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Barry Alvarez on Bo Ryan: 'I have to give him space'

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Barry Alvarez on Bo Ryan's coaching future at Wisconsin:

"I have to give him space. If he decides to come back we have a Hall of Fame coach.

"If he decides he wants to step aside…we have to respect that and find the best coach we can to replace him."

[...]

"I think we owe that to Bo," he said. "I’m not going to (pressure) him. I’m going to let him make the decision when he feels comfortable with it and we’ll move forward."

That's from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which noted that Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez participated in Thursday's taping of WISC-TV's "Sidelines" show. His comments were brief -- we imagine the actual episode will include more -- but they continue the theme of Bo Ryan's comments two weeks ago that he might not necessarily retire after this upcoming season. Frankly, it seems like nobody's made a final decision yet... which is quite alright considering the stability the program has developed over Ryan's 14 seasons at UW.

Frank Kaminsky reacts to Bo Ryan retiring

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When I found out that next season would be Coach Ryan's last as the head of Wisconsin's Men's Basketball program I had many mixed feelings. My first reaction was to call a few guys on the current team and see how they were handling the news. After talking to them I called Coach and he told me that in every one of his 40+ seasons as a head basketball coach his 100% focus and attention has been on the success and growth of the young men in his various programs. When and if it ever came to a point where he didn't feel he was able to do that he would leave coaching. I appreciated hearing this from him, but in reality the reason I called was just to talk...to hear his voice. This is the man who saw something in me at a time when very few did. He took an 18-year old kid and helped him become a man both on and off the court. No words can accurately describe what Coach Ryan has meant to me and how he has changed my life. It makes me happy that the best part of his decision is that he is not done yet. For one last year, everyone will see the same fire and passion he has brought every single day throughout his long and successful career.

Frank Kaminsky on his Facebook page. We've already rounded up a number of Badgers-oriented reactions to Bo Ryan's Monday announcement that he will be retiring after next season, but Frank Kaminsky's reaction feels special enough to share separately. The Charlotte Hornets first-round pick began like so many other Wisconsin recruits: not very heralded and as just another freshman looking to get some minutes. Now, he's Frank Damn Kaminsky and Bo Ryan is a hall of fame-worthy coach. What a time to be a Badgers fan.

Larry Bird praises Frank Kaminsky

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"We have seen him play a number of times; we followed his career,’’ Bird said. "He’s a hell of a player. He’s come a long way in two years.

"I’m pretty proud of him for the work he has put it. It looks like the type of kid who is going to keep working and get better.’’

Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird on former Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky, per the Racine Journal-Times' Gery Woelfel

Bo Ryan wasn't going to retire after this season regardless

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"I'm here at Wisconsin until I'm done coaching. We're going to be young next season and we will have a lot of work to do." - Bo Ryan

Bo Ryan tells ESPN.com here that he'll be back next year, and he was going to be back even if Wisconsin won the national championship over Duke.

Wisconsin guard Traevon Jackson not expected to play vs. Michigan State

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Does Josh Gasser expect Traevon Jackson to play on Sunday? "Probably not."

Zack Miller on Twitter. So it turns out Traevon Jackson probably isn't returning from injury for Sunday's Senior Day game vs. Michigan State. Not only did Josh Gasser issue the above quote, UW officials say Jackson has yet to be cleared by the team's doctors. That would surely be a bummer for Jackson, and UW, which is in need of improved bench play as March approaches.

Russell Wilson on Paul Chryst: "He is the salt of the earth"

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"He is the salt of the earth. He‘s a guy that’s dedicated to making kids better as football players, but more importantly as men. I truly respect that about him."

Russell Wilson, in this article from ESPN Wisconsin. Wilson, of course, was Wisconsin's quarterback in 2011, also Chyst's last year as offensive coordinator at UW. Jason Wilde's story has a couple more quotes from Wilson, and the story is definitely worth your time.

Joel Stave might've transferred if Gary Andersen stayed at Wisconsin

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"I would have had to see how spring ball and everything went," Stave said when asked if he would have considered getting his degree and transferring before next season had Andersen remained. "Regardless, I've got to be here next semester, because I have put enough time already into getting an engineering degree. I'm going to get it.

Here's a great story from Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recapping Joel Stave's insanely eventful season. The quote above is Stave saying he might've transferred if Gary Andersen remained in Madison, but the full article describes Stave's path from presumed starter entering the season to inactive following his early-season throwing issues, and back to his current status as Wisconsin's starter.

Melvin Gordon and Barry Alvarez also shared some impressive praise for Stave. Gordon in particular said he, as well as other teammates, thought Stave won the starting in fall camp.

John Moffitt's post-NFL life profiled in The New York Times

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"John Moffitt spent 20 years to reach the pinnacle of his profession, a day to ditch that job and a year grappling with the consequences of his decision."

That's the lede to a New York Times story on John Moffitt, written by Ken Belson. Moffitt, as most here will remember, was a Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman from 2007-10 and one of the most likeable, quotable and funny players to come through UW in some time. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and played there through 2012. He spent a little time with the Denver Broncos in 2013, but then he walked away from the game and spurred a national story of outsiders stunned by a pro football player walking away in his prime. That in and of itself isn't new, but Moffitt's decision was exceptionally interesting considering the persisting storylines of NFL players current and former facing ongoing health issues. Moffitt has said he felt like a "commodity" for the NFL, and with his passion for the game fading, he elected to retire.

In the aftermath, Moffitt struggled to find new occupations, was arrested in a Chicago bar just before St. Patrick's Day for drug possession and has generally struggled to pin down his post-football aspirations. That was a wake-up call of sorts for Moffitt, who as the Times story details, is interested in film and possibly driving an Uber cab to earn money while he continues trying his hand at standup comedy.

The full story is well worth your time, both for its coverage of a beloved UW alum and the perspective it gleans into how athletes often struggle with very real-world issues.

UW issues statement on Nigel Hayes' involvement in NCAA lawsuit

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"The University of Wisconsin Department of Athletics is aware of the involvement of current UW student-athlete Nigel Hayes in the Kessler/Jenkins lawsuit. Nigel Hayes is a valued member of the UW men’s basketball team. The department fully supports Nigel as a student, student-athlete and team member. In a free society, people can reasonably disagree about any issue, express their views and seek to vindicate them through the legal process.

The department supports the many ongoing efforts to reform the regulation of intercollegiate athletics through the appropriate NCAA processes, including those reforms which seek to improve the welfare and educational experience of all student-athletes. The department is committed to the collegiate experience with education as its centerpiece. It does not believe that the professionalization of intercollegiate athletics is the proper path to reform, or likely to benefit all student-athletes."

Wisconsin's athletic department's statement on Nigel Hayes' involvement in the Martin Jenkins lawsuit against the NCAA. Hayes is one of two active players acting as plaintiffs in the suit, which is seeking adequate compensation for student-athletes.

Drones keep popping up at college football games

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"The suspect is described as white with four small propellers and a GoPro camera. Was last seen Saturday afternoon hovering high above thousands of jumping college students at Camp Randall Stadium."

This craziness with drones and college football must be stopped. As the Wisconsin State Journal reports, UW-Madison police are working with federal aviation officials to figure out who in the heck flew a drone over Camp Randall Stadium during Saturday's game vs. Illinois. Naturally, nobody really saw the drone because UW athletics officials believe it flew over the stadium during Jump Around. Similar things have happened in football games throughout the Midwest this season; most hilariously, Michigan wanted to drone-deliver the game ball before its Sept. 20 game vs. Utah, but was denied permission by the FAA.

Oddly enough, the WSJ photographer who snapped the photo in this story is the only one with documented evidence of the drone. Pretty suspicious. Perhaps Kirk Ferentz is just getting in some advance scouting for Iowa?