{image1}The UW Badgers were unknown commodities at the start of the season, but can make a run for a bowl bid and the Big Ten title -- if they can be road warriors in October.
Coach Barry Alvarez's team came through September 4-0. They play Indiana this Saturday at Camp Randall, but then play three of their four October games on the road.
First, the Badgers travel to Northwestern on Oct. 8, then Minnesota on Oct. 15. After homecoming at Camp Randall against Purdue on Oct. 22, they wrap up the month at Illinois on the 29th.
In the Big Ten, it is never easy on the road. Every team in the conference makes it a priority to defend its own turf. The various stadiums around the Big Ten can be partisan pits for the road team. And, a team that is a serious contender for the conference title becomes even more of a target.
The Badgers certainly vaulted themselves to a team that has to be taken serious in the Big Ten with their 23-20 win over Michigan at Camp Randall last Saturday. "It's one of the bigger wins we've had in our program," said head coach Barry Alvarez after the upset.
"I feel great. I'm thrilled for the players because of how hard we've worked, how they've improved since we started camp and how they just get better. And the thing I really like is how they compete."
John Stocco, who scored the winning touchdown, might be one of the toughest competitors on the team. He isn't the best-throwing quarterback, but works hard and has shown leadership so far this season. "I'm just trying to do anything I can to help this team. That's the No. 1 goal, to come out with a win," Stocco said after the win last Saturday.
Brian Calhoun, the former state Player of the Year at Oak Creek, has provided explosive running abilities to the Badgers. Calhoun gained 155 yards on 35 carries against Michigan.
The crowd at Camp Randall was a definite factor in the outcome, according to the Badgers. "That was the most unbelievable atmosphere I've ever been in in my entire life," Stocco said. "The fans were incredible. I couldn't believe how loud it was."
But, the Badgers won't have that 12th player behind them much in October.
October Preview
The Badgers aren't the only team playing on the road in October. The Packers have only one home game in the month, on Oct. 9 against the Saints, who are playing all road games so far because of the aftermath of Katrina.
Otherwise, the Packers are at Carolina on Oct. 3, Minnesota on Oct. 23 and Cincinnati on Oct. 30. They mercifully get a bye on Oct. 16.
In the NAFL, the Marauders and Racine Raiders meet in playoff action on Oct. 1. State college teams start their conference action in October. WIAC highlight games include Stevens Point at La Crosse on Oct. 1, La Crosse at Eau Claire on Oct. 22 and Eau Claire at Point on Oct. 29. All those teams have been ranked among national small college teams.
The largest Australian Rules Football tournament in U.S. history will be held Oct. 1-2 at the Milwaukee Polo Grounds when the US Footy tourney is hosted by the Milwaukee Bombers. The Bombers are fourth-seeded in a pool with Dallas, New York and Arizona.
The Brewers wrap up their baseball season on Oct. 1-2. Meanwhile, winter sports teams start their seasons. The Bucks start pre-season action on Oct. 12 in Minnesota and play two games at the Bradley Center on the 15th and 22nd. The regular NBA season starts for Milwaukee on Nov. 1.
Under new ownership, the Admirals start regular season action in Grand Rapids on Oct. 8 and play their first home game on Oct. 14 against Manitoba. The Wave starts its season Oct. 23 at Chicago and then plays the Storm at the U.S. Cellular Arena on Oct.29.
The Name Game
Carlos Lee gets the Sports Buzz Brewers Player of the Year honor, with Brady Clark receiving special mention, and Chris Capuano and Derrick Turnbow share the Pitcher of the Year designation ... The Sports Buzz Athlete of the Month honor goes to Marshall High's Dante Steward, who set a state record with 499 yards rushing in a 56-27 win over Brookfield Academy on Sept. 24. Steward carried the ball 42 times and scored seven touchdowns ... UW-Stevens Point quarterback Brett Borchart passed for 296 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-13 win over Waldorf (Iowa) ... The Wave took Aaron Susi from the Cleveland Force as their first pick in the 2005 MISL Dispersion Draft. Susi was the 12th pick overall. Milwaukee took 12 players.
Hot Tix
The Packers meet Carolina at 8 p.m. on Monday Night Football. It won't be easy to avoid dropping to 0-4.
In the NAFL playoffs, the Marauders play the Raiders at 7 p.m. Saturday at Horlick Field in Racine. The winner of that game will play the winner of the Kane County Eagles/McHenry County Gladiators game.
The Aussie Rules tournament starts at 8 a.m. Saturday. The first game involving the Bombers is at 11 a.m. against Dallas.
The Brewers wrap up their home season Thursday with the free tix give-away game against the Reds at Miller Park. They then go to Pittsburgh to end the season overall with 6:05 p.m. games Friday and Saturday, and a 12:35 p.m. game Sunday.
In hockey, the Admirals opened their exhibition season Wednesday night. They play the Chicago Wolves in another exhibition at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Kern Center on the MSOE campus and then go to Chicago on Sunday.
Remember, the State Sports Buzz now runs monthly. To keep up on results and big sports news throughout the month, periodically check the Post Your Comment section after the column for Sports Buzz Updates and Hot Tix events.
