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Coach Puts Heat On Badgers In Practice

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 27, 2007

Updated: 12/27/2007 12:12 am

TAMPA - After arriving in Tampa late in the evening on Christmas Day, the Wisconsin Badgers began preparation for their New Year's Day Outback Bowl meeting with Tennessee with a practice Wednesday afternoon at Jefferson High, aimed primarily at adapting to the Florida sunshine.

While Wisconsin has been hit hard by recent snowfall, the Badgers continued to work, thanks to an on-campus indoor practice facility. Badgers coach Bret Bielema even kept the heaters running during practice, but admitted it's just not the same.

"Although we warmed the indoor stadium up as high as we could, it was nothing compared to the humidity here. I know we had it above 70, but it's not the feeling of even 73 here. You can't simulate the sun beating on you and all the other effects.

"What we wanted to do was get them acclimated to working out in this weather more than anything. We'll go hard for two more days and then back off as the week goes on. The big thing is we've got buckets of water for them."

ON A STREAK: The 9-3 Badgers will go into the Outback Bowl ranked 18th and making a school-record sixth straight bowl appearance.

Wisconsin won at least nine games for the fourth consecutive season, the best stretch in school history.

The Badgers are making their fourth straight New Year's Day game appearance in Florida - playing the last two years at Orlando's Capital One Bowl and in the 2005 Outback.

That string will not be overlooked during recruiting.

"In Florida we're getting quite a bit more players from down here," Bielema said. "This is an area I've recruited as an assistant previously at other institutions, so I'm very aware of the talent down here.

"But also, it just helps us nationally. Now we have kids from Chicago who come down here for seven or eight days who get to come down here and enjoy the sunshine during the coldest time of the year up there. So it helps us nationally, not just in Florida."

MAKING IT BACK: James Kamoku, a fifth-year senior from Hawaii, was on hand Wednesday for his first practice since popping an Achilles' tendon during preseason workouts. He is expected to see some action on special teams during his final game as a Badger.

FLYING HIGH: With the Outback Bowl still remaining, Badgers QB Tyler Donovan's 2,452 passing yards are the second-most in school history. The record of 2,920 is owned by John Stocco in 2005.

"The thing he probably does better than anything is he stays alive," Bielema said. "There was a play against Michigan where he spun around two times then completed a pass for first down.

"If he does not have the right answer down the field, he's able to create some plays on his own."

Mick Elliott

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