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Wisconsin cancel’s spring football game

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Camp Randall Stadium: File Photo by David Stluka)

The weather forecast in Madison is calling for a strong chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Friday during the late afternoon and evening.  The Wisconsin Athletic Department has decided to cancel Friday’s Spring Football Game, which was set to start at 6 p.m.  The game will not be rescheduled.

“The safety of our student-athletes and fans is our utmost priority,” UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said.  “The weather forecast has been pretty consistent in calling for a good chance of rain and thunderstorms on Friday.  We thought it was best to make the call early to give the numerous groups involved in the game, including our team, our fans, our media partners and staff, notice of the cancellation as soon as possible.”

Fans who purchased tickets for the Spring Game in advance will receive refunds.  Those who purchased tickets with a credit or debit card will have their purchase automatically refunded.  No action is required.

Thomas calls it quits in Cleveland (AUDIO)

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Barry Alvarez says Joe Thomas is the best lineman to play at Wisconsin

Former Wisconsin Badger Joe Thomas announced he is retiring after 11 seasons in the NFL.

The 10-time Pro Bowler with the Cleveland Browns made the decision after spending several months contemplating his future.

Thomas had played 10,363 consecutive snaps before tearing his left triceps during an Oct. 22 game against Tennessee.  It’s believed to be the longest run in pro football history.

The Brookfield, Wisconsin native played for the Badgers from 2003 to 2006.  He won the Outland Trophy as college football’s top interior lineman in 2006 and his former coach, Barry Alvarez, said Thomas may have been the best offensive lineman to every play at Wisconsin.

Thomas was selected by the Browns with the third overall pick in the 2007 draft.

The Browns plan to enshrine the number 10,363 to recognize his consecutive snaps streak in the team’s Ring of Honor at a home game this season.  The former Badgers shouldn’t have to wait too long before he is elected as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame down the road in Canton.

AUDIO: Barry Alvarez says Joe Thomas is probably the best offensive lineman to ever play at Wisconsin :19

AUDIO: Joe Thomas exemplified what being a Badger was all about :20

Alvarez named Athletics Director of the Year

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Barry Alvarez

Wisconsin’s Barry Alvarez was named a 2017-18 Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced on Monday.  Alvarez joins Whit Babcock (Virginia Tech), Joe Castiglione (Oklahoma) and Kirby Hocutt (Texas Tech) as the honorees from FBS schools.

The Athletic Director of the Year Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.

Alvarez is in his 15th season as Wisconsin’s Director of Athletics.  During that time, UW has won a combined 14 team national titles and 62 conference regular season or tournament crowns.

After this past fall season, UW ranked third in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, trailing only Stanford and Penn State.

Alvarez has been voted to the College Football and Rose Bowl Halls of Fame.  He was also voted into the state of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame (2009), the UW Athletics Hall of Fame (2010) and the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame (2016).

 

Alvarez’ CFP selection committee term is over

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Barry Alvarez

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith will take over for Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez on the College Football Playoff selection committee.

Alvarez has been on the committee since its inception in 2014 and is one of three members whose terms have expired.  He was one of 13 original members  when the CFP began in 2014.

The committee members met throughout the season to determine the best teams in the country.

Smith has been the Buckeyes’ athletic director since 2005.  He spent five seasons on the NCAA men’s basketball committee and served as its chair for the 2010-11 academic year.

 

Chryst is finalist for Coach of the Year

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Paul Chryst

Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst, who helped lead the Badgers to a number-8 ranking and berth in the January 2nd Cotton Bowl, was named a finalist for a national coach of the year award.

Chryst join’s Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck, Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre, Navy’s Ken Niumatalolo and Washington’s Chris Peterson as finalists for the Dodd Trophy.  The Dodd trophy is named after former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd.  The winner will be announced during the week of the Peach Bowl, which will be played Dec. 31 in Atlanta.

Wisconsin (10-3) won the Big Ten West Division title before suffering a 38-31 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game.

Former Badgers coach and current Athletic Director Barry Alvarez won the award in 1993.

The Badgers will face number-14 Western Michigan (13-0) in the Cotton Bowl.

 

Alvarez signs contract extension with UW

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Barry Alvarez

Barry Alvarez

University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez has signed a contract extension with the school that runs through January 31, 2021.

Alvarez has served as Wisconsin’s director of athletics since 2004.  He turns 70 on December 30.

According to the University, the extension went into effect on Sept. 1 and came after a performance review by UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank.

Wisconsin has captured 56 Big Ten titles and 14 National Championships during his run as athletic director.  Three of Wisconsin’s fall sports (football, volleyball and men’s cross country) are currently ranked in the top 10 nationally.

Tsipis introduced as Wisconsin’s new women’s basketball coach (AUDIO)

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Jonathan Tsipis

Jonathan Tsipis

For the first time in Wisconsin women’s basketball history, the Badgers will be coached by a man.  Jonathan Tsipis was introduced as the new women’s coach at Wisconsin during a news conference at the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion on Thursday.

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said the issue of gender was not a consideration in making the selection.

“I wanted to hire the best coach we could hire,” he said.  “And I think we did that.”

Tsipis said he plans to have strong female role models on his coaching staff, which he said he hopes to have in place before the next open recruiting period in mid-April.

Tsipis met with the returning players, spoke via telephone with each of the six members of the 2016 recruiting class and made home visits to the top two players in the state for the 2017 class, Madison Edgewood’s Estella Moschkau and Kenosha St. Joseph’s Sidney Cooks. [Read more…]

Alvarez’s grandson says ‘yes’ to Wisconsin

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Bucky Badger logoMadison Memorial tight end Jake Ferguson has decided to stay home and play for the home town Wisconsin Badgers.

Ferguson has a brother (Joe) on the team and is the grandson of athletic director Barry Alvarez.  He had offers from Iowa and Nebraska among others and even paid a visit to Alabama last fall.  But Ferguson took his official visit to the UW Campus on Thursday and after meeting with coaches and watching spring practice, he made it clear he wanted to be a Badger.

Ferguson is rated as a three-star prospect by Scout and Rivals and is considered one of the top players in the state’s 2017 class.  He earned first team All-Big Eight Conference honors at both wide receiver and inside linebacker as a junior at Madison Memorial, but is expected to play tight end for the Badgers.

The Badgers also received an oral commitment from wide receiver Cade Green from Austin, Texas.  He became the seventh commit in the 2017 class.

 

Granato wanted to come home (AUDIO)

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Mark Osiecki, Tony Granato & Don Granato. Photo Courtesy of UWBadgers.com

Mark Osiecki, Tony Granato & Don Granato. Photo Courtesy of UWBadgers.com

Tony Granato spent 13 seasons as a player in the NHL and has been a coach in the league for an additional ten-plus seasons.  He’s been playing and coaching in the league that hockey people aspire to get to.  Yet given the opportunity to coach the Wisconsin Badger hockey team, he didn’t hesitate.

Granato had one condition when Barry Alvarez offered him the job.  He wanted his brother Don Granato and another former Badger, Mark Osiecki to join him as associated head coaches.  [Read more…]

Back-to-back losing seasons costs Eaves his job (AUDIO)

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Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves. (Photo by David Stluka)

Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves. (Photo by David Stluka)

Mike Eaves has accomplished a considerable amount as Wisconsin‘s hockey coach in his 14-seasons on the job, not to mention a distinguished playing career.  But back-to-back losing seasons has cost Eaves his job.

Eaves remains the all-time leading scorer in program history, a three-time captain, a two-time MVP and a member of the UW Athletic Hall of Fame.

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez fired Eaves today after the Badgers saw their season end with a 5-2 loss to Penn State in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday in St. Paul, Minnesota.

After a 24-win season two years ago, the Badgers have managed to win just 12-games over the last two seasons.  After winning just four games last season, the Badgers doubled that total, winning just eight this past season. [Read more…]