Bowl skippers

[TMFT]

Is there any word on anyone bypassing the bowl season to get ready for the NFL draft?

obvi, I’m talking primarily about GK & Bell.

From the standpoint of a business decision I 100% get the kids that skip, but as a college football fan I hate to see it.

Enjoy your bowl season!

 

[bodog57]

Haven't heard anything yet. If I was D. Bell, I MIGHT be tempted to play at least long enough to gain 22 yards receiving. I think that is what he needs to break Standeford's record?

 

[ehuffma1]

For some reason I’d kinda expect both of our studs this year to play. I wouldn’t blame them either way, but I think it’s in their character to play for their teammates.

 

[Riveting]

I think it is in CJB's character to advise those two not to risk playing in an exhibition game. They have done their parts and more...

 

[Wolegib]

I can understand why both KG and Bell would not play. But both players are slipping in the projected mock drafts. bell is being listed by some as the 7th best receiver. From experience, I doubt there would be 7 receivers taken in he first round. That would put Bell in the second round. and the guy at Michigan is getting more hype than GK. I could envision both players wanting to play one last game - especially a bowl game to showcase their talents to the NFL scouts. Rather than an exhibition game, I look at it as a chance to shine.

 

[Trekie4Life]

For some reason I’d kinda expect both of our studs this year to play. I wouldn’t blame them either way, but I think it’s in their character to play for their teammates.

I agree. For some reason it just feels like George and Bell love being Boilermakers enough to suit up for the bowl game. Obviously no one would blame them if they didn't but it really seems like these two home grown talents might want to finish out this excellent season.

 

[nat100]

I can understand why both KG and Bell would not play. But both players are slipping in the projected mock drafts. bell is being listed by some as the 7th best receiver. From experience, I doubt there would be 7 receivers taken in he first round. That would put Bell in the second round. and the guy at Michigan is getting more hype than GK. I could envision both players wanting to play one last game - especially a bowl game to showcase their talents to the NFL scouts. Rather than an exhibition game, I look at it as a chance to shine.

They aren’t going to
Improve their stock either way in one game. The combine will do more for them now.

 

[ImRonBurgandy?]

I think it is in CJB's character to advise those two not to risk playing in an exhibition game. They have done their parts and more...

I kind of get what ur saying, but disagree on "exhibition" game. Win or lose it counts. Stats count. Win and we have some good momentum going into 2022.

 

[BCfanatic2020]

I kind of get what ur saying, but disagree on "exhibition" game. Win or lose it counts. Stats count. Win and we have some good momentum going into 2022.

I agree with what Brian said.. important for us to get an opponent we can beat. I don’t care if we draw a mountain west team, go 9-4 and get a bunch of young guys ready for 2023.

and yes I said 2023. After next year we could lose as many as 9 starters off of the defense based on who starts and who may leave.

On offense we could lose our starting QB, RB, TE, best receiver and as many as four starting linemen.

We will have a deep experienced team next year. This bowl game needs to be the beginning of getting ready to make sure there isn’t a steep drop off the following year.

I’m not saying there will be, but there could .. I trust brohm. But that’s why it’s kinda important we play a so so team and not some world beater where we are afraid to put young guys in because we are up against a team that would kill our young guys.

if we could draw a team we’d beat convincingly and be able to get even Moussa and Mbow and guys like that meaningful snaps .. Yanni, Wahlberg etc.. that would be my preferred scenario

 

[Purdue85]

I can understand why both KG and Bell would not play. But both players are slipping in the projected mock drafts. bell is being listed by some as the 7th best receiver. From experience, I doubt there would be 7 receivers taken in he first round. That would put Bell in the second round. and the guy at Michigan is getting more hype than GK. I could envision both players wanting to play one last game - especially a bowl game to showcase their talents to the NFL scouts. Rather than an exhibition game, I look at it as a chance to shine.

How many of a particular position taken in the first round is completely related to depth of talent in a given year. That goes for any position. If there are 8 legit first round RBs, they'll take them in the first round. Ditto, WR.

 

[BCfanatic2020]

For example, say we played IU with a twist.. we couldn’t use anyone who is a fifth year senior or potentially could leave for other realistic reasons. And there are bowl teams that aren’t much better than IU but they just don’t play in the big ten.

QB Alaimo
RB Doerue
TE Durham
WR Wright
WR Sheffield
WR Thompson
OT Craig
OG Holstege
C Hartwig
OG Moussa
OT Miller

DE Sullivan
3T Deen
NT Johnson
Hybrid Jenkins
LB Alexander
LB Wahlberg
LB Graham
CB Romphf
FS Allen
SS Grant
CB Brown

would we win? Might be ugly but maybe we do. However, imagining that scenario is kind of how you figure out what you’ll be next year, and then whatever comes back is gravy.

Now take off seniors and redshirt juniors

QB Alaimo
RB Downing (James will be here next year but can’t play in bowl)
TE Miller
WR Terrell
WR Sheffield
WR Sullivan
OT Mbow
OG Holstege
C Hartwig
OG Moussa
OT Craig

DE Anderson
3T Lewis
NT Austin
Hybrid Jenkins
LB Karlaftis
LB Wahlberg
LB Saunders
CB Romphf
FS Kane
SS Grant
CB Calloway

Nat can make fun of me, but a couple facts persist.

1) it’s almost a miracle I could fill out that team without trying that hard. A lot of times in the past 23 years I would have been plugging in a lot of guys we’ve never seen play. We saw almost all of the guys who will still be here in 2023 against IU

2) every snap we get for guys listed just above is crucial. Much more crucial than getting a 98 Kansas state type win.

3) the teams we play where it always seems like it doesn’t matter what Wisconsin running back graduates.. they just seem to have a team the following year that can beat us… they are developing their team in a similar manner.

The 98 Kansas state type win is a better single DAY for recruiting and notoriety than ending up in the middle of nowhere bowl against some blah opponent. But drawing said opponent and getting the kind of game I want (which to be fair we had this year against both UConn and IU) will pay dividends for years.

now begin the tar and feathering @nat100

 

[BCfanatic2020]

How many of a particular position taken in the first round is completely related to depth of talent in a given year. That goes for any position. If there are 8 legit first round RBs, they'll take them in the first round. Ditto, WR.

Also, wasn’t Jerry rice the 16th pick? If bell goes.. you know, around where Drew freaking Brees went, I’m pretty sure his feelings will be really hurt and he will just say “I’m not a first rounder mom, I just can’t…”

Or like a lot of players he will spend a career hurting a lot of feelings. I always watched Chris doleman and got the feeling that he was shattered internally by being an after thought coming out to college. Or not…

 

[nat100]

For example, say we played IU with a twist.. we couldn’t use anyone who is a fifth year senior or potentially could leave for other realistic reasons. And there are bowl teams that aren’t much better than IU but they just don’t play in the big ten.

QB Alaimo
RB Doerue
TE Durham
WR Wright
WR Sheffield
WR Thompson
OT Craig
OG Holstege
C Hartwig
OG Moussa
OT Miller

DE Sullivan
3T Deen
NT Johnson
Hybrid Jenkins
LB Alexander
LB Wahlberg
LB Graham
CB Romphf
FS Allen
SS Grant
CB Brown

would we win? Might be ugly but maybe we do. However, imagining that scenario is kind of how you figure out what you’ll be next year, and then whatever comes back is gravy.

Now take off seniors and redshirt juniors

QB Alaimo
RB Downing (James will be here next year but can’t play in bowl)
TE Miller
WR Terrell
WR Sheffield
WR Sullivan
OT Mbow
OG Holstege
C Hartwig
OG Moussa
OT Craig

DE Anderson
3T Lewis
NT Austin
Hybrid Jenkins
LB Karlaftis
LB Wahlberg
LB Saunders
CB Romphf
FS Kane
SS Grant
CB Calloway

Nat can make fun of me, but a couple facts persist.

1) it’s almost a miracle I could fill out that team without trying that hard. A lot of times in the past 23 years I would have been plugging in a lot of guys we’ve never seen play. We saw almost all of the guys who will still be here in 2023 against IU

2) every snap we get for guys listed just above is crucial. Much more crucial than getting a 98 Kansas state type win.

3) the teams we play where it always seems like it doesn’t matter what Wisconsin running back graduates.. they just seem to have a team the following year that can beat us… they are developing their team in a similar manner.

The 98 Kansas state type win is a better single DAY for recruiting and notoriety than ending up in the middle of nowhere bowl against some blah opponent. But drawing said opponent and getting the kind of game I want (which to be fair we had this year against both UConn and IU) will pay dividends for years.

now begin the tar and feathering @nat100

Dude. Lay off the edibles

 

[BCfanatic2020]

Dude. Lay off the edibles

I’m mostly a night smoker. I just think at the current moment it’s dumb to be looking for that big win against a big time team .. where there’s a 75% chance we get rolled up and smoked.

I said rolled up and smoked to nat. The only thing that would be better is @purduepat1969

 

[ImRonBurgandy?]

We beat #2 and #3. Why would we be afraid to play someone good?

 

[BCfanatic2020]

We beat #2 and #3. Why would we be afraid to play someone good?

We match up with some highly ranked teams Very well. We wouldn’t Match up with a highly ranked team that has fronts as physical as Wisconsin, Minnesota and Notre dame OR a pass game as quick hitting as Ohio state

 

[BSIT]

Bell is not Rondale

 

[bananabucket]

I think it is in CJB's character to advise those two not to risk playing in an exhibition game. They have done their parts and more...

It's the crowning achievement of the season lol...