Greetings Fellow Badgers! There was joy in Madtown on Saturday as the Badgers managed to put together a solid game and beat the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 36-21. But don't let the score fool you? this was a classic, stomach-churning game in the 4th quarter. The Badgers were ahead for most of the game until Michigan pulled within two points of the Badgers with about 6 minutes remaining. But Jack Ikegwanou intercepted a Michigan pass, leading to a Badger touchdown, and then the Badgers held Michigan on their next possession, taking over on downs deep in Michigan territory and scoring again. Wisconsin's 37 points is the most points the Badgers have ever put up against Michigan in the 61-game series. Highlights in the game were Tyler Donovan's tough and slippery play, Zach Brown's impressive play with both Lance Smith and P.J. Hill out with injuries, and receivers Travis Beckum and Paul Hubbard with several nice receptions. Beckum leads all tight ends in the country with 68 catches and 871 receiving yards. Connecticut's Matt Shaughnessy was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss for a total of 26 yards. Shaughnessy and the rest of the Badger defense allowed only 47 rushing yards to a Michigan team that had been averaging 193 yards per game. In other player news, Marcus Randle El quit the team this week due to chronic knee problems. With the win, the Badgers moved back up to 24th in both the AP and Coaches' polls. This week the Badgers take on the Minnesota Gophers for the 117th time, with Paul Bunyan's Axe on the line. The game will begin at 3:30 EST and will only be shown on the Big Ten Network. So it will be a great time to join us at Rookies. For directions, go to: http://www.rookiesrocks.com/directions.php. Minnesota's had a rough year, with a 0-7 record in the Big Ten and a 1-10 overall record. But that doesn't mean this game's a gimme? Minnesota always plays tough when the Badgers are in town. Should the Badgers win, however, Wisconsin will reach nine wins in a season for the fourth consecutive time, something that has never happened in school history. Win or lose this weekend, the Bowl scenario was really altered with Illinois' win over Ohio State. Prognosticators think the Alamo Bowl is a potential site for the Badgers, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens this weekend. If the Badgers become Texas bound for their bowl game, it's possible that fans could combine the bowl trip with a visit to Austin to see the Badgers take on Texas in basketball (noon EST on 12/29). Speaking of basketball, the men's basketball team opened their regular season with an 83-55 win over Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday. After falling behind by 11 points in the first half, the Badgers came back with impressive performances by Trevon Hughes (24 points) and Brian Butch (13 rebounds). The Badgers will face some tough challenges in their out-of-conference games this year, with Marquette, Texas, Duke, and Georgia all scheduled. The conference schedule begins on January 2nd. The team is currently ranked 30th in the Coaches' poll and 36th in the AP poll. The women's basketball team is ranked 25th in the AP poll, breaking into the top 25 for the first time since 2002. And for those of you curious about Badger hockey, the men's team is off to a 5-3-0 overall start (2-2-0 WCHA), splitting a pair with North Dakota this past weekend. The Badger women are 9-2-1, with losses to Minnesota and St. Cloud State. That's it for this week (except for the additions I've placed below)! On Wisconsin! Jean Oliva, Secretary UW Alumni Club of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts A History of the UW-UM Rivalry... From The Storied Rivalry. (written by the UW's number one fan [not me] who posts on the Buckyville.com board...by the way, I was at that 1979 game following the snowstorm)
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It is, of course, the most-played rivalry in Division I-A football. 116 meetings and counting, missing only 1906 since that first game in 1890. It was once for the Slab Of Bacon, and since WW 2, has been played for Paul Bunyan's Axe. Minnie leads the series, 59-49-8. For a lot of old-timers like me, it is THE game of the season. I frankly want to win this game more than any other. A victory over the Gophers can salvage a 1-10 season; it can be the caviar on a Big Ten championship. I suggest below some of the more exciting, important or noteworthy games in this rivalry. At the end, I will tell you my favorite. 1. 1890: UM-63, UW-0. What a way to start. 2. 1894: UW-6, UM-0. Badgers secure their first win in the series. 3. 1905: UW-16, UM-12. The Badgers greatest coach of all time, Phil King, ends his career with a 6-2 record against the Gophers, beginning to even out the series. In those games, the UW outscored UM 132-29, and in the 4 games from 1896-99, King's great teams outscored Minnie, 93-0. 4. 1906: For the only time, the two teams did not meet. I blame Teddy Roosevelt.
5. 1917: UW-10, UM-7. Official opening of the new Camp Randall stadium. (10-7, '17 -- remember it).
6. 1925: UW-12, UM-12. The teams tie for the third straight year. (a Badger publication from 1928... that's Badger coach "Gloomy Glenn" Thistlethwaite) 7. 1933: UM-14, UW-0. This year commences a tradition that will continue to 1982: the UW and UM meet in the final game of the season. In addition, this year starts the great UM domination for nearly two decades. UW will not beat UM for 9 years, until the great Badger team of '42 breaks the skein. UM goes 15-2 in this era. 8. 1961: UW-23, UM-21. Despite the loss, the Gophers earn their last trip to the Rose Bowl. Something about academic standards at OSU. 9. 1962: UW-14, UM-9. In a battle of titans (ranked #3 and 5), the Badgers win the Rose Bowl trip, helped by some controversial calls by the refs. 10. 1966: UW-7, UM-6. Milt Bruhn wins in his final game, as the crowd chants "Goodbye, Miltie." 11. 1974: UW-49, UM-14. Billy Marek goes wild for 305 yards and 5 TDS in one of the most entertaining games ever at Camp Randall. 12. 1979: UW-42, UM-37. My first visit to old Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis (that I can recall, anyway), with a big snowstorm the night before, Mike Kalasmiki actually running for a TD, and the Badgers winning only because they had the ball last in a game with two nonexistent defenses. 13. 1981: UW-26, UM-21. Randy Wright's pass to Michael 'Numchuks' Jones in the corner of the end zone at Memorial sends the UW to its first bowl game since 1963. 14: 1983: UW-56, UM-17. First game in the Dome. The 2007 game will be the final game in that monstrosity of a stadium. Whoever wins will forever hold the Hump record, as the teams are 6-6 in the Dome. 15. 1984: UM-17, UW-14. In the fog at Camp Randall, Rickey Foggie completes 2 of 21 passes for 218 yards and 3 TDS (or so it seemed at the time) in a big upset. 16: 1991: UW-19, UM-16. BA's first Big Ten win, on the road. Tucker makes the big hit to save the game. 17. 1993: UM-28, UW-21. In the Badgers Rose Bowl year, the Gophers ruin a shot at the national championship. Bevell throws for the UW record of 423 yards, but turnovers and a game UM team spell doom. From this game comes the famous quote from the Tipper: "They ain't gonna win another game!" 18. 1999: UW-20, UM-17. OT FG gives UW a heart-thumping win in the Dome, on its way to the Rose Bowl. 19. 2003: UM-37, UW-34. The Gophers repay the favor by winning on a FG on the last play of the game in the Dome. 20. 2005: UW-38, UM-34. UM's Maroney gashes the UW for nearly 300 yards rushing. But, in one of the most incredible finishes in this storied rivalry, the UW overcomes a 10 point deficit in the last 4 minutes, with a blocked punt recovered in the end zone for the winning score with half a minute to play. The Minneapolis crowd is stunned. The Badgers have won 10 of the last 12 to begin to bring the series closer, and close the gap created by Minnesota's great teams from the 1930's – 1950's. There you have it. One of the best rivalries in college football. My favorite game: the 1979 track meet in old Memorial Stadium. I could wax at length as to why that is so good, but I will spare you. ON WISCONSIN!! BEAT MINNESOTA!!!
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