Badger Bits: Wisconsin lands in Miami, continues Orange Bowl preparation

While many were spending Christmas Eve traveling to church or loved ones’ homes, the No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers flew down to Miami ahead of the Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

In its second consecutive New Year’s Six bowl, Wisconsin (12–1) will face a Miami Hurricanes (10–2) squad in what amounts to a home game for the Hurricanes inside Hard Rock Stadium.

Of course, judging by pictures and video on social media, the Badgers were in good spirits on Sunday while taking the trip to a much warmer climate. As I type this, it is -6 degrees in Madison compared to 73 degrees in Miami.

The team arrived in Florida at Miami International Airport later that day, to their own coach bus with various players like Derrick Tindal, D’Cota Dixon, Alec James, Troy Fumagalli, and others featured on the sides.

On Christmas morning, it appeared the team got some morning lifts in before heading out onto the practice field.

What to read while cleaning up the holiday mess

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus highlights Miami quarterback Malik Rosier and the troubles he could spell for Wisconsin’s defense.
• Potrykus also spoke with right tackle David Edwards on his All-American honors, and with Florida natives Tindal and Dixon about playing in their home state. The latter article also tells of Dixon’s hope to meet up with his birth mother, someone Potrykus notes he has not seen in a decade.
• The Wisconsin State Journal’s Jason Galloway looked at the criticism quarterback Alex Hornibrook has received, with insight from Hornibrook’s mother.
• Check out Ben Worgull’s feature on Michael Deiter, with some intriguing perspective from former Wisconsin offensive lineman-turned-NFL Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick.