I'm a college football fan among all the sports I like and recently I checked out the schedule for Wisconsin and Texas my two favorite college football programs. In this blog I'll specifically talk about Wisconsin's schedule.
I wish the Badgers would play a better nonconference schedule. Traditionally they have played a lot of weaker teams and it has come back to haunt them a lot of times like last year when they had only one loss all season 27-13 to Michigan, they didn't play Ohio State and because they didn't play anybody of note in the regular season they were left out when it came to the BCS because only two teams can get in to those bowl games from each conference. Ironically Wisconsin finished in a better position at the end of the bowl season than Michigan who lost their last two games to Ohio State and the Rose Bowl to USC and previously unbeaten Ohio State who beat Michigan but got clobbered by Florida in the BCS national championship game 41-14. Wisconsin finished 12-1 after beating Arkansas in the Orlando Bowl on New Years Day.
Anyway as I said Wisconsin never plays anybody in the Top 25 traditionally for some reason in their non conference schedule and sometimes it's come back to hurt them either when they haven't had quality wins or a few times they've even been upset in recent years by teams like Fresno State or Cincinatti in recent years. I would enjoy the challenge of seeing them play somebody tougher and it might help them in the mind of the voters especially if they win.This year they play Washington State, UNLV, The Citadel and Northern Illinois. Since they are consistently a Top 25 program now shouldn't they play a better schedule?
Another thing I've wondered for a long time is why they don't play nearby Midwest and national rival Notre Dame. I looked it up recently and Notre Dame and Wisconsin haven't played each other in football since 1936! I would think since Wisconsin has been better since the Barry Alvarez era started in 1990 that they would have played each other especially since he came to the Badgers as a coach after being an assistant previously under then Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz staff. The two teams had a chance to meet in the 1996 Copper Bowl I remember in Arizona but Notre Dame wouldn't play in a small bowl game like that because of their status so Wisconsin ended up playing and beating Utah.
I don't understand why Notre Dame traditionally plays Big Ten teams Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue and has occasionaly played Ohio State, Penn State and even Illinois and Northwestern a couple times I think in recent years. But they can't seem to play other Big Ten schools like Indiana from their own state, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota among the rest of the Big Ten schools.I say fine Notre Dame don't join a conference and have a big tv contract with NBC but at least play some of the other Big Ten teams near their area especially one like Wisconsin which has been a Top 25 team in recent years. If anyone out there knows why Notre Dame hasn't played a team like Wisconsin I'd like to know because I've waited a long time to see that game and hopefully will see it in the near future.
One other thing about Wisconsin's schedule that's tough this year is that they have to play in November at Ohio State and then the next week at home vs Michigan the two weeks before Michigan plays Ohio State. Do you think those two teams will be fired up or looking past Wisconsin? I don't think so but we'll see what happens and If Wisconsin can get through that undefeated maybe they'll have a shot to play for the national championship one of these years. Hey at least Texas had the guts to schedule back to back games in consecuctive seasons with powerful Ohio State and it helped to lead them on to the national championship which they won after beating USC in the Rose Bowl in the 2005 season.
So we'll see what happens and hope for the best this season. Best of luck to your teams this year and thanks for reading. Best wishes and have great and productive days friends.
Good post... My beloved badgers really need to schedule some other teams in the PAC or ACC or even the SEC. Notre Dame is harder to schedule. LSU has been trying to get them back on but Notre Dame has a tenative schedule that is 12 years out. Notre Dame also has some problems with scheduling tougher teams and some schools won't schedule them because of the contract demands. Maybe the Badgers could schedule the Razorbacks it seems the Badgers own the SEC in bowl games. Just don't schedule LSU or Florida because it would not be pretty.
Thanks bayoudog for the comment as well. I would be happy if Wisconsin scheduled a Pac 10 opponent like Cal if not USC. Did Washington State go to a bowl friends? Anyway a Big 12 or SEC team would be good. I think the Badgers scheduled West Virginia a couple times a few years ago and they have Louisville, Rutgers and Pitt in the Bige East. There are lots of good opponents and I know scheduling is tough but a TOP 25 program SHOULD schedule somebody good for credibility. I wouldn't be afraid of anyone. We'll see what happens. Thanks again and take care. fenfan67
Last edited by fenwayfanatic67 on March 26th at 8:39 AM.
If you were Notre Dame and you were going to schedule 4 teams from the Big-10 you wouldnt schedule the 4 best teams you would only schedule 1 or 2 tough teams, which is exactly what they do. You arent going to see OSU, Mich, Penn St and Wisconsin on the Notre Dame schedule at one time. Notre Dame played Mich and Penn State last year along with USC and UCLA. Its just too bad that they play the Armed Service schools or they would have a legit schedule. If you had to pick from a team that has only been good since 1990 or a team with a tradition like Michigan, OSU or Penn State which one do you think would bring in more money? Its all about the dollars and even though the Badgers are a legit team they just cant bring the same dollar value as Michigan, OSU or Penn State. Did I mention Dollars? Got it. The Badgers deserve a shot but they arent getting it anytime soon from the Irish. Notre Dame plays Michigan and USC every year because those 2 teams have always competed for their conference titles and they also have the best chance of generating the big dollars. We all already know that ND has TV contracts, so it shouldnt surprise you that they wont play the Badgers just based on the fact that it doesnt make good businees sense. I know MSU and Purdue dont do as well as Wisconsin but they arent going to play 3 or 4 of the best team just the top 2 for revenue and the other two for a filler (patsies)!! I wish Notre Dame would join the Big-11 like we have been begging them to do for years but when you belong to a conference then you have to share your BCS money. Not happening!
Last edited by BUCKEYEZZ on March 26th at 8:57 AM.
I think the reason Notre Dame doesn't play Wisconsin is because their games with Purdue, Michigan State and Michigan are all for local bragging rights. Those rivalry games are huge in those parts of Indiana and Michigan. Wisconsin really wouldn't be a big rivalry game. Penn State is on ND's schedule, maybe Wisconsin could be a replacement for them when that series ends. I don't see ND ending the series with Michigan, MSU or Purdue anytime soon.
good question about ND...but i'm happy they dont play them. i get enough ND hype just by watching the espn pregame, postgame and in-game cut-ins.
this year wisconsin will have no excuses about their conference schedule. both michigan and OSU are on it. but this will probably be a down year, we'll get blown out, and every wisconsin detractor will use it against us, as to why we didnt deserve (much less qualify, based on the retarded BCS standards) to be in a BCS game this past year.
the NC portion of the schedule isnt going to get much tougher, unless we somehow manage to recruit top talent year after year, and i just dont see that happening. and we have to remember that the schedules are set sometimes 5 years in advance, so we definitely wont see much change in the near future.
however, with the guys we do get (who are rarely known outside the state, or in their own home state wherever that is), we continue to win and put a few guys into the nfl...i can live with that.
Interesting responses friends and thank you for your comments. I feel Wisconsin is a big enough college football power now so considering playing Notre Dame and the other college football powers should bring in the money and respect it deserves. They won three Rose Bowls in the 90s, have won eight or nine bowl games and have beaten two good SEC teams Auburn and Arkansas in the South in the bowls the last couple years so I keep hoping soon that they'll step up the nonconference schedule to improve their BCS chances should they win. At least it's a challenge to play those teams and the Badgers and their fans deserve that. It probably won't change much but lets see what happens. Also scheduling Ohio State and then Michigan before those two teams play each other is a tough draw from the Badgers in November but maybe that will get some BCS respect if they win. Take care and talk soon friends. fenfan67
fenway- as far as the ND thing goes, they probably have more to do with who has the privelege to play them than anyone, so it's likely up to them to approach a team like wisconsin for a game, or maybe a home-and-home series.
i believe they had WVU on their schedule a few (sometime in the last 6 or 7 years i think) years back, but for some reason it was never played....that didnt help us either.
the one game against a big-name school that i remember was right after they won their rose bowl back in 94(?), they played colorado, and got hammered....that may have put on hold any tentative plans to schedule tougher NC games for a while.
any way you look at it though, they need to get away from the MAC schools and whatever conference fresno state and UNLV are in...come BCS time, those games dont help at all, and if they happen to lose one of them, it costs them double.
Outside of the OSU-Texas matchup from the last two years with rivals like (Miami-Florida-Florida St) and (Michigan-ND) scheduling a top 25 program in your non-conference portion is the exception rather than the rule. Wisconsin had a puff-cake schedule since the early 90's when BA took over. BTW I think that Colorado 40's-3 rout was in '92 or '93 (before the Rose Bowl year). I would like to see more teams take risks (including UW) but there's awfully a lot at stake when pollsters determine whether or not you gat a BCS game or not if you don't win your conference. ND has less to lose since they are an indy and get weekly national coverage with a separate contract to get a BCS game (0-10?)
Hey friends,
I'm glad to see this conversation is getting some good opinions! Of course I want to see my favorite teams like the Badgers do well and get the wins. But you also want to see them challenged and get better to the point where they have as much respect as possible for their wins. Until then without a playoff system and such we'll just say they played the schedule they have and won. Did Boise State get the "love" for co national champions even after beating Oklahoma? That's what we get without a playoff, who has the quality wins on their schedule often gets the "gravy games' in the end. Talk soon. fenfan67
Last edited by fenwayfanatic67 on March 29th at 6:27 AM.
well u also have to remember that they make the schedules 5 or 6 seasons in advance and wis. wasnt as good as they were last year and this to play a hard non conference schedule
Michigan is going to beat Wisconsin come november 10th. Michigan got robbed with a win last time they played in Madison. Michigan players remember that game.
ND prefers a Home-Home and Away three game series, if they can get it. That's what ND proposed to my team before it was agreed to be a Home and Away two game series.
ND doesn't like to play you if you're good, then again, the non-con schedules usually aren't too dangerous. Nebraska has a tough non-con schedule.
Our teams should hook up Red vs. Red. Class vs. Class. Hmmm. Let's make it happen.
fenway....wow, so much to say here. The Badger's schedule last year killed their SOS. One loss and they didn't go to Rose Bowl due to Mich loss. A shame.
Here's the problem I see with their schedule....The Citadel. Cripes...going to a div 1AA team is pretty bad. Why not play Western Kentucky, the new probationary div 1a team? I am sure there's some WAC schools like Boise St. or a Fresno St. who would kill to play the Badgers, wherever.
At least you scheduled a pac-10 team...however the Huskies are one step up from a Wac. All O, no D. They will lay up at least 40 pts, but will give up more. Does Wisconsin have a good secondary/fast CB's? If not, it could get ugly for the Badgers. On a bright note, they can't stop the run. you are good for at least 150 yrds rushing on them.
UNLV...actually, this team might give you fits. They are a west coast style team....all O and no D. Might be close in the first half due to speed before the Badgers just kill them in the trenches in the second half.
Well, here we go! 1st time reader, long time Irish fan. I already hear y'all screamin'. Seriously, without reading the other responses, I'd just like to give my honest opinion without starting a fight on Memorial Day weekend-The Marines saw to it that I got plenty of that. Here's a few of my thoughts-1. ND history-Can't argue with the championships and Heisman trophies. BUT-What have U done for me lately? Can u say Holtz or Tim Brown? Been awhile. 2.TV contracts-Nation wide following, top 10 ranking. BUT-I love the Irish and even I started trying to pronounce over-rated with a couple of wood shed beatin's they got! 3. 1936? Dang! Have to say $$$ talks louder than the Badger's record and that sucks. 4. IU-why don't they play in state IU? TV ratings,ranking? 5. New coach gave new hope-BUT-Brady Quinn is gone-Brutal schedule-new QB- I smell a few tail woopin's. 6. Badger's got #### last year-Period. Talk more later. Thanx, Shorty.
I've been reading through the comments and just about all of it's been covered. Great write Fenway. When it comes down to, like everything else, it's all about money. Sooner or later I'm sure they'll get more of a schedule you're looking for.
Hi friends,
Thanks again for the comments for a blog that was 14-15 blogs back for me! Wow that's some looking at an old blog but it's football, Memorial Day God bless our veterans and troops and lets look forward to a great season and new rivalries. Talk to you soon friends. I plan to be back writing again after a little hiatus. Best wishes. fenfan67
I love taking about all sports in general although I tend to follow team sports more because I tend to follow teams more than individuals. That's why I don't have any favorite players listed at this time. Feel free to talk about most anything in sports with me. I don't know everything about sports, but I wish I did because maybe then I'd be in the sports profession. Anyway sports is my passion and I'd love to talk about it with you and become your sports friend so stop by anytime and we'll talk sports!
