Unwavering faith is always the answer.

Stunning. I never would have predicted this reaction out of the Athletic Department. If this extension was meant to inspire confidence, it has failed. No questions about the recommendations? Let's just say I am mildly suspicious that when the conversation turned to football, Barry's words sounded more like orders than recommendations. With this act, the AD has proven that anything is possible. Maybe, in private, Bret is a hybrid of the genius of Belichick and the leadership of Lombardi. Regardless, it is now unquestionable that Bret will have to be fired as waiting for his contract to end is infeasible. Grab the pitchforks and light the torches, we are going to have to do this the old fashioned way.

Update:
This is the University's press release for the Feb. 9, 2007 extension. At this point, Bret's contract runs through Jan. 31, 2012. Fans often forget that an additional year was added, and I am guilty of making the mistake in an earlier post. Today's press release states that a one-year extension was given, thereby extending the contract to Jan. 31, 2014. The MSJ echoes this date in its report. What happened to 2013? Now I am both disappointed and confused. At least they did it on a Friday instead of heartlessly releasing this on a Monday.

Turn that frown upside down Big Ten.

The Big Ten bowl season is over with a disappointing 1-6 record. I really wanted Ohio State to beat Texas. When the bowls start, Big Ten pride takes precedent over any partisan interests. Plus, I really have no particular fondness for Texas, especially after they beat us in hoops with a banked in 3. Take notice, that other than Iowa, the two best performances were by Ohio State and Northwestern. I am dreading the sight of Terrelle Pryor breaking off 25 yard scrambles at-will against us next year. Northwestern put up a good fight and managed to stifle Chase Daniels and the Mizzou offense for most of the game. Didn't Northwestern's defensive coordinator lead the 2006 Badger's defense? Oh yeah, he did, and then Bret fired him.

As for the Badger's assistant coaches this year, Bret acted in accordance with approximately 1/3 of the votes in our poll. As of today, he is making no major changes to the coaching staff. This is an interesting comparison between the Badgers and Packers coaching changes. In Green Bay, the heads are rolling, and even the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator is looking for a new job.
Finally, I was chagrined to read that Bielema received a $140,000 bonus for leading the Badgers to the Champs Sports Bowl given that he was paid $50,000 for the Capital One Bowl two years ago. This past season and the bowl debacle are not the type of performance this bonus was designed to reward. However, Bret has every right to that money as it is a negotiated part of his contract, but I would still love to read that the money is going to the Salvation Army or some other charity.