• Current edition of First & Goal
Friday, Aug. 20
After a couple days of cool, comfortable weather, the high temperatures were back on Thursday as the Badgers practiced for 30 periods in Camp Randall Stadium.
• Photo Gallery: Practice No. 13 
| Sights and Sounds 
The Badgers return to two practices on Friday, first at 9:15 a.m. in full pads and then again at 7:30 p.m. in half-packs.
Jeff Potrykus has some notes from Friday morning's practice.
• JSOnline.com: Prognosis for UW's DTs appears better | Update from Day 12
• JSOnline.com: Konz's botched snaps make Frederick the center of attention
University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema continues to narrow his list of the freshmen who will play, writes Tom Mulhern.
• Madison.com: Five freshmen remain in running to contribute this season
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com ranks Wisconsin as having the top running backs in the conference.
• ESPN.com: Big Ten position rankings: Running backs
John Moffitt enjoys the nickname ideas, but there's one description he and his linemates are trying not to read: Best Offensive Line in College Football, according to Adam Rittenberg.
• ESPN.com: Wisconsin O-linemen not reading labels
In a nutshell The Badgers are a very viable contender in the Big Ten, a team certainly capable of upsetting Ohio State and Iowa en route to the program's first Rose Bowl trip since 2000, according to Paul Myerberg.
• PreSnapRead.com: No. 14 Wisconsin | Who, What, When: Wisconsin
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As a Parade All-American from Cottage Grove, Wis., senior left tackle Gabe Carimi stayed home to play for his hometown Badgers. It wasn't a difficult decision, writes Chad Reuter.
• CBSSports.com: Wisconsin tackle Carimi ready for step to next level
After a scooter accident prior to preseason camp a year ago cost him a starting job and a precious season, Bill Nagy is back in the starting lineup at right guard for the University of Wisconsin football team, writes Tom Mulhern.
• Madison.com: Nagy comes full circle after lost season
If you've attended a Wisconsin football practice in recent seasons you've probably witnessed some entertaining interaction between coach Bret Bielema and wide receiver Isaac Anderson, writes Jeff Potrykus.
• JSOnline.com: Badgers senior Anderson receives feedback well
Something good has come out of Jay Valai's injury as junior free safety Aaron Henry has responded with a couple of strong practices in Valai's absence, according to Tom Mulhern.
• Madison.com: Henry shines at safety in Valai's absence
UW football coach Bret Bielema doesn't like to jump to conclusions when it comes to freshmen. But Bielema couldn't help himself after being around freshman linebacker Josh Harrison for just a few days at the start of preseason camp.
• Madison.com: Freshman LB Josh Harrison cut from the DeAndre Levy mold
A couple reports from Thursday's practice, filed by Jeff Potrykus and Tom Mulhern.
• JSOnline.com: Early update from Day 11 of UW football camp
• JSOnline.com: UW's defense gets thin at tackle
• Madison.com: DT Briedis is latest added to injury list
CBSSports.com has its Big Ten preview up and the Badgers are picked to finish second in the conference, while boasting the Big Ten's best offense.
• CBSSports.com: Forget `athlete', Pryor wants to known as quarterback
• OrlandoSentinel.com: No. 12 Wisconsin
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com hosted a chat about Big Ten football and Wisconsin questions popped up a few times.
• ESPN.com: Chat with Adam Rittenberg
In Buffalo's 34-21 win last night, Lee Evans caught just one pass. Fortunately for him and his team, it went for a 70-yard touchdown.
• NFL.com: Lee Evans 70-yard TD catch
• BuffaloBills.com: Evans on his TD play
Jim Sorgi is expected to miss the next two to three weeks with a torn capsule in his right shoulder.
• Madison.com: Sorgi's shoulder injury adds to Giants' woes at QB
Houston Texans' head coach Gary Kubiak praised rookie tight end Garrett Graham recently. Graham's teammate, Owen Daniels, hopes to be cleared by next week from an ACL injury.
• HoustonChronicle.com: Different look from Saints helpful
• HoustonChronicle.com: Texans' Daniels hopes to be cleared next week
Prior to last week's PGA Championship, Mark Tauscher and Aaron Rodgers talked about golfing in Wisconsin.
• YouTube.com: Rodgers and Tauscher talk golf at Whistling Straits
DE J.J. Watt takes on TE Sherard Cadogan during a preseason practice on Aug. 19, 2010.
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Tweet(s) of the Day  |
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@JJWatt99 | @Biddy_Martin Thanks for coming to speak to us again, you sent a great message. How about a game of HORSE sometime after the season? haha
Posted Aug. 19 at 9:31 p.m.
@Biddy_Martin | @JJWatt99 Yes, let's play HORSE after the season! It was great to be with you and the rest of the team this week.
Posted Aug. 19 at 9:47 p.m.
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What They're Saying on Facebook  |
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Badger fan Mary McLimans in response to 'Football "Family Fun Day set for August 22"' ... "Wish I could be there! Can hardly wait for the OSU/Wisconsin game in October! Camp Randall is going to be rocking!" | Badgers on Facebook
Both CBSSports.com and SI.com unveiled their preseason Big Ten previews and picked the Badgers to finish second.
Thursday, Aug. 19
The Wisconsin football team went for 24 periods Wednesday night, completing its 12th practice of fall camp and crossing the halfway point in the process. The team went with half-packs after going with full pads earlier on Wednesday.
• Photo Gallery: Practice No. 11 | 4 Downs with Peter Konz
• Photo Gallery: Practice No. 12 | Sights and Sounds
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Wisconsin went through spring ball without several key pieces -- running back John Clay and linebackers Chris Borland and Mike Taylor, to name three -- but the Badgers felt pretty good about their health entering camp. Unfortunately for Bret Bielema's team, the injuries aren't going away, writes Adam Rittenberg.
• ESPN.com: Injuries piling up for Wisconsin defense
After University of Wisconsin redshirt freshman wide receiver Jared Abbrederis dropped a sliding attempt at a third-down pass in the morning football practice, head coach Bret Bielema told him he had to make those catches if he expected to play. Abbrederis bounced back in the evening and caught everything thrown at him, including a spectacular one-handed catch on the sidelines on a throw from Jon Budmayr.
• Madison.com: Practice report: Abbrederis doesn't let drop keep him down
FoxSportsWisconsin.com is ramping up its Badger football coverage. Here are some of the latest pieces.
• FoxSportsWisconsin.com: Double your pleasure | Borland Back in Action
• FoxSportsWisconsin.com: The Next in Line | Lance ready to carry the load
• FoxSportsWisconsin.com: Strikingly Efficient | Focused on Next
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Donovan Raiola is battling for the backup center spot in Tampa Bay, but he may be in danger of losing his job.
• FoxSportsFlorida.com: Tampa Bay Bucs Bullets: 8-18
Jim Sorgi's status is uncertain after taking a big hit Monday night.
• AP.org: Eli Manning back on practice field with Giants
Owen Daniels is hoping to be back in time for week one.
• Fanhouse.com: Texans' Owen Daniels could return for final preseason game
David Gilreath looks to make the catch during a drill while his fellow receivers look on during UW's practice on Aug. 18, 2010.
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| Tweet of the Day |
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@JJWatt99 | Just finished up the lift, sittin in the lockerroom watchin "Saved by the Bell" with the rest of the D-Line.
Posted Aug. 19 at 7:02 a.m.
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| What They're Saying on Facebook |
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Badger fan Matthew Lawry in response to 'Football "2010 Fall Camp"' ... "My boys can't wait to see you guys on Sunday. ON WISCONSIN!" | Badgers on Facebook
ESPN.com is ranking the top position groups in the Big Ten. Today they focused on the offensive line with the Badgers' unit earning top honors.
Wednesday, Aug. 18
The Badgers got a brief respite from two-a-days on Tuesday, as the team drilled in a single afternoon practice inside Camp Randall. They also got a special surprise visit from Adam Burish after practice.
• Photo Gallery: Practice No. 10 | Sights and Sounds
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Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Tom Mulhern of the Wisconsin State Journal each filed reports on Tuesday's practice.
• JSOnline.com: Quarterback Budmayr learning from early mistakes
• Madison.com: Bielema loses patience with sluggish offense
• Madison.com: Burish delivers pep talk, with Stanley Cup as prop
Freshman Manasseh Garner seems to have quickly picked up an important lesson about playing wide receiver for the University of Wisconsin football team, writes Tom Mulhern. If you can't block, you won't get on the field.
• Madison.com: Freshman Garner makes splash at receiver
Jordan Kohout enrolled early at the University of Wisconsin to get on the field at Camp Randall Stadium as soon as possible. His decision to redshirt last year and wait a season looks like the right one, in both the short term and the long run, writes Tom Kahl.
• WiscNews.com: Wait nearly over for Waupun's Kohout
• JSOnline.com: Five-tackle rotation possible for UW
Nick Toon, who suffered his first concussion during practice last spring, has intimate knowledge of the debilitating effects concussions can cause.
• JSOnline.com: UW football gets wise to concussions
Offensive lineman John Moffitt was ready to leave the University of Wisconsin football team and jump to the NFL, but advice from family, teammates and the coaching staff brought him back for his senior year.
• Madison.com: Badgers' Moffitt relieved he didn't turn pro
Wisconsin's secondary is ranked fourth in the Big Ten by Adam Rittenberg.
• ESPN.com: Big Ten position rankings: Secondary
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Jonathan Casillas missed practice on Tuesday with a shoulder injury, but it's not considered serious.
• NOLA.com: Ladell Betts hoping to join Saints on the field soon
Lee Evans may have had a down year last year in terms of yards after catch, but expect a rebound in 2010.
• ESPN.com: How Lee Evans trumps Miles Austin (insider required)
In UFL news, Taylor Mehlhaff is staying with the Hartford Colonials after turning down an offer from the Seattle Seahawks to try out for their kicking spot.
• CTNow.com: Colonials set to begin training camp
UW quarterbacks Jon Budmayr, Curt Phillips, Scott Tolzien and Nate Tice pose for a picture with former Badger Adam Burish and the Stanley cup in Camp Randall Stadium following UW's practice on Aug. 17, 2010.
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| Tweet of the Day |
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@JJWatt99 | Burish just brought the Stanley Cup out to our practice... BEASTYYYY!!!!!
Posted Aug. 17 at 5:32 p.m.
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| What They're Saying on Facebook |
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Badger fan David Sanders in response to 'Football "Practice Report No. 9"' ... "Cant wait til 9/4 in Vegas to see my Badgers in action again! WISCONSIN ROCKS!" | Badgers on Facebook
LB Chris Borland is on the Butkus Award Watch List. To date 10 Wisconsin players have been added to watch lists for 13 different major college football awards.
Tuesday, Aug. 17
The Badgers had two practices yesterday, going full pads in the morning and half-pack last night.
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In case you missed it over the weekend, Curt Phillips went in to J.J. Watt's Twitter account that J.J. was switching to defensive tackle. It's not true, but that didn't stop a little chaos from ensuing.
• Madison.com: Players' prank wars go viral | Prank aside, Watt open to move
• JSOnline.com: Teammate's Twitter prank makes news
• ESPN.com: Big Ten position rankings: defensive line
• JanesvilleGazette.com: Badgers' DT Allen may have chance to play right away
With Mike Taylor out with a knee injury, Blake Sorensen is about to get all the snaps he can handle.
• Madison.com: With Taylor injured, Sorensen's snap count about to step up
• ESPN.com: Big Ten position rankings: linebackers
Bret Bielema insists he was joking earlier this month when the University of Wisconsin football coach said one of his resolutions for 2010 was to be more media-friendly. Andy Baggot's not buying it. The just kidding part, that is.
• Madison.com: Attention -- UW's coach is getting it
Marcus Cromartie is being given another opportunity to prove he is ready to contribute to Wisconsin's secondary, writes Jeff Potrykus in a notes column.
• JSOnline.com: Cornerback Cromartie ready to contribute
Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema has won major college championships as a player and assistant coach. His 2010 Badgers have a chance to win him his first title ring as a head coach, writes Dave Curtis.
• SportingNews.com: Wisconsin ready to make another run for the Rose Bowl
• SI.com: Sports Illustrated preseason top 25
• AthlonSports.com: 2010 Best Units: Running Backs
• Scout.com: Unit Rankings: Running Backs | Offensive Lines
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Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Tom Mulhern of the Wisconsin State Journal each filed reports on Monday's practices.
• JSOnline.com: Impressions from Day 8 of UW football camp | Evening update
• Madison.com: Freshman RB dazzles; rough day for Budmayr, Oglesby
• Madison.com: Two-Minute drill needs work, other notes
University of Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien wants to be a coach some day. He has the ideal role model in mind for the kind of coach he wants to be -- UW offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Paul Chryst, according to Tom Mulhern.
• Madison.com: Tolzien, Chryst a match made in football heaven
• Madison.com: 15 things you didn't know about Bielema and Tolzien
• ESPN.com: Ranking the Big Ten quarterbacks
Offensive lineman Bill Nagy's mindset is a far cry from a year ago, writes Jim Isabella.
• Ohio.com: Wisconsin tackle eager to get back to business
• JSOnline.com: UW seniors Moffitt, Nagy savoring final camp
• Madison.com: Badgers' lineage lies in O-line
Culmer St. Jean has undergone a big transformation from a high school quarterback to fifth-year senior linebacker in this story by Jeff Potrykus.
• JSOnline.com: Wisconsin linebacker St. Jean is a class act
Yesterday, ESPN.com ran a series of stories previewing the 2010 season and Wisconsin appeared several times.
• ESPN.com: Be wary of these teams when ... | Tune in for these 20 games
• ESPN.com: Twenty teams with best title shot | College Football's familiar names
• ESPN.com: Top 20 prospects for 2011 NFL draft (insider required)
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Linebacker DeAndre Levy returned to practice for Detroit after missing over two weeks with an injury
• ESPN.com: Lions' DeAndre Levy returns just in time
With Eli Manning entrenched at quarterback, last night's preseason game may have been the most Jim Sorgi gets to see the field this year, writes Aditi Kinkhabwala. If that's the case, Sorgi made the most of it, throwing for a game-high 146 yards and two touchdowns as his Giants beat Jim Leonhard and the Jets.
• WSJ.com: Jim Sorgi, Bomar in Battle of Backups
• NFL.com: N.Y. Giants 31, N.Y. Jets 16 | 64-yard TD pass | 34-yard TD pass
After earning a starting job, Jonathan Casillas has been getting swarmed by the New Orleans media.
• WWLTV.com: LB Casillas earning his keep with Saints
The Oakland Raiders hope what they lost in experience at defensive end can be made up for in energetic performances by a rookie and second-year man Matt Shaughnessy.
• MercuryNews.com: Young defensive ends shine for Raiders
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The UW defense gets ready for a play during the Badgers' second practice of the day on Aug. 16, 2010.
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| Tweet of the Day |
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@BigTenScott | Big Tenners on Mackey watch list are MICH's Kevin Koger, MSU's Charlie Gantt & Brian Linthicum, NU's Drake Dunsmore, WIS' Lance Kendricks
Posted Aug. 16 at 1:16 p.m.
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| What They're Saying on Facebook |
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Badger fan Cathy Butler in response to 'Football "Practice Report No. 9"' ... "JUMP UP JUMP UP AND GET DOWN!! Whoo Hoooo! Can't Wait" | Badgers on Facebook
WR David Gilreath is on the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, created this year to recognize versatile, high-level players in major college football.
Monday, Aug. 16
The Badgers had the day off on Sunday to take part in their annual Media Day.
The Badgers hosted their annual media on Sunday and UWBadgers.com has full coverage.
• UWBadgers.com: Expectations won't change focus | Photo Gallery
• UWBadgers.com: Player interviews | Bielema press conference
Mike Taylor will undergo a second surgery on his reconstructed right knee on Tuesday and is expected to miss two-to-four weeks.
• JSOnline.com: LB Taylor to undergo knee surgery
• Madison.com: Taylor to undergo knee surgery, will miss at least UNLV game
Five times during the offseason, sophomore tailback Montee Ball sat down and watched, from start to finish, a DVD distributed to him by running backs coach John Settle that consisted of each of Ball's 98 carries during his freshman season. It was a good learning tool, even though there were times Ball wanted to reach into the screen and smack himself on the helmet, writes Jim Polzin.
• Madison.com: Ball plans to build on last season's success
• JSOnline.com: By position: Running backs | Offensive line | Special Teams
After less than a week of preseason camp, running backs coach John Settle is ready to declare this the deepest group of running backs he has had, writes Tom Mulhern in his notes column. Meanwhile, Jeff Potrykus notes that Bret Bielema said after the first of two practices on Saturday that redshirt freshman quarterback Jon Budmayr is playing well.
• Madison.com: Settle pronounces offensive backfield `deepest in my years here'
• JSOnline.com: UW staff sees growth in Budmayr
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Jonathan Casillas is the New Orleans Saints' new starting weakside linebacker.
• NOLA.com: New Orleans Saints' Jonathan Casillas played too well to be kept off field | Jonathan Casillas had a big game, but now he's a marked man
Jim Sorgi has been filing regular reports from training camp for the New York Daily News.
• NYDailyNews.com: Sorgi says the Manning Brothers share the same fire inside to win | Sorgi reports positive early practices and a training camp learning experience | Sorgi says shoulder injury won't slow him down | Sorgi says Monday's game vs. Jets is more than just another preseason game
Joe Thomas thinks Cleveland's offense is ahead of last year's.
• Ohio.com: Browns' Thomas expects offensive line can pave way to success
• ClevelandBrowns.com: Joe Thomas post game interview
Long snapper Matt Katula was cut by Baltimore on Saturday.
• BaltimoreSun.com: Ravens cut long-time snapper Matt Katula
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Gabe Carimi and John Moffitt pose for photographers at Wisconsin Football Media Day, Aug. 15, 2010.
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| Tweet of the Day |
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@JJWatt99 | Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Dream Big, Work Hard.
Posted Aug. 16 at 7:27 a.m.
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| What They're Saying on Facebook |
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Badger fan Beau Boughton in response to 'Football "Ask the Badgers" Video Shoot' ... "heck yes! this gets me pumped for the season! | Badgers on Facebook
The Badgers have seven offensive linemen who have started at least three games in their careers (LT Gabe Carimi, LG/C John Moffitt, C, Peter Konz, RG Kevin Zeitler, RT Josh Oglesby, C/G Travis Frederick and G Bill Nagy). Those seven have combined to start 107 games in their careers.
