Today is Memorial Day for us and it’s a big deal. It’s a day where we as a nation, take a moment and thank the men and women who’ve given everything for our country.

It’s easy for the true meaning of this day to get lost in the excitement of Summer starting and cookouts and picnics. But please don’t lose sight of the day’s real significance. Most of the things we’ll enjoy today, we’re enjoying because those before us made selfless sacrifices.

If you know a veteran or a family member of a veteran, take thirty seconds and say “thanks”. It’ll go a long ways. Trust me. To all our PackerChatters readers and their families who are honored today, we salute you and say “Thank You.”

Happy Memorial Day.
BadgerChatters Staff

Following are some words by Father Dennis Edward O’Brien.

WHAT IS A VET?

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg – or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul’s ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can’t tell a vet just by looking.

What is a vet?

He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn’t run out of fuel.

He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.

She or he is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.

He is the POW who went away one person and came back another. Or didn’t come back AT ALL.

He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other’s backs.

He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean’s sunless deep.

He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket palsied now and aggravatingly slow who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being, a person who offered some of his life’s most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.

So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That’s all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.

Two little words that mean a lot, “THANK YOU.”

“It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”

Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, USMC

Alvarez was elated when he heard the news. “Obviously this is a tremendous honor for me. I’m thrilled. I’m humbled. When you’re selected primarily by your peers to go into a hall of fame, one that means so much to me, naturally, it’s very rewarding.”

Alvarez gave some credit as well to guys he played and coached under. “I was fortunate to play for a Hall of Fame coach. The two head coaches that I worked for Lou Holtz and Hayden Fry were both Hall of Fame inductees. To walk in the same steps as they have to win this honor, I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Alvarez also talked about the team effort needed to succeed. “Any time that you win an honor such as this, it’s not one person. It’s about the accumulated work of a number of people. From a staff, a very loyal staff that came to the University of Wisconsin and believed in the plan that I had and worked very hard to get it done, to a group of players that bought in and changed the culture, not only in our football program, but changed the culture of our athletic department while we were here. Then you take a look at the entire department. Anyone that touches the football department had to buy in and had to, in some way, contribute, regardless of whatever their job was. Whether it’s tickets or training table or secretaries, everyone that touched our football program had something to do with this award. I’m very grateful to all of them for their loyalty over the years.”

Alvarez has a right to be proud of the accomplishments of the Badgers over the time he was there. Here is a snapshot of the Alvarez resume at Wisconsin…

- Alvarez won 118 games at Wisconsin, which is 53 more than any other head coach

- Alvarez won three conference titles at Wisconsin (1993, 1998 and 1999)

- Alvarez won three Rose Bowls at Wisconsin (1994, 1999 and 2000)

- Alvarez is the only coach to lead a Big 10 team to back to back Rose Bowl wins

- Alvarez was 8-3 in Bowl games, which is the best in NCAA history (based on 11 games)

- Alvarez coached Ron Dayne, who won the Heisman trophy in 1999

- Alvarez coached 9 1st round draft picks who were selected in the NFL draft

- Alvarez coached 59 NFL draft choices overall

- Alvarez coached 34 All-Americans

- Alvarez coached 7 consensus first-team All-Americans

- Alvarez coached 62 first-team All-Big Ten selections

- Alvarez coached 119 Academic All-Big Ten selections

- Alvarez coached 4 Big Ten Defensive Players of the Year

- Alvarez coached 2 Big Ten MVPs

- Alvarez coached 2 Big Ten Offensive Players of the Year

- Alvarez coached 3 Big Ten Freshmen of the Year

- Alvarez coached 10 straight seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher (Big 10 record)

- Alvarez was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, 1993 and 1998

- Alvarez was named National Coach of the Year, 1993 and 1999

- Alvarez was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, Class of 2009

- Alvarez was elected to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, Class of 2009

- Alvarez was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2010

That is quite a resume. Also remember the shape of the Wisconsin football program before Alvarez arrived in Madison. The program had hit rock bottom under Don Morton. The program had only won 1 Bowl game and had never won a Rose Bowl in it’s history.

That all changed with the arrival of Alvarez. Alvarez put together a talented and hard working staff when he arrived at Wisconsin. Among that group was Kevin Cosgrove, who is now the co-defensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota. Cosgrove was with Alvarez longer than any other assistant coach that ever coached under Alvarez at Wisconsin.

Kevin Cosgrove was defensive coordinator under Alvarez from 1995-2003

Cosgrove started out as linebackers coach at Wisconsin. Cosgrove held the same position at Illinois before he became part of Alvarez’s staff. Alvarez was also a LB coach at Iowa, as he was at Notre Dame, before he became defensive coordinator and helped the Irish win a national championship in 1988.

Cosgrove knew that Alvarez had a vision about the direction of the program. “As with everything Barry always did, he had a plan,” said Cosgrove. “When he got that job, he pretty much knew who he was going to hire. Barry put together a strong staff, and then the first couple of years he fined tuned it, and turned it into a great staff.”

Cosgrove coached under Alvarez from 1990 to 2003. How was it working under Alvarez? “It was awesome. Great guy. Very organized and very detailed. He knew exactly what he wanted. He knew how he wanted to build the program and everybody just followed his plan.”

Cosgrove also added, “He was just a great guy to work for. He was demanding, but he let you coach. So many times head coaches try to get involved in certain areas a little too much. But when Barry hired you, he trusted you and he let you coach.”

Alvarez was much more than just a coach as well according to Cosgrove. “Barry is a great guy. He took great care of our families, which is important in our profession, especially in the amount of time we put in, particularly in the season. Everything we did was always first class. His wife Cindy had a lot to do with that, with the treatment of the wives and families.”

Cosgrove was elevated on Alvarez’s staff to become the defensive coordinator in 1995. Cosgrove remembered the moment. “He brought me into his office and told me I was going to be the next coordinator, and you can imagine the excitement I had when he told me that,” Cosgrove said. “I knew how much faith he had in me and how much trust he had in me, and it was a great opportunity for me.”

Cosgrove repaid that faith by leading a couple of defenses that were both top ranked in 1998-1999 when the Badgers won back to back Big Ten titles and back to back Rose Bowls.

What does Cosgrove see as the biggest accomplishment of Alvarez and his staff overall? “Just seeing where the program was when he took over. Attendance was down. Interest in the Badgers was nil,” Cosgrove said. “I think the Badgers averaged 30,000 fans a game the year before we got there. But we gradually pumped it up until it became sell out after sell out. But naturally that first Rose Bowl was something special. The thrill of getting there, when you consider all the things we had to do to build that program.”

What about Barry’s legacy at Wisconsin? “It’s one of the top programs in the country right now. Barry built it. Like I said, he had a plan in everything he did,” Cosgrove said. “He hired a great staff, a staff that worked well together. There was a lot of things that went into this process. But you have to have a tremendous leader, and Barry was a tremendous leader.”

Getting first rate players helped. “We recruited the right kids,” Cosgrove said. “We built a wall around the state of Wisconsin. When we got there, all the great players from Wisconsin were going to different schools, and that was the first thing he wanted to do…don’t let the great players get away. So when we started doing that, we started winning championships.”

It was also a great experience for all people that follow the University of Wisconsin overall, where Alvarez is now the Athletic Director, where he presides over great programs in football, basketball and hockey among others just in men’s sports.

Alvarez has definitely established a legacy at Wisconsin with his abundance of accomplishments. Alvarez has also created a legacy among the people he worked with. Just ask Kevin Cosgrove.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation’s Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. On May 5, 1868, Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:

The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

During the first celebration of Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery.

This 1868 celebration was inspired by local observances of the day in several towns throughout America that had taken place in the three years since the Civil War. In fact, several Northern and Southern cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Columbus, Miss.; Macon, Ga.; Richmond, Va.; Boalsburg, Pa.; and Carbondale, Ill.

In 1966, the federal government, under the direction of President Lyndon Johnson, declared Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of Memorial Day. They chose Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—because the town had made Memorial Day an annual, community-wide event during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

By the late 1800s, many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day and, after World War I, observances also began to honor those who had died in all of America’s wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May. (Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor all veterans, living and dead, is celebrated each year on November 11.)

Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Also, it is customary for the president or vice-president to give a speech honoring the contributions of the dead and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.

Several Southern states continue to set aside a special day for honoring the Confederate dead, which is usually called Confederate Memorial Day.

Kick returners are the ones that set up an offense in good (or poor) position either to begin a half or to bounce back from giving up a score. In an instant, these speedy returners can change a game.

However, the thing about kick returners, and punt returners for that matter, is that, like their feet, their fame is fleeting.

One year they can average 30 yards a return and be a threat to take it all the way every time they touch the ball. The next year the holes just don’t seem to open, opposing teams key on them, and they average 20 yards or less.

Remember the NFL’s Dante Hall?

While with the Chiefs only six or seven years ago, Hall was the talk of the league. Ask yourself, when was the last time you heard Dante Hall’s name?

I’m willing to bet it wasn’t recently.

Even in college, returners’ success can change drastically year to year. Ask the Wisconsin Badgers’ David Gilreath.

As a freshman, Gilreath was considered one of the brilliant returners in the land. As a kick returner, his production has kept at a constant pace, but as a punt returner, he averaged only 2.8 yards a return last year compared to almost 10 yards as a freshman.

The fact is, returners usually have a few good seasons, but if they aren’t capable of stepping in at another position, history shows that their time is limited. Desmond Howard, Dante Hall, even Devin Hester (unless he proves to be a reliable wide receiver) have experienced this phenomenon.

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that predicting what kick returners will have exceptional years is somewhat of a crap shoot.

But anyways, despite all that, kick returners are still a crucial part of the game.

So, who are the top 10 in college football? Take a look.

Note: Rankings were based on a combination of number of returns, return yards, return yard average (based on ESPN’s minimum attempts eligibility), and touchdowns from 2009. There were many players who had very similar numbers, so good kick returners were inevitably left off this list. After all, there can only be 10.

Honorable Mentions

An argument could be made for the inclusion of any of these kick returners in top 10, but they just missed the cut.

Keshawn Martin, Michigan State- 23 kickoff returns, 665 yards, one touchdown

T.Y. Hilton, Florida International- 22 kickoff returns, 633 yards, one touchdown

Niles Paul, Nebraska- 16 kickoff returns, 446 yards

Tracey Lampley, Southern Miss- 17 kickoff returns, 469 yards, one touchdown

Jamaal Jackson, North Texas- 17 kickoff returns, 463 yards

Derrick Locke, Kentucky- 23 kickoff returns, 625 yards, one touchdown

Titus Young, Boise State- 31 kickoff returns, 833 yards, two touchdowns

Leon Berry, Mississippi State- 38 kickoff returns,1,015 yards, one touchdown

Phillip Livas, Louisiana Tech- 24 kickoff returns, 622 yards, one touchdown

Dennis Johnson, Arkansas- 40 kickoff returns, 1,031 yards, one touchdown

Jesse Grandy, Ole Miss- 29 kickoff returns, 746 yards, two touchdowns

Darryl Stonum, Michigan- 39 kickoff returns, 1,001 yards, one touchdown

Travis Cobb, Arizona- 30 kickoff returns, 762 yards, one touchdown

Damaris Johnson, Tulsa- 46 kickoff returns, 1,131 yards

Kerwynn Wiliams, Utah State- 45 kickoff returns, 1,131 yards

Troy Stoudermire Jr., Minnesota- 43 kickoff returns, 1,057 yards

D.J. Monroe, Texas- 16 kickoff returns, 537 yards, two touchdowns (not eligible, didn’t have minimum amount of attempts).

No. 10: Deante’ Purvis, UNLV

Lining up as a starting cornerback, UNLV junior Deante’ Purvis was also one of the premier kick returners in the country last year.

Purvis was fourth in the country in kick return yards, taking back 50 kicks for 1,165 yards (a 23.3 yard average). He also returned one kickoff for a touchdown, going 94 yards for the score.

As a sophomore last year, Purvis really came on as a kick returner after seeing time as a freshman. He’s believed to be the fastest player on the team (running a 4.3 40-yard dash) and is certainly one of the most dangerous return men in the game.

If his duties at cornerback don’t hold him back, he will again be a top kick returner in 2010.

No. 9: Warren Norman, Vanderbilt

As the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2009 and the Freshman All-America team kick returner, Vanderbilt sophomore Warren Norman is poised for a huge 2010, both as a running back and kick returner.

Last year, Norman returned 40 kicks for 1,050 yards (a 26.3-yard average) and took back three for touchdowns.

Although with those kind of numbers, it would be hard for the Commodore coaching staff to relieve him of his returning responsibilities, his duties as a running back may come first.

Last year, he rushed for 783 yards and Vanderbilt will surely try to maximize his talent. That said, he may be too good of a returner to rest.

No. 8: James Nixon, Temple

Although Temple junior James Nixon only had limited opportunities last year as a kick returner (just 17 attempts), he certainly made the most of them.

With those 17 returns, Nixon cranked out almost 500 return yards for a 29.2 yard average and took two back for touchdowns.

That said, with only limited opportunities, it’s hard to judge just how good Nixon is. With more returns, it will be easier to see if he can keep up his productivity.

However, Nixon’s definitely shown what he’s capable of.

No. 7: Robbie Frey, Connecticut

Before going down with a shoulder injury in late October last year, Connecticut redshirt junior Robbie Frey was one of the top kick returners in the country.

In only 21 returns, Frey gained over 600 return yards for almost a 30-yard average, and took one back for a touchdown.

However, like Norman in Vanderbilt, Frey may have to focus more of his time in the backfield for the Huskies.

But, in only half a season last year, Frey proved the kind of difference he can make returning kicks. Huskies’ coaches would be ill-advised to relieve him of his duties.

No. 6: Brandon Boykin, Georgia

Coming off a season in which he was one of the SEC’s best kick returners, Georgia junior Brandon Boykin looks like he’s in for another big year in 2010.

Last year, Boykin returned 38 kickoffs for almost a thousand yards for a 26-yard average, and took back three for touchdowns. He was also the first player in SEC history with two kickoff return touchdowns of 100 yards or more in the same season.

Boykin will again be seeing double-duty next year as a defensive back and kick returner, but don’t expect that to affect him. He’ll be back as one of the top return men in the country.

No. 5: Dwayne Harris, East Carolina

East Carolina senior Dwayne Harris, the team’s best wide receiver (83 catches in 2009), also emerged as one of the country’s top kick returners last year.

Along with hauling in passes, Harris also took back 37 kicks for 1,000 yards and three touchdowns. With his new-found ability as a kick returner as well as an All-America caliber receiver, Harris is one of the most electrifying players not only in Conference USA, but nationally.

As a junior, Harris proved he had no problems handling both responsibilities. Don’t expect a letdown his senior year.

No. 4: Torrey Smith, Maryland

One of the most consistent kick returners in the nation, Maryland junior Torrey Smith not only caught 61 passes for the Terrapins last year, but also led the country in kickoff return yardage.

In 51 attempts, Smith gained 1,309 yards for a 25.7 yard average and returned two kicks for touchdowns.

There’s no reason to believe Smith won’t have a big year in both roles once again in 2010.

No. 3: Dyrell Roberts, Virginia Tech

With 574 return yards on only 18 returns, Virginia Tech junior Dyrell Roberts was third in the nation in kickoff return average in 2009 with 31.9 yards a return.

Expect Roberts to also come on as a receiver for the Hokies in 2010 after hauling in 22 passes, including a game-winning touchdown against Nebraska, in 2009.

But, if Roberts can continue this caliber of play at kick returner, that is where he will shine next year.

No. 2: Tryon Carrier, Houston

Playing on one of the highest-scoring offenses in America, Houston junior Tyron Carrier is a fun player to watch.

Only 5′8″ and 163 pounds, Carrier hasn’t let his size affect his play. Not even close.

Along with lighting up defenses as a wide receiver (91 catches and seven touchdowns in 2009), Carrier rips through opposing kickoff teams as well.

Last year, in 34 attempts, Carrier gained almost a thousand return yards (a 29-yard average) and four touchdowns. Yep, four.

And defenses have to deal with him for at least another year? Wow.

No. 1: Chris Owusu, Stanford

Probably the best overall kick returner in the nation, Stanford junior Chris Owusu was third in the NCAA in return yards last year (1,167) on 39 returns, which also gave him the fifth-highest average (29.9 yards).

Oh, and he also had three touchdowns.

Unlike the other players on this list, Owusu carried a relatively high workload and still managed to produce one of the highest return averages in the country.

Some players may have had more returns and yards than he did, but they didn’t put up his average. Others may have had higher averages, but they didn’t have the amount of attempts to show if they could do it consistently.

Owusu proved he can do it every time he touches the ball.

And to top it all off, he’s also one of Stanford’s starting wideouts.

If you’re looking for a return man to mimic, just watch No. 81.

And, going hand in hand with that, a few Badgers seem like they are in a great position to put up huge numbers.

Who might those players be? Lets take a look.

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No, if there is one argument fans love to get into, it’s about which schools have the best and most rabid fan bases.

But, how do you judge who has the best fan base?

Is it consecutive sellouts at home? Is it the number of tailgaters before a game? Is the decibel level in the stadium when the opposing team is facing a fourth-and-short?

Or, should the devotion level of fans be measured by looking at their attendance of what is pretty much a meaningless event: the spring football game?

Although the game itself doesn’t really mean much, there’s something to be said about fans coming to the stadium to watch their team despite the season not starting for months.

Is this best way of measuring the quality of college football’s fan bases? Probably not. But it does help.

So, here are the top 10 fan bases in college football based on spring game attendance in 2010.

Note: Some schools, notably USC and Oregon, haven’t yet played their spring games. Also, weather conditions for spring games weren’t taken into account. For example, both Oklahoma and Notre Dame dealt with rainy conditions and this may have had an effect on their spring game attendance.

10. Tennessee

With a spring game attendance of 35,891, the Tennessee Volunteers kick off the list at No. 10.

Tennessee is known for having some great football fans. Whether it’s the continuous sellouts of Neyland Stadium (capacity 100,011) in the face of mediocre seasons or the singing of “Rocky Top,” Tennessee fans certainly love their Volunteers.

Oh, and Tennessee fans definitely know how to tailgate, or in their case, “sail-gate.” Yep, that’s right: fans tailgate on their boats before games and are known as the “Volunteer Navy.”

And Lane Kiffin left this place?

9. Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs fans roll in at No. 9 with a spring game attendance of 38,742.

And, because Georgia is part of some of the fiercest rivalries in all of sports (vs. Georgia Tech, Auburn, and Florida), it should come as no surprise that Bulldogs’ fans came out to Sanford Stadium to support their team.

Home of the “Black Out,” Bulldogs fans are known for their intensity and devotion and the fact that almost 40,000 people came out in the hot Georgia sun speaks volumes.

8. Texas

With a spring game attendance of 44,250, Texas takes the No. 8 spot on the list, which is fitting considering Texas’ reputation as a football state.

Texas fans certainly love their Longhorns and couldn’t resist an opportunity to see what their team will look like without Colt McCoy.

The Longhorns are in contention for a national championship every year and their fans know it. Why else would over 40,000 people converge on Austin to watch a scrimmage?

7. Florida State

The end of the Bobby Bowden era certainly doesn’t mean any less fan devotion towards Florida State football. Just ask the approximately 50,000 fans that came out to support their Seminoles.

And, as the spring game attendance indicates, Florida State fans are rabid for football. That means Jimbo Fisher better have a hot start out of the gates or Seminole Nation will be breathing down his neck.

New coach, new season, still high expectations. Not that much has changed for Florida State football after all.

6. Florida

Much like Texas with Colt McCoy, Florida fans are eager to see what their Gators will look like without Tim Tebow. 51,500 fans took advantage of that chance.

Although Gators football really only took off in the early 1990s, you certainly wouldn’t know it by the devotion of these fans.

The Swamp has been sold out since 1979 and is known for being for one of the hardest places to play in college football.

The design of the stadium concentrates the noise at field level, making it extremely hard for opposing teams to communicate.

Living in Florida, you would think that most fans would take advantage of the weekend by driving a couple of hours to the beach or playing some sand volleyball. Not Gators fans.

5. Penn State

Known as one of the great party schools in the land, Penn State is also recognized for their football tradition. Just a little bit.

The fact that they drew 55,000 fans to a spring game can attest to that.

Nittany Lions fans are renowned for being some of the rowdiest, loudest, and, in some cases, drunkest fans in the nation and don’t expect an anticipated down season to curb any of their enthusiasm.

The spring game alone indicates that “WE ARE PENN STATE” will be heard loud and clear in 2010.

4. Auburn

Despite being the “second team” in probably the most college football-crazy state, Auburn has some of the greatest fans in the nation. 63,217 spring game attendees is all the evidence you need.

And after an Outback Bowl victory over Northwestern, Auburn fans are expecting another good season from their Tigers.

Although there’s really not much else to do in Alabama, with over 60,000 in attendance for a spring game it’s clear that Auburn fans are anticipating success in 2010.

From the “Tiger Walk” to the “War Eagle” battle cry, you would be hard pressed to find more devoted college football fans than Auburn’s.

3. Ohio State

Known as some of the most knowledgeable and best traveling fans in the country, it should come as no surprise that 65,223 Ohio State fans packed into Ohio Stadium to watch Terrelle Pryor and their Buckeyes scrimmage.

Coming off a Rose Bowl win, Ohio State fans are hoping not only for another Big Ten title, but a national championship. Anything less would be a disappointment.

So with these kind of expectations, 65,000 Buckeyes fans are certainly justified in devoting their Saturday to watching a glorified practice.

2. Nebraska

With over 78,000 people squeezing into Memorial Stadium, Nebraska takes the No. 2 spot on the list. But what’s more impressive is that, unlike other spring games across the country, Cornhusker fans paid 10 bucks a pop.

Pretty impressive for a meaningless game.

With a sellout streak dating back to 1962, Nebraska fans are simply unmatched in their devotion to the home team.

In fact, when full, Memorial Stadium becomes the third-largest city in the state, behind only Omaha and Lincoln.

And, with a Holiday Bowl victory in 2009, Nebraska fans have their highest expectations in years going into the 2010 season.

1. Alabama

Coming off a national title and expecting another one in 2010, 91,312 ‘Bama fans made their way to Bryant-Denny Stadium for the annual spring game.

Drawing over 90,000 people to a practice is simply amazing. But, we are talking about the Crimson Tide here.

If 13 national championships doesn’t enrapture a fan base, nothing will.

And with tickets for the 2010 season undoubtedly coming with a high price tag, many Alabama fans made sure to take advantage of seeing the Tide for free.

Simply put, for many fans, Alabama football is life. The fact that they outdrew their nearest competition in the rankings by 13,000 fans speaks volumes about what has become a near-religion in Tuscaloosa.

Kind of.

The Cardinal (No. 1 team) beat the White 33-11, but neither John Clay, Nick Toon, Mike Taylor, or Chris Borland suited up. So, without four of Wisconsin’s key players even taking part, not much could be learned from watching this glorified practice.

Anyway, here are a few observations I made while watching the game from Section K of Camp Randall Stadium.

1. Montee Ball and Zach Brown Will Be More than Adequate Backups for John Clay

Like Wisconsin fans didn’t already know this, but if John Clay goes down, God forbid, Wisconsin should still be in pretty good shape in the backfield.

Montee Ball and Zach Brown rushed for 75 and 50 yards, respectively, and Ball also added two touchdowns.

Although they both have a much different running style than Clay, this change of pace should be good for a Wisconsin offense that will be focused mostly on a power running game. Ball and Brown provide the ‘O’ with a little speed, agility, and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, something Clay has yet to show.

2. Tolzien Solid, Budmayr Struggles

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

As far as quarterback play, there were both positives and negatives on display Saturday.

Starting quarterback Scott Tolzien, though not flashy, showed why he’s leading Wisconsin’s offense in 2010. He passed for a respectable 138 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Nothing special, but that’s the thing about Tolzien: He isn’t trying to be special. He just leads the offense down the field without making mistakes.

However, redshirt freshman Jon Budmayr, Tolzien’s backup, showed just how much he will need to improve between now and September.

Although Budmayr was basically thrown into this position when Curt Phillips went down with a torn ACL a couple of weeks ago, he still needs to show more than his 9-19, no touchdown, two interception performance.

He is just the backup, but he’s one turned Scott Tolzien ankle from taking over the Wisconsin offense.

3. Lance Kendricks Is Going to Have a Big Year

Wisconsin senior tight end Lance Kendricks, replacing the NFL-bound Garrett Graham, is going to make a name for himself in 2010.

The tight end has been a huge part of the Wisconsin offensive scheme since Barry Alvarez took over the program in the late 1980s, so having one that can make plays is essential.

Like Graham and Travis Beckum before him, Kendricks should be more than capable of excelling in this role. He caught six passes for 63 yards on Saturday and with his size and speed, he will tough to defend.

All-Big 10 could be in his future.

4. Open Defensive Roster Spots

Coming into spring practice, there were multiple spots on the defensive depth chart that were huge question marks.

First off, there was the question of who would take over the open defensive tackle position opposite Patrick Burtrym.

Well, at least for the spring game, that question was answered.

And the answer is redshirt freshman Jordan Kohout.

At 6′3″, 292 pounds, Kohout seems more than capable of stuffing the run and pressuring the quarterback. And, because the quality of Wisconsin’s pass defense is still up in the air, it was important that Wisconsin coaches find someone capable of making an impact up front. 

The only reason Wisconsin’s defense survived last year was because of the tremendous pressure that star defensive end O’Brien Schofield was able to put on opposing quarterbacks. With Schofield gone, the Badgers will have to find another way to disrupt their opponents’ offensive flow.

While in high school, Kohout was rated as the 17th-best defensive tackle in the nation and No. 1 player in Wisconsin according to Rivals.com. Wisconsin will need him to live up to the hype next year because their defensive line may just be the glue that holds this defense together.

The other open roster spot that was really up for grabs was the free safety spot vacated by Chris Maragos.

But whereas Kohout took over a spot that is his natural position, the starter at free safety on Saturday does not have that same familiarity.

Redshirt junior Aaron Henry, who for the previous two seasons played mostly at cornerback, got the start at safety on Saturday.

As a freshman in 2007, Henry made a huge impression while subbing in at cornerback and seeing time as a nickel back. He recorded an interception in his Badger debut against Washington State and made an impressive 3.5 sacks on the year, a Wisconsin record for a defensive back.

But he then suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for all of 2008 and just didn’t appear to be the same player in 2009.

Now, he gets a chance at safety. And, along with strong safety Jay Valai, Henry will have his hands full.

Wisconsin’s cornerbacks are shaky at best, so having a dependable safety net is a must. Henry will have to adjust to his new position fast because Devin Smith, Antonio Fenelus, and Niles Brinkley have had some major problems defending their man.

5. But, It Was Just the Spring Game…

When your starters take on your backups, you can’t really learn anything insightful. It’s Wisconsin vs. Wisconsin. It’s pretty hard to quantify a team’s performance against itself.

That said, the Badgers are looking good going into 2010. With a few adjustments here and there, Wisconsin could be looking at a trip to Pasadena.

Not ex-Badger point guard Trevon Hughes, with his wild shots and stupid turnovers.

Not ex-Badger hockey goalie Shane Connelly, with goals pouring into the net at the worst possible times.

Not even ex-Badger quarterback Allen Evridge, who could possibly have been the worst Wisconsin quarterback in school history.

Despite what the previous three guys did to annoy, frustrate, and sometimes even enrage Badger fans during their times on various Wisconsin squads, no person has been the scapegoat more over the past four years than Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema.

Whether it’s his seemingly arrogant attitude, underachievement on the field (up until last year), or that windbreaker, no one seems to be on Badger fans’ nerves more than Bielema.

He started off well—that’s for sure. A school-record 12 wins and a Capital One Bowl victory? You couldn’t ask for a better first year than that.

But the next two years saw more than one call for Bielema’s job. In 2007-08, the Badgers went 9-4. Respectable, but somewhat of a disappointment considering the team got to as high as No. 5 in the polls that year.

You could just tell the feeling of frustration was beginning to rise despite a fairly successful season.

Then came 2008-09. Despite rising all the way into the top 10 in the polls early in the year, Wisconsin finished the year with a 7-6 record, including barely beating an FCS Cal Poly squad and suffering a 42-13 blowout loss to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl.

There wasn’t a hotter seat in college football than Bielema’s. The web site “FireBretBielema.com” was seeing its hits rise faster than Barry Alvarez’s blood pressure.

But remarkably, despite low expectations, Wisconsin football turned it around in 2009. They had one of college football’s best offenses and rattled off a 10-3 record, including an upset win over Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl.

So, the question going into the 2010 season is, how well do the Badgers have to do for Bielema to remain in Wisconsin fans’ good graces?

Well, despite turning around the program from one of its worst seasons in a decade to a surprisingly successful one, if Bielema doesn’t at least repeat last year’s performance, the heat may be on once again.

With almost all key starters returning, Badger fans probably have their highest expectations since Ron Dayne was still lining up in the backfield.

Plus, many fans still think that Bielema is not the coach for this team.

“Yeah, he won 12 games in 2006, but that was with Alvarez’s players. Look what happened the next two years. Heck, he’s not even a true Badger. For heaven’s sake, he went to Iowa .”

In 2009-10 Bielema took a huge step in proving that he may indeed be the coach for Wisconsin. He won his first bowl game since his initial year, and he did it with all of his own recruits.

That said, Wisconsin fans have a short memory. For a team that is supposed to contend for the Big Ten title next year, any missteps on his part and fans will be all over him once again. A couple losses in a row and all hell could break loose.

But if he can keep the team rolling and take them to the Promised Land (a.k.a. the Rose Bowl), he could secure his spot in Badger fans’ hearts, much like Barry Alvarez did in the 1990s.

If he thought he would get a respite because of his success last year, he should think again.

For Bret Bielema, 2010 could be a make or break year.

(Photo Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

DETROIT – How do you mourn an opportunity lost forever?

If you are members of the University of Wisconsin men’s hockey team, you bow your heads, bend over exhaustedly at the waist and prepare to trudge sadly up a long incline to a tear-filled dressing room.

Instead of winning the seventh NCAA title in program history Saturday night, the Badgers endured a thoroughly sound 5-0 whipping at the hands of Boston College before a crowd of 37,592 at Ford Field.

Five years after losing to UW in the Frozen Four title match at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, the Eagles got their revenge for that 2-1 setback in an impressive way, squeezing the life out of one of the most potent offenses in the country.

BC got two goals from speedy right winger Cam Atkinson – giving him a nation-best 30 – and broke open a 1-0 game with a staccato burst in the opening minutes of the third.

Two days after center Ben Smith scored two goals in a 7-1 semifinal victory over Miami (Ohio), he was credited with the winner and was named the Most Outstanding Player.

Goaltender John Muse was credited with 20 saves – six regarded as grade A chances – en route to improving his career record to 8-0 in the NCAA tournament and giving the Eagles their fourth national title.

The only bone thrown to UW this day was having junior defenseman Brendan Smith named to the all-tournament team.

The world-record audience – the most to see an indoor hockey game – was largely pro-Badgers, but that didn’t help on a night when nothing went right for them. Not only were they shut out for the first time in nine Frozen Four appearances dating back to 1970, they lost sophomore center Derek Stepan to a possible concussion in the fateful third.

UW had won national titles in two previous trips here – in 1977 and 1990 – but those ghosts offered no help.

The Badgers were outshot 12-5 in the opening period and found themselves in a 1-0 hole, but they could easily have been in charge. They had three high-grade chances in front of John Muse, but couldn’t convert.

The first came 8 minutes into the session when Stepan passed out of the right corner to senior right winger Michael Davies driving to the net. Muse muzzled the tip-in attempt.

Boston College's Cam Atkinson, left, and Wisconsin's Blake Geoffrion battle for the puck in the second period of their NCAA Frozen Four championship hockey game in Detroit, Saturday, April 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

After BC took the lead on the power play at 12:57 – Ben Smith beat goaltender Scott Gudmandson with an open wrist shot from the hash marks – Davies pushed another point-blank one-timer wide right before Muse denied senior center Blake Geoffrion at the right edge of the crease and a rebound try by freshman right winger Craig Smith in the final minute.

The Eagles continued to frustrate UW in the scoreless second, limiting its possession time by winning faceoffs, keeping the puck on the perimeter and not allowing follow-up shots.

Muse continued to annoy as well, turning away senior center Aaron Bendickson on an early try from the low slot circle and a turnaround wrister by Geoffrion, the newly crowned Hobey Baker Award winner, from the hash marks with 12 minutes gone.

Once again, Davies had multiple chances to change the game, but couldn’t find the magic.

During a flurry in front of Muse, the puck came to Davies at the right edge of the crease, but his backhanded try clipped the near post and fluttered out of danger.

The next chance – a clean breakaway with 5:46 remaining in the second – is almost sure to haunt Davies.

He hauled in a great pass from sophomore defenseman Jake Gardiner and angled through the slot before trying to snap off a wrist shot from the left hash. But the puck either hit a dry spot on the ice, slowing abruptly, or Davies seriously fanned on the shot because he never really got it off.

All those missed opportunities came back to haunt the Badgers in the opening minutes of the third when BC pulled away.

Atkinson danced around freshman defenseman Justin Schultz along the left boards and gained enough separation that he was able to get off an open backhander from the near circle. The shot beat Gudmandson between the pads at 1:38.

Chris Kreider added to the lead two minutes later when he drove hard to the net and one-timed a pass from right winger Jimmy Hayes past Gudmandson (21 saves).

Adding injury to insult, UW lost Stepan when he crashed hard into the dasher boards behind Gudmandson after the goal. After lying on the ice for several moments, then getting to his knees, Stepan had to be helped by teammates up the long tunnel to the dressing room.

The next nail in the coffin for the Badgers came on the power play when Atkinson slipped another backhander between the pads of Gudmandson from the left circle at 7:20.

Center Matt Price closed things out with an empty-netter at 15:29.

The Badgers will play the Boston College Eagles tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET in the finals of the Frozen Four at Ford Field in Detroit that will be seen on ESPN. That was the matchup of the 2006 finals as well in Milwaukee, when the Badgers won 2-1 to win their 6th national title, and first under head coach Mike Eaves.

Before that 2006 game, the Badgers were the #1 seed in the West regional, just like this year. In addition, this is the third time the Badgers have played in the Frozen Four in Detroit, and Wisconsin has won the national title the two previous times.

In the West regional this year, the Badgers defeated Vermont 3-2 and then St. Cloud State 5-3 to advance to the Frozen Four, where they took care of business in convincing fashion in an 8-1 rout of RIT in the semifinal game.

Boston College meanwhile, crushed overall #1 seed Miami of Ohio 7-1 in the other semifinal game, after first winning the Northeast regional.

The Badgers and Eagles have some striking things in common as they prepare the title game tonight. Look at these similar stats…

2009-2010 Season: BC – WI

Record
BC 28-10-3
WI 28-10-4

Goals/game
BC 4.1
WI 4.1

Goals allowed/game
BC 2.5
WI 2.5

Power play %
BC 20.8
WI 20.9

Penalty kill %
BC 84.1
WI 85.5

NHL draft picks
BC 9
WI 10

Outdoor game
BC L 3-2 (vs. BU)
WI W 3-2 (vs. Michigan)

The Badgers captain Ben Street, is the one remaining player from the 2006 championship team that will play for another title tonight vs. Boston College. “I remember the puck hitting the post with a second left,” Street said. “And I remember the last 10 seconds feeling like it took a year. I just remember the feeling afterwards of winning your last game and being able to say that you accomplished what you worked for all year.”

The Badgers received some good karma on Friday in a couple of ways. First,
Blake Geoffrion and Brendan Smith were named first-team All-Americans on Friday, becoming the first University of Wisconsin men’s hockey duo to be so honored in 10 years.

The senior center and junior defenseman, who were both among 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, were selected for the American College Hockey Association’s West first-team All-America squad. The last time the Badgers had two players on the first team was in 2000, when Steve Reinprecht and Jeff Dessner were lauded.

Geoffrion won the Hobey Baker Award Friday and was named Inside College Hockey's Player of the Year.

In addition, Geoffrion won the Hobey Baker Award Friday and was named Inside College Hockey’s Player of the Year. Geoffrion is tied for second in the nation with 28 goals and leads the country with 15 power-play goals.

Geoffrion was the first Badger to ever win the prestigious award. “It’s great to win this award and everything, but my ultimate goal — I’ve said this over and over — is to win a national championship,” Geoffrion said. “I want to do it for my team and my teammates.”

Geoffrion comes from one of the most famous of all hockey families. His grandfather, Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, and great-grandfather, Howie Morenz, are in the Hockey Hall of Fame and had their uniform numbers retired by the Montreal Canadiens.

Winning the Hobey Baker Award is a great individual achievement, but hockey is a team sport. The Badgers have a chance to be the 7th team ever to win a national title for Wisconsin.

Geoffrion is aware of this. “That’s all I’ve got on my mind,” he said of tonight’s title game. “I believe in my team and my coaching staff and I’m sure we’ll be ready to play.”

Geoffrion has a coach in Eaves that has been there and done that, both as a player and coach. Besides coaching the 2006 national title squad, Eaves was also the captain on the 1977 NCAA championship team.

What is the key to the game coach? “Nobody likes to play defensive when they’re in their defensive zone,” Eaves said. “I think that’s going to be key for us – to not have turnovers.”

Eaves also said, “I think this group, because of the upperclassmen, has the ability to enjoy the moment and get back to the task at hand. I think that is one of the guys’ strengths is being able to do that. And we’re going to need to be able to have that happen again.”

If the Badgers do just that, a 7th NCAA title will be going back to Madison with the team after tonight’s game in Motown. I certainly like the karma heading into the game, and I think history will indeed repeat itself.