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SI Scouting Reports 1. Nebraska 2. Florida State 3. Alabama 4. Michigan 5. Wisconsin 6. Kansas State 7. Georgia 8. Clemson 9. Texas 10. Miami 11. Florida 12. Virginia Tech 13. Washington 14. Tennessee 15. TCU 16. Purdue 17. Mississippi 18. USC 19. Penn State 20. Southern Miss 21. Illinois 22. Ohio State 23. Oklahoma 24. Colorado State 25. Colorado ----------------- The Master List: 1-115 Lower Division Rankings

5. Wisconsin

The two-time defending Rose Bowl champs will prove there's life after Dayne

By Mark Beech

The Book An opposing team's coach sizes up the Badgers "Everybody says they're going to be better than they were last year. I don't see it. People are very high on Bennett, but he hasn't proved he can be an every-down back. He's fast and can break the big play, but I'm not sure that he's a guy you can count on to get you five yards at any given time the way Dayne did. People are underestimating how important Dayne was to this offense. He set things up and bailed out his teammates whenever they needed it.... Their offensive linemen are as physical and tough as any in college football. They're looking to beat you up and dominate you. They have a real whip-your-ass mentality.... Bollinger is a good play-action quarterback and runs well. He'll have to prove he can be a pocket passer, though.... The defense is the strongest part of this team. The Badgers don't have much of a pass rush but they're tough and really punish you. Bryant is an ox, and Fletcher is one of the best cornerbacks in the country.... They're well coached and have excellent special teams. Davis can fly and is a dangerous return guy."

For four years, Wisconsin has come at opponents with all the subtlety of an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, with Ron Dayne in the role of the relentless Terminator. This season, however, with the running man having graduated, coach Barry Alvarez feels the Badgers are ready to show there's more to Wisconsin football than 5.7 yards and a cloud of dust. "I think we'll be a well-balanced team," says Alvarez. "We're going to spread the ball around this year."

The man who will be divvying things up for Alvarez is sophomore quarterback Brooks Bollinger, who went 7-0 as a starter last season after the Badgers got off to a 2-2 start. The mobile Grand Forks, N.Dak., native is a double threat; he rushed for 445 yards and completed 59.5% of his passes. Still, Bollinger knows Alvarez isn't going to morph into Steve Spurrier overnight. "We're not going to revamp our whole offense," he says. "Coach is never going to throw the ball 50 times a game, but we're going to be a lot more diverse. We have to threaten teams and make them respect the deep ball."

Bollinger's targets will include senior split end Chris Chambers, who caught 36 passes last fall; junior flanker Nick Davis; and 5'10", 205-pound junior running back Michael Bennett, Dayne's likely replacement. The Big Ten outdoor champion in the 100 and 200 meters, Bennett is a quicksilver back who saw only spot duty in '99, gaining 292 yards on 56 carries. "All you can do is give it your best," he says of replacing a Heisman Trophy winner. "I think I can help open things up with my speed and get downfield to catch some passes."

He will benefit from running behind a massive offensive line that is building a reputation for excellence once reserved only for a handful of teams. All-America tackle Chris McIntosh may be gone, but senior center Casey Rabach leads a trio of returning three-year starters.

Can the Badgers' offense intimidate opponents with the horror of Chambers?  Donald Miralle/Allsport

While the new offensive philosophy is untested, the Wisconsin defense is a proven performer. It may in fact be college football's finest, ranking first nationally in scoring defense in 1998 and fifth last year. At its heart is an experienced, dominating secondary, led by junior cornerback Jamar Fletcher, possibly the best defensive player in the country. Joining him will be junior corner Mike Echols and senior free safety Jason Doering, one of the Big Ten's fiercest hitters. The defensive line is also strong, anchored by 298-pound junior tackle Wendell Bryant and senior rush end John Favret. "We have a lot of confidence and a lot of experience," says Fletcher. "We dictate the game."

As if being loaded on offense and defense isn't enough, the Badgers also return a superlative special teams unit. Senior kicker Vitaly Pisetsky was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, and senior punter Kevin Stemke has averaged 43.1 yards a kick over the last three seasons. Davis scored five touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns last year.

After two straight Top 10 finishes, Wisconsin is eager to play somewhere besides Pasadena in January. To contend for the national title, however, the Badgers must defeat Michigan in Ann Arbor, something they have done just once since 1962. "We have all the tools," insists Fletcher. "We can beat anybody."

Issue date: August 14, 2000

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