A common and reasonable argument for Bielema is that Wisconsin will always have the occasional 7-5 (3-5) record. For the most part, those of us who think Bielema must go appreciate that Wisconsin is neither Ohio State nor Florida, and will have mediocre and down seasons. This season is different. This team is sufficiently skilled and experienced to have been competing for a Rose Bowl this season. Wisconsin football is consistently one or two losses away from going to a BCS bowl.
This year the Badgers are capable of superb play, but only two quarters per day. We started the season taking the second half off, and then we switched to taking the first half off. You can play this way and win against inferior teams.
As for Cal Poly, I concede that the triple option is a complicated offensive system. However, I point to: senior day as the final game of the season, two game winning streak, bowl ramifications, and what should be a desire to win every game. Every possession, the Badgers should take the ball down field and jam it down the Mustangs' throats. We should make their defense afraid to come back on the field.
On defense, we should blast them three yards backwards and destroy the option ball movement in the backfield. Instead, the Mustangs attacked us and played with confidence as we played on our heels. The triple option is complicated, but it's not like they have 14 players on the field. Finally, there is no reason to celebrate like we just beat Ohio state on a goal line stand. Cal Poly just spared you a massive embarrassment, so be a good sport and celebrate like you kicked an extra point to win after their kicker just ruined his own life.
Every week, the Badger football team is a circus. Yes this team is 7-5, but the win column does not tell the story. It's all about context. You judge a coach by what happens when he has the tools to win. This Badger team entered the season built-to-win, and turned into a train wreck. Bielema obviously won't be fired after this year or the next. Barry will let him finish his contract. The Badgers will scrap their way to a couple more bowl games on the backs of non-conference and Big Ten bottom-feeder wins. Then it's decision time.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
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How can you blame Bielema for this? cal poly is a good team despite that they are division 1-aa and the defense played terrible. any team can beat any team. cal poly could cause just as many problems for other bcs conference teams as they did wisconsin. stop with the bielema's fault crap its getting old
stop with the bielema's fault crap?
you're on firebretbielema.com, what did you expect to see?
that's like going to nascar.com and being pissed because they only talk about racing
then why is there a survey poll asking if he should be fired? i dont have to want him to be fired to be able to come on here
Is that you Bret?
No, that's my mother.
The only way to really get Barry's attention on this is too "hit em where they live" (their pocketbook). The Badger Athletic Dept is not that much different than GM. They will not change until the money stops flowing. Consumers stopped buying the GM cars that made no sense in this day and age, season ticket holders need to do the same. Consumers stopped buying inferior products foisted upon them at high prices, season ticket holders need to do the same. Consumers objected to the arrogance of the leaders of these companies, season ticket holders need to do the same. At least as season ticket holders we have the choice as to whether we continue to send bailout money to these people.
New to the discussion today, so perhaps some of my concerns have already been addressed.
My biggest issue with this team has been on the defensive side of the ball. In years past, Wisconsin has had a number of playmakers on defense, and each year two or three ends up making an NFL roster. This year, that doesn't seem to be the case. You can argue that there is talent there, but if so, where are the plays?
Either the players are not there, and then we have a problem with recruiting, or they are there, and the coaches are not putting them in position to make plays. Both are coaching issues.
Second, was anyone else really impressed with the discipline of the Cal Poly? They had one penalty, on a stage where you could certainly forgive them for being intimidated. Not the case, they were ready, and other than their kicker, didn't beat themselves. On the other hand, Wisconsin commits the worst of penalties on the field goal, overruns a punt returner at a critical time, etc.
I am not convinced that the coaching needs to be completely changed. However, Barry was never shy about sending an assistant packing quickly if there was a problem. There was a defensive backs coach that lasted only one year, if I recall, because a good group of backs was not being utilized properly. When a team loses close games due to last minute drives by the opponents, then something needs to change on the defensive side. I would welcome it.
Now, with regard to the last comment - I think it is way too early to turn in season tickets in protest. From my standpoint, that would be an act that would punish me, not the university, because someone else would step into my place. I love the experience far too much to stay away, and this is not the same situation as we had in the Morton debacle. I will say this - next year will prove to be a critical one for this program. Wisconsin has been able to recruit into a cold weather environment far longer than should have been possible, but that changes when wins stop. If they have another season of .500 ball, players will look to go to warmer climates. When a team like Tulsa or Ball State can get on television just as often, and win games, even they start to look more inviting.
hitting the athletic department's bottom line is absolutely the only way to make them change.
i'll be contributing by not buying tickets next year. i'm torn, because it's not that i'm a fair weather fan - on the contrary, i love uw so much that i'm willing to sacrifice my own ability to be there on game day (which has, for the past few years, been the highlght of so many of my weekends) to eventually make the Barry do the right thing for the team's future (in spite of himself). Either he'll get rid of Bielema and fans will come back, or he won't and ticket sales will suffer and he'll be out by ruining the department's finances.
decisions, decisionss, Barry. do the right thing. bring us someone who's coaching ability matches he love than this fan base has for its team. we deserve nothing less.
next year will likely be another ugly year anyway. i look forward to coming back to games as soon as we return to prominence. until then... it's going to be a long few seasons (and offseasons).
The first guy is right. Cal Poly has the triple option spread offense that is tough for anybody to defend. It doesn't matter that they are 1NCAA AA.
This is Bielema's fault, for a number of reasons. Anyone who doesn't think he should be fired or he is the one to blame for this year doesn't know college football
Cal Poly Game Blunders
1. Punt Return for a TD by Cal Poly. The coverage team was getting blasted off the ball and over-pursuing everywhere. The Special Teams is Bret Bielema's unit, you'd think it would be the strongest if he truly is a "National Coach of the Year"
2. The HUGE offsides on 4th and 6 on the FG try. Obviously the kick would have been missed and we go down and score to put us in the lead and steal the momentum. Any Special Teams coach should be telling their team to not go offside at all costs, the funny thing was on the 46 yard kick at the end of regulation, pleasent went offsides was able to recover AGAIN. this is inexcusable, and its BB's unit!
3. Shane Carter. He had a great year last year and he has good ball-hawking abilities, but why is he in the game against a team who didn't throw the ball down the middle ONCE. He was in EVERY play, yet he's useless on 6 yard option runs. They should have put in a better tackler or gone with a 4-4 formation.
4. No NT. against the wing-t everyone knows you have to play with a large nose tackle. even if the Badgers don't have one, someone from the o-line or d-line should have been preparing all week, all you need is a nt to sit and clog space, doesn't need to make 1 single tackle. Yet there wasn't a nose tackle all game, even on 4th and 1 where the qb could simply fall forward for the first.
5. Throwing the ball downfield. This is a fault of the whole coaching staff but when did this team fall in love with the deep ball. Let Sherer get comfortable. Our receivers aren't good enough yet to be running deep fly routes on 4th and medium!
6. This is the flattest, least emotional football team I have ever seen. At the bowl game, watch the sideline when the opposing team has a big play or scores, and look at ours when we score or have a big play. This team has no fire, and that usually is the fault of the head coach.
Buck Brett, hes a total loser!
The triple option is tough to defend...a valid argument but did you watch that game...we never once put a defender within 2 yards of their center. We were so scared of the vaunted triple option going outside that we refused to put people in the middle and they ran all over us. Also, the issues on special teams and offense were much more disturbing. Its a Division IAA team, we should have been able to run the ball all over them and we didn't. The penalties were a joke and our players are undisciplined. Also, to anyone saying we are spoiled and we should deal with a bad season...you are a loser and will always be a loser with that attitude. Part of being an upper tier program is not accepting seasons like this one. Bret has shown nothing to keep his job and does not have the respect of the players our the community. Bret needs to go
For once we saw why Bret's game plan consists of "run it up the middle" and nothing else: when Cal Poly ran it up the middle, it was a hot knife through butter. Since UW can't defend against it properly, they seem to think it is an effective play. Only problem is, most other teams can defend against it.
I'd be perfectly happy with no bowl game. This team is an embarrassment, and the astounding luck of their coach is the only thing keeping them from having a losing record.
astounding luck is absolutely right on, results in a few more millions in Bret's pockets and a long slow downhill slide. With a mediocre Big Ten and the non conference schedule, why do people buy season tickets? Wisconsin football is far from inspiring at this point.
Anyone see our recruiting class so far this year? We are 9th in the big 10 in average recruit grade right now... NINTH
I did not like Bret when he was a defensive coach. He does not seem to understand that you need to put pressure on the other qb. One can count on one hand in each game the number of time he rushed the qb. With michigan he rushed 3 and sometimes 4 giving their qb time to sit and wait for a receiver to open up. This was his trademark as a defensive coach and it has carried with him as a head coach. Offensively he lacks any creativeness. 8/10 of his first down calls are very predictable - no originality. His ability to NOT think under pressure is well highlighted at the end of the michigan state game when he called a timeout with 7 seconds left and gave the ms kicker time to get his composure. The games last season and this season were very poorly coached. Even most wins were not ones to be proud of. Bret has had 3 seasons and each has been worse than the previous.
Bielema isnt getting fired so get over it already
I predict a losing season next year. And it a pathetic season by2010 if Barry doesn't hire one of the nations WINNING coaches who are prime for a move. (I'd hate to see the Badgers lose out on BSU's Chris Petersen, as an example, because Barry lets Bret ride out his contract for the next couple of years.) We need a coach NOW who can recruit, coach and inspire his players...and give the Badger faithful new hope. Watching UW football has become painful and downright embarassing. Barry, either come back and coach the team yourself OR muster the courage to hire a replacement for Bret!
you people whine more then michigan fans. and thats not good
Let's face it. Wisconsin Badger Football sucks for the following reasons:
1. They have a obnoxious coach, who has no charm and does not know how to conduct himself.
2. They are afraid to play Top 50 teams such as Va Tech. Are you listening to me man? They are afraid to play teams in the 30-50 range. Super super super LAME. Badgers will never be worth a crap. Worried about money and record, players know this.
3. Did I mention Va Tech?
4. Haven't legitimately (beaten the top two teams in the league in any one year) competed for the Big Ten title since 1999.
5. General lack of good players and recruits coming in.
6. But mostly because fans have deluded themselves into thinking Wisconsin is an upper echelon program because they have a highly paid coach and pay absurd amounts for tickets. Ha ha, joke is on you. Keep supportin' the home team and lappin' up the exciting play to come against those challenging non-conf. opponents....oh and they are becoming challenging. Hey Bret, better cancel thsoe MAC opponents, one of them beat Michigan.....ooohhh we're scared..please please cancel Northern Illinois. If you lose to them, they will be recruiting against you. please please.
We are actually 32 in the nation right now in recruiting. Which, if you pay attention at all to the program, is much higher than average.
Bielema ain't gonna get fired for one reason - money. The cost to buy him out is too high. When Morton got the axe the buyout was $330,000 and it only took 2 phone calls in 15 minutes from the Athletic Dept to monied supporters to get the money. To get rid of BB it would take big bucks and not enough fans with money are pissed enough yet to foot the bill. Buyouts don't come out of the Athletic Dept budget unless it is losing money. UW is making big bucks so continue your rants in vain. That's the reality of college football.
Bielema and/or his staff has cost us 3 losses and we are lucky it wasn't 4 after this past weekend. I know they aren't on the field, but coaches should know how to coach (in-game) to win games like Michigan, MSU and Ohio St. I can site specific issues in each of these games that I hold the coaches accountable for.
I personally feel that Bielema has huge aspirations (national championship) which I admire, but once the team loses it's first game of the season, the bubble is burst. I have gotten the impression each of the last 2 years that it has lost its focus and momentum after loss 1. This is not a sign of a winner--look at other programs that lose and fight the rest of the season to gain mometum and move back up the BCS standings...we lose early and then free-fall into obscurity.
Um, all you FBS clowns need to know that Cal Poly belongs to NCAA Division I - Football Championship Series (FCS). Wisconsin belongs to NCAA Division I - Football Bowl Series (FBS). There is no such thing as AA or 1-AA or whatever else you ignorant peasants call it, nor does there remain anything known as 1-A.
Other prominent members of FCS include Appalachian State, Northern Iowa, Montana, Villanova, Southern Illinois, James Madison, The Citadel and Western Illinois, the latter two teams which gave the Badgers very competitive games in recent years.
Got it?
The Labia person really broke open the news 1AA is now called something else.....ha ha.
Maybe next time Badgers play the sub championship series midgets they will play someone near the center on 4th an 1. I think we know who the clowns are. What was Va Tech? Are they in the league above Wisconsin? Must be, would explain the yellow bellies.
this site is a joke. wanting bielema fire is just stupid
I'll tell you what a joke is:
A supposedly upper echelon college football team cancels the 50th best team in the country out of fear, and schedules Football Subdivision Little Tikes Sub Par Squirts (FSLTSPS). Then, said supposedly upper echelon team wins game only because said squirts are so freaking lousy They miss THREE!!!!! extras points. That is such a funny joke. Ha ha ha ha.
alot of teams pad their schedule. and texas tech and oklahoma state backed out from playing fresno state a few years ago. thats worse they arent even a bcs conference team
Bret Bielema's regular season records so far are 11-1, 9-3, and 7-5. That's a trend that is hurting Wisconsin's ability to recruit the kinds of athletes they need to compete in the Big 10. The offense they are running will not attract top quarterback candidates, an absolute essential if you want to be a successful college football program these days. The defense doesn't scare or surprise anyone either. As a 1976 graduate and a long time follower of the program, I hate to see the university have to fire a head coach, but they need to take action now before things deteriorate further.
wisconsin has never had good quarterbacks. for a uw graduate you dont seem to know to much about football. wisconsin is a running team they dont need to have a vince young type qb to win
and people also say bielema cant recruit. well just to let you know bielema's first 3 recruiting classes are ranked better then alvarez's last 3 years.
Anyone that wants to know what type of person Bielema really is should go to 100.5 FM's website and download Lance Davis' November 26th attempted interview wherein Bielema hangs up on him in the middle of the interview after being asked a question he didn't like.
If Bielema's recruiting classes are better, but the results as defined by their record is going down, then the only conclusion that can be reached, the only variable left in this formula, is that the coaching is inferior.
The formula would go something like this -
Better recruits + inferior coaching = worse record. It is not complicated.
he probaly hung up the phone on 100.5 cause they kept asking the same questions.
Bielma will not get fired this year regardless of the bowl outcome. He should not be fired this year. However, next year a lot of players return, the team should be very good. Let's see how he gets the team to respond. I believe that he doesn't have the same job security as before. Go Badgers!!
Bielema has taken wisconsin to a bowl game every year since he has been here. if that isnt good enough then you are just greedy. i like bielema and i dont want him getting fired even though its not gonna happen any way.
exactly, every teams goal is to go to a bowl game and he has done that every year and will continue to do it.
I-A, I-AA, FBS, FCS...who gives a damn, the Badgers almost pulled a 2007 Michigan at Camp Randall...
Let's see, to go to a bowl:
1. 12 game schedule, 6-6 makes you eligible.
2. Big Ten has tie in's virtually guaranteeing bowl trip
3. Get to schedule High School teams for 1 of your 6 wins.
4. Get to schedule MAC for 3 of your other wins
5. 68, yes 68 teams out of 119 go to bowls.
Bielema gets to keep his job forever by posting 2-6 marks in a currently terrible Big Ten? Wow, have fun watching commercial breaks, I mean "football" at Camp Randall the next few years.
the only thing uw needs to get rid of is the student section. is sickening they cant even show up on time and most of them dont care about the game any way. get rid of half or all of the student section and give those tickets to the general public
I agree get rid of half of the student section and give those tickets to the general public to people that actually care about the game and can show up on time
55,000 at the last game. You'll be begging for students soon.
thats cause no one wanted to see a game against a division 1-aa team and half of the student section was empty for that game as well.
I am a student and I am disgraced by how pathetic the student section is, its a joke. I really do believe something needs to be changed or it will only get worse.
the student section was late even for ohio state and penn state and both were night games. thats sad
Hey, didn't Bo Ryan know that Wisconsin doesn't play Va Tech in sports. Man, that was a humiliating win. Bret needs to tutor him on the finer arts of yellow belliedness.
By the way, fire the students, Penn State ran right over the top of them, like they weren't there....oh wait that was the UW football team they ran over? Hmmm.
Gottal love this response to my previous post...
"wisconsin has never had good quarterbacks. for a uw graduate you dont seem to know to much about football. wisconsin is a running team they dont need to have a vince young type qb to win"
Really? Have you watched any good college football teams like USC, Texas, Florida or even Ohio State lately, like in the last decade? Their offenses both run and throw the football, an amazing innovation that keeps defenses off balance! Maybe Wisconsin's offense needs to resemble something a bit more modern than three yards and a cloud of dust, Mr. / Ms. Anonymous.
...and this one...
"Bielema has taken wisconsin to a bowl game every year since he has been here. if that isnt good enough then you are just greedy."
Thats what's known as 'settling', as in settling for any bowl game. Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema certainly have their goals set on the Big Ten title and a BCS bowl bid every year, not just any bowl. The problem is the results, as evidenced by their won-lost record, shows the team is moving in the wrong direction. You're dreaming if you think all is well with Wisconsin's football team.
David Miller go whine some where else and if you dont like the wasy wisconsin football is then go find another team
I'm not going anywhere you anonymous creep. As I've already mentioned in previous posts, I'm a UW graduate and I've supported the football program since the mid 70s. What I won't support is a coach who is running the program into the ground. In case you can't remember what happened last season, here's a recap:
They lost all their games against ranked opponents. Their seven wins came against football juggernauts Akron (5-6), Marshall (4-7), Fresno State (7-4), Illinois (5-7), Indiana (3-9), Minnesota (7-5), and FCS Cal Poly. That's two wins over teams with a winning record and both wins were by three points.
Just about as unimpressive as it gets.
David Miller i heard you failed masturbation class at the uw. you can always try michigan
Weber State (I know I had to look them up too) beat Cal-Poly by much more that Wisconsin did just a week later. When the wins in a win-loss record are coming only from schools of a caliber that an intramural dorm team could beat them, you know it is time to dump the coach.
I think its hilarious that people felt compelled to write about how the student section should be ashamed because they did not fill the stands. I remember as a senior that Barry sent an email to the student population asking them to "tone down the vulgarity" in the student section...but I guess that was a different time and a different flavor of student section types that camped out at the Kohl Center during the week to get tickets. Does it really matter if the students show up or not? It shouldn't matter to the players because a stadium packed with fans or not packed, they have to play the other team.
As for the worry about playing Va Tech before the "murderous" stretch of Big Ten play...why should that matter at all? I think it probably had more to do with trying to please boosters who donate a lot of money to the University and want to see an ego boosting blowout. Something along the lines of rich people donating money to Harvard because it makes them appear important instead of donating those millions to a smaller school or school with less of an endowment that would actually benefit from a huge donation.
As for the triple option, if it was so devastatingly efficient, how come they don't play it in the NFL or in the higher level of College Football? Hmm......the Academies play it because they may or may not get quality players because they are in the buisness of training military officers, not football players (well, except to beat Army!) and anyone who mentions the Citadel as a great football power...you have to be kidding me. My buddies who are El Cid Alumni have stated that football games are good excuses to get drunk with the alumni pre-gaming near the stadium.
All in all, Bret Bielema today has shown us why he is the next generation of college football coaches and why guys like Bobby Bowden are destined for the trash heap of history....
What I want to know is how hard is it find a good quarterback? Really? One that is consistent and talented. The defense is the biggest problem. I'm not sure firing Brett is the right option (although I'm starting to feel like that's not a bad way to go) but the Badgers are never going to get out of Florida with a horrible and weak defense, an inconsistent QB and the ability to always fall apart in the last 1/2 of every game. The Michigan game was embarrassing. Penn & Iowa par for the course.
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