Whenever one of his Badgers lobbies for more playing time, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema offers this reality check: “Do you honestly think we get in the staff room and say: ‘Let’s take a kid who can win a football game for us and put him on the bench?'”
In the same vein, Bielema understands that some fans have grown restless with starting quarterback Allan Evridge, who was up and down (13-for-25, 147 yards, one touchdown, one interception) in a last-minute loss to Ohio State.
“I appreciate anything our fans say. They’re the ones who fill the stadium and made that environment what it was Saturday night,” Bielema said. “But as coaches, we have nothing more important than to win football games.”
Bielema, though, wants more accuracy from Evridge, a fifth-year senior. If he doesn’t see it, he could turn to backup Dustin Sherer.
In the wake of agonizing back-to-back Big Ten losses — and with No. 6 Penn State coming to Madison for the Big Ten’s prime-time matchup — Bielema is analyzing every aspect of his program.
“I’m sure after looking at the tapes they’re kicking themselves in the backside because they could have won both [games], no question about it,” Penn State’s Joe Paterno said. “They’re just so solid and so strong. They play the game the way I like to see it played.
“We better be ready or they will send us back to State College hobbling again.”
Interesting word choice. A sideline collision left Paterno with a fractured shin bone during Penn State’s last visit to Camp Randall Stadium, in 2006. The Nittany Lions also left with a 13-3 defeat.
‘One tough hombre:’ Who has been the Big Ten’s most outstanding player? Call it a tie between Michigan State tailback Javon Ringer and Minnesota receiver Eric Decker, who caught 13 passes for 190 yards Saturday against Indiana.
“He is one tough hombre,” raved Minnesota coach Tim Brewster, whose team faces Illinois on Saturday. “He has amazing ‘compete.’ I could put together a blocking tape for you that would absolutely blow your mind.”
Decker leads the nation in receiving yards per game (116) and is tops in the league with 50 receptions — 20 more than anyone else.
“I have not seen him drop a football,” Illinois coach Ron Zook said. “And [QB Adam] Weber knows where he is at all times.”
Around the league: Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel has no problem with quarterback Terrelle Pryor’s unorthodox throwing motion: “We talk about when the ball needs to be let go and velocity. We don’t monkey with technique unless it’s something glaring.” … Asked about his banged up secondary, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio replied: “We don’t give updates on our players. We don’t talk about injuries.” The Spartans could face Northwestern’s spread attack without defensive backs Otis Wiley and Chris L. Rucker. … Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald joked that he got himself in the “toilet bowl record book” in 2006 after his team blew a 38-3 lead in a 41-38 loss to Michigan State — the largest comeback in Division I history. … After saying that it’s unacceptable for any of his Wolverines to play “soft,” Michigan’s Rich Rodriguez added Tuesday: “I would hope they would be a little mad or angry. I think our guys have a lot of pride.” … Curtis Painter’s 5-to-5 touchdown-to-interception split is way off from last year’s 29-11. Is his NFL stock weighing on him? “Curtis is a tough read,” Purdue coach Joe Tiller replied. … Since 2005, Iowa is 0-8 in games decided by three points or less. “Usually you can track [close losses] to poor special teams play, turnovers and penalties,” coach Kirk Ferentz said. … Losing star receiver James Hardy to the NFL has stung Indiana, which scored just seven points in Saturday’s loss to Minnesota. But Hoosiers coach Bill Lynch said the graduation of three senior offensive linemen has been even more significant.
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tgreenstein@tribune.com
