Badgering the witness

I watched the second half of the Wisconsin-Arizona St. game with a mixture of faint hope and impending dread. It was the perfect storm for the Badgers, who in their best seasons struggle against athletic opponents. The UW squad was playing against type by using the pass to loosen things up for the run, which historically has resulted in gaudy passing stats and few victories.

The Sun Devils athleticism was blatantly evident on special teams, where anything less than a kick-return touchdown was considered a victory for Bucky. An egregious end zone pass interference non-call coupled with a thirty-nine inch margin between the Sun Devils and twelve additional points gave the UW faithful palpitations on this national TV afternoon.

And yet, faced with an ASU team armed with Badger kryponite, the Badgers won the game. They stared down a team of bad matchups and found a way to win. Beleaguered special team units rose to the occasion when it mattered most, backups performed competently and, most importantly, they won a game they had every opportunity to lose.

The injury-riddled team that played today is not Rose Bowl bound, but this battered unit that won gives hope for healthier times against better opponents. We'll see what unfolds in Big Ten(11 soon to be 12) play.