Lucas: A Badger through and through, Rudolph sees ‘a good time’ for change
January 05, 2022 | Football, Mike Lucas
Longtime assistant coach and former team captain departing alma mater for new challenge
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — When Arizona State's backup punter Logan Tyler replaced Eddie Czaplicki, who had been injured the play before on an attempted block by freshman Darryl Peterson, Wisconsin offensive line coach Joe Rudolph was already thinking two and three snaps ahead on what would be his final drive on the UW sideline. Tyler's punt, his first of the season, pinned the Badgers on their own 3 with 9:57 left.
"I really wasn't looking at the clock," Rudolph said.
But he knew the score. Wisconsin was clinging to a 20-13 lead in the Las Vegas Bowl.
"I was just trying to pick up that first down," he said. "I was so wired into the next call."
After a frustrating third quarter in which the offense had grinded to a halt — the Badgers had the ball for only 10 plays and managed just one first down (on a penalty) — Rudolph knew what was at stake on this fourth quarter possession. There was no looking back. Or ahead, in his case, since he had already made the decision to leave the UW program for Virginia Tech. His singular focus was on the moment.
"It's all about the next opportunity that you get and it's about working together — that's what you try to preach to them all the time," he said. "We were down to one tight end (Jaylan Franklin after Jake Ferguson was injured). Michael Furtney (an O-lineman) was playing tight end. We were just drawing it up on the sidelines to get him in there. But those kids didn't flinch. They battled together."
In a methodical but memorable 18-play series, the Badgers marched 90 yards and burned all nine minutes and 57 seconds off the clock to seal the win. Rudolph joked afterwards, "I'll take a one-play 97-yard run anytime … but I was just really proud of the kids. There were a lot of different people who made plays during that drive. It speaks to the perseverance of the guys we have.
"They all fought. They all battled their (bleep) off to make it work. It was a cool way to finish."
And with that, his Wisconsin career, first as a player, then as an assistant coach, was finished.
Exit Jump Around. Enter Sandman.
"The guys knew about it awhile ago," Rudolph said. "We had some really tough and hard conversations — not unlike conversations that we've had in the past. Most of it is all football and how to take care of business. But we would always take time every day to talk about some real stuff. Change is kind of inevitable. Although sometimes it's really difficult, sometimes it's simply the right choice."
Prior to leaving for the bowl, Rudolph informed his offensive linemen that he was leaving for Virginia Tech.
"Their reaction was probably the same as mine, it was tough," he recalled. "We kind of went around the room with the guys who were finishing up. Each guy talked about where they were, what their experience was and kind of what their next step was … and then it was my turn.
"I told them how tough it was going to be (to leave) and I told them that they aren't going to lose me. They're going to still be able to call me about life or things in general. Obviously, they're going to have a new coach. But we've been through enough to know the communication ties are still strong."
Rudolph wasn't concerned the knowledge of his departure would be disruptive to bowl prep.
"Nope, I wasn't — I've got that type of confidence in our relationship," he said of his O-linemen. "What I have more confidence in is the relationships that they have with each other. The whole idea of putting an O-line together is making sure those guys help each other, they have each other's back, they respect each other, and they lean on each other to get better. I had great confidence in that.
"It's about recruiting great people as much as it is about recruiting great players. That's why I had no question (about telling them). They needed to know because we've always been honest, brutally honest, with each other about things that needed to be done or needed to change. Even though they knew about this, nothing came out (in the media). It speaks to the kids they are."
Why Va Tech? Why now?
"I thought a change for everyone might be a positive thing," he said. "There always seems to be opportunities that come each year, whether in the NFL or college. It's always easy to say, 'This (Wisconsin) is a better situation for me and my family.' I've always been able to answer that in a full-circle answer. But this (Virginia Tech) was one where it really made me start to think.
"The location (in Blacksburg, Va.) was pretty unique. I'll be less than five hours from family in Pittsburgh and West Virginia and my wife's parents in North Carolina. I don't think I could ever work at a place where I didn't respect and believe in the university and the education and the football program. And I've always had great respect for Virginia Tech having played against them when I was at Pitt."
When Paul Chryst got the Pittsburgh head coaching job in 2012, Rudolph went with him.
"I've been fortunate enough to work with Paul for 14 years," said Rudolph, who had two different stints as a Badger assistant, from 2008-11 under Bret Bielema and 2015-21 under Chryst. "There's no one I could have more respect for. He's unselfish. He's humble and he puts the players first. That's why they play so hard for him. And I've always heard that about Coach Pry."
The 49-year-old Rudolph has no previous history with 51-year-old Brent Pry, who's getting his first head coaching opportunity at Virginia Tech. Pry, a former graduate assistant under Frank Beamer in the mid-'90s, had been on the Penn State staff where he was James Franklin's defensive coordinator since 2016. There is a homeboy link. Pry is from Altoona, Pennsylvania. Rudolph is from Belle Vernon.
"I've always heard what a standup person Coach Pry is from people who have been around him and from people who have worked for him," Rudolph said. "There's always been a lot of mutual respect from playing against each other (in the Big Ten) and for how his guys competed and the detail that they played with (at Penn State). It's going to be all new. But it's exciting.
"It's exciting for the fact you're continuing to learn and you're continuing to grow.
"That's where I hope all of this is beneficial to everybody."
Several times Rudolph had to pause and collect himself emotionally.
"I've loved what I've been a part of here — the last seven years have been awesome. Our end goal has always been to help the guys be as good as they can be — to help them compete together in a way where they make each other better. Then, you're doing it the Wisconsin way. Even though you have such strong feelings for what you've done …"
Pause.
"I just thought a little change for everyone could be a real positive thing."
One of Rudolph's most prized possessions is a St. Christopher medal presented to him by "Father Mike" — the late reverend monsignor Michael Burke, the former chaplain of the football team. "He always took an overview of the program," Rudolph remembered. "Whatever decisions he made, it didn't benefit him in any way, shape or form. (Pause). I always felt that's the way you should do it."
In taking the temperature of the room, the UW offensive line meeting room that he's leaving behind, he reflected, "Oh, my gosh, I'll tell you this, I've been grateful for every group I've had. They've always taken hard coaching. It hasn't always been easy. There haven't always been easy answers to everything. But to see where this group has grown … (Pause) … it's an incredible room, phenomenal.
"In some ways, I always think if there's a little bit of change, if you've got great kids and they understand the culture, it can have an amplifying effect. They're not going to forget the things I stressed and made important and then when someone else comes in, there will be new things that will help them. That's what I shared with them.
"I have such confidence in that group as human beings, as Badgers, as O-linemen. It's an awesome group that I'm going to be excited to watch and develop and do great things. (Pause). There's part of me in that room. But you know when you need new challenges. You know when you need to take on new things. You know when it's time. When it's a good time. It doesn't make it any easier."
Pause.
"You can hear it in my voice."
Pause.
"But it's a good time."
