The Wisconsin football team met for a team meeting with departing head coach Bret Bielema at 6:00 p.m. CT. At 6:13, offensive coordinator Matt Canada was spotted leaving the facility, and players soon followed according to the Badger Herald. They seemed to be largely understanding of their head coach's decision to become the new head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Via the Herald:
"I'm not (disappointed) there's no reason to be," senior tailback Montee Ball said as he was leaving the meeting. "As men, we're all proud of him. He has goals in this life that he wants to accomplish."
When asked why Bielema said he was leaving, Ball simply replied, "He wants to go win a championship."
Junior center Travis Frederick echoed Ball, saying that Bielema believed that the Arkansas job was the best opportunity him.
"I think that everybody faces choices in life and you need to do what's best for you in those choices," Frederick said. "I think he's done tremendous things for the program and he's left us in a good spot."
Frederick confirmed that the team is still waiting word on who would coach the Rose Bowl. Joel Stave also said he didn't know who would lead the team against Stanford. He was much more curt than Frederick when asked about the future of the program.
Reporter: Joel (Stave), as a young player are you worries about the future of the program? Stave: 'No' #Badgers
— Tom Lea (@ESPNTomLea) December 5, 2012