UW Athletics Hall of Fame to add 10 to 2017 class

MADISON, Wis. — 10 former Badgers will be inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 29 at Union South. The class includes two gold medalists, a pair of NCAA champions, an NHL all-star, two Rose Bowl-winning quarterbacks and a WNBA player.

Inductees are Sara Bauer, women’s hockey; Darrell Bevell, football; Brooks Bollinger, football; Brian Elliott, men’s hockey; Tamara Moore, women’s basketball; Arlie Schardt, men’s cross country and track and field; Bob Suter, men’s hockey; and Tracy Webster, men’s basketball. Former baseball coach Guy Lowman was selected in the coach/staff category while UW Marching Band Director Mike Leckrone was honored in the special service category.

“This is another tremendous Hall of Fame class,” UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said. “It’s got a little bit of everything from Rose Bowl-winning quarterbacks to NHL all-stars to great basketball players to our first Patty Kazmaier Award winner and more. Most importantly, these are all people who have represented the university in the right way and will be Badgers forever. I am really looking forward to the induction ceremony.”

Bauer was UW’s first Patty Kazmaier Award winner
One of the most honored women’s hockey players in program history, Bauer was the first Badger to win the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the nation’s top player in 2006. The forward led UW to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007 and was a two-time USCHO.com and WCHA Player of the Year. Bauer wrapped up her career as Wisconsin’s all-time scoring leader and was a two-time UW female athlete of the year.

Bauer also skated with the Canadian National Team from 2004-08. She returned to school to earn her master’s degree in education and opened the Sara Bauer Academy for hockey training and skills.

Bevell became Badgers’ first Rose Bowl winner
Bevell was under center for one of the greatest seasons in Wisconsin football history, leading the Badgers to a 10-1-1 record, the 1993 Big Ten championship and their first trip to the Rose Bowl in 31 years. His memorable, and unlikely, 21-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter helped secure the UW program’s first win in Pasadena. That performance capped a season in which he was named first-team All-Big Ten, set the single-season school record for passing yards (2,390) and matched the UW mark for touchdown passes (19).

A four-year starter, Bevell finished his career as the Badgers’ career leader in passing yards (7,686), completions (646), attempts (1,052), completion percentage (61.4%) and touchdown passes (59).
Bevell has worked as an NFL assistant coach since 2000, serving on the staffs of the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings before becoming offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks in 2011 and winning Super Bowl XLVIII two seasons later.

Bollinger a winner from the start
Bollinger led the Badgers to the 1999 Big Ten championship and 2000 Rose Bowl title. A four-year starter at quarterback he compiled a 30-12 record, including a 3-0 mark in bowl games, from 1999 to 2002. Bollinger was named the 1999 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and finished his career ranked second in school history in passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns.

He was selected in the 2003 NFL Draft and played seven seasons with New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys. Bollinger also played two years in the United Football League, earning MVP honors in 2009 before retiring from football in 2011. He currently serves as head football coach at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Elliott a goaltending great
Elliott was the starting goalkeeper for the Badgers’ 2006 NCAA championship team, earning first-team All-America honors. A top-three finalist for the 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, Elliott was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten pick and the 2005-06 UW Athletic Board Scholar. He set school records for career goals-against average (1.78) and save percentage (.931).

Elliott was drafted in 2003 and has played for 10 seasons in the NHL with Ottawa, Colorado, St. Louis and Calgary. He is also a two-time NHL all-star.

Moore made her mark as point guard
Moore was a two-time honorable mention All-American and two-time All-Big Ten pick. She was named a finalist for the 2002 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year award and the 2002 Senior CLASS award. Moore led the Badgers to the 1999 WNIT championship, earning most valuable player honors. The 2001 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Moore ranks first on the UW career record lists in assists and steals.

A finalist for the U.S. team for the 2001 World University Games, Moore was selected 15th overall by the Miami Sol in the 2002 WNBA Draft. She played in the WNBA for six seasons.

Schardt was Badgers’ first Olympic gold medalist
Schardt was selected as the Heritage member of the 2017 Hall of Fame class. A track and cross country standout from 1914-17, he served as team captain of the 1915 cross country team that won the Big Ten and National Intercollegiate championships. Schardt, from Milwaukee was also a member of two Big Ten championship track teams. The middle distance runner won the 1917 Big Ten indoor mile title before graduating that spring.

Schardt entered the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant and immediately went into combat in World War I. He was severely injured after a battle in the Argonne Forest and was left for dead for two-and-a-half days. After recovering, Schardt continued to compete following the war and placed second in the mile at the 1919 American Expeditionary Forces Championships. He became the first Badger to claim a gold medal, winning the 3000-meter team race as part of the U.S. squad at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

Suter made Madison youth hockey his ambition
A Madison legend, Suter was a member of UW’s 1977 NCAA championship team. The defenseman earned second-team All-WCHA honors in 1979 while being named the inaugural winner of the Fenton Kelsey Jr. Most Competitive Player Award on the UW team.

Suter was a member of the “Miracle on Ice” U.S. team that won gold in hockey at the 1980 Olympics and also skated for Team USA at the 1981 World Championships. Suter was drafted in 1977 by the Los Angeles Kings but never played a game in the NHL. The Madison East High School graduate returned to Madison, where he opened a sporting goods store called Gold Medal Sports. Suter also coached youth hockey in Madison and became part owner and director of Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton. The arena was named in his honor following his death in 2014.

Webster led resurgence of men’s basketball
Webster was a key member of the Wisconsin teams in the early 1990s. He helped guide UW to the 1994 NCAA Tournament, the Badgers’ first appearance in the Big Dance in more than 40 years. A second-team All-Big Ten pick, Webster scored more than 1,264 career points. He still holds the UW career record for assists (501) and ranks second all-time in steals (183). A three-time team captain, Webster was named the Badgers’ most valuable player in 1992.

Webster has spent more than 15 years coaching Division I college basketball, serving as an assistant coach at Kentucky, Illinois, Purdue, Ball State, DePaul, Nebraska, Tennessee and California.

Lowman a legend on the diamond
Lowman coached three sports at Wisconsin but is known primarily as the Badgers’ baseball coach. In 1918, he coached the baseball team. The following season, he coached the football team before opening a two-year run as basketball coach. Lowman led the hoopsters to the 1917-18 Big Ten title with a 9-3 conference record.

He returned to coach the baseball team from 1921-32, finishing with a 140-105 record and claiming the 1930 Big Ten championship. The Badgers’ home field was named after Lowman in 1952.

Leckrone a fixture of Fifth Quarter
Since 1969, Leckrone has served as director of the UW Marching Band. He has established numerous traditions, including the Fifth Quarter, the Bud Song and the band’s high-stepping marching style. Leckrone was recognized as an Outstanding Educator of America by the Outstanding Americans Foundation in 1970 and received the Outstanding Bandmaster Award from the Wisconsin Chapter of Phi Beta in 1973.

Leckrone has also been recognized by several UW booster clubs, receiving the Pat O’Dea Award, the Blue Line Club Distinguished Service Award, the Badger Basketball Boosters Distinguished Service Award, the UW Alumni Club Distinguished Faculty Award, and the Wisconsin Newspaper Writers Special Edition Award. He has also been inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Football Hall of Fame.

(UWBadgers.com)

    Mallards fall to Woodchucks in pitching battle

    WAUSAU, Wis. — The Madison Mallards (14-13) fell 1-0 to the Wisconsin Woodchucks (10-17) in a pitchers’ duel at Athletic Park on a sunny but chilly Monday night.

    The Mallards could not continue their four-game winning streak, as it was the Madison bats that fell short. Tonight was the third time the Mallards have been shutout this season. Madison outhit Wisconsin 6-5, but could not come through with any clutch at-bats. Doran Turchin (Illinois) and Jeffrey Mitchell Jr. (California) both managed multi-hit games, but every time the Woodchucks sensed danger on the base-paths, the Wisconsin pitching staff slammed the door on the Mallards hitters. Madison left runners on second and third base in both the first and second innings. They stranded ten total tonight.

    Simon Rosenblum-Larson (Harvard) was handed the loss, despite throwing five innings and only allowing one run on three hits. The only run of the game came in the third inning after the Ivy Leaguer plunked Woodchuck Jackson Owens, who then scored from third two batters later off a Trey Dawson single to center field. Jason Ruffcorn (Texas A&M) and Andrew Buckley (California) finished off the last three innings for Madison out of the bullpen. The Mallards played well in the field again tonight, but solid defense could not save them in a night where runs came at a premium.

    Tonight’s loss is a tough one to swallow for the Mallards, who are racing for second place in the Northwoods League South Division. Despite the loss, the appearance of some fresh faces brings life to the Madison roster. Freshman right-hander Jason Ruffcorn made is Mallards debut on the mound tonight, showing off a heavy fastball and the ability to work of a jam with runners in scoring position. Another freshman, Jake Snider (Louisville), exploded onto the Northwoods scene with a double down the left field line in his first at-bat with Madison. The Mallards await more help in the bullpen over the next couple weeks in the form of more pitchers from Texas A&M and Florida.

    The Mallards will be in action back at Warner Park Tuesday night for a two-game series against the Kalamazoo Growlers (8-19) at home. Gates open at 5:30 for the Schwinn Family of Bikes giveaway. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. Listen live on 106.7 FM and 1670 AM The ZONE. Before the game, be sure to stop by Warner Park for the Schwinn Bike Safety course that will be held from 10 AM – Noon. This free course will feature bike inspections and safety lessons from the Madison Police department. The first 50 kids in attendance will receive a free bike helmet and all kids will receive a free voucher to a future Mallards game.

    (MallardsBaseball.com)

      Boosters play underappreciated role in UW’s success

      MADISON, Wis. — Some might attribute the growth and success of the University of Wisconsin athletic department to the renaissance of the football program. But behind the scenes, athletics boosters provide the resources for those programs to thrive.

      When it comes to boosters, few have provided as much stability as Ted Kellner, Chairman and CEO of Fiduciary Management in Milwaukee. In 1980, the UW alumnus founded FMI, an investment firm which handles over $25 billion in assets. His professional success allowed him to donate $10 million to his alma mater, which was used to construct faculty offices at Camp Randall which now bears his name.

      Kellner said it was important for him to provide future generations of students and student-athletes with top-notch facilities so they could reach their academic and athletic goals.

      “Just look around the campus,” Kellner said as he began to make mental note of other major donors. “The Kohl Center — [former U.S.] senator [Herb] Kohl gave $25 million, “Ab” Nicholas gave $10 million, our family at the time chipped in $2.5 or $3 million. That building was basically built with private support.”

      And that support is seen in other facilities on campus as well. Boosters helped finance the weight room at Camp Randall and the McClain Center, which Kellner said was a big reason athletes come to Wisconsin.

      So it’s no wonder the University has plans to provide over $105 million in upgrades across campus. The UW’s “Master Plan” is a document containing possible upgrades and repairs to major facilities over the next 10 years. Among those proposed upgrades is the addition of a $43.1 million sports performance complex on the south corner of the Kohl Center.

      Those proposed upgrades don’t currently include any plans for a baseball complex, an idea Kellner says has a very slim chance of ever happening. But Kellner says if Wisconsin continues to operate its finances on the current trajectory, he envisions the Badgers being a national powerhouse for a long time to come.

        NBA G League accidentally leaks Bucks affiliate logo

        MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks planned on unveiling their new G League affiliate logo on Thursday during a special event paired with the NBA Draft, but that logo appears to have been released prematurely.

        https://twitter.com/conradburry/status/877138195120611329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehindthebuckpass.com%2F2017%2F06%2F20%2Fmilwaukee-bucks-wisconsin-herd-logo-reportedly-leaks%2F

        The Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee’s new G League affiliate set to debut in Oshkosh, appears to be taking a page from the professional franchise’s book, using a redesigned version to represent the affiliate team. The authenticity of the logo has not been verified, but after displaying the logo on their website for each NBA team’s affiliate, the image has since been removed.

        The G League, formerly known as the NBA D League (Development League), has been renamed due to a sponsorship with Gatorade. The organization has not issued a statement on the leak.

          Report: Malik Zaire “expects to” transfer to Florida

          SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After graduating from Notre Dame in May, quarterback Malik Zaire appears to be transferring to Florida.

          Fox Sports columnist Bruce Feldman reported via Facebook that the left-handed prospect will be joining the team on Wednesday to get acclimated to his new home.

          The decision ends months of speculation about where he’d play out his final year of college eligibility. Wisconsin was among a handful of schools Zaire was reportedly considering last winter,  though delays in his decision-making process seemed to lessen the interest Wisconsin had in entertaining the idea.

          Zaire discussed the decision with GatorBait.net, telling the publication that competition was a contributing factor in choosing Florida.

          For me, I didn’t want the challenge to dissipate at the end of the day. Coming from Notre Dame, you’re playing top games every week, and I wanted to continue that trend. I didn’t want to run from the challenge, I wanted to embrace the challenge.”

          If it’s a challenge Zaire was looking for, he almost certainly would have had his hands full in the Badgers program trying to beat out incumbent Alex Hornibrook. Instead, Zaire will have the opportunity to battle a pair of freshmen (Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask) for playing time under center.

            Three kickoff times set for Badger football

            MADISON, Wis. – Kickoff times for three additional Wisconsin football games were announced Wednesday by Big Ten Conference television partners FOX and ESPN.

            The Badgers’ game at BYU on Sept. 16 will kick off at 2:30 p.m. (CT) on ABC or ESPN. UW’s Homecoming game with Maryland at Camp Randall Stadium on Oct. 21 and the Badgers’ matchup at Illinois on Oct. 28 are both set for 11 a.m., with television designations yet to be determined.

            Wisconsin’s season opener vs. Utah State on Friday, Sept. 1, was previously announced as an 8 p.m. kickoff on ESPN.

            The Badgers and BYU have met twice previously, with the Cougars scoring a 28-3 win at Camp Randall in 1980 and UW claiming a 27-17 victory in Madison in 2013.

            Wisconsin is 2-0 all-time vs. Maryland, with wins at home in 2014 and on the road in 2015.

            The Badgers currently own a seven-game win streak over Illinois, the longest by either team in the history of a series that dates back to 1895.

            Courtesy: http://www.uwbadgers.com

             

              Wisconsin Sports Awards: Former Badger Josh Gasser hints at retirement

              MADISON, Wis. — Former Wisconsin guard Josh Gasser appears to be calling it a career, following a blue carpet appearance at the sixth annual Wisconsin Sports Awards last Thursday.

              “Unfortunately, my body isn’t healing right, so I might be moving back to Madison here pretty soon and entering the real world,” Gasser told reporters prior to the awards ceremony.

              Gasser went undrafted in 2015 before signing with Lowen Braunschweig, a professional basketball team in Germany. He’s dealt with knee injuries throughout his collegiate and professional career, along with a sports hernia in 2016. He averaged 6.6 points and 18 minutes per game while playing overseas.

              “It was nice to play professionally overseas for a little bit,” Gasser continued. “Unfortunately, the injuries kind of added up for me, having a few surgeries over the years, but it was definitely still a good experience.”

              Gasser was underrated as a recruit out of Port Washington, Wis. but famously received a scholarship offer from Wisconsin after another recruit got in trouble with the law. Gasser went on to play 148 games with the Badgers, averaging 7.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. But beyond the box score, Gasser’s contributions were more intangible, earning the nickname “Captain America” by his teammates.

              Now that it appears his playing days are behind him, Gasser’s next venture will be skills camps around Wisconsin. He has three of them scheduled within the next month: May 21 at Westosha Central High School, June 10th at Cedarburg High School, and June 11th at Clinton High School. More information is available here.

              Author’s note: We’d also like to thank Gasser for his contributions to the “Wisconsin Basketball Roundtable” with Jake Zimmermann and hope you’ll tune in next basketball season every Thursday night at 5.

                The Joe & Ebo Experience: Cutty Does It

                MADISON | A very tough day in the NFL, but when we’re feeling down, we must remember the good times.

                It’s with a heavy heart that I type this… Jay Cutler’s playing days are behind him. *tries to hold back the tears* That’s right. Jay Cutler is hanging it up for a job in the broadcast both. *tears begin to flow*

                We’ll never forget you and all the love you showed the Packers defense, Jay.

                The news was so upsetting that Joe Miller couldn’t even complete the show. He was sure to give his love though, as well as

                Today on the Joe & Ebo Experience:

                If Cutty Leaves Me Now, He Takes Away The Biggest Part Of Me

                Just RJ Being RJ

                Brewers Keg Party

                Kevlar Vest Day

                Wedding Etiquette

                Ebo Loves Cutler

                Listen to the Joe & Ebo Show weekdays from 8a | 11a on 106.7FM 1670AM The Zone

                  The Joe & Ebo Experience: Weekend At Teddy’s

                  MADISON | We need football back in our lives, like, right now.

                  We got a taste of some NFL action with the Draft, and it got our juices flowing. Apparently, after cutting Michael and Jackson, Ted Thompson wasn’t finished yet either.

                  Also, who saw this coming from the Milwaukee Brewers? Keep turning up the heat!

                  Today on the Joe & Ebo Experience
                  Beat It, Dummy

                  Does GB Value The RB?

                  @RieseDraft Rises

                  We Like The Brew

                  Remember Ty Montgomery Against The Bears?

                  Listen to The Joe & Ebo Show weekdays from 8a | 11a on 106.7FM 1670AM The Zone.

                    The Joe & Ebo Experience: Draft and Brew

                    MADISON | The NFL Draft and Ted Thompson — a match made in football heaven.

                    With the Packers draft over, it’s time to decipher what’s going to happen with their new players and the upcoming season. Oh, and no beer goggles here, but who thought the Brewers would be looking this decent?

                    Today on the Joe & Ebo Experience:
                    In Ted We Trust?

                    RJ Brachman Loves Vince Biegel

                    Cavalier$

                    How do you spell “Jets”?

                    Brewers, Brewers, keep turning up the heat

                    Be sure to catch the Joe & Ebo Show weekdays from 8a to 11a on 106.7FM/1670AM The Zone