Don't be fooled by Wisconsin

Sporting News, The, Sept 11, 2000 by Matt Hayes

Just a blip, that's all. Sure, that's all.

Those 26 players suspended by Wisconsin for one to three games will have absolutely no effect on the Badgers' season. If losing Ron Dayne, the NCAA's leading career rusher and Wisconsin's gravy the last four years, isn't a problem, why should this be?

After all, this is the same Wisconsin team many have slotted in the Orange Bowl. A quick run through the Big Ten--unscathed, of course--then fly down to sunny Miami to play in the national championship game.

Well, I only wish Oregon (Saturday's opponent) could have ended the fantasy ride before the NCAA did. Now, regrettably, I owe the NCAA.

Since when did Wisconsin become this bastion of college football? Everyone together now: Overrated.

Somehow, some way, the Badgers won the last two Big Ten titles without beating the best team (Michigan) in the league. And, of course, there are those impressive Rose Bowl wins. Wisconsin beats the worst champion of the Pac-10 in years (Stanford) and a team wallowing in a mental tank (UCLA) after missing out in the national championship race.

This story gets better. Months after losing Dayne, there are people claiming Wisconsin could be even better than last season. Oh, really.

Junior tailback Michael Bennett, the track star with all of 57 career carries, will make the Badgers more versatile than they were with Dayne? All of a sudden, Dayne has become this slow, plodding running back who wasn't fast enough and couldn't catch a ball if you threw it underhand.

Funny how the most prolific runner in college history becomes an afterthought amid overhyped anticipation. Brooks Bollinger, Wisconsin's gutty sophomore quarterback, had an easy transition last season because of Dayne. Trust me, defenses weren't game-planning to stop Bollinger.

And please wake me when Wisconsin wins a game that means something. The past two seasons, the Badgers lost to Michigan by a combined score of 48-26.

In no way should this minimize what coach Barry Alvarez has accomplished. He took a floundering program and has brought it to unprecedented heights. The Badgers have won 21 of their last 24 games and deserve praise.

But a team that loses to Cincinnati should never be considered a national title contender the next season. Then again, that Cincinnati game could've been just a blip, too.

Matt Hayes is a projects editor for THE SPORTING NEWS.