Badger Game Day

This morning, I woke up to the sounds of some yahoo on bongos, banging away like a 4-year-old, and mixing in some terribly conceived chants. For a minute, I thought I was dreaming that it was a Badger game day, and that I was back on State Street. In actuality, it was just some yahoo cheering on a bunch of runners in a local charity run. Did I mention that he was a YAHOO!

But I was right about one thing: it's BADGER GAME DAY! The 2008 football season starts today for UW, which always brings an exciting mixture of anticipation, hope, and of course, beer.

UW enters the season once again ranked in both preseason Top 25s - 13th in the AP poll, and 12th in the USA Today poll. There are many people out there that believe a Big Ten title is possible this season, but there are a few questions that will need to be answered this year:

-How will Allan Evridge perform? The fifth-year senior, who transferred from Kansas State, won the QB starting position. But from the accounts I've read, it was a fairly close battle. The Badgers don't need Evridge to be a super-star, they just need him to manage games and make the easy plays (how many times has that been said about UW QBs?). Here's hoping Evridge comes out today and gives the Camp Randall faithful a dose of confidence.

-Who will step up from the receiving corps? Travis Beckum is predicted to be an All-American and a future high-draft pick at the tight end position. But the rest of the Badger receivers are less heralded. I'm hoping sophomore David Gilreath will have a break-out season, as he has shown the ability to be explosive with the ball.

-How special will the special teams be? UW lost a senior kicker and a senior punter, and will be breaking in new kids at both positions. Ken DeBauche and Taylor Mehlhaff left some pretty big shoes to fill, and special teams are a crucial part of any college football team.

-Who becomes the man at running back? PJ Hill was not healthy the entire season last year and Lance Smith is off the team. There are two other RBs on the team that will see playing time: Zach Brown and John Clay. If Hill is once again plagued by injuries or is inconsistent, will Brown and Clay be able to carry the Badger offense?

-Who fills the holes in the Badger defense? UW's defense has not been as impressive the past couple of years, and some holes have developed. Cornerback is one spot where there remain question marks. Health will also be an issue for the defense overall, and the defensive line could get thin if injuries crop up.

Will all of these questions be addressed today against Akron? Of course not. But keep in mind that any element that is negative today against a lesser opponent, will only be magnified once the Big Ten season begins.