Tights-Wearing Butt Posse No Match For Badgers » Brats & Beer

November 11, 2006
posted under: Badgers football, Hawkeyes suck

It’s a good thing that there’s no Brats & Beer podcast because I’ve lost my voice screaming at the TV for the last three hours. The good news, though, is that Wisconsin finally beat the Iowa Schmuckeyes 24-21, closing out their Big 10 schedule with a 7-1 record. But it was not an easy game to watch.

With John Stocco on the sidelines I thought the weak spot would be backup Tyler Donovan, but that kid can really play. No, the problem was the rest of the team. There were about four fumbles, two of which were lost and one of which was converted into an Iowa touchdown. Then there was the up-and-down defense that played strong the first quarter, got lax for the next thirty minutes, and finally recovered near the end of the game. And where was the UW running game? PJ Hill had just 77 yards rushing on 28 carries, not many more yards than Donovan had. That was sick.

But when it counted, the Badgers came up with the plays. Donovan found Luke Swan for a 42-yard touchdown at the end of the first half and hit his wide out again for a 48-yard gain in the third quarter that led to the winning score. Making his first start since high school, Donovan threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns.

When the defense had its head on straight, they were all over Drew Tate and held the Hawkeyes to three of 11 on third down conversions. Thankfully, too, they held fast on two late Iowa possessions to protect the lead. Tate, who likes to play dress-up in girlie tights, completed just 10 of 31 passes for 170 yards with a pick in the first half, though he did strike paydirt on three touchdowns.

I expect the team will get an earful this week from coach Bielema, but with the 2-8 Buffalo Bulls being the last game on the schedule the Badgers should be able close out the season with just the one loss even if they play this sloppy. Then they’ll have a few weeks to get ready for their post-season bowl appearance, probably at the Capitol One Bowl.

What’s in your wallet? A big fat win over Iowa, that’s what!