November 14th, 2017 at 8:43 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 11:04 AM ^
The thing hurting Michigan there is the presence of the D2 schools. We don't have any in Wisconsin, so the choices are either D3 or walk on at UW if invited...an easy choice. I would think in Michigan a lot of guys will look at a place like Grand Valley and see that as a not terrible option.
November 14th, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
Or they get scholarship offers from MSU
November 14th, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
Or they get scholarship offers from MSU
November 14th, 2017 at 1:16 PM ^
I would think a guy who is not offered a scholarship to Michigan but is good enough to be invited as a PWO probably has offers from the directional Michigan schools (or in the case of a former PWO longsnapper, an MSU offer) to look at before getting to the D2 level.
November 14th, 2017 at 1:55 PM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 8:43 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 8:59 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 9:46 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 9:01 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^
I don't know about that. From 2006 through 2013 they won 77 games. That was the start of the bielema era through the end of the leaders/legends split when they were in the same divisio as OSU and PSU. They played OSU every year during that stretch except 2006. They played Michigan five times, MSU seven times, and PSU six times. So it wasn't like they were avoiding good teams and they still averaged 9.625 wins a season. Since we've gone to east/west they are averaging 10.667 wins a season.
So being in the west is really only benefitting them ~1 extra win a year against the previous divisional alignments and pre division big ten conference. That doesn't seem like alot to me.
November 14th, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^
Their non-conference schedule has always been pathetic though. I think they've played in a couple Jerryworld games against SEC teams but otherwise I can't recall them playing a non-conference game against a legitimate opponent.
November 14th, 2017 at 10:23 AM ^
Lambeau...
November 14th, 2017 at 10:03 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 10:31 AM ^
In most cases that additional victory is the difference between going to a BCS/NY6 bowl and going to Tampa or Orlando, which is pretty significant in terms of revenue and exposure.
November 14th, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
In our defense, we really only got smoked by the other side of the conference once.
2011 Beat MSU to win the championship
2012 Destroyed Nebraska to win championship
2014 Got killed by OSU
2016 Lost to PSU by a TD after being up 28-7
November 14th, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
If you're going to count 2012, you should note that Wisconsin made it to the championship game at 7-5 and 4-4 in-conference only because OSU and PSU were ineligible for postseason play.
November 14th, 2017 at 11:18 AM ^
Why would I not count it? The post I was responding to was implying that our MO is to make it to Indy and then get smoked by the other side of the conference, which is not at all the norm. In the scenario you describe, we should have gotten destroyed being an undeserving team, but obviously that didn't happen.
November 14th, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 12:31 PM ^
Fair statement.
November 14th, 2017 at 1:32 PM ^
But how? In leaders/legends they were paired with OSU.
Certainly now they have an advantage of being in the west. But that is a new thing. They didn't benefit from it during the Alvarez/Beilema era.
November 14th, 2017 at 4:23 PM ^
That OSU designation should maybe include an asterisk. 2011 was the Tressel fallout year and in 2012 they were ineligible for the postseason (as well as PSU).
Of course, OSU beat Wisconsin in both those seasons, so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
November 14th, 2017 at 11:02 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
it's easy to lock down the state in recruiting when you're the only major D1 school in the state.
November 14th, 2017 at 9:45 AM ^
Conference expansion into the two divisions and placing UM, OSU, MSU, and PSU in the same conference may have prevented UW from winning the B1G title, but it has sure helped their regular season records and helped them to get to the B1G championship game.
November 14th, 2017 at 9:49 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 11:49 AM ^
You hit the nail on the head. I think he's the one behind the success of Wiscy football over the past umpteen years. He's an AD who hires HC's who will follow the Wiscy Philosophy - especially offensively. They've been highly successful sticking to what they're good at. What's so impressive is their player development. They find guys who fit their system and develop them. They have a clear identity. That's what Harbaugh needs to do with Michigan.
November 14th, 2017 at 10:02 AM ^
Wisconsin always seems to develop an all-American at RB. They've had a 1,000 yard rusher every year since 2005 including Melvin Gordon, P.J. Hill, Rod Dayne, Micheal Bennett, Montee Ball, John Clay, etc. This year it's Jonathan Taylor who has gained 1,500+ yards. I don't really know why they have had more successful RBs than any other team in America for the last 10+ years. I think it's a combination of very good OLs plus the ability to identify & recruit talented HS RBs. I don't know how much RB coaching comes into play, but UW seems to always be successful in getting the right kid to be the starter while bringing along backups that can be plugged in if the 1st teams player goes down.
November 14th, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 10:32 AM ^
Well to be fair, a big part of their identity on offense is running the ball down your throat at least 60-70% of the time. I of course want to give credit where it's due as they've had some truly great RBs over the years, but that is their offensive identity, so it makes sense that RBs are going to churn out yards there.
Save for the one year Russell Wilson was in town, Wisconsin has NEVER been known as a team that was going to beat you by throwing the ball. If it keeps working, Wisconsin will run the ball on every single snap and be content with its wideouts to just be good blockers. There's a reason that aside from maybe Jared Abrederris, most people can't name a single Wisconsin wideout of note from the last 15-20 years. The only other guy I remember is Nick Toon, and that's just because of his name.
November 14th, 2017 at 10:56 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^
Yes, they do that, and what's unreal is that they do it without the threat of a passing attack. Opponents know UW is going to run, scheme for it, and still can't stop it. And it's been going on for years. Amazing.
November 14th, 2017 at 3:23 PM ^
Actually, UW has sent a fair number of WRs - and especially TEs - to the NFL. Off the top of my head, currently, Alex Erickson is on the Bengals (mostly a punt returner right now), in addition to Abbrederis (who you're obviously attuned to on the Lions). Lee Evans was a longtime NFLer, mostly with the Bills, but also famously dropped a pass for the Ravens that would've beaten the Pats in a playoff. Chris Chambers played a lot of years, mostly Dolphins. At tight end, there was Owen Daniels, Garrett Graham, Travis Beckum, and Lance Kendricks. Even the QBs have made rosters and practice squads - Tolzien played a bit as a backup, even this year, but not very well. Stave was on Seattle's practice squad last year, and they also converted Tanner McEvoy to a WR. Jim Sorgi was Peyton Manning's backup for many years.
November 14th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
No doubt. They have put a bunch of defensive players in the NFL as well, and good players who have solid careers.
November 14th, 2017 at 10:06 AM ^
November 14th, 2017 at 11:36 AM ^
but was the secret ingredient "steroids"?
