I just stopped by to see how the Michigan fanbase was viewing this.
FWIW, among the Badger fan base, even with last year's incident, I think McCaffery would win the poll of who's most likely to assault someone. The latest example was a couple of weeks ago against UW in IC, where his ire was directed at the refs and he had to be restrained by his assistants as he mean-mugged the refs as he strode towards them on the court. You can put a compilation tape together of these incidents much longer than Howard's. Although he hasn't uncorked on anyone quite yet, that's due to the lines he put in his assistants' job descriptions to physically get in his way when the Frantrums ultimately come.
I use that as a preamble to say that Howard's act is also wearing thin. I don't think the incident from the other night was really much of anything, but it does make you wonder about whether he's learned much.
I believe there were 16-17 student-athletes who tested positive since the Illinois game. The rest of the positives were coaches/staff. The athletes have to sit out from game action for 21 days from the day they test positive, but can return to practice in the 3rd week if they test negative and pass the additional cardiac testing.
Most of those athletes will not be able to play this week. But, because the Illinois game was on a Friday night, those that tested positive the next day (which includes Mertz), would be eligible to play this Saturday - it's day #22. It was only less than a handful of players that tested positive that day; the rest were later.
The coaches/staff only have to sit 10 days. The head coach and OC, who did test positive, are back at work.
I know you guys are down on your team right now, but sheez. Neither of us knows who is and isn't playing for the Badgers. As stated in this thread, there were lots of student-athlete positives, but only a handful that would be eligible to return this week because of the 21-day requirement. The guys you're down on might look a lot better against 2nd and 3rd teamers.
Even if the O gets Mertz back, that could easily be counterbalanced if the O-line has to be makeshift - plus this is a less talented RB corps to begin with. What if the receiving corps is shorthanded?
The D is stout with its regular rotation, but what does it look like now? And, they had trouble containing Brandon Peters on QB runs - how much did they learn to be able to contain a superior runner like Milton?
In summation, I don't think the pessimism toward your team's chances is warranted. It seems unlikely that UW will be at anything close to its normal self, so you got that going for you. Which is nice.
UW just returned to practice yesterday after a 2+ weeks of paused activities.
Not only the 2 QBs tested positive - I believe a total of 15 student-athletes had it, and probably at least two-thirds of those would be ineligible to return this weekend because of the 21-day rule. Chryst has said there are guys who'll be on the depth chart that were not in that position before. It will be interesting to see who's out - could make a huge difference in the playcalling on both sides of the ball.
Mertz would be on day 22, but he may not get a lot of practice reps. Jack Coan (aka Wally Pipp) would have been the starter had he not been hurt before the season, and the 3rd stringer (Wolf) also tested positive. That leaves the 4th stringer, Danny Vanden Boom. Throw in the factor that this is not a typical UW RB corps - no Doak Walker candidates - and one would think they'll have to get a little creative to move the ball. If the O-line suffered COVID losses, it could be really tough sledding, regardless of the D Michigan is able to field.
At full strength, I would think I'd expect a Badger win. I don't think anyone has any idea what to expect now. But if they at least get to play, that's a moral victory for us, regardless of outcome.
They have a home and home with Syracuse and a Lambeau/Soldier Field with ND in both '20 & '21. That's pretty reasonable. Plus @ South Florida in '19 isn't horrible, either, at least from a 2017 point of view.
As chitown said, the bars on State Street - which is what most refer to as "downtown" - will be up and running, and parking is easier because it's farther away. However, the bar scene nearer to the stadium in the Regent/Monroe area is where the crowds will be. UW is more of a beer garden/bar scene for gameday vs. tailgating, anyway. The 11 AM thing makes it less energetic, though.
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.
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I just stopped by to see how the Michigan fanbase was viewing this.
FWIW, among the Badger fan base, even with last year's incident, I think McCaffery would win the poll of who's most likely to assault someone. The latest example was a couple of weeks ago against UW in IC, where his ire was directed at the refs and he had to be restrained by his assistants as he mean-mugged the refs as he strode towards them on the court. You can put a compilation tape together of these incidents much longer than Howard's. Although he hasn't uncorked on anyone quite yet, that's due to the lines he put in his assistants' job descriptions to physically get in his way when the Frantrums ultimately come.
I use that as a preamble to say that Howard's act is also wearing thin. I don't think the incident from the other night was really much of anything, but it does make you wonder about whether he's learned much.
I believe there were 16-17 student-athletes who tested positive since the Illinois game. The rest of the positives were coaches/staff. The athletes have to sit out from game action for 21 days from the day they test positive, but can return to practice in the 3rd week if they test negative and pass the additional cardiac testing.
Most of those athletes will not be able to play this week. But, because the Illinois game was on a Friday night, those that tested positive the next day (which includes Mertz), would be eligible to play this Saturday - it's day #22. It was only less than a handful of players that tested positive that day; the rest were later.
The coaches/staff only have to sit 10 days. The head coach and OC, who did test positive, are back at work.
I…
Hello from a Badger fan.
I know you guys are down on your team right now, but sheez. Neither of us knows who is and isn't playing for the Badgers. As stated in this thread, there were lots of student-athlete positives, but only a handful that would be eligible to return this week because of the 21-day requirement. The guys you're down on might look a lot better against 2nd and 3rd teamers.
Even if the O gets Mertz back, that could easily be counterbalanced if the O-line has to be makeshift - plus this is a less talented RB corps to begin with. What if the receiving corps is shorthanded?
The D is stout with its regular rotation, but what does it look like now? And, they had trouble containing Brandon Peters on QB runs - how much did they learn to be able to contain a superior runner like Milton?
In summation, I don't think the pessimism toward your team's chances is warranted. It seems unlikely that UW will be at anything close to its normal self, so you got that going for you. Which is nice.
…
Hello from a Badger fan.
If our teams play each other this week ....
UW just returned to practice yesterday after a 2+ weeks of paused activities.
Not only the 2 QBs tested positive - I believe a total of 15 student-athletes had it, and probably at least two-thirds of those would be ineligible to return this weekend because of the 21-day rule. Chryst has said there are guys who'll be on the depth chart that were not in that position before. It will be interesting to see who's out - could make a huge difference in the playcalling on both sides of the ball.
Mertz would be on day 22, but he may not get a lot of practice reps. Jack Coan (aka Wally Pipp) would have been the starter had he not been hurt before the season, and the 3rd stringer (Wolf) also tested positive. That leaves the 4th stringer, Danny Vanden Boom. Throw in the factor that this is not a typical UW RB corps - no Doak Walker candidates - and one would think they'll have to get a little creative to move the ball. If the O-line suffered COVID losses, it could be really tough sledding, regardless of the D Michigan is able to field.
At full strength, I would think I'd expect a Badger win. I don't think anyone has any idea what to expect now. But if they at least get to play, that's a moral victory for us, regardless of outcome.
They have a home and home with Syracuse and a Lambeau/Soldier Field with ND in both '20 & '21. That's pretty reasonable. Plus @ South Florida in '19 isn't horrible, either, at least from a 2017 point of view.
As chitown said, the bars on State Street - which is what most refer to as "downtown" - will be up and running, and parking is easier because it's farther away. However, the bar scene nearer to the stadium in the Regent/Monroe area is where the crowds will be. UW is more of a beer garden/bar scene for gameday vs. tailgating, anyway. The 11 AM thing makes it less energetic, though.
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.