Where I Come From: My All-Time Favorite Badger Team
by Adam Hoge on Jul 6, 2010 11:44 AM CDT
in EA Sports NCAA FB 11
Email
PrintThis is the second in a week-long series of posts sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.
As that countdown clock on your right continues to tick down to the release of NCAA Football 11, we take some time today to remember our all-time favorite Badger football teams. I have a feeling my team is going to surprise you.
I mentioned yesterday that I didn't become a Badger fan until 2004, so my selection pool is pretty small. But I have also witnessed three bowl wins, including the 2006 Capital One Bowl victory that concluded a 12-1 season. Surprisingly, that is not my favorite team. That honor goes to the very first Badger team I cheered for in '04.
In someways, that selection surprises even myself because UW's loss at Iowa to end the regular season that year remains as the most heartbreaking loss I have witnessed. Watching Anthony Davis stand on the sidelines fully dressed and refusing to play is an image that remains etched in my mind as UW failed to clinch a berth in the Rose Bowl.
Still, UW got off to a 9-0 start that season (my first nine games as a Badger) and it was the way in which they won that made that team -- specifically the defense -- so special. I've still never seen a better front four in college football than the one UW fielded in '04. Erasmus James, Anttaj Hawthorne, Jonathan Welsh and Jason Jefferson were a force that no one could stop until the injury bug struck. After the first five games, the UW defense was only allowing a crazy 5.2 points per game. And in their first five Big Ten games, UW never allowed more than 17 points per game and when they did, it was to No. 5 Purdue, which brings me to another reason why that team was so entertaining.
That game at Purdue Oct. 16, 2004 will forever be one of my favorite games and one of my biggest regrets. I could have gone to that game but for some reason I chose to stay in Madison that weekend. When Kyle Orton fumbled the ball late in the fourth quarter and Scott Starks ran it back for the winning touchdown, my first reaction was to go nuts and run in circles around Ogg Hall (this really happened). Of course five minutes later I was pretty upset that I wasn't running circles around Ross-Ade Stadium.
(Side note: As a Chicago Bears fan, I'm pretty sure that play ruined Orton's football career and cost my Bears a number of wins in the coming years. Of course, he was still good enough to use as trade bait for Jay Cutler so thank you Scott Starks.)
Unfortunately, as great as a game as that was for Wisconsin, it was also a turning point in the season -- and not in a good way. In the midst of all the excitement, a crucial injury to Erasmus James was nearly forgotten about. James suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter when Purdue tight end Charles Davis went low on him with a dirty block. He missed the next game against Northwestern and did not start against Minnesota. And while he did play in all three games UW lost at the end of the season, he, and the front four that even Orton called "the best I've probably ever seen in the Big Ten", were not the same.
After not giving up more than 17 points in a game all season, UW allowed Michigan State to put up 49 points in a 49-14 beatdown that shocked the entire Big Ten. Then Iowa put up 30 and even after a 40-day rest before the Outback Bowl, Georgia scored 24 in their victory over Wisconsin.
It was a sour end to the season for the best UW team I have seen since I've been around the program, but the excitement that front four provided still makes the 2004 Badgers my favorite UW football team. Oh, and Jimmy Leonhard wasn't a bad player to watch either.
Now it's your time to contribute. What is your all-time favorite Badger team?
7 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
2005
Adam, you and I started college at UW at the same time. However, I’ve lived in WI my whole life, so the initial mystique of the 04 team didn’t have quite as much effect on me – although I did enjoy the heightened fan experience that comes with being a student.
My pick is the 05 Badgers – thrilling games like the 38-34 blocked punt victory in Minnesota and Stocco’s QB draw to beat Michigan at night combined with Chryst’s offense clicking with Stocco, Calhoun, Daniels and Brandon Williams make this my favorite team – yet (I’m holding out hope for this year’s edition). It was extremely gratifying to watch the ‘slow and plodding’ Badgers tear apart Tuberville’s Auburn team. The Tigers clearly thought they deserved a far better opponent in Orlando, and I really enjoyed watching UW win the bowl game.
1993
I began at UW in 2004 however my days as a Badger fan began much earlier. 1993 was the first year i really remember being able to watch Wisconsin play and their magical run to a Rose Bowl title set the stage. I was hooked after that season as a Badger fan. Without that successful season we may not have seen the string of winning seasons to follow. The 1998 and 1999 teams are also magical seasons. I remember going to games and eveyrone chanting RON DAYNE! after every rushing attempt. I wish there was a season like these 3 while i was on campus but sadly none live up to them.
I will have to agree with you
I remember watching the purdue game in 2004 and that was amazing. I also loved the defensive line that year. I remember the sports illustrated cover with them on it and it was so cool. I have only followed the badgers since 2002 but the 2004 season is the one that made me the most proud to be a badger fan.
2005
It’s rare you get to witness a single WOW moment in a year, but we were treated to two that year. The Stocco Sneak game will go down as the best Badger game I would attend in four years, not only because we beat the hated Wolverines, but also because I did not have season tickets and my roommate gave me his because he had to leave town (the only game I was able to attend for free all year).
The Minnesota game was even better. I’m from New Orleans and was at LSU visiting my girlfriend (now fiance) and watched the game in her room. When we blocked the punt, I ran laps around her dorm floor and no one there had a clue why I was so excited. To make it even better, LSU lost later that night to Florida. :)
2004 - The Anthony Davis bruised ego game
That’s one reason why Davis never made it at the pro level. My alternate idea for a profile name was AnthonyDavisIsMyMortalEnemy, I kid you not. That game against MSU was horrific, but the Iowa game was worse.
My main memory from that year? Michigan blew it in a Rose Bowl. Again. They’d do it again two years later.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Jul 6, 2010 7:43 PM CDT reply actions
1993
Just a few personal memories…
I was 13 at the time and attended the Iowa State game with my dad where they won 28-7. I also recall wanting to get an Apex Wisconsin jacket just like the one Alvarez wore on the sidelines(I eventually got it).
When Wisconsin finally clinched the Rose Bowl berth after beating Michigan State in Tokyo, my dad’s friend who went to the game gave me a Japanese Badger Rose Bowl themed towel/flag which was really cool.
OLB Chad Yocum, a starter who only played in the team’s first 3 games that season before getting injured, was from my hometown(De Forest.)
During the lead up to the Rose Bowl we had a pep rally at my middle school and Bucky Badger came. It was pretty cool for a 13 year old.
I don’t really recall much in terms of specifics of the games but I will never forget the Bevell run in the Rose Bowl. It was such an unbelievable play because it was unexpected.
My dad also took me to Camp Randall to welcome the team home from Pasadena and it was great just sitting in the freezing cold, singing Badger songs and waiting for the bus to come from the airport.
Later in the spring at Butch’s Bologna Bash Lee Deramus showed me his Rose Bowl ring and I was in awe of it.
Last year I had the chance to meet Joe Panos when he was inducted into the UW Hall of Fame and he was very nice. He signed a mini helmet for me. I then sent it to Darrell Bevell c/o of the Minnesota Vikings and he signed it as well. I recently added Alvarez’s signature to it and would like to add some more signatures of guys who were on that team.
Blow Cubs Blow! Blow Cubs Blow! Hey Milwaukee, what do you say? The Cubs are going to lose today.
1962 Badgers
‘63 Rose Bowl, number one vs number two, USC vs WIsconsin, for the national championship! I was 13 and watched it on a 19" B&W tv with family and relatives. When USC scored at the beginning of the 4th quarter to make the score 42-14, everyone said it was over and left. Everyone but me and it was magic. Okay, we lost 42-37 but Vander Kellen was amazing! Pat Ricther seemed to be triple teamed every play and USC still couldn’t stop him. USC was actually the underdogs even though they were ranked number 1! Okay so it took 30 years to get back to the Rose Bowl but it was one hella of a game!
Please BTN put that game on at least one time. Wisconsin played for the National Championship! You had to be there.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Badgers Football Schedule
| UNLV | Thu 09/01 | W 51 - 17 |
Oregon St.
|
Sat 09/10 | W 35 - 0 |
|
@
Northern Illinois
|
Sat 09/17 | W 49 - 7 |
| South Dakota Coyotes | Sat 09/24 | W 59 - 10 |
|
Nebraska
|
Sat 10/01 | W 48 - 17 |
|
Indiana
|
Sat 10/15 | W 59 - 7 |
|
@
Michigan St.
|
Sat 10/22 | L 31 - 37 |
|
@
Ohio St.
|
Sat 10/29 | L 29 - 33 |
|
Purdue
|
Sat 11/05 | W 62 - 17 |
|
@
Minnesota
|
Sat 11/12 | W 42 - 13 |
|
@
Illinois
|
Sat 11/19 | W 28 - 17 |
|
Penn St.
|
Sat 11/26 | W 45 - 7 |
|
@
Michigan St.
|
Sat 12/03 | W 42 - 39 |
|
@
Oregon
|
Mon 01/02 | L 38 - 45 |
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
