Badger Bits: Flu reaches Columbus

by Jake Harris on Oct 8, 2009 10:43 AM CDT in Wisconsin Badgers Football

Reports out of Columbus indicate that the flu bug has been making its way through the Ohio State football team. With defensive tackle Dexter Larimore already ruled out of this week's showdown with the Badgers due to a knee injury, don't be surprised if the Buckeyes' short-handedness presents some challenges for them Saturday. Andrew Miller and Mike Adams, the two players who have started at left tackle for Ohio State this season, both have the flu and could be out. Head coach Jim Tressel said there were "at least five or six names" on the flu report.

But if Tressel is following the same approach Bret Bielema took when the Badgers went through their own saga with the ailment a few weeks ago, that number could be much higher in reality. Following their 34-31 double-overtime win over Fresno State, Bielema confirmed what was first reported here on Bucky's 5th Quarter, that over 40 players were affected by the flu in the week leading up to the game. During the week, Athletic Department officials were tight-lipped about the actual number of sick Badgers and wouldn't confirm that any more than ten were ill.

It doesn't sound like the outbreak in Ohio is nearly as serious as the one in Madison in September. Still, expect Tressel to continue to give conservative estimates as to the number of players impacted so that Wisconsin will not be able to plan on attacking the weakened personnel. If, indeed, two starting left tackles are held out of this game, the defensive end trio of O'Brien Schofield, J.J. Watt and Louis Nzegwu could have a big day.

Here are your Badger Bits for Thursday:

UWBadgers.com - First & Goal: Oct. 8

UWBadgers.com - Five things to know about David Gilreath

UWBadgers.com - Badgers hold teleconference

JSOnline.com - Mental errors need fixing

JSOnline.com - DT Butrym getting back his mobility

JSOnline.com - UW assistant Cooks looking for consistency from Henry

JSOnline.com - Motivational speaker visits UW players

BadgerBeat.com - Badgers' balancing act bodes well

BadgerBeat.com - Inside the Big Ten: Rare bye a boon amid bumps and bruises

BadgerBeat.com - Around the Big Ten: Rush hour traffic slow against Iowa

BadgerBeat.com - Blog: UW men's hockey tries to keep flu at bay

BadgerBeat.com - 16 UW men's hockey games on TV

BadgerBeat.com - Tight bond persists between Badgers' Henry, Buckeyes' Rolle

BadgerBeat.com - Lucas: Borland 'going to be a special player,' ESPN's Spielman says

BuckeyeXtra.com - Caught in throws

BuckeyeXtra.com - Of knees and running backs (Blogging the Buckeyes)

BuckeyeXtra.com - OSU notebook: Offensive line's depth gets tested because of illness

BuckeyeXtra.com - Wisconsin's Clay filling Dayne's outsized shoes

BuckeyeXtra.com - College football notebook: Decision on Tebow likely to come late

BuckeyeXtra.com - College football schedule

ESPN.com - Big Ten blog: Wisconsin's Clay grows up fast on the field

ESPN.com - Big Ten blog: Big Ten picks: Week 6

ESPN.com - Big Ten blog: What to watch in the Big Ten: Week 6

ESPN.com - Big Ten blog: Gophers can't let emotions linger

ESPN.com - Big Ten lunch links

Tweet Comment 1 comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

OSU flu update

OSU fan here, just wanting to pass along some info. Adams will play and Miller will not, according to Tressel. I don’t know how limited Adams will be. If he needs a blow, true frosh Marcus Hall will plat at RT, and JB Shugarts will slide over to LT.

C Michael Brewster and TE Jake Ballard also have had symptoms, but both will play. Basically. The flu seems to be confined only to OLineman.

by col63onel on Oct 8, 2009 2:13 PM CDT reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Badgers Football Schedule

UNLV	Thu 09/01	W 51 - 17
Oregon St. Building The Dam	Sat 09/10	W 35 - 0
@ Northern Illinois Red And Black Attack	Sat 09/17	W 49 - 7
South Dakota Coyotes	Sat 09/24	W 59 - 10
Nebraska Corn Nation	Sat 10/01	W 48 - 17
Indiana The Crimson Quarry	Sat 10/15	W 59 - 7
@ Michigan St. The Only Colors	Sat 10/22	L 31 - 37
@ Ohio St. Along The Olentangy	Sat 10/29	L 29 - 33
Purdue Hammer and Rails	Sat 11/05	W 62 - 17
@ Minnesota The Daily Gopher	Sat 11/12	W 42 - 13
@ Illinois Hail to the Orange	Sat 11/19	W 28 - 17
Penn St. Black Shoe Diaries	Sat 11/26	W 45 - 7
@ Michigan St. The Only Colors	Sat 12/03	W 42 - 39
@ Oregon Addicted To Quack	Mon 01/02	L 38 - 45