Ohio State Football - Central Ohio News

• Aug. 30: at West Virginia
• Sept. 6: Akron
• Sept. 13: UNLV
• Sept. 20: North Carolina
• Sept. 27: at Illinois
• Oct. 4: at Penn State
• Oct. 11: Ohio State
• Oct. 18: Purdue
• Oct. 25: at Northwestern
• Nov. 8: at Minnesota
• Nov. 15: Michigan State
• Nov. 22: Iowa

MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Badgers have had a 1,000-yard rusher for a decade now, two years shy of the NCAA record set by North Carolina from 1973-84.

They count on topping that number again this season with junior tailback Anthony Davis, whose 3,021 yards is the best in the nation over the last two seasons.

But they also plan to put the ball in the air a lot more than ever before in coach Barry Alvarez's 14 seasons at Madison.

Strong-armed fifth-year senior Jim Sorgi replaces mobile quarterback Brooks Bollinger, a four-year starter, and senior wideout Lee Evans returns to the lineup after two knee operations following his record-breaking 2001 season.

While recuperating from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, Evans' sideline tutorials helped Jonathan Orr and Brandon Williams, now seasoned sophomores.

But Evans is eager to show instead of tell this year.

"I'm a much better leader by example," he said. "That's one of the biggest things I'll be able to do now. I can be out there doing it and showing them what I mean. You can say a lot of things but until you see it, it's hard to grasp it sometimes."

Orr and Williams will team with Evans to give the Badgers one of the biggest aerial attacks in the Big Ten.

That is, if they can keep Sorgi upright.

The Badgers, who open the season at West Virginia on Aug. 30, allowed a conference-high 46 sacks last season and their line this year features three new starters in tackles Mike Lorenz and Morgan Davis and center Donovan Raiola.

"I feel much better about the offensive line than I did going into the spring," said Alvarez, who lost cousins Al and Ben Johnson to the NFL.

Offensive coordinator Brian White plans to spread the offense with more four-receiver sets to keep defenses from stacking the line with pass-rushers and is hoping to implement screen passes for Davis.

Although Sorgi has never won in five collegiate starts, he has appeared in 27 games and thrown for 16 touchdowns -- nine of them to Evans -- and 2,247 yards.

Alvarez couldn't be more thrilled to have Evans back and available this year rather than trying to make his comeback in the pros.

"There just aren't as many people that can handle as much adversity as he did," Alvarez said. "I'll use him as an example forever."

Sorgi said he expects Lee to perform just as he did two years ago, when he averaged more than 20 yards a catch.

"Right now he looks like the Lee of old," Sorgi said.

And that gives the Badgers a swagger they haven't had since Evans caught a school record 75 passes for a Big Ten record 1,545 yards and nine touchdowns in 2001.

"Looking at our weapons on offense, it's pretty ridiculous," said Davis, who rushed for 1,555 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. "We're pretty stacked at receiver, tailback, fullback, tight end.

"Everything is there and really in position. It's just a matter of all of us going out there and making it happen."

The Badgers return 16 starters, including junior free safety Jim Leonhard, who led the nation and tied a conference record with 11 interceptions last season.

"We have a young team, yet it's a veteran team," Alvarez said. "We have a tremendous nucleus back and yet we're a much more mature team than we've had the past two years.

"We probably have more weapons than we've had, more depth than we've had at the skill positions since I've been here."

Middle linebacker Jeff Mack returns from an injury-plagued 2002 season in which he missed six starts, which should help senior Al Lewis, who had his growing pains as a junior college transfer last year in Mack's absence.

"All you have to do is take a look at last year and watch our team play defense with Jeff in the lineup and without him in the lineup," Alvarez said. "We're a different defense. He is someone who is a security blanket for the rest of the defense, someone who can make calls very easily and quickly and make adjustments just as easily.

"He is one of the more physical linebackers in the country and one of the smarter players. He's the heart and soul of our defense. He's the quarterback of our defense. I'd love to see him stay healthy all year."

Lewis would benefit enormously.

"You'll see Alex play much better with Jeff there," Alvarez said.

Leonhard, the team's first sophomore to win the MVP trophy since 1947, moves from strong safety to free safety this season.

Theoretically, he should get more chances to intercept passes now but he knows his numbers might go down while his production rises.

Leonhard said he won't try to compare numbers, and that's exactly what Alvarez has been telling his star-studded offense to avoid.

"We have a lot of weapons on offense, but we only have one football," he said. "Guys may not have the same numbers. They may play better than they have in the past yet not have the same numbers. The same thing with Jimmy. He may play better but he may not have as many interceptions.

"But he will always be around the football."

SCHOOL COLORS: cardinal and white

FOUNDED: 1848

ENROLLMENT: 40,610

LOCATED: Madison, Wis.

COACH: Barry Alvarez, 14th season overall and at Wisconsin (92-61-4)

2002 RECORD: 8-6 (2-6 Big Ten, tied for eighth)

LAST BOWL: 2002 Alamo Bowl, defeated Colorado 31-28

STADIUM: Camp Randall (76,634)

RETURNING STARTERS: 7 offense, 9 offense

KEY PLAYERS: WR Lee Evans, RB Anthony Davis, DL Anttaj Hawthorne, DL Erasmus James, DL Darius Jones, DB Jim Leonhard, LB Alex Lewis, LB Jeff Mack, WR Jonathan Orr, QB Jim Sorgi, DB Scott Starks, WR Brandon Williams, WR Darrin Charles

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Brooks Bollinger, SS Michael Broussard, C Al Johnson, LT Ben Johnson, CB B.J. Tucker, DL Jake Sprague

HOT TOPICS: The Badgers have had a 1,000-yard rusher for a Big Ten-record 10 consecutive seasons, with Davis amassing 3,021 yards the past two years. But Alvarez vows to spread his offense, taking advantage of Evans' return from two knee surgeries and a complementary crew of talented wideouts.

COLD FACTS: To contend for the Big Ten title, Wisconsin must play better at home. The Badgers are only 3-9 in Camp Randall the last three years, hard to believe considering the over-the-top passion of their fans.

OVERVIEW: The Badgers don't play Michigan and get Ohio State at home. They could be 6-0 when they meet the Buckeyes on Oct. 11. If they win that game, Alvarez may be on his way to a fourth Rose Bowl.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "We have a young team, yet it's a veteran team. We have a tremendous nucleus back and yet we're a much more mature team than we've had the past two years." -- Alvarez.