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Apologies for the lateness here; I'm filling in for Rex these next two days and have some sizable shoes to fill. Namely, waking up in time.
Quite a bit has changed since Barry Alvarez took over as Wisconsin's athletic director 10 years ago. Andy Baggot of the Wisconsin State Journal has a great Q&A with Alvarez on the last decade of Badgers athletics.
UW is "thrilled" with a slight increase in its football season ticket renewal rate, Madison.com reports. The 95.1 percent renewal rate is a slight increase from last year's 95 percent, though this season also has more expensive tickets ($3 more per game) and a weaker-on-paper home schedule.
Fox Sports Wisconsin continues its nice series of Wisconsin previews with a positional look at the running backs. You know these guys are good, and I'd argue Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement are the best rushing duo in the country. The fun part of this discussion -- and it is fun, since it's not like there's a entirely suboptimal resolution -- is how offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig will divvy up the carries between Gordon and Clement. Remember, Taiwan Deal and Caleb Kinlaw also wait in the wings as freshmen. Could one grab a few more carries than expected, like Clement did last season? I can't wait to find out.
ESPN Wisconsin has another look at Jared Abbrederis in Green Bay. The former Badgers wideout has vowed to "never stop competing," and this quote from backup quarterback and fellow Wisconsin alum Scott Tolzien should also get Packers fans excited:
"I played with Jared, and know what we're getting," Packers backup quarterback Scott Tolzien, who played with Abbrederis for two years at Wisconsin, said during the team's recent minicamp. "The type of kid he is, the type of worker he is, and the type of teammate he is. I'm lucky enough to have played with him and know what you're going to get day in and day out.
"I think guys are already realizing what a special player he is."
Wisconsin senior golfer Kimberly Dinh shot a career-low (as well as course and tournament-record) 62 in Monday's first round of the Michigan PGA Women's Open at Crystal Mountain Resort. Dinh made 10 birdies in a bogey-free round, resulting in a round that eclipsed her previous personal best by seven shots.