Wisconsin tries to keep its focus on its conference-ending game with Northwestern ... which could become a conference-winning game with Northwestern.
View full sizeWisconsin coach Bret Bielema, in his Monday press conference, tries to focus on the Badgers' game this Saturday with Northwestern. But the real focus is on Wisconsin's virtual lock the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth.Milwaukee -- Bret Bielema was at Camp Randall Stadium the last time Wisconsin won a Big Ten title, watching the Badgers' offensive attack roll over Iowa 41-3 in 1999 as a member of the Hawkeyes staff.
Bielema, in his fifth year as head coach at Wisconsin (10-1, 6-1), sees similarities in his offense and the one from 1999 that featured Ron Dayne.
"I remember the way that Wisconsin played, basically imposing our will on us," Bielema said in his weekly news conference from Madison. "I think the last two weeks, I've been able to see that on the field, but also on film when I watch on Sunday to realize what was happening and the way our players are playing, but also the reaction of our opponent. (It) is a very gratifying experience."
Or a humbling one for opponents.
On Saturday, the fifth-ranked Badgers face Northwestern (7-4, 3-4) with a share of the conference title at stake. They have been on a roll since a 31-18 win over then-No. 1 Ohio State.
Wisconsin has put up 131 points and 695 yards rushing against Indiana and Michigan and has won six straight games, scoring at least 31 points in each to set up a chance to at least share the Big Ten title.
The Badgers, looking for their first Rose Bowl appearance since 2000, have done it recently without reigning Big Ten offensive player of the year John Clay, who is still recovering from a sprained right knee suffered three weeks ago.
If Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconsin all win on Saturday, they'll split the Big Ten title. The tiebreaker for the conference's spot in the BCS will go to the highest ranked team in the BCS standings, which has been Wisconsin (7th) followed by Ohio State (8th) and Michigan State (10th).
"We're in a great position headed into Northwestern to put ourselves right where we want to be," defensive end J.J. Watt said after the 48-28 win over Michigan on Saturday.
And they haven't needed Clay in the process.
Bielema switched Clay with backups James White and Montee Ball on the depth chart, and Clay remains questionable. The three backs have combined for 39 rushing touchdowns.
"John really hasn't done much. No fault of John's. I think he has pushed himself as hard as he can," Bielema said. "(We're) planning on just James and Montee but John, I went through the training room this morning, he was braced up and ready to go run. He was telling me how good it felt."
Bielema said Clay would likely practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
No matter, Ball is averaging 155.6 yards rushing in his last three games. He said preparing for the Wildcats wouldn't change despite the bigger implications.
"(It's the) same thing we've been doing every week," Ball said after the game. "Fix our mistakes, come in Tuesday ready to work and have the 1-0 mentality."
That 1-0 mentality has been Bielema's overused catch phrase his first five years as coach. He even received practice shorts stitched with the slogan, but he hasn't needed to repeat it much now.
"There hasn't ever been a talk about a jump to the championship or anything like that," Bielema said. "That's why I really believe in what we've done now -- just maintaining each week's focus."
When Wisconsin went 12-1 in Bielema's first year as head coach in 2006, the Badgers' record was push aside because they didn't play Ohio State and lost in an ugly game at Michigan.
Wisconsin failed to reach a BCS bowl because both the Wolverines and Buckeyes were selected. But this Wisconsin team has a much better resume, beating Ohio State, Michigan and Iowa in the same season for the first time in 51 years.
"I understand everybody's going to ask the questions," Bielema said. "I know where the media attention is, but our focus in our house, in our room is about Northwestern and the details of winning that game."
It only took 13 minutes to get to a question about the Wildcats. Then it was back to the bigger topic at hand, a final query about what a Big Ten title would mean for the program.
"Rather talk about it after the game," the coach said. "It's great to be in this position, we've worked very hard to get where we are, but none of that really matters until we get through Saturday."