Patrick Herb and Brian Mason have spent more than a decade working behind the scenes with the Wisconsin football and men's basketball programs. Now they're sharing their insight into all things Badgers and bringing in the biggest names in UW sports for revealing conversations on the Behind the Badgers podcast, recorded weekly inside Camp Randall Stadium.
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With the calendar counting down to the scheduled start of football training camp, this week brought plenty of news about what might come next as the Badgers prepare for the coming season. Brian and Patrick break down the new 10-game Big Ten schedule announced Wednesday by the league, as well as a look at the safety protocols put in place by the conference and what the loss of season tickets means to the Badgers' bottom line. They also dive into what a pandemic-era practice will look like at UW and consider some of the on-field questions they're looking to see answered when camp opens next week.
Published on 8/6/2020
With off-campus evaluations and on-campus official visits halted by COVID-19, how have the Badgers continued to find success on the recruiting trail? Assistant coaches Alvis Whitted (football) and Joe Krabbenhoft (men's basketball) join Brian and Patrick to discuss how their staffs have gotten creative in showing prospects what UW has to offer, as well as how they've become flexible in their approaches to building relationships with recruits and their families. They also assess the state of their current teams as they continue to navigate the challenges of coaching in a pandemic and discuss what it's like working under Paul Chryst and Greg Gard.
Published on 7/23/2020
In Part 2 of his discussion with Brian and Patrick, Bo Ryan dives deep into memories from the Badgers' Final Four runs, reveals the wins and losses he'll always remember, and shares his excitement for son Will Ryan taking over as head coach at Green Bay. Plus, did Bo ever draw a technical foul on purpose? What did he think when Nigel Hayes called him "Pops?" We get answers to those questions and many more in a fun, wide-ranging conversation.
Published on 7/7/2020
Five years after retiring as the most successful men's basketball coach in Wisconsin history, Bo Ryan headlines the 2020 class of the UW Athletic Hall of Fame. In Part 1 of a two-part conversation, he joins Patrick and Brian to talk about getting his call to the hall from Barry Alvarez and how he's spending his time in retirement, as well as diving into stories that span everything from sneaking into the 1960 NFL championship game to the opposing player he considered the most challenging to coach against.
Published on 7/1/2020
The conversation on racism in America is continuing and many around the country are asking questions about how to turn these words into meaningful action. A pair of Badgers, Madison Cone and Izayah Green-May, are continuing to lead the way on racial justice efforts among their peers at Wisconsin while working to take their impact beyond the program. Cone is representing UW on the newly-formed Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition while Green-May has been tabbed to serve as president of the group Student-Athletes Equally Supporting Others (SAESO) within UW Athletics. They join Brian and Patrick to discuss their experiences, what Badgers of all stripes can do to further the movement for social justice and what it's like to be back in Madison with their football teammates for the first time in months.
Published on 6/26/2020
Protests have taken hold around the world in the wake of the recent murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, events that have brought the role of systemic racism in America squarely into the spotlight and forced a much-needed examination of its effects — notably incidents of police brutality — on the black community. Kalvin Barrett (football) and Michael Jackson (men's basketball and track), both former UW student-athletes and both black men, join Brian and Patrick for an open and frank discussion on these issues and where we go from here, both culturally and as Badgers. A former police officer who now teaches criminal justice and police academy courses, Barrett brings unique perspective on the role of law enforcement. Now an associate athletic director at his alma mater, Jackson offers insight into how UW Athletics can make an impact, both on its student-athletes and the larger Badgers community.
Published on 6/11/2020
Patrick and Brian's conversation with Frank Kaminsky shifts to story time, including some tremendous tales from the film room at Wisconsin and in the NBA. Did Frank and Co. really change Bo Ryan? Was Michael Jordan the owner (and Frank's boss) as competitive as Michael Jordan the player? Frank dives into those stories and more memories, from the bonds built during the Badgers' back-to-back Final Four runs to his family ties to the Bulls and growing up around the United Center in the years that followed "The Last Dance."
Published on 5/20/2020
He's building a house, has immersed himself in the ins and outs of collective bargaining agreements and, at just 27, is one of the veterans in a young Phoenix Suns locker room. So is Frank Kaminsky all grown up now? Not exactly. As he prepares to return to the Suns' practice facility for the first time in months, the Badgers great joins Patrick and Brian for Part 1 of a two-part conversation that includes talk about everything from his up-and-down golf game and Zoom meetings with NBA commissioner Adam Silver to his affinity for baths and why he can't give up bingeing on bad shows.
Published on 5/14/2020
Troy Vincent has a hand in much of what makes the NFL tick and, with the league releasing its schedule and working to determine how to return to play in the fall, he joins Brian and Patrick with insight into the work being done to be ready when the time comes to kick off the 2020 season. Troy explains his role as the NFL's Executive Vice President of Football Operations, the path he followed to reach the league office and why he's made growing the game at a grassroots level a priority. He also takes an enjoyable stroll down memory lane to his days as a player at Wisconsin in the final seasons of the Don Morton era and the early stages of the program's renaissance under Barry Alvarez.
Published on 5/8/2020
The 2020 NFL Draft was a historically significant moment in league history, but it will be especially memorable for the players picked via the virtual event — including four Badgers. Zack Baun is still riding high after being selected by the Saints and joins Patrick and Brian to relive the thrill of draft day, his first phone call with Drew Brees and why New Orleans became one of his favorite destinations even before becoming a Saint. He also gives his take on the Badgers' success at putting linebackers into the league and what it was like watching his teammates realizing their dreams with NFL teams.
Published on 4/30/2020
With Draft Day arriving for Wisconsin's latest batch of prospective pros, Vince Biegel joins Brian and Patrick to recall his own path to the draft and catch us up on a year that saw him find his footing as an NFL starter with the Miami Dolphins – while also becoming a father. Vince gives his thoughts on the Badgers' recent run of NFL linebackers and lets us know about the interesting training partner he's teamed up with while working to stay in shape at his family's cranberry marsh back home in Wisconsin Rapids. Plus a breakdown of UW's draft prospects and a look at more Badgers doing good work for others in a time of need.
Published on 4/21/2020
In a matter of hours, Mick Byrne went from preparing to coach Wisconsin's national title contenders at the NCAA indoor track championships to making sure his Badgers made it safely back to Madison as cancellations and quarantine quickly became the norm in the world of sports. A month later, with the outdoor track season cancelled and Olympic Games postponed, the Badgers' director of track and field and cross country is spending his days in New York, where his wife works as a medical professional on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19. He joins Patrick and Brian with insight into daily life in a coronavirus hotspot, how his athletes have adjusted to their new normal and where college sports goes from here.
Published on 4/15/2020
The postponement of the Olympics hit hard for Lauren Carlini, the Badgers volleyball great who has become leader of a U.S. national team seeking its first-ever gold medal. Recently returned from Russia and self-quarantined back home in Illinois, Carlini joins Brian and Patrick to discuss putting that pursuit on hold for a year and resetting her sights on Tokyo in 2021. She also dives into her professional career, including what life was like as the only American on a pro team based in Moscow and where she's headed to play next season. Plus her thoughts on the Badgers' run to the national championship match and the importance of her relationship with coach Kelly Sheffield.
Published on 4/2/2020
Now back stateside — and finishing a 14-day quarantine at home in Illinois — Badgers great Ethan Happ joins Patrick and Brian to discuss his view of the catastrophic impact of coronavirus in Italy, where he spent the season playing basketball professionally before the country was shut down due to the virus. He also dives into his appreciation for the passionate fans of the European leagues and how he followed his former Wisconsin teammates' Big Ten championship season, as well as offering advice to his fellow Americans as the country faces the explosion of COVID-19.
Published on 3/26/2020
The spread of COVID-19 has rapidly changed life across the country and Wisconsin Athletics is no exception. With sports on hold for the Badgers, Brian and Patrick are back (recording remotely, anyway) to take a look where things stand on campus and across the landscape of college athletics. Deputy Athletics Director Chris McIntosh joins the pod to provide insight into the decision-making process that led to where things stand today and the uncertainty surrounding what lies ahead.
Published on 3/20/2020
They did it! Wisconsin basketball claimed the Big Ten championship and Brian and Patrick relive an incredible weekend with the conference Coach of the Year, Greg Gard. He takes us into the postgame locker room, how this team turned a dream into reality and shares what he plans to do with that beautiful Big Ten trophy this week. Plus, the guys dive into women's hockey's NCAA tournament path and preview Wisconsin football's Pro Day this week.
Published on 3/9/2020
With a Big Ten championship just one win away for the Badgers, Brian and Patrick bring in the inseparable duo of Aleem Ford and D'Mitrik Trice, who look back on how the team rallied to reel off seven straight wins and dive into the history of a friendship that dates back to their days at IMG Academy. Plus a breakdown of the Big Ten race entering the final weekend of the regular season, some thoughts on how the Badgers fared at the NFL Combine and a look at postseason play for the men's and women's hockey teams.
Published on 3/5/2020
Don't look now, but here come the Badgers... With a fourth straight win, Wisconsin enters the final two weeks of Big Ten play in a tie for second place in the conference standings — just two games back in the title race. Patrick and Brian break down the win over Rutgers and look at the league landscape heading into March. Then assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft joins the conversation to talk about recruiting, what it's like to scout potential March Madness opponents and memories from his time on the court as a player under Bo Ryan.
Published on 2/23/2020
In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, Olympic hero and Wisconsin women's hockey coach Mark Johnson joins Brian and Patrick for a fantastic trip down memory lane. Mark shares his view of one of the most magical moments in sports history, revisits the events that led up to the Americans' upset of the mighty Russians in the 1980 Olympics and considers the legacy of his team's accomplishment in Lake Placid. Plus, he offers a look at this year's Badgers as they chase yet another conference title. The boys also take a look at where the men's basketball team stands heading into the stretch run of the Big Ten season on the heels of its win over Purdue.
Published on 2/19/2020
With the squad back at the Kohl Center to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its remarkable run to the 2000 Final Four, Brian and Patrick reminisce with hoops heroes Mike Kelley and Andy Kowske about their memories of a magical time in UW history. Plus a breakdown of the Badgers' big win over Ohio State.
Published on 2/9/2020
With Wisconsin football completing the highest-ranked recruiting class in school history on National Signing Day, Patrick and Brian sit down with Director of Player Personnel Saeed Khalif to get the inside story on the signees and shed some light on UW's recruiting process. Plus a look at men's basketball's place in the rugged Big Ten and a preview of the reunion that will bring the 2000 Final Four team back to Madison.
Published on 2/6/2020
With the Border Battle brewing this weekend at the Kohl Center, men's hockey head coach Tony Granato joins Brian and Patrick to talk about the rivalry and recount some of his favorite stories from a lifetime in hockey — from being recruited by Badger Bob Johnson to rooming with Wayne Gretzky. Plus, a look ahead to men's basketball's matchup with Michigan State.
Published on 1/28/2020
Assistant coach and Wisconsin's all-time leading scorer Alando Tucker might also be the most compelling man in Badger sports. From relating to Bo Ryan and Shaq, to music and poetry, to the evolution of this year's team, we uncover it all.
Published on 1/23/2020
Riding high from the Badgers' thrilling win over Maryland, Brian and Patrick bring on Brad Davison to relive his heroics in the final seconds, take a deeper look at why the team has found so much success of late and find out how he feels about being labeled a villain. Plus, a dive into the Big Ten race, a preview of the Badgers' matchup with Michigan State and a look at a busy weekend of events from the Kohl Center to the Field House.
Published on 1/15/2020
