Wisconsin football: Rose Bowl notebook, part two

Your B1G West division champion No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers (10-3 overall, 7-2 B1G) have been out in California for a few days now getting prepared to do battle with the Pac-12 Champion No. 6 Oregon Ducks (11-2 overall, 8-1 Pac-12) on New Year’s Day.

Here are some updates from the last few days on the Badgers as they have started taking in all the festivities and practices that surround The Granddaddy of Them All.

• The first 15 minutes of Saturday’s practice (and Sunday’s as well) were open to the media and our very own Matt Fleming is there taking pictures.

He’ll be on the sidelines for the game as well and I can’t wait to see the pictures when the sun just starts setting. Few things prettier than the Rose Bowl at sunset imo.

• Was there a weight limit on the field that the Badgers violated or were they just practicing that hard?

• The Badgers had their turn at the Lawry’s Beef Bowl on Saturday evening and Chris Orr gave the first slice of prime rib to Paul Chryst’s wife, Robin, because Orr is the smartest man on the team.

• This is real disappointing news, but Melissa is a good reporter and doesn’t sugarcoat it for the rest of us.

What’s the point of eating meat like this well done?!?! Ugh, I guess to each their own...but, like, come on!

• The balls are ready for the game. Say what you will about Oregon and their relationship with Nike but seeing that big ol’ swoosh on the ball makes me think that this is going to be a BIG GAME. Marketing works, folks.

• Yeah, but what did Graham Mertz bowl? ::ducks::

• Some photos to prove that Oregon was also practicing on Saturday. Secretly, I was hoping they wouldn’t practice at all and the Badgers would win by 40. Alas.

• I’m concerned that Kayvon Thibodeaux does not know what’s coming.

• For those of you out in Pasadena/Los Angeles here is a brief schedule of events for Badgers fans.