The Wiz of Odds

Please Give This Man a Hand

Scott Tolzien had just returned to the bench after leading Wisconsin to a touchdown last Saturday against Ohio State. You think somebody would want to congratulate the Badger quarterback, but noooo!

Wisconsin

The Badgers have been a model of consistency since 1996, missing the postseason only once. But there are concerns over the direction of the program under Bret Bielema, who begins his fourth season as coach. Bielema's first team was a sparkling 12-1 and his second team was 9-4. But last season Wisconsin slipped to 7-6 and needed overtime to defeat Division I-AA Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 36-35, in the regular-season finale. Then came an ugly 42-13 loss to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl. Can the Badgers turn it around? The schedule is favorable with six of the first eight games at home. Wisconsin travels to Hawaii to end the regular season. Thanks to Kevin!

Moped U.

Wisconsin players are using scholarship funds earmarked for housing and food to purchase mopeds and — in some cases — cars, according to a report by WKOW-TV in Madison.

Now there is nothing illegal about this, but there are several interesting twists. The station verified that at least 22 starting players or top reserves on the Badger team that played in December's Champs Sports Bowl have received traffic citations on mopeds, including tight end Lance Kendricks' conviction for drunk driving.

Couple File Claim Over Taser Incident at Badger Game

Margaret and Roman Hiebing were among the 81,524 fans who packed into Camp Randall Stadium on Oct. 11 to watch Wisconsin play host to Penn State. When the couple arrived at their seats in Section U, Margaret could not sit in her regular seat in row 69 because it had already been taken. She sat at the end of the row, partially in the aisle, and it wasn't long before University of Wisconsin police officer Tamara Kowalski arrived.

When Kowalski told Margaret to get in her seat, Roman stepped in and asked the officer to check tickets in row 69 because some people were in the wrong seats.

According to the couple's complaint filed against the state, Kowalski "did not check the tickets." Instead, the officer grabbed Margaret's hair, pulled it backwards, and threatened to spray her with pepper spray. Kowalski called for backup and six other officers arrived and started hauling the 54-year-old woman up the stairs.

The Troubling State of College Football in 2009

Depending on which side you believe, ESPN's attempt to broker a Texas-Wisconsin game this fall in Austin didn't happen because:

1. The teams couldn't arrange a return game in Madison until 2013.
2. Neither team was willing to give up a home game in 2009.

Thus is the state of college football in 2009. The nonconference schedules of Bowl Championship Series teams have become so god-awful that ESPN has to play matchmaker in an attempt to get decent programming.

Wisconsin

Has it been 10 years already? Wisconsin opens Saturday against Akron, but unless something unexpected happens, the story of the day will be the reunion of the 1998 Rose Bowl team. As for 2008, will these Badgers be the team to break Ohio State's stranglehold on the Big Ten? Mark your calendar for Oct. 4, the day the teams meet in Madison. Thanks to Kevin.