Lucas: Lessons of last year’s close calls fuel Badgers heading into title tilt
November 26, 2017 | Football, Mike Lucas
Wisconsin’s history vs. Buckeyes and losses in Big Ten Championship Games not forgotten
 |
||
|
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MINNEAPOLIS — Garret Dooley suffered from afar. But it was no less painful to view the debacle from a seat in front of his television. His pride took a beating, if not his body.
"I was watching with a couple of friends back home," recalled Dooley, a fifth-year senior outside linebacker. "And I was in a terrible mood for the rest of the night."
Dooley sat out the 2014 season because of injuries — sparing him from the up close and personal ignominy that came with losing 59-0 to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.
While he didn't travel with the team and was miles from Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium, it still cut to the bone because there was such a feeling of helplessness.
"Especially making it that far to lose like that," Dooley said of the Badgers, who had bounced back to win seven straight and the West Division after dropping their opener at Northwestern.
But then they ran into the hungry Buckeyes, who were looking to making a statement that they belonged in the inaugural College Football Playoff, even with a third-string quarterback.
Cardale Jones replaced J.T. Barrett, who had fractured his ankle the week before in the Michigan game. Barrett had taken over for returning starter Braxton Miller, who was hurt in training camp.
In turn, the selection committee was so impressed with Ohio State's dominance over Wisconsin that it slotted the Buckeyes into the final four ahead of Baylor and TCU.
Ohio State went on to justify that decision by winning the national championship. Not that it made the Badgers feel any better about the Indy 558. That was the total yards that they gave up in that '14 loss.
"I can't even imagine what the guys who were there were feeling," said Dooley, "let alone how I was feeling at home."
12-0 For the first time since 1912, the Badgers finish the regular season undefeated. OnWisconsin
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 25, 2017
They were hurting, too.
"That was one of the worst losses that I've ever been a part of," said defensive tackle Conor Sheehy, who was a true freshman backup to Konrad Zagzebski and Warren Herring.
"I wish that I didn't remember a lot," said tight end Troy Fumagalli, who was getting snaps behind Sam Arneson and caught a couple of passes from Joel Stave in that rout by the Buckeyes.
Despite the rock star presence of tailback Melvin Gordon, the Heisman runner-up to Marcus Mariota, that Gary Andersen-coached Wisconsin team was no match physically for the Buckeyes.
With Paul Chryst at the helm, the Badgers got their rematch with the Buckeyes last season at Camp Randall Stadium and they dropped a heartbreaker, 30-23, in overtime.
That outcome, more so than 2014, will likely be on the minds of the players as the undefeated Badgers prepare for Saturday's championship game against Ohio State in Indianapolis.
"I'm really excited about the Big Ten championship and the opportunities that we have now," said Sheehy, after the Badgers skunked Minnesota, 31-0, Saturday in Minneapolis. "That's a great team (Ohio State) with a really long track record. They do a really good job all the time. But we're going to focus on what we've got to do.
"We've got to remember that game (last year) and try not to make the same mistakes."
The Badgers led 10-3 at the end of the first quarter, 16-6 at halftime and 16-13 after three. But the Buckeyes rallied in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.
On third-and-2, Barrett's 7-yard touchdown pass to Noah Brown spelled the difference as the Badgers were unable to answer. Alex Hornibrook was sacked on fourth-and-goal from the 4.
"He's a beast," senior defensive end Alec James said of Barrett, who completed 17-of-29 passes for 226 yards and also led the Buckeyes in rushing with 21 carries for 92 yards and two scores. "He's one of those guys that doesn't get shaken. He's always got that calm demeanor. He's one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and we just have to make sure we're ready for him."
Barrett says that he will be ready for the Badgers even though he left Saturday's win over Michigan with a knee injury that was sustained during a pregame collision with a cameraman.
"He (Barrett) has got a very good pocket presence," said Dooley, who had four tackles and a QB hurry against the Buckeyes last season. "If there's pressure, he's very good at escaping.
"Obviously, being a running quarterback, they're able to incorporate the quarterback-designed runs and read option plays. We have to make sure that everyone has their eyes in the right spot."
Waking up 12-0. #OnWisconsin
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 26, 2017
As a dual-threat, Barrett can put a lot of pressure on a defense. So can his understudy, Dwayne Haskins, who completed 6 of 7 passes for 94 yards and ran three times for 24 against Michigan.
"It's one of those teams that you know that you have to be prepared for," James said. "In terms of film study and practice this week, you have to make sure you sweat the small stuff."
James had a career-high eight tackles against the Buckeyes in 2016.
"To be honest, it was a fun game," he said. "It hurt that we lost, but at the same time we learned a lot from it. It was kind of a turning point for us."
The Badgers won six straight before squandering a 28-7 first-half lead over Penn State and losing 38-31 in last season's Big Ten title game. Another example of unfinished business. Like the OT loss.
"Everyone was extremely disappointed because we felt like we should have put the game away earlier (against Ohio State in Madison)," Dooley said. "We thought that we deserved to win."
"We know we still have more games to play "Our goals are still in front of us" #OnWisconsin || #Badgers
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 25, 2017
Along with his teammates, he knows that nothing in the past will have anything to do with what takes place Saturday. Lucas Oil Stadium will be another proving ground/turf for both teams.
"You can always expect their best on a big stage," Fumagalli said. "But we've put ourselves in a spot that's pretty cool. This means a bunch to us. And we need to prepare that way, too."
Throughout this historic season, the players have taken the lead from their coaches and remained grounded. They've shown that they're not a team that gets caught up in outside noise.
Why change now?
Minutes after running around TCF Bank Stadium with Paul Bunyan's Axe, Dooley said, "No matter who we're facing, no matter who we're playing this week, it doesn't matter.
"We have to go out and prepare every single week the same way and we've got to bring our 'A' game. That's going to be the mentality going into this week.
"I just know that has kind of been our mentality this entire year.''
Never too high. Never too low. Take nothing for granted.
Respect everyone. Respect the game.
Why change now?
CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! For the 14th-straight year, the Axe stays home. #OnWisconsin
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 25, 2017
