As someone who has already personally invested so much in college football -- as a former player, head coach and current athletic director -- Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez is convinced that a four-team playoff will pay off big dividends and ensure the continued success and popularity of the sport.

"I was pleased that the commissioners were able to come to an agreement on the playoff model,'' Alvarez said. "There was a lot of positioning -- and a lot of give-and-take in the end -- and I liked what they came up with. I'm also pleased the presidents approved the changes.''

 Alvarez was one of the ADs invited to play a role in the discovery phase of the process. As a result, he has tried to keep an open mind to all potential options or scenarios. One of his points of emphasis -- making sure that nothing compromised the integrity of the regular season.

"I think everyone agrees that we have the best regular season of all sports,'' he said of the competitive element that exists from September through November. "That's why I've always felt it was so important to preserve the regular season, which we have with this four-team playoff.''

Preserving the bowls -- especially the Rose Bowl -- was also at the top of Alvarez's list. With a six-bowl rotation for the two semifinal games, the Rose Bowl will be assured of a traditional Big Ten/Pac-12 matchup two out of every three years (or eight times over the length of the 12-year contract).

The Big Ten has been matched against the Pac-12 in six of the last 11 Rose Bowls since 2002.

"You have to give up a little bit; much like we gave up in the BCS's four-year rotation with the Rose Bowl,'' Alvarez said of the league's negotiating approach. " But this allows us to be in the mix (for a national championship) and still have our relationship with the Rose Bowl.''

When the dialogue began to heat up on the proposed playoff to replace the BCS model, Alvarez supported the concept of a selection committee, not unlike what has been used to determine the field in the NCAA basketball tournament.

"I've been a proponent of a committee all along,'' he said. "And with that comes transparency where all the criteria are known. I've never been a big fan of the computers. There are a lot of people who know football and I trust the human element more than I did the old BCS formula.

"I like the fact a committee will be taking a lot of things into consideration; they'll be giving credit to the league champion and weighing different things, including strength of schedule.''

Does that mean that Wisconsin will attempt to strengthen its schedule?

"Bret (Bielema, the UW football coach) and I have talked about that,'' Alvarez said. "In 2017, we'll add a Pac-12 opponent every year. That will leave us with three non-conference dates to fill.

"If you want to be competitive and in the (final four) mix, you have to be cognizant of your nonconference schedule. I'd like to see us put another BCS opponent on the schedule (circa 2017).

"We can go from there still knowing we have to play at least seven home games each year.''

Would Alvarez be willing to serve on a national selection committee? "I would be interested,'' he said. "With my background, I think I'm knowledgeable enough about the business.''

Alvarez would not have a problem with former head coaches on the committee, either.

Regardless of the selection guidelines, he knows that a healthy debate will likely ensue.

That comes with the turf, new or old.

"A lot of people complained about the BCS, but it was very good for college football; the sport has never been more popular,'' Alvarez emphasized. "People have said all along that it needed to be tweaked. If you go back and read my statements from previous years, I said the same things.''

Alvarez recognizes that the four-team playoff is not a panacea.

"Everybody is not going to be satisfied,'' he conceded.

But it was a positive move, he insisted, that will only enhance the product.

"You now have a chance for a truer national champion,'' he said.

After last month's announcement of the 2012 induction class for the College Football Hall of Fame -- a collection of 17 former players and coaches -- there were a number of passionate and persuasive arguments made for those individuals who had been "snubbed'' by the selection committee.

At the top of nearly everyone's list was Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier, who put the Cornhuskers in a position to win three straight national championships. As it was, he "settled" for two NCAA rings ('94-95); twice winning the MVP award in the Orange Bowl, and once in the Fiesta Bowl.

Overcoming a series of injuries, Frazier was Tebow-esque in his final appearance as a collegian. While completing just 6-of-14 passes for 105 yards, he rushed for 199 in Nebraska's convincing dismantling of a Florida team coached by Steve Spurrier. The final score was 62-24.

Despite his pedigree as a champion, Frazier hasn't scored with the Hall of Fame voters yet.

Neither has former UW nose guard Tim Krumrie, a two-time All-American (1981-82).

Krumrie was one of 20 former Big Ten players on the 2012 ballot, which featured 76 names overall, including Purdue running back Otis Armstrong, who played in the early '70s and made the final cut. Besides Frazier and Krumrie, Ohio State fullback Jim Otis came up short in the voting process.

Nose guard and fullback are not sexy positions to anyone's thinking.

That might be one of the elements conspiring against Krumrie and Otis.

Yet in spite of playing in the middle of such gridlock -- in the heart of the trenches -- Krumrie put up numbers worthy of Hall of Fame linebackers and safeties. Krumrie, a three-time first-team All-Big Ten performer, finished his Badger career with 444 tackles, third best in school history.

444.

That's a Hall of Fame area code, regardless of position, but especially for a nose guard. By comparison, Kansas State linebacker Mark Simoneau, a member of the 2012 class, had 400 career tackles. This is not an indictment of Simoneau, but an endorsement of Krumrie. Both are deserving.

276.

That's the number of solo tackles Krumrie had during his UW career -- 25 more than Simoneau. Keep in mind, we're talking about unassisted tackles, solos. Krumrie had 276. That figure alone would rank him among Wisconsin's top 25 all-time tacklers, just ahead of Don Davey, who 267 tackles overall.

It's apparent Krumrie will have to wait his turn to be recognized by the College Football Hall of Fame. He's not alone. But hopefully he will not be penalized for being a nose guard who merely went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL during which he led the Cincinnati Bengals in tackles five times.

Upon being inducted in the UW Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999, Krumrie acknowledged, "This is one of those things that you don't target or set as a goal. But if everything else falls into place and you have a good career, these things will come afterward.

"When I first came to Wisconsin, I was just trying to make the special teams, then trying to make the travel squad, then trying to be a starter. And from the start, I played every down, every day.

"Did I have all the special tools? No. But I always wanted to be known as a guy who always played hard, always gave his best and always played every snap.''

444.

Let's not forget that, either. Nor him the next time that his name is on the ballot.

As the Wisconsin football team opens summer conditioning this week, they are doing so in an entirely new environment. While Camp Randall Stadium was built in 1917, the headquarters of the Badger football players for the next year are brand new.

Construction has begun on the Student Athlete Performance Center at the north end of the stadium, the McClain Center is being remodeled, and new turf is being installed at Camp Randall. A temporary locker room, weight room and auxiliary areas will be used by players and staff for the next 14 months as every Badger student-athlete gets upgraded spaces.

On the second floor of the stadium's northeast end are new locker rooms for players and coaches. The area previously housed women's soccer, softball, staff locker rooms and athletic training offices. The space also housed the football locker rooms before the McClain Center was built in 1988.

After several months of renovations, the new space is the temporary home for the Badgers until the McClain Center renovations are complete. The locker room area is separated into four smaller spaces, which after the football team leaves will be converted into isolated areas for several other teams.

The Badgers also have a new weight room, located under the stands in sections M-P. That area also houses an athletic training room and equipment room. All three departments were displaced with the renovation of the McClain Center. When construction is complete, the athletic training and equipment staff will move back to McClain, while the weight room will expand into the Student Athlete Performance Center.

 
In the McClain Center, a new roof is being installed in addition to new turf. Outside the facility, a new exterior will greet fans along an improved pedestrian walkway spanning from the Camp Randall Arch to Breese Terrace.

The soccer, track and softball teams lost their locker rooms temporarily. They all have taken up residence in auxiliary locker rooms under Camp Randall's south stands, where there are several locker rooms used for events at the UW Field House and WIAA state championship football. After construction is complete, they will move back to new locker rooms either in the McClain Center or the second floor of Camp Randall.

The final piece of the relocation puzzle is the Student Athlete Performance Center, which will be the new home to the Academic Services. Every student-athlete will benefit from expanded space and meeting rooms within a new Fetzer Academic Center.

Construction is scheduled to be completed on the entire project in late 2013.

A spring football intrasquad game often takes on the appearance of a "futures" game - similar in some respects to what is staged during the All-Star break by Major League Baseball.
    
Instead of a collection of minor league all-stars, you are treated to a number of freshmen - from the recruiting class of 2011 - that redshirted last fall and functioned in anonymity on the scout team.
   
Some of these redshirts carried higher profiles into spring practice than others, most notably quarterback Joel Stave and tailback Melvin Gordon, who was coming off a medical redshirt.
   
Stave and Gordon distinguished themselves in last Saturday's scrimmage at Camp Randall.

Two other redshirts are less recognizable but distinguishable by their football DNA.
 
No. 41, Jesse Hayes, is the son of Jay Hayes, a former UW assistant under Barry Alvarez and the defensive line coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.
 
No. 99, James Adeyanju, is the brother of Victor Adeyanju, the former Indiana Hoosiers defensive end and fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Rams.

Both are defensive ends. Neither is quite ready for prime-time.

"Two springs from now," said UW coach Bret Bielema, "I can see them being dominant players."

Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge could see them contributing sooner than later.

"I would not put them in the top three or four defensive ends right now," Partridge said. "But if they have a great summer and they come into training camp at a high level, they could climb into it."

If you were to grade that position group this spring, Partridge pointed out, you would have to give it an "incomplete" because of the absence of David Gilbert, who's recovering from foot injuries.

"We know what David can do and bring," Bielema said.

Gilbert can bring pressure; he can be one of the better edge rushers in the Big Ten.

"I'm also excited about Brendan Kelly," Bielema added.

After Gilbert was injured last season, Kelly took over at defensive end opposite Louis Nzegwu.

Kelly got eight starts and Pat Muldoon got two.

Gilbert, Kelly and Muldoon are UW's top three defensive ends.

"There's a separation after them," Partridge admitted.

Konrad Zagzebski, a redshirt sophomore, has yet to rise to that level because of injuries.

However, he has drawn some attention to himself with his jersey number, No. 74.

That once belonged to UW rush end Tom Burke, an All-American.

While not in that class - few are - Zagzebski has made a favorable impression.

Based on what he showed this spring, Partridge said, "Zags continues to get better."
   
That also holds true for Hayes and Adeyanju.
   
"I was really excited about the progress that they made in the last week of spring ball," Partridge said. "Without question, they are a ways off. But they're getting better and learning the game.
   
"There's so much fundamentally that you have to be good at to play at this level. There's just a lot that goes into being a full-time defensive player; mentally and certainly physically."
   
Bielema has gotten a glimpse of what they can do, and he likes their promise.
   
From a technical standpoint, Bielema said, "Jesse (Hayes) keeps his play-side hand and leg free as good as anyone I've ever seen. He's very athletic."

Very undersized, too, though he's getting bigger. Hayes reported at 220 pounds.

"When I came in, I looked like a receiver," he conceded.

Hayes has gotten his weight up to 250 pounds. He'd like to play at 260 or 265.

Adeyanju is also carrying around 250 after putting on 20 pounds since last August.

"I want to retain my speed and quickness while I build muscle," he said.

Lining up opposite Ricky Wagner and Josh Oglesby was an education for Adeyanju.

"It made me so much better," he said. "I really appreciated going against those guys."

While on the scout teams, Hayes not only learned from battling the offensive tackles, but he learned from watching former UW quarterback Russell Wilson handle his business, on and off the field.

"I liked the way he carried himself," he said. "He was someone to look up to."

In the end, the Badgers don't have to accelerate the learning curve with Hayes and Adeyanju.

They can afford to be patient, and wait.

"I don't know how much they will help us," Bielema said, "especially with David coming back."

But he wouldn't rule them out, either; he never rules out anyone if they can show they can play.

And they will both get that chance in training camp. "All it takes is hard work,'' Hayes said.

The Badgers continued their remarkable two-year run of success on and off the field over the weekend at the 2012 NFL Draft. Six UW players were chosen, one in each of the first six rounds. Another six players have signed NFL free agent deals and will take part in training camp.

In addition, OL Josh Oglesby has a physical scheduled with the Washington Redskins and indications are that if he passes that physical, the team will sign him to a free agent deal. Also, LS Kyle Wojta was invited to the Chicago Bears mini-camp in May.

To catch up on all the Badgers moving on to the NFL, check out our 2012 NFL Draft Central page.

We've put together some fascinating notes on the Badgers' NFL Draft success:

* The Badgers were the only team in the country to have at least one player drafted in each of the first six rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.

* Wisconsin tied for the Big Ten lead and tied for fourth in the country with six players drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft. Only Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma had more players picked.

* In the last 14 years (since 1999), Wisconsin has had 12 players picked in the first round of the NFL draft. That is second-best in the Big Ten and tied for 10th-best in the country.

Big Ten First Round Draft Picks Since 1999
1.    Ohio State - 20
2.    Wisconsin - 12
3.    Penn State - 10
4.    Michigan - 9
5.    Iowa - 6
6.    Illinois - 5
       Michigan State - 5
8.    Nebraska - 4
9.    Purdue - 3
10.  Minnesota - 2
       Northwestern - 2
12.   Indiana - 0

Most NFL Draft First Round Picks Since 1999
1.    Miami - 27
2.    Ohio State - 20
3.    USC - 19
4.    Florida State - 15
       Texas - 15
       Florida - 15
7.    Alabama - 14
       Georgia - 14
9.    Tennessee - 13
10.   Wisconsin - 12
       Oklahoma - 12

* UW also has three first-round selections in the past two years, which is tied for third-best in the country.

NFL Draft First Round Picks last two years
1.    Alabama - 8
2.    Baylor - 4
3.    Wisconsin - 3
       LSU - 3
       USC - 3
       Illinois - 3

* Bucky Brooks from NFL.com has two Badgers (LT Ricky Wagner and RB Montee Ball) listed among his top 20 players eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft. LSU and USC are the only other teams with multiple players in the top 20.

* Wisconsin has had 11 players drafted in the last two years. That is tied for second-best among Big Ten teams and tied for sixth nationally.

Big Ten draft picks last two years
1.    Iowa - 12
2.    Wisconsin - 11
       Nebraska - 11
4.    Ohio State - 9
5.    Illinois - 8
       Michigan State - 8
7.    Penn State - 6
8.    Michigan - 5
9.    Purdue - 3
10.   Northwestern - 2
       Indiana - 2
12.   Minnesota - 0

Most Draft Picks by School last two years
1.    Miami - 14
2.    Alabama - 13
      Georgia - 13
4.    Iowa - 12
       USC - 12
5.    Wisconsin - 11
       LSU - 11
       Nebraska - 11
       North Carolina - 11
      Oklahoma - 11

* Of the five Wisconsin offensive linemen who started in the 2010 Rose Bowl, two were drafted in the first round (Gabe Carimi, Bears, 2011 and Kevin Zeitler, Bengals, 2012), one in the second round (Peter Konz, Falcons, 2012) and one in the third round (John Moffitt, Seahawks, 2011). The other starter, Ricky Wagner, enters his senior season as a leading candidate for the Outland Trophy.

* Wisconsin has had five offensive linemen drafted in the last two seasons. That is the most in the country. Georgia is second with four. Among Big Ten teams, no school other than Wisconsin has had more than three o-linemen drafted over the last two years.

* Over the last two years, Wisconsin has had seven players drafted among the first 75 picks. That is tied for second-best in the country, trailing only Alabama (9).

NFL Draft picks among the top 75, last two years
1.    Alabama - 9
2.    Wisconsin - 7
       LSU - 7
       Illinois - 7
5.    North Carolina - 6
6.    California - 5
       Clemson - 5

Leave it to Peter Konz --a "big media buff'' by his own admission -- to give everyone a good sound bite and quote during his introductory teleconference Friday with the Atlanta Falcons media.

On being drafted in the second round (No. 55 overall) by the Falcons, Konz confided, "Well, little do people know this, but I was never a Packers fan growing up.''

Konz grew up in Neenah, which is less than 40 miles from Green Bay.

"When the Falcons were in the Super Bowl,'' he said, "I was doing the Dirty Bird.''

There's a very good chance that Konz punctuated that statement with his vintage laugh.

The "Dirty Bird'' reference was to the 1998 Falcons and the arm-flapping celebration that defined their Super Bowl team. Running back Jamal Anderson was credited as the choreographer.

When Konz was asked if he was disappointed to fall into the second round of the draft, he said, "It doesn't matter where I fell to because I love the team that picked me.''

Many mock drafts had Konz going late in the first round. While he was generally listed as the top center available, some teams projected him as a guard. That included the Falcons.

"I can't emphasize enough how important it is Konz can play both guard and center,'' said Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff. "We have him listed as a guard-center.''

During his pro workout day in Madison, Konz underlined the value of versatility.

"Some teams had me snap -- some teams had me in a right-handed or a left-handed stance to get a feel for it (guard),'' Konz said. "In the NFL, they have seven spots (on the offensive line):

"Five for starters, one for an inside player, one for a tackle.''

As for where Konz believes that he can play, he said, "Anywhere I can help the team.''

Another correct answer.

"He can pull, he can trap, he's a very athletic center,'' said ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper. "Durability is a concern with the longer NFL season. Can he hold up physically down the road?''

Konz believes that he can. "I'm one of those players, even if I'm not 100 percent, I'm not going to baby it (the injury),'' he said. "I'm going to play and I'm going to work through it to help the team.''

Jon Gruden is definitely convinced that Konz can help the Falcons.

"He's a screen center,'' he said. "You love to have a center who can get out on screens and can pull to block some of these second-level linebackers. He has great playing range.

"Strength and durability is the issue, but the Falcons needed a young center. (Todd) McClure has been there a long time; he's 35-years old. He (Konz) will have a nice mentor.''

McClure, a free agent, just resigned with the Falcons.

"Peter Konz,'' Gruden concluded, "nice prospect.''

Before the Seattle Seahawks selected Wisconsin's Russell Wilson in the third round of the National Football League draft Friday night, the debate -- on whether a quarterback under 6 feet tall can be successful at the pro level -- raged between Mel Kiper and Jon Gruden on the ESPN set.

This was not the first time that Kiper, the network's draft analyst since 1984, and Gruden, the former NFL head coach, had engaged each other on the topic. But what made it unique during Friday's telecast was the fact that Wilson had given ESPN access to his viewing party in Washington, D.C.

So while Kiper and Gruden were trading verbal punches -- ESPN's Chris Berman and Todd McShay also joined the fray --Wilson was shown on camera from time to time with wife Ashton, younger sister Anna, older brother Harry, mother Tammy and some family friends.

Before the Seahawks even went on the clock in the second round with the 75th selection overall, Kiper advanced his "If only he were just a little taller'' platform. Making one concession on Wilson's listed height -- "We'll push him to 5-11'' -- he still conceded, "I know Jon you get aggravated (with me).''

Kiper then qualified Wilson as a "test case'' for all quarterbacks under 6 feet tall -- or in that 5-11 range -- that will follow him into the NFL over the next 10 years. "If he can't make it,'' said Kiper, allowing that Wilson would get a chance to be a starter, "nobody can at that particular height.''

Berman jumped in and noted that Wilson took the Badgers to the Rose Bowl.

"He has a lot of 'it', though, doesn't he Jon?'' Berman posed to Gruden.

Gruden began morphing into Chucky, his alter-ego, and challenged Kiper.

"What do you want him to do?'' pleaded Gruden. "He's done it in two different offenses (at North Carolina State and Wisconsin). You probably downgraded Ray Lewis (6-1), didn't you? And Wes Welker (5-9). You probably downgraded (Darren) Sproles (5-6) and Maurice Jones-Drew (5-7).

"You discriminate against guys who aren't 6-feet tall -- guys like me.

"Russell Wilson is going to go (in the draft) and he's going to go real quick,'' Gruden predicted, "and he's going to be one of those guys who defies the odds because the difference between Drew Brees and Michael Vick and Russell Wilson, size-wise, is that much ...''

Holding up his right hand, there was an inch separation between his index finger and thumb.

"That's what you're talking about Mel,'' he said of the size differential between the 5-11 Wilson and Brees and Vick, both of whom are listed at 6-foot. "You're starting to aggravate me again.''

Countered Kiper, "Jon, 28 of the 32 starting quarterbacks (in the NFL) are 6-2 or taller.''

Nobody under 6 feet is starting in the league right now, he added.

Enter McShay who has taken on the co-draft guru role with Kiper for ESPN.

"I do think his accuracy dips a little bit when he's in the pocket compared to when he's rolling out,'' he said of Wilson. "But I never scouted a quarterback who's under 6 feet tall who can see the field and do the things that he can do.''

McShay admitted that he had Wilson projected for the sixth or seventh round when he began watching him. "I didn't give him a chance,'' he said. "(But) I kept watching him and watching him and I got to know him a little bit and I got to talk to people around him.

"This guy has everything you look for in the quarterback position. To me, he is the test case; he shows that somebody his size can get it done. I truly believe at some point in time we're going to be talking about Russell Wilson as a starter in the NFL.''

Kiper then felt obligated to defend himself.

"I'm not picking on Russell Wilson; I'm a fan of Russell Wilson,'' he emphasized. "On a scale of 1 to 10 -- character-wise -- he's a 15. Jon, I said it yesterday, if he was 6-2, he'd be a top-10 pick.''

Berman name-dropped Doug Flutie into the discussion.

McShay said, "It's going to take him being Drew Brees. He's going to have to do every single thing that Drew Brees does; all the little things (because) there are limitations.''

Throughout this heated exchange between analysts, the camera was on Wilson.

"I think he wants to jump through the TV and strangle you right now,'' McShay said to Kiper.

Wilson, who had a whimsical look on his face, picked up the TV remote.

"He just muted you, Mel,'' McShay bellowed.

Kiper then presented his summation to the jury.

"If he's good enough to make it, he will open up the door (to other QBs under 6 feet),'' Kiper said. "I think we'd all agree on one thing, he will have to beat the odds.''

Berman interjected that "the odds are beatable'' before Gruden responded with his closing argument.
"This kid can play,'' he said. "He's going to prove it to you (pointing at Kiper). He's going to prove it to you (pointing at McShay). He's going to prove it to everybody. You just wait and see.''

ESPN finally got around to interviewing Wilson.

"It was a remarkable experience,'' he said of the phone call that he received from Seattle coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider, who formerly worked for the Green Bay Packers.

"It was an unbelievable moment for me. I've been waiting for this my whole entire life. The Lord is so good -- to have my family here with me -- I know my dad is watching (Russell Wilson's father, Harrison, passed away in June of 2010).''

Former UW quarterback Darrell Bevell, who led the Badgers to a Big Ten title in 1993 and the Rose Bowl, is the offensive coordinator in Seattle. Based on his conversations, Wilson said that he knew that the Seahawks were serious about him.

"I knew it would be a great place for me to play,'' he said.

Although the Seahawks signed free agent Matt Flynn (the former Packer) and still have Tarvaris Jackson on their roster, Gruden was of the opinion that it was a good fit for Wilson because Seattle runs a West Coast offense similar to what Wilson operated during his four years at NC State.

"Coach Gruden, as you know, it's a great offense to be in,'' said Wilson, who appeared on ESPN's Gruden's QB Camp series. "But I want to know it all. Like we talked about being on a quest for knowledge; I'm definitely going to be on that quest and I can't wait to learn.

"I have to get there (Seattle) and learn the playbook as quick as possible and just dive into it and try to be a great teammate and a great lockeroom guy, and just work my butt off.''

Reflecting on his Badger experience, Wilson said, "I went to an unbelievable place in the University of Wisconsin and had a tremendous coach in Bret Bielema and had a great offensive coordinator in Paul Chryst ...

"I got there (Madison) July 1; pretty much everyone was away on Fourth of July weekend. I called a player's only meeting on July 7 and brought all the guys together. I told them about my life. I told them about my situation from going to NC State and why I wanted to go to Wisconsin.''

Wilson also told his new UW teammates "how I was there to compete and how I was there to win and I think the guys really fed off of that and really understood that I was there to do everything I could to be the best player that I could be ...''

Kiper eventually got around to addressing the question du jour to Wilson, "What do you say to doubters and skeptics who say anyone under 6 feet can't be a starter in the NFL?''

"The main thing,'' Wilson replied, "is this has been my perspective my whole life. My height doesn't define my skill set. I know I'm 5-11, but I can play tall in the pocket. I can make accurate throws. I can deliver the ball on time. I can be great on third down and be great in the red zone.

"One thing I can control is my work ethic. I can also control my knowledge of the game -- how I study and how I get into the film room and how I just try to learn as much as I possibly can to give me that much more of an advantage .. I'm so fired up to be a Seattle Seahawk. I can't wait to play.''

McShay spoke for many, maybe even Kiper, when he concluded, "He wins you over.''

Wisconsin right guard Kevin Zeitler made a point of shaking everybody's hand after his April 4 workout at the McClain Facility. More than a dozen NFL teams were represented, including the Cincinnati Bengals, who sent their veteran offensive line coach, Paul Alexander, to evaluate Zeitler.

The 52-year-old Alexander, who also carries the title of assistant head coach (to Marvin Lewis), has been with the Bengals for nearly two decades. Alexander is no stranger to the Big Ten brand of hard-nosed football. He served as a grad assistant under Bo Schembechler and Joe Paterno.

You can understand why he would like what he saw out of Zeitler, a throwback, who doesn't have any frills to his old-school game or his blue-collar personality. That was the statement that Zeitler was trying to make when he personally thanked each of the coaches who had traveled to Madison.

"I was always told that you want to make a good impression with your handshake,'' said Zeitler, explaining his vice-like grip that had strangers counting their fingers when they were eventually able to pull away from him. "But I'm not trying to break anybody's hand.''

At least that was not his intent. "I try to have a nice firm handshake -- hoping that I will impress people -- hoping that they will remember me,'' said Zeitler, adding that he wants to send out this message, "I'm here to play or something like that.''

When asked if he felt like there were any questions that he still had to answer for all of these NFL teams that were working him out, he paused to collect his thoughts and then said, "Can I be a first rounder, I guess? That would be the question. So I'm trying to prove that I'm a high pick.''

Zeitler admitted that he had no idea where he might land in the draft. He wasn't even sure who really liked him. "Sometimes it's the people who don't talk to you who draft you,'' he said. "It's going to be a nice surprise for me whenever I do get taken. I'll be happy no matter where it is.''

Zeitler is very happy today after being a first round draft pick (No. 27 overall) of the Cincinnati Bengals. Before the selection was announced, Jon Gruden took the ESPN audience inside Cincinnati's war room; suggesting the coaching staff was deciding between Zeitler and Georgia's Cordy Glenn.

The Bengals had to address a pressing need at offensive guard, Gruden said.

Someone, after all, has to block the likes of Baltimore's nose masher Haloti Ngata, he added.

That someone turned out to be Zeitler.

After ESPN host Chris Berman complimented Gruden for foreshadowing the selection, Gruden countered, "I don't know anything about the draft process. I do know that Kevin Zeitler is another Wisconsin Badger that can come off the ball and do some things athletically.

"He can play in a zone scheme. He's an athletic puller. He can find his target. He can redirect. At the end of the day, he can thump you. I think the Bengals knew that the Ravens were looking at Zeitler later in this round (at No. 29) to replace Ben Grubbs (a free agent).

"We already talked about the lack of guards on the Bengals football team,'' Gruden went on. "(Quarterback) Andy Dalton needs firm protection, so he can step up in the pocket. Zeitler is a good athlete. He's not an elite athlete. But he's an every down wrecking machine that works to finish.''

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper noted that the Chicago Bears drafted a "mauler'' in former UW offensive tackle Gabe Carimi in the first round of the 2011 draft. "That's what Kevin Zeitler is -- a true mauler,'' said Kiper. "He's powerful in the upper body and he will battle ...''

Scratch and claw were the words that Kiper used to describe Zeitler's competitiveness.

"He gets the most out of his talent,'' he continued. "He's not real athletic. But I'll tell you what, he played at a very high level and there were a lot of teams late in the first round that wanted him to be a part of their offensive line.''

Zeitler was one of two first round picks for the Bengals; the other was Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis said, "Both players have opportunities to start and work their way into the lineup. We drafted both of them to play.''

This is only the second time in franchise history that the Bengals have drafted an offensive guard in the first round. In 1984, they took North Carolina's Brian Blados with the 28th selection overall. Cincinnati does have some history with hard-nosed Badgers, though, most notably Tim Krumrie.

In addition to Krumrie, who spent many memorable seasons as a nose guard and defensive line coach in Cincinnati, the current Bengals staff features Jay Hayes, a former UW assistant under Barry Alvarez, whose son, Jesse, is a freshman defensive end with the Badgers.

Zeitler should feel right at home, too, in the company of a couple of his new Cincinnati teammates: defensive tackle Nick Hayden and fullback Chris Pressley. Both are former Badgers. In the end, Zeitler obviously made a lasting impression on his new position coach, Alexander.

"When we went to work him out in Wisconsin,'' Alexander recalled, "we called him and he came down and met us at the car ... he's a wonderful guy. He's as good as guy as there is, and he's a good player. I think when you get a chance to take a guy like that; he helps your whole team, not just his spot.

"He's a great program guy, team guy. He's the type of guy if you went fishing at the lake all day, some guys after an hour; you want to throw them in the water. But this guy is more along the line that you can just sit out there all day with him.

"He's going to work like that in terms of football.''

By now, UW linebacker A.J. Fenton has grown accustomed to the double-takes whenever he runs into somebody who hasn't seen him since the end of the first semester.

After the Rose Bowl, he went home to Erie, Pa., and "looked at myself in the mirror.''

It's not what you think.

This was not one of these moments of intense self-reflection and analysis resulting from the Badgers losing to Oregon in Pasadena or an unproductive season personally because of injuries.

Fenton just happened to walk past a mirror one day when he stopped to look at himself.

That spawned this thought, 'Let's do it, let's get rid of it, I had it long enough.''

That was his spontaneous reaction to his shoulder-length hair and beard.

Even though he had been growing it out for three-plus years, he figured, "Why not?''

It was a tough decision, but it was also time for a new look.

"I love it, I think it's awesome,'' Fenton said.

That goes for the haircut and the reaction that he gets all the time to the haircut.

Truth is, Fenton is more focused than ever to get people reacting to his play on the field.

"I've got two years left,'' said Fenton, who will be a redshirt junior in the fall. "I just want to be out there helping the team win. It's a huge spring for me as far as moving forward.''

Fenton has not only lost a good chunk of his hair -- UW head coach Bret Bielema estimated about three pounds worth -- but he has lost some body fat. He was listed at 235 last season.

"During the off-season and winter, I dropped some weight, I'm about 220 now,'' he said. "I wanted to get lighter on my feet and I feel better and more comfortable in my frame.

"I'm running a lot better. It's all kind of clicking; it's kind of coming together.''

Bielema has noticed. Following several practices, he has mentioned Fenton by name. Beyond noting his running ability, he has talked about Fenton's progress and decision to stay at linebacker.

There has been a temptation, Bielema conceded, to move Fenton to fullback; especially since he rushed for over 4,000 career yards and 54 touchdowns as a prep running back and option quarterback.

Shortly after Fenton verbally committed to the Badgers in mid-September of 2008, he rushed for 216 yards and three touchdowns and passed for two scores in McDowell's 49-13 win over Norwin.

Even though he played mostly on offense, he was projected as a college linebacker. Fenton was one of three tendered 'backers in the 2009 recruiting class, joining Chris Borland and Connor O'Neill.

After redshirting as a true freshman, Fenton got some snaps as a rush end in a specialty defensive package after Borland was injured during the 2010 season. Mostly he was on special teams.

Going into the 2011 training camp, Fenton had his sights on competing with Kevin Claxton for a starting assignment at linebacker on the No. 1 defense with Borland and Mike Taylor.

But he wound up missing most of the preseason and the opener with a hamstring injury.

"He (Fenton) had really taken to his coaching pretty well and was on the verge,'' Bielema said. "He's probably our fastest linebacker, so to get him out there would be a huge asset.''

Bielema's reference was to the "coaching'' of former linebackers coach Dave Huxtable, now at Pitt. Huxtable had taken over for Dave Doeren. Andy Buh has now taken for Huxtable.

"Coach (Buh) has helped me a lot actually,'' Fenton said. "He's huge into techniques and huge into fundamentals -- and being where we're supposed to be. He's very meticulous.

"Having three different coaches in four years, you get a fresh start with each one. For a guy like me, it has been nice because I've gotten to make a first impression three different times.''

While he has enjoyed contributing on special teams, he doesn't want to be labeled a role player.

"Special teams are good but you definitely don't want to play only on special teams,'' Fenton said. "Everybody who plays on special teams strives to get on the offense or the defense.''

That is why this spring has loomed so large. "Huge,'' Fenton stressed. "This is probably the first time I've been completely healthy -- 100 percent -- for awhile. This is my chance.''

As it is, Fenton will get a second chance to perform in front of an audience Monday at the fourth annual Buckinghams, an event which shines the spotlight on academic excellence and achievement.

As part of the program, student-athletes are also recognized for their entertainment skills. A year ago, Fenton teamed up with Kendall Grimm, a member of the UW softball team.

He played the guitar, and she sang. They're back for more. Fenton and Grimm have collaborated on their version of Katy Perry's song, "Firework.''

"As you grow older, you start to listen to different kinds of music,'' Fenton said. "I've evolved as far as what I've been playing and what I've been listening to.

"I'm not getting into more the rock and roll aspect, more Foo Fighters, things like that. I have an electric guitar but I don't get to play it as much just because of the time aspect (with football).''

On the Buckinghams, he said, "This is a great opportunity to get recognized (academically) while letting people perform and show some talents that they don't usually get to show.''

That performance value will be magnified Saturday when he steps on the Camp Randall stage.

Good evening, hockey fans ...

Every journey has a starting point -- and for thousands upon thousands of University of Wisconsin hockey fans, it all started with this simple greeting from the public address announcer at the Dane County Coliseum.

Good evening, hockey fans ...

In the beginning, Phil Mendel's salutation was as much a part of the Badger hockey tradition as the "Sieve" chant and Martha's cowbell -- Martha was the wife of UW's legendary coach Bob Johnson; the bell was a rallying point for the "banshees'' and a  staple of the "Coliseum experience.''

Good evening, hockey fans ...

By his own admission, Mendel was not much of a hockey player, having never laced up the skates for the varsity team at Shorewood High School in Milwaukee, where he was born and raised. But the sport was a passion; as it was with his good friend, John Riley.

"I was practicing pharmacy in the Park Motor Inn,'' reminisced Mendel, a decorated grad from the UW School of Pharmacy, "and John would come in for coffee and we would shoot the breeze.''

One day, Riley came in with the idea of reviving the hockey program at Wisconsin. It would be a collaborative effort, Mendel recalled, with Riley, UW athletic director Ivy Williamson and Blue Line Club founder Fenton Kelsey all taking risks.

The timing was ripe for a hockey rebirth because the school was looking to support another sport after boxing was dropped in 1960 following the death of boxer Charlie Mohr.

Hockey had some history on the Madison campus, dating back to 1922 when the Badgers fielded a team in the Western Intercollegiate Hockey League (WIHL), which also included entries from the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota.

Because of the economic crunch during the Depression, however, Wisconsin was forced to drop hockey as an intercollegiate sport in 1933, even though the Badgers continued to compete for several more years in the WIHL before finally disbanding.

Riley was determined to resurrect the sport. Kelsey provided the key building block: the rink, the Madison Ice Arena, which would later be renamed Hartmeyer Ice Arena and serve as the program's foundation before moving into the Coliseum in 1967.

Looking for someone to handle the PA announcing and the hiring of off-ice officials (goal judges, etc.), Riley turned to Mendel, who agreed to become the first "Voice'' of the Badgers in 1963.

While the nation was still mourning the death of President John Kennedy, UW played its first varsity hockey game since 1935 on Nov. 29, 1963 against St. Mary's College. Despite a loss, it was still a great day for hockey (predating Johnson's hiring in 1966). Riley and Art Thomsen were co-coaches.

Good evening, hockey fans ...

"I don't think I did it that way in the first game; I may have, but I honestly don't remember when I started saying it,'' said Mendel, whose signature ice-breaker gained immense popularity.

"I simply couldn't think of anything more succinct. It's like saying, 'He shoots, he scores.' I don't have a trademark on it. But I thought it was something the fans responded to.

"What more polite salutation can you give?''

As it evolved, the UW band, led by Michael Leckrone, returned the favor.

"When the Zamboni (piloted by the Chief, Bob Marks) left the ice before the opening faceoff,'' Mendel said, "the band used to say, 'Good evening, Phil.'''

On road games, Mendel was a color analyst and sidekick to Bob Miller on the WIBA radio broadcasts of Badgers hockey. (Later, he worked side-by-side with Paul Braun).

Yes, that Bob Miller, by the way, the Hall of Fame play-by-play voice of the Los Angeles Kings since 1973 and the owner of his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Miller and Mendel remained close friends and spoke three and four times a week on the phone.

Last week, the original voice of the Badgers -- Phil Mendel -- was silenced. He was 89.

Mendel was definitely an original, too.

His love of the spoken language was exceeded only by his love of Wisconsin hockey.

No history of this sport is complete nor may it begin without, "Good evening, hockey fans ...''