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Sporting News, The, Dec 28, 1998

Wisconsin vs. UCLA

4:30 p.m. ET, January 1, Pasadena, Calif., ABC

Why you should watch: The battle between Wisconsin's defense and UCLA's offense should be entertaining in what is a rematch of the Rose Bowl from the 1993 season. It seems the Badgers' defense built its gaudy numbers against weak foes, as Ohio State and Michigan State weren't on the schedule. The Badgers haven't faced an offense that is as athletic and fast as the Bruins' unit. But can UCLA stop the beefy Badgers? Wisconsin will try to batter the Bruins with 253-pound TB Ron Dayne and a huge line. If the Badgers can control the ball, UCLA will be in trouble. But the Bruins are better prepared to erase a deficit than plodding Wisconsin.

WISCONSIN: The Badgers are a throwback team that wins the old-fashioned way: with a rugged defense and dominating ground game. Wisconsin ranks third in the nation in total defense, with the strength of the unit being the front seven. The key to success has been the development of redshirt freshmen CBs Jamar Fletcher, a first-team TSN Freshman All-American, and Mike Echols. Their ability to cover has allowed the defense to play a more attacking, blitzing style that has resulted in the team ranking sixth in the land in pass-efficiency defense. DE Torn Burke, the media's choice as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, has been the biggest beneficiary. He led the nation with 21 sacks and 30 tackles for loss. The Badgers rotate up to nine players on the line, with DE John Favret and DTs Ross Kolodziej and Wendell Bryant being the other standouts. ILBs Chris Ghidorzi and Donnel Thompson are tackling machines, and OLB Bob Adarnov brings heat from the outside. Another guy to watch is fierce-hitting FS Jason Doering, a heady player. The defense has been aided by an offense that controls the clock behind the running of beefy TB Ron Dayne. QB Mike Samuel, the only signal-caller to lead the school to three eight-win seasons, is maligned for his passing, but his running skills on the option have helped take heat off Dayne. Still, the remedial passing makes this an offense that struggles if it is forced to come from behind. When Samuel passes, he looks to Chris Chambers, a big target. His 26 catches pace the team; FB Cecil Martin is second with 17 receptions and the next leading wideout has nine receptions. That's bad news. The special teams help the Badgers win close games. Speedy true freshman Nick Davis can break open a game with a big return, and Matt Davenport, the top kicker in the Big Ten, is nicknamed "Money" for his ability to hit clutch kicks. He has made 18 of 20 field-goal attempts.

UCLA: Coach Bob Toledo thinks you win with offense and try not to lose with defense. It didn't work this year, as the UCLA defense was horrid. The offense, ranked eighth in the nation and averaging 40.5 points, has been as good as the defense has been bad. While UCLA's passing attack makes headlines mid the highlight shows, Toledo is a smash-mouth guy who likes to establish the run. UCLA typically is successful, thanks to one of the nation's top lines. The group is headed by mammoth T Kris Farris, who claimed the Outland Trophy. Once TBs DeShaun Foster, a TSN first-team Freshman All-American, and Jermaine Lewis start ripping holes into defenses, QB Cade McNown can begin causing damage through the air. Blocking for the savvy lefty is a pleasure, as his quick feet allow him to avoid pressure. But his composure is his best attribute, as he remains poised under duress and can make several reads in search of an open receiver. The guys McNown usually finds are WRs Brian Poli-Dixon, who is cut from the J.J. Stokes mold, and Danny Farmer, a volleyball player whose development as a go-to target has been one of the biggest surprises of the team. TE Mike Grieb is an underrated weapon who bears watching. McNown and Co. know they have to score fast and furious, as the defense is a sieve. There are several headliners, including FS Larry Atkins and OLB Brendan Ayanhadejo, but youth has undermined the defense. In an effort to improve, defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti simplified schemes, which has helped. Still, sloppy tackling and inexperience have proven fatal. If the game is close, UCLA knows it can count on K Chris Sailer, who also punts. He has proven capable of hitting a big kick, as he won the Oregon game in overtime with a boot. Ryan Roques is a deadly return man.

STARTING LINEUPS

WISCONSIN OFFENSE

Pos.    Name                                Ht./Wt.            Cl.
WR      Ahmad Merritt                       5-10/190           Jr.
LT      Chris McIntosh                      6-7/311            Jr.
LG      Bill Ferrario                        6-3/304           So.
C       Casey Rabach                         6-5/293           So.
RG      Dave Costa                           6-5/299           So.
RT      Aaron Gibson                         6-7/370           Sr.
TE      Eric Grams                           6-4/258           Sr.
QB      Mike Samuel                          6-3/218           Sr.
TB      Ron Dayne                           5-10/253           Jr.
FB      Cecil Martin                         6-2/235           Sr.
WR      Chris Chambers                       6-1/206           So.

WISCONSIN SPECIAL TEAMS

Pos.    Name                                 Ht./Wt.           Cl.
K       Matt Davenport                      5-10/171           Sr.
P       Kevin Stemke                         6-2/197           So.
KR      Nick Davis                          5-10/180           Fr.
PR      Nick Davis                          5-10/180           Fr.

WISCONSIN DEFENSE

Pos.    Name                                 Ht./Wt.           Cl.
LE      Tom Burke                            6-4/249           Sr.
LT      Ross Koiodziej                       6-3/275           So.
RT      Eric Mahlik                          6-3/265           So.
RE      John Favret                          6-4/241           So.
LB      Chris Ghidorzi                       6-3/240           Jr.
LB      Donnel Thompson                      6-0/230           Jr.
LB      Bob Adamov                           6-0/223           Sr.
CB      Mike Echols                         5-10/170           Fr.
FS      Jason Doering                        6-0/200           So.
SS      Leonard Taylor                       6-0/188           Sr.
CB      Jamar Fletcher                      5-10/171           Fr.

UCLA OFFENSE

Pos.    Name                                 Ht./Wt.           Cl.
WR      Brian Poli-Dixon                     6-5/210           So.
LT      Kris Farris                          6-9/315           Jr.
LG      Oscar Cabrera                        6-4/290           So.
C       Shawn Stuart                         6-3/295           Sr.
RG      Andy Meyers                          6-5/313           Sr.
RT      Brian Polak                          6-4/325           So.
TE      Mike Grieb                           6-4/248           Sr.
QB      Cade McNown                          6-1/209           Sr.
TB      Jermaine Lewis                       5-7/180           So.
FB      Durell Price                         6-0/226           Jr.
WR      Danny Farmer                         6-4/210           Jr.

UCLA SPECIAL TEAMS

Pos.    Name                             Ht./Wt. Cl.           Cl.
K       Chris Sailer                        5-10/195           Sr.
P       Chris Sailer                        5-10/195           Sr.
KR      Ryan Roques                          6-0/180           Jr.
PR      Ryan Roques                          6-0/180           Jr.

UCLA DEFENSE

Pos.    Name                                 Ht./Wt.           Cl.
E       Kenyon Coleman                       6-5/275           So.
NG      Micah Webb                           6-5/267           So.
E       Pete Holland                         6-3/270           Jr.
LOLB    Santi Hall                           6-2/243           Fr.
ILB     Ryan Nece                            6-2/203           Fr.
ILB     Tony White                           6-1/220           So.
ROLB    Brendan Ayanbadejo                   6-2/234           Sr.
LCB     Marques Anderson                     6-0/182           So.
FS      Larry Atkins                         6-4/228           Sr.
SS      Jason Stephens                       6-2/188           Fr.
RCB     Jason Bell                           6-1/177           Jr.
ADVANTAGE:      QB   RB   WR   OL   DL   LB   DB   ST

Wisconsin                            X    X    X    X
UCLA             X    X    X    X