Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Preview Final Essay

Travis Marcou

12/15/2010

Sheila Allard

Losing to Cornell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament was a huge disappointment for the Wisconsin Badgers, and for the people who had picked Wisconsin to make a deep run in their March Madness bracket. However, with head coach Bo Ryan still in at the reigns, the Badgers are poised to yet again make the tournament field and be a potential threat. However, this year the expectations are low—Wisconsin only returns three key contributors—as college basketball analysts are picking the Badgers to finish only as high as fifth in the Big Ten although Wisconsin has never finished worse than fourth under Coach Ryan.
            It's clear that the talents of Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon will be dearly missed—as Hughes almost seemed to carry the entire team at times and Bohannon went through periods of never missing a shot—which begs the question: Who will want the ball in the final seconds when the game’s on the line? Junior Jordan Taylor is the guy that will be thrown into that roll. Last year Taylor led the Big Ten with a three assist-to-turnover ratio, which was also good enough to be third best in the entire country. Taylor also averaged 11.1 points per game in Big Ten play, a time when points become vital because of how much defense is stressed in the Big Ten. Now an upperclassman, Taylor has the maturity to carry the team on his shoulders when the going gets tough.
            Another guy who is able to take over games is Senior Forward Jon Leuer.  Often over looked by many, Leuer only needs 245 points this season to join Wisconsin's 1,000-point club, a club that only a select few have been able to join. He averaged 15.4 points per game in 2009-2010, and this season he looks to keep his reign as the Badger's leader in points, rebounds and blocks per game despite missing nine conference games last season due to a fractured left wrist. The high production out of Leuer in 2009-2010 earned him a spot on the John Wooden Preseason Top-50 list, a very prestigious honor in which only the best collegiate basketball players in the country are even mentioned in along with numerous pre season all conference teams. A healthy John Leuer for the entire season and the Badgers may find themselves being crowned conference champions and Leuer could be among the candidates for the All American teams.   
            The final key contributor from last season is Senior Forward Keaton Nankivil. Nankivil averaged a solid 8.1 points per game, along with the team's most offensive rebounds.  Keaton is a streaky shooter, as shown in the Purdue game—hitting seven out of eight three pointers—and his teammates are able to get him the ball when he’s on.
            The Badgers will rely on players like Ryan Evans, Tim Jarmusz, and Mike Bruesewitz to step up and fill the shoes of Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon. If they can combine to produce what Hughes and Bohannon did for the Badgers last season, then success can easily be achieved under Bo Ryan.  Bruesewitz will be the guy inserted into the starting lineup solely on his size and defensive ability.  His game play is reminiscent of big man Jason Chappell from 2007 but you can easily distinguish them as Breusewitz rocks his signature red afro.  Meanwhile, Jarmusz and Evans will get solid minutes providing the bench spark that teams need in order to be successful.    

A freshman that not too many people knew about coming into this year was Josh Gasser.  Gasser received a scholarship from Wisconsin after Vander Blue, now with Marquette, abruptly decommitted from Wisconsin.  Badger fans everywhere can be thankful for this after seeing Gasser score 21 points off the bench in his first game ever at the collegiate level.  Gasser’s play has earned him a spot into the starting lineup and he only continues to improve.  He has already proved that he can handle the bright lights and big time play of college basketball for being only 18 years of age.
            Catch the Badgers opening up the Big Ten regular season against rival Minnesota on December 28^th and with no doubt the Kohl's Center will definitely be rocking.  A place where the Badgers went 16-1 last season with wins over Duke and Marquette.  However, Wisconsin has to travel to the confines of Columbus, Ohio in what could have the Big Ten regular season title on the lines.  The Big Ten is head and shoulders above the rest of the conferences and that can only help the Badgers as they prepare for the NCAA Tournament.  ON WISCONSIN!!!!

Nobel Prize Essay

            Ernest Miller Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899 in a Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois.  Hemingway attended Oak Park High School where he served as editor of the high school newspaper and was involved with football and boxing.  When an eye injury would not allow Hemingway to enlist to fight in World War I, he moved to Kansas City where his writing career would soon take off.  Being only 17 at the time, Hemingway had to lie about his age in order to become a reporter for the Kansas City Star.  However, his job at the Kansas City Star would only last a few months as Hemingway, still wanting to serve his country. left to serve as a volunteer ambulance driver in Italy.  For is services in Italy, Hemingway was awarded the Italian medal al Valore Militate. 

            Upon Hemingway’s return to the United States, he made his way back to journalism finding a job with the Toronto Star along with the Chicago Tribune.  Hemingway would marry Hadley Richardson, and the couple moved to Paris with Hemingway working as a foreign correspondent.  In 1923, while in Paris, Hemingway published his first piece of work: Three Stories and Ten Poems.  However, it was not until 1926 when one of his publications were praised publicly being his second novel: The Sun Also Rises. 

            When Hemingway’s father, Clarence, committed Suicide in 1928, Ernest wrote A Farewell to Arms to collaborate on the disparity of death and life struggles.  To get away from it all, Hemingway traveled to Africa where he would turn his experiences there into three short stories later on in life from 1961 through 1963. 

            When the Spanish Civil War broke out, Hemingway took action in an effort to raise over $40,000 to buy ambulances.  World War II rolled around, and Hemingway wanted to be a part of it like in the first World War.  He became a correspondent for the United States First Army.  Using these wars as a writing block, Hemingway completed For Whom the Bell Tolls in 1940.  Although the novel experienced great success, Hemingway was fearful that he had burned out and had nothing else of importance to write.  While in his anxiety phase, Hemingway published Across the River and Into the Trees and it turned out to be his worst publication of his career.  Hemingway would not go out that way as he learned in boxing to “never stay down”.

            In 1952, Ernest Hemingway’s greatest piece of work was published.  The Old Man and The Sea chronicled the life of an aging Cuban fisherman caught up in a battle with a giant marlin.  The story opens on the eighty-fourth day since the old man Santiago, the main character, has caught anything.  Much time is spent with Santiago and Manolin, a young boy who assists Santiago, reminiscing about the happy times they have experienced.  In many ways the book reflects Hemingway’s consistent use of everyday language, yet also his creativity.  Hemingway was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for the novel.  This was only the beginning in the accolades Hemingway would receive. 

            In 1954, Ernest Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.  He received the prize for his mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in The Old Man and the Sea, and for the influence that he has exerted on contemporary style.  The fact that Hemingway was only nominated by four people and went on to win the award shows the impact his work had once given the chance.  One of the nominees, Per Hallstrom, wrote this of Hemingway in his nomination: “In general, from an artistic point of view, he is remarkable for his alert and quick view on earthly things and his ability to express them in words that make them immediate experiences for the reader. He has a kind of appetite and a sort of primitive wildness. It leads the thought to generations from the west who created the great country and who have been the nerve in peoples’ energy.”  Hemingway however, was unable to be attend the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1954, and his speech was read by United States Ambassador, John C. Cabot.

            Ernest Hemingway eventually called it quits and retired to his home in the mountains of Ketchum, Idaho with his fourth wife Mary.  Retirement was not as fulfilling to Ernest as he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and depression.  On the night of July 2, 1961, Hemingway committed suicide ending the life of one of the greatest writers the world will ever know.

Irving Is the Real Deal

A game after Duke senior Kyle Singler put up 30 points against Oregon in Portland, freshman Kyrie Irving stole his thunder.  Irving scored 31 points, setting his career high in the first half with 18, in a 84-79 win over a very talented and six ranked Michigan State Spartans.  Irving has been the best player on the court against both of Duke's biggest opponents, Kansas State and Michigan State.  The freshman had 17 points and six assists along with a stellar defensive effort on Jacob Pullen in Duke's 14-point win over Kansas State last week.  In addition to his 31 points Wednesday, Irving also recorded six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks, and converted 13 of 16 free throw attempts.  For only an 18 year old freshman, Irving is playing like a senior leading Duke and is the point guard they have been lacking to give them a complete team in recent years.  Irving, a two-time ACC freshman of the week, became just the third freshman in Duke history to score at least 30 points in one game.

Heading into the locker room and down 38-34, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo told ESPN's Doris Burke that he liked the way his team was playing but that they couldn't afford to be committing silly turnovers.  The Spartans had committed 12 turnovers by halftime and tallied 20 for the game. Duke is forcing opponents into an average of 19.1 turnovers per game and capitalizing on those turnovers scoring 30 points off turnovers in the Michigan State game.

Michigan State cut its deficit to two points five minutes into the second half. After that point, however, Duke went on a 12-2 run with the help of four turnovers and two missed shots by Michigan State and an intentional foul which led to two Kyle Singler three-pointers in three possessions.  Duke was 2-9 from behind the three-point line in the first half, but hit five of its first six threes in the second half.  Duke's lead was cut to five points twice in final minute of the game, but prevailed to improve to 7-0 on the season.

Nolan Smith scored 17 points, Kyle Singler added 15 and Mason Plumlee posted 10 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.  

Michigan State out-shot Duke from the field and from behind the three-point arc. But the difference in the game was Duke's ability to get to the free throw line. The Spartans committed 25 fouls in the game, which led to 38 free attempts-making 38-for Duke compared to just 15 for Michigan State.

Duke plays Butler at 3:15 p.m. ET Saturday at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The Blue Devils topped the Bulldogs in the 2010 National Championship Game when Gordon Hayward’s half court prayer clanked off the rim.  Michigan State falls to 5-2 on the season and hosts Bowling Green on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET

800 and Counting

Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski won his 800th game on Tuesday night, as his top-ranked Blue Devils beat No. 4 Kansas State, 82-68, in the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic championship game in Kansas City.  Krzyzewski, who ranks first all-time in NCAA Tournament wins and most 30-win seasons, became just the fifth head coach to win 800 or more games at one Division I school.  Krzyzewski now has 873 career wins, just 29 behind his mentor Bob Knight for most all-time in Division I.

Senior captain Nolan Smith and freshman sensation Kyrie Irving led the Blue Devils with 17 points and five rebounds each.  Irving added six assists and two steals and limited Kansas State's preseason All-American, Jacob Pullen, to just four points on 1-of-12 shooting and forced the senior into four turnovers.  Andre Dawkins contributed 11 points on 3-of-3 three-point shooting in 19 minutes off the bench for Duke.

Turnovers and poor free-throw shooting troubled the Wildcats as Kansas State shot just 11-of-23 from the free-throw line and committed a horrendous 21 turnovers in the loss.  Duke on the other hand, was 24-of-31 from the charity stripe.  The loss dropped Kansas State 3-14 all time against No. 1 teams and 3-1 for the season.  Duke improves to 5-0 this season and has now won 27 consecutive games in November.

Duke travels to Oregon to face their first true test before hosting perennial powerhouse Michigan State on Wednesday, Dec. 1, as part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. No. 2 Michigan State lost to Connecticut, 70-67, Tuesday. Duke and Michigan State appeared in the Final Four last season.  Then, Duke travels to East Rutherford, N.J. for a national title game rematch against Butler on Saturday, Dec. 4.  The Blue Devils beat Butler, 61-59, in the National Championship in April for their fourth title in school history.  Picked by many to repeat as National Champs this year, the Blue Devils have a ton of firepower, which includes the best bench in the country.    

Is Ohio State For Real???

At the beginning of the season, I questioned the Ohio State Buckeyes and how effective Jared Sullinger would be.  On Tuesday night, I learned a lot as the Buckeyes went into Gainesville and made a statement against the Gators. They came into this game a three-point underdog, but left a sold out Stephen C. O’Connel Center stunned as the Buckeyes walked away with a 93-75 win and showed the nation they have once again been reloaded with firepower.

Freshman of the Year candidate Jared Sullinger is an anchor on both offense and defense and continues to be that presence in the paint that the Buckeyes didn’t have last season and haven‘t had since Greg Oden left for the NBA. Sullinger finished the night with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and came alive in the second half when Ohio State needed him the most. The true freshman has had two consecutive double-doubles to open the season. Sullinger is putting together a case for National Player of the Year and an early trip to the NBA.

One of last year’s All American’s in Evan Turner will be hard to replace, but William Buford said before the season he was up to the task. He backed up his words against Florida finishing with 16 points and eight assists. His progression on offense will directly correlate to how well Ohio State does this season.

The sharp shooting Jon Diebler entered his senior season as the all-time leader in three pointers made at Ohio State. He continues to distance that lead and poured in four more on his way to finishing with 14 points on the night. When a big shot is needed, the ball always seems to find Diebler and he doesn’t disappoint.

David Lighty has been an unsung hero for the Buckeyes for several seasons now. Tuesday night he got another chance to bury some of the skeletons from the 2007 championship game loss to Florida three seasons ago. He finished the night with 26 points on the Gators' home court. If Lighty can continue to lead the Buckeye’s charge, Columbus should have no reason to worry about not going far in March.

Lighty’s leadership, along with Buford and Sullinger’s continue progression, are keys for Ohio State this season. They enter a soft part in the schedule before heading back down to Florida, this time to take on Florida State on November 30^th. Big Ten play will be a tricky road to navigate, as every team can beat any team on any given night-especially at home-but that will only make the stronger and more experienced come tournament time.

P.S. I really really really hate Ohio State with a passion and the only reason I wrote about them is because of how surprised I am with how well Jared Sullinger has done so far this season. I didn’t expect him or Ohio State to roll over Florida so easily.
ON WISCONSIN!!!!

Thursday Night Football

Tomorrow night, the Baltimore Ravens will take on the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome in what is being whispered as a possible Super Bowl preview.  With both teams at 6-2 and claiming the best records in their respective conferences, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed take their ninth-ranked defense up against Matt Ryan and Michael Turner’s fifth-ranked offense.
Last week against Tampa Bay, the Falcons' defense did not allow Josh Freeman to engineer one of his late game drives, stopping the Buccaneers on fourth down near the goal line to seal the 27-21 victory.  The Ravens on the other hand, had no problem shutting down the Dolphins en route to a 26-10 win.
The intriguing part about this matchup is how both teams are similar in many ways coming into this week's game.   Besides the 6-2 record, starting quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan are both former first-round picks, who are in their third season as starters and continue to make strides in their young careers-both quarterbacks led their team to the playoffs in their rookie year.  Running Backs Michael Turner and Ray Rice are two young running backs who have obtained the starting role for two seasons now and are in no danger of losing it anytime soon. Anquan Boldin and Roddy White-who says he will play-are the go to receivers for each team and are the guys Flacco and Ryan count on to help get out of a jam.  Head coaches Mike Smith and John Harbaugh each enter their third season with their respective teams and have turned heads since their arrivals in 2008.
The game could be in favor of Atlanta, only because the Falcons have been money at home. Quarterback Matt Ryan is 17-1 all-time at the Georgia Dome, winning his last 13. The Falcons as a team have averaged 30.8 points in their four home games in 2010.  However, the Ravens defense will not roll over easily-they have held opponents to under 20 points in six of eight games-and now that future Hall of Famer Ed Reed has returned from injury, Baltimore’s defense is even feistier against the run and pass. 
A key match up to look forward to is the Falcons running game against the Ravens run defense. Miami found success running the ball early in the game last week with Ronnie Brown. The Falcons' Michael Turner has a similar skill set and he has rushed for over 100 yards in back to back games.  If Turner can get going early, Atlanta should have no problem sending the home fans home happy. 
Overall, the NFL did a great job in kicking off Thursday night football with such a good matchup.  The game is going to be fun to watch and most likely will come down to the wire.  I think Matt Ryan will improve to 18-1 lifetime in the Georgia Dome, but he’s definitely going to have to earn this one. 
Final score: Baltimore 23 Atlanta 34.

Wisconsin Badger Football

Coming off huge wins over Ohio State and Iowa, Wisconsin enjoyed a much-needed bye last weekend and is now rested and ready to finish off 2010 on a strong note.Nick Toon and Lance Kendricks are both healthy and expected to play on Saturday, while James White is still recovering from his sprained knee, although coach Bret Bielema believes he may be ready to go as well.
With a record of 7-1 (3-1), Wisconsin is tied for first in the Big Ten with many people expecting them to run the table the rest of the way. If they can do that, they should hold the Big Ten tiebreaker, which is based based the Bowl Champions Series(BCS) Poll in which they are the highest ranked Big Ten team. However, although they should be favored in every game from here on on out, they will still need to play well.
Anyone is capable of beating anyone in the Big Ten. With four games remaining in the conference schedule, I’ll break down those final four games and give you a good understanding of why you’ll be seeing the Badgers in Pasadena, California this January.

Sat. November 6, @ Purdue
At 4-4 (2-2), Purdue is by no means a great team. But they are a dangerous team—especially in West Lafayette. Despite losing both starting quarterback Robert Marve and star wide receiver Keith Smith to season-ending injuries, the Boilermakers are still fighting for a bowl berth and would love nothing less than to spoil Wisconsin's season.Rob Henry has stepped in nicely for Marve under center, while running back Dan Dierking is averaging six yards a carry. Illinois and Ohio State had their way with the Boilermakers in beating them by a combined 83 points the last two games. Look for Wisconsin to run the football right down their throats.

Sat. November 13, vs. Indiana
Although Indiana is dead last in the Big Ten at 4-4 (0-4), they could still be fighting for a bowl berth when they come into Madison in a couple weeks.The Hoosiers are in no way in the Big Ten race. However, they only need two more wins to become bowl eligible, so they may actually have some motivation when they take on the Badgers. Behind quarterback Ben Chappell (2,445 yards, 18 TD, 7 INT, they're averaging over 29 points a game and could certainly pose some problems for a Badger "D" that has struggled somewhat against the pass. Chappell is used to throwing the ball fifty times a game so it should be no surprise when he tries to exploit Wisconsin’s overrated cornerbacks. On the other hand, Indiana's defense doesn't do the offense a whole lot of favors. They're giving up close to 30 points a game and won't come close to stopping the Badgers. Camp Randall Stadium should be rocking early and often, and a blowout could be in store for Indiana.

Sat. November 20, @ Michigan
This will be by far the toughest game remaining for the Badgers. Michigan is struggling as of late (losers of their last three), but if there is one place Badger fans hate seeing Wisconsin play, it's at Michigan Stadium in the Historic “Big House“. No matter how good Wisconsin is, they just struggle to find ways to win in that place.Thus, the Badgers have to be very, very careful about this one. Quarterback Denard Robinson is still one of the most dangerous players in the country and could potentially gash the Badger "D" for huge yards both through the air and on the ground.Wisconsin shouldn't have a lot of trouble moving the ball, but stopping it will be a whole different story. Wisconsin will look to run the clock to keep the ball out of Robinson’s hands and should find themselves coming out on top.

Sat. November 27, vs. Northwestern
Northwestern 6-2 (2-2) haven't really beaten anyone yet (their two conference wins were against Minnesota and Indiana), but they are still a very dangerous team. Just ask Michigan State, who needed two touchdowns in the final minutes to hold off the Wildcats two weeks ago.Behind the arm and legs of one of the most efficient quarterbacks in Dan Persa (2,062 passing yards, 12 TD, 360 rushing yards), Northwestern is averaging almost 27 points a game. Plus, unlike the other teams Wisconsin faces in November, the Wildcats actually play a some defense, allowing only 20.3 points a game. However, they'll be facing a Badger squad playing their final home game of the season—not to mention a Rose Bowl berth may be on the line. Don't expect an upset here. Besides Northwestern is already bowl eligible and out of the Big Ten race so they don’t have much to play for anyway.

Final Post-"Madtown Miracle"

       Carl Sandburg, a three time Pulitzer Prize winner, said it best, “Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me.” That was the case for me on a normal Tuesday morning. I had just sat down to watch “The Herd” and enjoy a nice bowl of Cap’n Crunch when I felt a vibration in my pocket. I pulled my cell phone out and noticed that Ryan Capwell was calling me. I talked to Ryan everyday at school, but never really hung out with him outside of school or sports. I haven’t seen him since my high school graduation party back in June. That’s why I just figured that him calling me was an accident. I answered with a simple hello and he responded, “Hi Travis, this is Ryan Capwell. My family has an extra ticket to the Badger game this Saturday and I was wondering if you wanted to come with.” A big smile came to my face, but I was speechless. I was able to muster out, “I will call you back once I talk to my parents about it.” When my mom came home, I told her of the news that I received and she did not have any problems with me going. I sent Capwell a text that read, “My parents don’t have a problem with me going so just give me the details when you know them.”

       We departed from West Salem at 10:00 A.M. After countless hours of passing by trees and fields, we finally arrived in Madison at around 1:00 P.M. for the 2:30 P.M. game time. Just driving down the streets of Madison and seeing all of the red, made me fully realize how special and dedicated the Wisconsin Badger faithful is. I have been a Badger fan my whole life, but this being my first game helped me to put everything in perspective. We parked and headed for Camp Randall Stadium right away. We passed thousands of fans pre gaming and parted multiple red seas on our way. I have never seen anything quite like it. We walked under the Camp Randall arch and found the proper gate to enter. I got my ticket scanned and followed Capwell to where our seats were located. We walked up a set of stairs and when we turned the corner I stopped dead in my tracks. There it was. The playing field. Seeing that was one of the greatest feelings I have ever felt. It was a greater feeling than opening presents on Christmas morning and getting exactly what you wanted.

       I made my way down to my seat: Section U, Row 29, Seat 5. It was on the 40 yard line which is nearly perfect for football. The stadium still had a long way to go to reach its capacity of 80,000 as only a few thousand had made there way in already. Since we hadn’t eaten anything yet, Capwell’s dad took us to the concession stand and bought us a brat and a soda. The soda came in a Barry Alvarez commemorative cup in which I still have to this day. I wandered around a little bit looking at the history and photos that Camp Randall had to offer before going back into the stadium.
Wisconsin Hall of Fame running back Ron Dayne was the honorary guest to do the coin flip, which Wisconsin won the toss and elected to receive. Arizona State lined up to kickoff and 70,000 Wisconsin Badgers fans were on their feet yelling, “OOOOHHHH!” James White took the kick and returned it to the 25 yard line setting up first and ten for Wisconsin. It was a rough start for both teams as each kicker missed a field goal in the first quarter. With 40 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Wisconsin kicker Philip Welch redeemed himself by drilling a 49 yard field goal to put the Badgers up 3-0. The cheers from the made field goal turned into thunderous boos when Arizona State took the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown to go up 7-3. After trading field goals, the score was 10-6 Arizona State until Wisconsin quarterback hit Lance Kendricks for a 14 yard touchdown to put the Badgers up 13-10 with just ten seconds left in the first half. Yet again the cheers turned into boos when Arizona State was on the verge of taking yet another kick back to end the half. That was until Shelton Johnson saved the day and saved the field from being used as a garbage can. Johnson tackled Arizona State kick returner Omar Bolden just one yard short of the end zone. Halftime. Wisconsin 13 Arizona State 10.

       The second half started with a series of sarcastic cheers as Wisconsin was able to tackle Bolden with plenty of yards to spare this time. An Arizona State field goal tied the game at 13 until Badger running back and Heisman Trophy hopeful John Clay burst threw the line and into the end zone from 19 yards out to put Wisconsin up 20-13. The third quarter ended and to any Wisconsin Badger fan, that only meant one thing: JUMP AROUND!!! House of Pain’s “Jump Around” hit the speakers and Camp Randall Stadium did its best impression of an earthquake as the fans and players jumped around. There is no tradition like it in college football.

       The fourth quarter started and when Wisconsin couldn’t run the clock out, Arizona State made them pay. With just over four minutes remaining, Cameron Marshall scampered into the end zone to make it a one point game, with the extra point coming. All American Thomas Weber lined up for the kick. The snap was good, but the kick was blocked! My favorite Badger player Jay Valai had jumped over the line and had gotten a hand on the football. Camp Randall Stadium went into a state of pandemonium as the Badgers were able to preserve the one point lead. John Clay was able to run the clock out as the Badgers hung on for a 20-19 win.

       After the game, we met up with Capwell’s mom and they bought us dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. I order a hamburger smothered in Swiss cheese and mushrooms and it had to be the biggest hamburger I have ever eaten in my life. We departed for home afterwards, and I passed out somewhere along the way. When I made it home I flipped the television on to ESPN, and Iowa, my most hated team, was losing to Arizona. I stayed up until 1:00A.M. to watch the upset. It was indeed a perfect day. Being able to witness your favorite player make the game winning play, to see your favorite team win in person, and to be able to watch your most despised team get upset on national television.

       You never really know what to expect in life, as a something as simple as a phone call could give you one of your best days ever. A day I will never forget and no number of thank you’s could ever repay what Ryan and his family gave me on that day. Treat everyone with the same amount of respect, because you never know who could be there for you when you need help the most.

Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Preview

Losing to Cornell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament was a huge disappointment for the Wisconsin Badgers, and for the people who had picked Wisconin to go far in their March Madness bracket. However, with head coach Bo Ryan stilly in charge, the Badgers are poised to yet again make the tournament field and be a potential threat. However, this year the expectations are low—Wisconsin only returns three key contributors—as college basketball analysts are picking the Badgers to finish only as high as fifth in the Big Ten.
It's clear that the talents of Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon will be dearly missed—as Hughes almost seemed to carry the entire team at times—which begs the question: Who will want the ball in the final seconds when the game’s on the line? Junior Jordan Taylor looks to be that guy. Last year Taylor led the Big Ten with a three assist-to-turnover ratio, which was also good enough to be third best in the entire country. Taylor also averaged 11.1 points per game in Big Ten play, a time when points become vital because of how much defense is stressed in the Big Ten. Now an upperclassman, Taylor has the maturity to carry the team on his shoulders when the going gets tough.
Another guy who is able to take over games is Senior Forward Jon Leuer. Leuer needs only 245 points this season to join Wisconsin's 1,000-point club, a club that only so many have been able to join. He averaged 15.4 points per game in 2009-2010, and this season he looks to keep his reign as the Badger's leader in points, rebounds and blocks per game despite missing nine conference games last season due to a fractured left wrist. The high production out of Leuer in 2009-2010 earned him a spot on the John Wooden Preseason Top-50 list, a very prestigious honor in which only the best collegiate basketball players in the country are even mentioned in. A healthy John Leuer for the entire season, and the Badgers may find themselves being crowned conference champions.
The final key contributor from last season is Senior Forward Keaton Nankivil. Nankivil averaged a solid 8.1 points per game, along with the team's most offensive rebounds (68). Keaton is a streaky shooter, as shown in the Purdue game—hitting seven out of eight three pointers—and his teammates are able to get him the ball when he’s on.
The Badgers will rely on players like Ryan Evans, Tim Jarmusz, and Mike Bruesewitz to step up and fill the shoes of Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon. If they can combine to produce what Hughes and Bohannon did for the Badgers last season, then success can easily be achieved under Bo Ryan.
Catch the Badgers opening up the Big Ten regular season against Minnesota on December 28^th and with no doubt the Kohl's Center will definitely be rocking. A place where the Badgers went 16-1 last season with wins over Duke and Marquette.

Narrative-revisions

            I had just sat down to watch “The Herd” and enjoy a nice bowl of Cap’n Crunch when I felt a vibration in my pocket.  I pulled my cell phone out and noticed that Ryan Capwell was calling me.  I talked to Ryan everyday at school, but never really hung out with him outside of school or sports.  That’s why I just figured that him calling me was an accident.  I answered with a simple hello and he responded, “Hi Travis, this is Ryan Capwell.  My family has an extra ticket to the Badger game this Saturday and I was wondering if you wanted to come with.”  A big smile came to my face, but I was speechless.  I was able to muster out, “I will call you back once I talk to my parents about it.”  When my mom came home, I told her of the news that I received and she did not have any problems with me going.  I sent Capwell a text that read, “My parents don’t have a problem with me going so just give me the details when you know them.” 

            I received a text from Capwell on Friday night that said, “Be at the West Salem Park and Ride at 10.  My dad drives a Chrysler 300 with the license plate K CAP.”  I got my clothes ready --  a Badgers shirt and sweatshirt -- and set my alarm for 9:00 A.M.  I went to bed at around midnight but did not fall asleep right away.  I was like a five year old on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa Claus to come.  That’s how excited I was to go to my first Wisconsin Badgers game. 

            I woke up to the LostProphets “Rooftops” song and I didn’t even hesitate to get up right away.  After eating a bowl of Cap’n Crunch I departed for the West Salem Park and Ride.  I arrived at 9:54 A.M. and parked at the very end of the lot.  I got out of my car and waited for a car that matched the description from Capwell’s text.  I waited five minutes and a Chrysler 300 with the license plate K Cap pulled into the parking space next to mine.  I opened the left rear door and got in the car.  As I did this, Orrin Oliver arrived, as he too was coming to the Badger game.  Orrin took a seat next to me in the back.  We departed for Richland Center to pick up Ryan, who was going to school there.  The talk between Capwell’s dad, Orrin, and myself was very small.  We all introduced ourselves and said what we were doing with our lives, but that was pretty much it.  Capwell’s dad put some classic rock on his Sirius Radio and that was just fine with me. 

            After what seemed like hours of passing by nothing but trees and fields, we arrived in Richland Center.  Capwell was in one of the buildings finishing up his math homework when we found him.  Not wanting to waste any time, Capwell put his homework in his dorm room and we departed for Madison within ten minutes of arriving in Richland Center.  Even with Capwell I the car now, the ride down wasn’t any more talkative than before.  The style of music changed from REO Speedwagon to Avenged Sevenfold, but I wasn’t going to let that bother me.            

            We finally arrived in Madison at around 1:00 P.M. for the 2:30 P.M. game time.  Just driving down the streets of Madison and seeing all of the red, made me fully realize how special the Wisconsin Badger faithful is.  I have been a Badger fan my whole life, but this being my first game helped me to put everything in perspective.  We parked and headed for Camp Randall Stadium right away.  We passed thousands of fans pre gaming and parted multiple red seas on our way.  I have never seen anything quite like it.  We walked under the Camp Randal arch and found gate two to enter.  I got my ticket scanned and followed Capwell to where our seats were located.  We walked up a set of stairs and when we turned the corner I stopped dead in my tracks.  There it was.  The playing field.  Seeing that was one of the greatest feelings I have ever felt.  It was a greater feeling than opening presents on Christmas morning and getting exactly what you wanted. 

            I made my way down to my seat: Section U, Row 29, Seat 5.  It was on the 40 yard line which is nearly perfect for football.  The stadium still had a long way to go to reach its capacity of 80,000 as only a few thousand had made there way in already.  Since we hadn’t eaten anything yet, Capwell’s dad took us to the concession stand and bought us a brat and a soda.  The soda came in a Barry Alvarez commemorative cup in which I still have to this day.  I wandered around a little bit looking at the history and photos that Camp Randall had to offer before going back into the stadium. 

            Wisconsin Hall of Fame running back Ron Dayne was the honorary guest to do the coin flip, which Wisconsin won the toss and elected to receive.  Arizona State lined up to kickoff and 70,000 Wisconsin Badgers fans were on their feet yelling, “OOOOHHHH!”  James White took the kick and returned it to the 25 yard line setting up first and ten for Wisconsin.  It was a rough start for both teams as each kicker missed a field goal in the first quarter.  With 40 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Wisconsin kicker Philip Welch redeemed himself by drilling a 49 yard field goal to put the Badgers up 3-0.  The cheers from the made field goal turned into thunderous boos when Arizona State took the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown to go up 7-3.  After trading field goals, the score was 10-6 Arizona State until Wisconsin quarterback hit Lance Kendricks for a 14 yard touchdown to put the Badgers up 13-10 with just ten seconds left in the first half.  Yet again the cheers turned into boos when Arizona State was on the verge of taking yet another kick back to end the half.  That was until Shelton Johnson saved the day and saved the field from being used as a garbage can.  Johnson tackled Arizona State kick returner Omar Bolden just one yard short of the end zone.  Halftime.  Wisconsin 13 Arizona State 10. 

            The second half started with a series of sarcastic cheers as Wisconsin was able to tackle Bolden with plenty of yards to spare this time.  An Arizona State field goal tied the game at 13 until Badger running back and Heisman Trophy hopeful John Clay burst threw the line and into the end zone from 19 yards out to put Wisconsin up 20-13.  The third quarter ended and to any Wisconsin Badger fan, that only meant one thing: JUMP AROUND!!!  House of Pain’s “Jump Around” hit the speakers and Camp Randall Stadium did its best impression of an earthquake as the fans and players jumped around.  There is no tradition like it in college football.

            The fourth quarter started and when Wisconsin couldn’t run the clock out, Arizona State made them pay.  With just over four minutes remaining, Cameron Marshall scampered into the end zone to make it a one point game, with the extra point coming.  All American Thomas Weber lined up for the kick.  The snap was good, but the kick was blocked!  My favorite Badger player Jay Valai had jumped over the line and had gotten a hand on the football.  Camp Randall Stadium went into a state of pandemonium as the Badgers were able to preserve the one point lead.  John Clay was able to run the clock out as the Badgers hung on for a 20-19 win. 

            After the game, we met up with Capwell’s mom and they bought us dinner at the Texas Roadhouse.  I order a hamburger smothered in Swiss cheese and mushrooms and it had to be the biggest hamburger I have ever eaten in my life.  During the drive home, I tried my best to stay awake, but I failed right after we dropped Capwell  back off in Richland Center.  I woke up shortly before entering West Salem.  When I made it home I flipped the television on to ESPN, and Iowa, my most hated team, was losing to Arizona.  I stayed up until 1:00A.M. to watch the upset.  It was indeed a perfect day.  Being able to witness your favorite player make the game winning play, to see your favorite team win in person, and to be able to watch your most despised team get upset on national television. 

                   

Halfway There

We’re now at the halfway point of the college football season even though it seems like just yesterday we were watching Utah upset the then Number 16 ranked Pittsburgh Panthers in overtime to kick things off to start the year. I remember it like it was indeed yesterday. Time flies when you’re having fun and the first half of this college year has given us a plenty of fun moments to be witnessed. The number one team in the nation, Alabama and then Ohio State, have both lost when they were number one they were in consecutive weeks. Guys like Cam Newton, Taylor Martinez, Darren Thomas, and Denard Robinson are doing their best to make college football the year of the running quarterback. The Big Ten is actually competing with the SEC for the rights to best conference, or that was until Cinderella story Michigan State is the only undefeated team left out of there. With the coveted Heisman Trophy still up for grabs, lets take a look at some halfway hopefuls who are leading the race.

1. Cam Newton, Quarterback, Auburn Tigers
Why He’s Here: He’s leading this list because he has led his Tigers to an undefeated record so far and a number 4 ranking in the nation. Along the way the 6’6”, 250 pound QB has compiled 25 touchdowns and over 2,000 total yards. With big games against LSU and Alabama, Newton will prove if he and his Tigers are for real or not.

2. LaMichael James, Running Back, Oregon Ducks
Why He’s Here: I put James ahead of Robinson, despite the stats only because the Heisman Trophy depends partly on your team’s success.LaMichael James is a big reason in why the Oregon Ducks currently hold the number 2 ranking the BCS Polls. With nine touchdowns and 848 rushing yards, James has his Ducks in prime position to go to the National Championship Game.

3. Denard Robinson, Quarterback, Michigan Wolverines
Why He’s Here: .“Shoelace” leads the nation in rushing yards-and he’s a quarterback! He’s compiled 18 touchdowns and over 2,300 total yards along the way. He’s the focal point of Michigan’s offense. A recent shoulder injury versus Iowa likely won’t cost him any time and that can only be good for Michigan. He’s going to need to pick the pace up if he wants to catch Cam Newton in the race though.

4. Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Why He’s Here: Blackmon has really burst onto the college football scene and have made Oklahoma State fans forget about Dez Bryant and the trouble he was in last year. The 6‘1" sophomore currently leads the nation with 955 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns, and he's a major reason why Oklahoma State is undefeated. If OK State can keep their winning ways, look for Blackmon’s stock to rise. The Bedlam Football Game could be the deciding factor in which school goes to the Big 12 Championship-Oklahoma State or Oklahoma.

5. Kellen Moore, Quarterback, Boise State Broncos
Why He’s Here: Sure, Boise State doesn’t play anyone. Well for Moore, the proud owner of a 32-1 career record, has the top quarterback rating in the country. Along with the accolades, Moor has calmly guided his Broncos past BCS foes Virginia Tech and Oregon State this season. As long as Boise State doesn’t slip up versus Nevada, then Moore should have his Broncos in the BCS National Championship game, along with the Heisman Trophy stock producer that comes with it.

Concussions

Every day, patients are being taken to a hospital after taking a hit to the head. The same question is always asked right away by someone or another: “Is it a concussion?” A concussion can happen at any time, especially in sports. According to the Brain Association of New Jersey, over 300,000 sports and recreation related brain injuries occur in the United States alone. Professional sports need to crack down on the penalties for delivering a hit to the head of an opposing player. I think a suspension of one game should be given to the player initiating the helmet to helmet hit. A second offense should be at least four games. The National Football League is not doing enough. A fine does not teach the players a lesson because the players have plenty of money to pay it off. Along with a fifteen yard penalty, the player should be ejected for the rest of the game. If the NFL has any concern over the safety of their players, then they will act accordingly with suspensions. Concussions need to be taken seriously because of the effects of them. The NFL has already seen multiple concussions and they are only in week five of the regular season. To name a few players to have had concussions this season: quarterback Kevin Kolb and linebacker Stewart Bradley of the Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers quarterback Matt Moore and Giants tight end Kevin Boss just in week one alone. The number of quarterbacks suffering concussions is growing every week with the Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler, and the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers, both recently suffering concussions. The recovery time needed is forcing players to miss at least one week if not more, and today’s studies are finding out that players are missing more weeks than from past years.
The NFL has a series of guidelines or tests that a player needs to pass before they are considered cleared to play again. Part of the test includes a computer test in which players are shown several series of shapes and then are later asked to identify which shapes belonged to which series,
as well as another neurological exam administered by an independent doctor before being allowed to practice.
These tests are very necessary because past NFL players who have played with a concussion have admitted to having post concussion syndrome years after they have retired. Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is a combination of post concussion symptoms that last for weeks and months after the injury that caused the concussion. Former San Francisco 49ers lineman George Visger’s life has been compared to that of Drew Barrymore’s role in “50 First Dates”. He says that if his day is not written out, then he does not know what he is supposed to do for that day.

Tinkering School

In my opinion, I think that Gever Tulley’s Tinkering School has both it’s pros and cons. First off, a good thing that comes with his Tinkering School is the life lessons that come out of it. By being able to handle the problems that come up when their work does not come out the exact way is a great way to jump start the children on being able to handle their future problems well. Since the Tinkering School has no curriculum and is not trying to teach the kids a specific thing, I think that the environment is a better work place. A more relaxed setting without all the pressure to keep up with your classmates, because the kids can work at their own pace. On the negative side, I do not agree with Tulley’s approach that you can figure stuff out by fooling around. Sure the aspect is true, but when the kids grow up, they will have it in their mind that they can get through everything in life by fooling around. Well in the real world, people need to get it right the first time. Life is not a place for people to fool around and expect good things to happen to them. Now I know that they are only kids, but sooner rather than later they are going to realize this the easy way or the hard way. I learned that the hard way growing up through high school, and I am glad I did eventually learn it before my life was further down the road. There are both goods and bads to Gever Tulle’s Tinkering School, but I am going to have to agree mainly because of how hands on the school is. I think that students learn best by doing hands on activities because it challenges the students to succeed more. They dictate their grades more than my taking a written test. This way the student knows what they have to do. I still think that tests need to be incorporated somehow in every school. The test can be hands on as well, but tests help the teacher in figuring out who knows the information and how hard the student tries in the class. I would like to go to a school that tought this way mainly just to experience it though. I like doing hands on work because I am able to dicate my grade in a more just matter.

Labor Day Weekend

For me, my Labor Day weekend kicked off on Thursday night.  Thursday night marked the start of the college football season and a quest for a national championship.  The big game of the night was Utah upsetting No. 16 Pittsburgh by a score of 27-24 in overtime.  Hopefully that game is a sign of great things to come for this college football season.  On Friday night I stayed at my buddy's house and we got up at 9:30AM to watch the first week of College Gameday.  The preview show is just as important as the actual games in my opinion.  Me and my friends like to pick the games along with Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit.  With games being played all day long, Saturday was a day of relaxing and just watching the games.  Monday, the actual day of Labor Day, had the most anticipated match up on the college football week one slate.  No. 3 Boise State was taking on No. 10 Virginia Tech in Landover, Maryland.  After Boise State got an early 17 point lead, Virginia Tech roared back to take the lead.  The game was back and forth until Boise State Quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Kellen Moore took over.  Moore led a touchdown scoring drive with just over a minute remaining to give the Broncos the lead for good and a 33-30 victory.  Next week there are multiple good games including Ohio State taking on Miami (FL).  Don't forget that the NFL season kicks off Thursday night with a rematch of last years NFC championship game between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings.  This weekend should be one to remember now that football is on all day Saturday and Sunday.

About Me

Travis Dale Marcou was born on November 8, 1991 to Dale and Jeanne Marcou. After spending his first five years of life living growing up in Holmen, Travis’ family moved to West Salem, where they have been living ever since. He has two brothers and two sisters, along with one cat. Growing up, sports became a big impact on Travis’ life, especially baseball and football. Fantasy Football is one of Travis’ favorite things to do. Travis wants to pursue a career in becoming a fantasy football analyst in his life after college. He is currently attending Western Wisconsin Technical College with hopes of transferring over to the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse after a year. Other interests that Travis enjoys include: video games, going to Brewer games, and hanging out with friends