the whole spring, so not being able to hit anyone was brutal. I want to get back with the guys and learn more from Coach (Bob) Bostad. This is his first fall with us and want to see how he coaches and feed off that."
Coming Monday: Part 2 of the Q&A with Cichy, Edwards and Fumagalli.
