Barry Alvarez will coach the Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, according to Tom Mulhern at the Wisconsin State Journal. A source close to Alvarez told the Journal that team captains reached out to the athletic director and asked him if he would lead the team to Pasdena. Alvarez reportedly said that would he be "honored."
Alvarez, as all of you are probably aware, was the head coach of Wisconsin football from 1990 to 2005 before taking over as AD. He went 3-0 at the Rose Bowl, defeating UCLA in 1994 and 1999, and Stanford in 2000. He compiled a 118-73-4 record as a head coach, and a 8-3 record in bowl games.
A report earlier in the day indicated that Alvarez would make a formal announcement at a press conference Thursday. He may have to address the media earlier than expected now that the news is out in the open.
How does everyone feel about this? Will Alvarez be able to conduct an effective coaching search and handle team responsibilities at the same time? Is this an indication that he already has a new head coach in mind?