Badgers have bevy of ballcarriers

By BY IZZY GOULD AND JOEY KNIGHT, Times staff writers
Published January 1, 2008

TAMPA - The Outback Bowl should have special significance for Wisconsin's three tailbacks.

Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema has picked freshman Zach Brown (111 carries, 539 yards) to start today's game and has said sophomore P.J. Hill (217 carries, 1,080 yards) will see action early, though he added how Brown performs will determine how much the other backs play.

Bielema also hinted at a position battle when asked if Brown had taken the starting job from Hill. "I know everybody loves controversy," Bielema said. "We'll have several players who will be vying for that spot."

Hill was the Badgers' primary ball carrier, starting the first nine games, before a leg injury kept him out of two of the final three games. Brown started his first game at Ohio State and rushed 20 times for 63 yards against the Big Ten's top rushing defense.

In the Badgers' last three games - all starts - he compiled 421 yards and four touchdowns. Lance Smith-Williams (406 yards), who previously had been suspended from traveling to road games by the school, averaged 6.2 yards per carry in the seven games he played.

"I would look at it more as Zach took advantage of the opportunity that he had," Bielema said. "He really did a good job at preparing. He wasn't fazed at all the first time we threw him in as a starter at Ohio State in The Horseshoe. He didn't bat an eye."

BIELEMA FAVORS BOWLS TO PLAYOFFS: Bielema seized an opportunity to give his opinion on a playoff system versus the bowl system.

He was asked if in a college playoff system, faced with a game with no implications preceding a playoff game, he would consider resting his starters much like the Bucs did Sunday.

"I've never been in that environment so I don't understand the concept of a meaningless game," Bielema said. "... I would never want to see a playoff system for one reason - I just enjoy the bowl system too much. I can understand a plus-one possibility, but I would never want to do a playoff."

IN BED WHEN BALL DROPS: Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer and Bielema said their players would be tucked away in their beds well before Monday night's New Year's celebration.

"I basically told our team, bed check's at 11 o'clock tonight," Bielema said. "You'll wake up in your room feeling 95 percent better than most of the people in the world."

ALAS, COMPARISONS: Generally, coaches would rather put their game plan on the Internet than make any kind of comparisons, but Fulmer and Bielema obliged reporters who asked them to compare each other's team to a squad from their own respective conference.

Bielema said Tennessee reminded him of Purdue, which the Badgers didn't play this season, because "they have the same type of schemes, they have a quarterback who's a very strong thrower."

And who does Wisconsin remind Fulmer of? "Maybe Georgia when they're playing at their best, with the ability to run the football as they were able to do and the ability to throw the ball. With them being so balanced in their attack it is difficult."

[Last modified December 31, 2007, 20:05:11]