Cristmas Blues: Former Notre Dame QB picks Kansas over Wisconsin

by Adam Hoge on Dec 22, 2011 11:36 AM CST in Wisconsin Badgers Football

It has not been a good 24 hours for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Barely an hour after Pittsburgh officially announced it had hired Paul Chryst as its new head coach, former Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist announced on Twitter that he is headed to Kansas instead of Wisconsin.

In a normal year, this would probably not be that big of a deal as Crist is no Russell Wilson, but the Badgers' quarterback situation is very uncertain as Jon Budmayr and Curt Phillips are both recovering from serious injuries. At this point, it doesn't appear either will be with the team in the spring.

After a long & difficult decision making process, I'm incredibly excited to join the Kansas football team. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
— Dayne Crist (@dcrist10) December 22, 2011

Wisconsin also loses Nick Toon and probably Montee Ball as well. And then, of course, there's the biggest loss of all: Paul Chryst.

The addition of Crist would have at least given Wisconsin a Scott Tolzien-like starter with experience. The Badgers will still have talent running backs and a good offensive line, so they just need a quarterback that won't lose them games.

Except for 2008, Wisconsin has always had those guys with Chryst running the offense.

Things are going to be different in 2012. I'd savor every second of watching Russell Wilson in the Rose Bowl if I were you.

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Yes, the future is uncertain at QB

But I think UW dodged a bullet here. Kansas was the main competition for this guy. If it’s going to be a rebuilding yr anyway and no one stands out, roll with Houston at QB. You’ll thank yourself in 4 years.

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by Phil Mitten on Dec 22, 2011 11:58 AM CST reply actions

His loss.

Going to the crappiest team of the Big 12 instead of a perennial Big 10 championship contender. Not exactly the most rational move in the world, the guy must not like winning a whole lot.

FREE AIRWOLF!

ROHLFING!!!!!

by d-mac on Dec 22, 2011 12:12 PM CST reply actions

But Kansas has a more recent BCS bowl victory than us!

Sad but true.

Bucky's 5th Quarter - All Badgers, all the time.

by Adam Tupitza on Dec 22, 2011 12:42 PM CST up reply actions

2-10.

FREE AIRWOLF!

ROHLFING!!!!!

by d-mac on Dec 22, 2011 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

Big loss

Wisconsin is in serious trouble at the QB spot next year. If you’re banking on a true freshman stepping in, you’re in trouble.

by Chuck Schwartz on Dec 22, 2011 12:48 PM CST reply actions

Why?

I’ll be happy to give him some experience and let him grow in an elite QB. All he needs to do is a reduced Tolzien role. New o coordinator and new real WR threat… They will be running the ball all day.

by ChitownBadger on Dec 22, 2011 1:41 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

few words to help with those christmas blues....

ROSE BOWL v. Oregon!

Hello!!! I came over here to read excited fans who just can’t wait time Jan. 2nd.

well IM at least excited. great matchup! great bowl! great schools! i’ve never been to Madison but I’ve never heard anything that would make me think it isn’t pretty damn great.

Good luck guys! GO DUCKS!

by Quacker Backer on Dec 22, 2011 1:02 PM CST reply actions

Is this your way of saying we can have Bryan Bennett?

If so that’d be super

by aka Mich on Dec 22, 2011 1:41 PM CST up reply actions

lol. not. a. chance.

i cannot wait to watch his career unfold.

maybe if you let the ‘O’ trademark the ‘Jump Around’?

by Quacker Backer on Dec 22, 2011 6:34 PM CST up reply actions

I agree with the above

I just don’t get the decision to go to Kansas. It’s not like they have a good team. They’ve been “rebuilding” for a while now. I would understand if Christ had picked a school that was sort of meh but could make waves with a good QB… I don’t know. K-State? Texas Tech? But Kansas? That’s just silly.

Off Tackle Empire - Ruling over the Big Ten since 2008.

by Hilary Lee on Dec 22, 2011 2:27 PM CST via mobile reply actions

He must really love Charlie Weiss.

FREE AIRWOLF!

ROHLFING!!!!!

by d-mac on Dec 22, 2011 3:00 PM CST up reply actions

Spring ball should be interesting

We’ll find out more about Phillips, at least. If (and that’s a massive IF) he’s healthy, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get his shot.

Other than that, QB is going to be an issue.

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If it made sense, it wouldn't be the BCS.

by John Veldhuis on Dec 22, 2011 3:57 PM CST reply actions

Any chance

Bart Houston is enrolling early for Spring Ball?

by ChitownBadger on Dec 22, 2011 4:22 PM CST up reply actions

Jake Heaps is transfering to Kansas too. Odd disision by Crist...

"I spent 90 percent of my money on women and drink. The rest I wasted!"

by JaviLouis on Dec 22, 2011 4:37 PM CST reply actions

Someone scribbled over basketball with the word football when showing them the latest rankings

or at least that is the only logical explanation I can think.

by aka Mich on Dec 22, 2011 7:07 PM CST up reply actions

is Crist like, the only qb picking a school this year? ROSE BOWL!

by Quacker Backer on Dec 22, 2011 6:37 PM CST reply actions

I thought Tom Savage was looking at moving on again

In case some don’t know him, he was a big time prospect out of Pennsylvania (if his last name sounds familiar it should, his brother was briefly at UW) who commit to Rutgers, transferred to Arizona after horrible offensive play-calling and an abysmal offensive line, then found himself at AZ where the new coach uses QBs different from his pro-style skill set. He could fit in very well at UW, but bridges might have been burned after his brother transferred out.

"I spent 90 percent of my money on women and drink. The rest I wasted!"

by JaviLouis on Dec 22, 2011 8:40 PM CST up reply actions

Christ would forgive you guys,....

by Quacker Backer on Dec 22, 2011 6:37 PM CST reply actions

IS CHRYST COACHING THE ROSE BOWL

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Dec 22, 2011 9:14 PM CST reply actions

Yessir.

Depending on your opinion of Chryst, you may find this a good thing or a bad thing, but it’s probably a good thing.

Bucky's 5th Quarter - All Badgers, all the time.

by Adam Tupitza on Dec 22, 2011 9:17 PM CST up reply actions

this has happened with oregon before.

the 2001 Fiesta Bowl vs Colorado staring Joey Harrington. well jeff tedford was actually our OC that year and before the Fiesta he accepted the job at Cal. He stayed for the bowl and it turned out great. i think it’s a great idea.

by Quacker Backer on Dec 23, 2011 2:11 AM CST up reply actions

Uh oh

No Free agent QB, and the brains of the organization leaving.

This may get rough.

by posas14 on Dec 22, 2011 11:23 PM CST reply actions

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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