Wisconsin Badgers: The Bowl History of Bucky Leading Up to the Las Vegas Bowl vs. the Arizona State Sun Devils

Going into the Las Vegas Bowl, where the 8-4 Wisconsin Badgers will take on the 8-4 Arizona State Sun Devils on Thursday night, the Badgers currently have a 17-15 record in bowl games. This will be the 20th consecutive season the Badgers have played in a bowl game.

Under head coach Paul Chryst, the Badgers have won five of six bowl games, with the only loss coming in the 2020 Rose Bowl. That was a very controversial loss, as the Badgers were driving for the go-ahead score in the final minutes of the game when there was a phantom offensive interference call that basically short-circuited that drive. Before that appearance in Pasadena, the Badgers had played in nine Rose Bowl games and had a 3-6 record.

All three of those wins at the Rose Bowl came under the watch of head coach Barry Alvarez, who had a 9-4 record in bowl games. Two of those bowl games Alvarez coached were on an interim basis. I was at the last one, when the Badgers beat the Auburn Tigers 34-31 in OT in the 2015 Outback Bowl in Tampa.

Alvarez and his Badgers won back-to-back Rose Bowls in 1999 and 2000, which made them the only Big Ten team to ever win back-to-back in Pasadena. My good buddy Kevin Cosgrove was the defensive coordinator for the Badgers for both of those appearances.

No. 0 Braelon Allen

The recipe for success for victories in bowl games for the Badgers has usually been due to a great running attack and playing solid defense. That also looks to be the game plan for the Badgers going into their battle with the Sun Devils, as the Badgers are ranked 14th in the FBS in rushing, led by freshman running back Braelon Allen, who rushed for 1,109 yards this season, which also included 12 touchdowns. Allen is well on his way in becoming one of the top running backs in the history of Wisconsin football.

The Badgers also have the No. 1 defense in the FBS, led by the great set of linebackers that the Badgers have, which includes Leo Chenal, Jack Sanborn, Nick Herbig and Noah Burks. The Badgers are also the No. 1 ranked run defense in the FBS.

No.5 Leo Chenal

Since Jim Leonhard was named defensive coordinator in 2017, the Badgers have almost always had one of the top defenses in the country.

The Sun Devils, who are coached by Herm Edwards, will be led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, who threw for 10 touchdowns and rushed for six more this season. Arizona will be missing their top two running backs in this game, as Rachaad White (1,006 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns) is skipping the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft and DeaMonte Trayanum (402 rushing yards and six touchdowns) entered the transfer portal.

That means Daniyel Ngata, who rushed for 286 yards and three scores will be the top running back for the Sun Devils in this game.

Arizona State also had a solid defense in 2021, as they were ranked 18th in the FBS. In terms of stopping the run, the Sun Devils were ranked 32nd in the FBS, tied with the Oklahoma Sooners.

So, get set to watch the Badgers tonight in “Sin City”, as they take on the Sun Devils in their 33rd ever bowl game. Below is the overall history of the Badgers in bowl games.

• 1953 Rose Bowl: USC 7, Wisconsin 0
• 1960 Rose Bowl: Washington 44, Wisconsin 8
• 1963 Rose Bowl: USC 42, Wisconsin 37
• 1981 Garden State Bowl: Tennessee 28, Wisconsin 21
• 1982 Independence Bowl: Wisconsin 14, Kansas State 3
• 1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl: Kentucky 20, Wisconsin 19
• 1994 Rose Bowl: Wisconsin 21, UCLA 16
• 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl: Wisconsin 34, Duke 20
• 1996 Copper Bowl: Wisconsin 38, Utah 10
• 1998 Outback Bowl: Georgia 33, Wisconsin 6
• 1999 Rose Bowl: Wisconsin 38, UCLA 31
• 2000 Rose Bowl: Wisconsin 17, Stanford 9
• 2000 Sun Bowl: Wisconsin 21, UCLA 20
• 2002 Alamo Bowl: Wisconsin 31, Colorado 28
• 2003 Music City Bowl: Auburn 28, Wisconsin 14
• 2005 Outback Bowl: Georgia 24, Wisconsin 21
• 2006 Capital One Bowl: Wisconsin 24, Auburn 10
• 2007 Capital One Bowl: Wisconsin 17, Arkansas 14
• 2008 Outback Bowl: Tennessee 21, Wisconsin 17
• 2008 Champs Sports Bowl: Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13
• 2009 Champs Sports Bowl: Wisconsin 20, Miami (FL) 14
• 2011 Rose Bowl: TCU 21, Wisconsin 19
• 2012 Rose Bowl: Oregon 45, Wisconsin 38
• 2013 Rose Bowl: Stanford 20, Wisconsin 14
• 2014 Capital One Bowl: South Carolina 34, Wisconsin 24
• 2015 Outback Bowl: Wisconsin 34, Auburn 31
• 2015 Holiday Bowl: Wisconsin 23, USC 21
• 2017 Cotton Bowl: Wisconsin 24, Western Michigan 16
• 2017 Orange Bowl: Wisconsin 34, Miami (FL) 24
• 2018 Pinstripe Bowl: Wisconsin 35, Miami (FL) 3
• 2020 Rose Bowl: Oregon 28, Wisconsin 27
• 2020 Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Wisconsin 42, Wake Forest 28

Green Bay Packers: It Appears that Aaron Rodgers is the Favorite to Win the NFL MVP in 2021

This sort of feels like déjà vu, as last year around this time, I wrote a piece about who might win the NFL MVP award in 2020. I compared the stats of the two frontrunners for the honor in 2020, who were Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.

It was Rodgers who ended up winning the NFL MVP, which was the third time he has won that honor, which matches what his predecessor Brett Favre did in Green Bay.

Plus, with just one more touchdown pass this season, Rodgers will break Favre’s all-time touchdown pass record for the Packers, which is currently 442 touchdown tosses.

So far into the 2021 season after 15 weeks, the three frontrunners for the NFL MVP appear to be Rodgers again, as well as quarterback Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Bucs and former Wisconsin Badger running back Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts.

Going into Week 15, it appeared that Brady was the frontrunner to win the MVP award. But after being shut out 9-0 by the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium no less, and Brady having a passer rating of just 57.1 in the game, it now appears that the stock of Rodgers and that of Taylor have gone up.

Rodgers had another very solid performance against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, as No. 12 threw three touchdown passes and had a passer rating of 132.2.

Meanwhile, Taylor rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown against the New England Patriots in a key AFC matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Taking a big picture look at these three now, let’s see how the overall stats matchup.

Rodgers leads the NFL with a 110.4 passer rating and has thrown 30 touchdown passes compared to just four interceptions for 3,487 yards. No. 12 has also rushed for 87 yards and has three rushing touchdowns. The former Cal Bear has already led the Packers to the NFC North title and Green Bay is currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC with an 11-3 record.

The last three opponents for the Packers in 2021 are the 7-7 Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field on Christmas day, the 7-7 Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on January 2nd and the 2-11-1 Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 9th.

Brady leads the NFL in passing yardage with 4,348 yards, plus leads the league with 36 touchdown passes. The former Michigan Wolverine has also thrown 11 picks and has a passer rating of 100.4. No. 12 has also rushed for 70 yards and has two rushing touchdowns. The Bucs are now the No. 3 seed in the NFC and lead the NFC South with a 10-4 record.

The last three opponents for the Bucs are the 5-9 Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 26th, the 3-11 New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on January 2nd and the Panthers again at Raymond James Stadium on January 9th.

Taylor leads the NFL in rushing by a large margin, as No. 28 has rushed for 1,518, plus has scored 17 rushing touchdowns, which also leads the league. Taylor has also caught 36 passes for 336 yards and two more scores. The Colts are currently in second place in the AFC South division and are the No. 5 seed in the AFC with an 8-6 record.

The last three opponents for the Colts are the 10-4 Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Christmas day, the 7-7 Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2nd and the 2-12 Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on January 9th.

Based on the way I’m looking at this, if Rodgers leads the Packers to the No. 1 seed and continues to play at the same level he is playing at, I have to believe that Rodgers will win his fourth NFL MVP award, which would put him one behind Peyton Manning, who won five NFL MVP awards in his career.

That is somewhat difficult to comprehend, if only because of the drama leading into the 2021 season and whether or not Rodgers would indeed play for the Packers this season because of his issues with management. Plus, Rodgers also went through quite a turbulent time regarding his COVID-19 vaccination status early in November.

I have always believed that Rodgers would play for Green Bay in 2021 and one could see the healing process between Rodgers and the management of the Packers was already taking place in training camp. That healing has continued throughout the season, and I also predict Rodgers will return to the Packers in 2022 and beyond.

One thing is for sure, Rodgers is playing like he has a chip on his shoulder. He is proving all of his critics wrong again with his play on the field. Jerry Kramer noticed that about Rodgers when he sent a message to No. 12 prior to the 2019 season about all of the drama that Rodgers was dealing with leading into that particular season.

Bottom line, with three weeks to go in the NFL season, a lot is on the line for Rodgers and the Packers, Brady and the Bucs and Taylor and the Colts. If the Packers and Rodgers continue to do what they have done the past five weeks, they will be the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the second year in a row. That would most likely lead to another NFL MVP award for Rodgers as well.

And looking further ahead, I could see another epic battle between the Brady and the Bucs and Rodgers and the Packers at Lambeau Field for the right to play in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium.

The Early Rivalry Between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears: Not Enough Recognition for the Pack

Clarke Hinkle runs against the Chicago Bears at Wrigley Field

The Chicago Bears joined the National Football League (then the American Professional Football Association) in 1920. The Green Bay Packers joined the NFL (then APFA) in 1921. By 1946, basically a quarter of a century later, both teams had won six NFL titles.

But looking at the big picture, da Bears had 11 players who played on those early teams who were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, the Packers only had eight players from their early teams get a bust in Canton.

That makes absolutely no sense to me, especially when one takes a close look at the three players from the Packers who the Hall of Fame has at this point have omitted from the place where the best of the best resides.

The 11 players from the Bears are George Halas (who also was head coach), Red Grange, Bronco Nagurski, John “Paddy” Driscoll, Dan Fortmann, Ed Healey, Bill Hewitt, Sid Luckman, William Lyman, George McAfee and George Musso.

I have absolutely no qualms about that group of 11 from the Bears being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Here are the eight Packers on those early teams who are in the Hall of Fame. There is Curly Lambeau (who was also head coach), Robert “Cal” Hubbard, Johnny “Blood” McNally, Mike Michalske, Clarke Hinkle, Arnie Herber, Don Hutson and Tony Canadeo.

Like the 11 players on the Bears, this list of eight individuals for the Packers have rightly been given a bust in Canton.

In addition, there is a player who has a bust in Canton that played for both of these teams in the early years. I’m talking about Walt Kiesling, who played with da Bears in 1934 and with the Packers in 1935 and 1936.

In 2019, I wrote stories about the three players from the Packers who I believe deserve a bust in Canton. As a matter of fact, all three were senior finalists for the Class of 2020 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but none were inducted.

Lavvie Dilweg

Let’s first start with Lavvie Dilweg. The former Marquette University star, who started his NFL career with the Milwaukee Badgers, was a First-Team member of the NFL All-Decade team of the 1920s. He is the only member of that All-Decade team not in Canton. Dilweg was named First-Team All-Pro team six times and was also a Second-Team selection at All-Pro once. There was no Pro Bowl (started in 1938) when Dilweg played.

Dilweg set all the Green Bay receiving records until a fellow by the name of Don Huston came on the scene. Dilweg was part of the squad that won three consecutive NFL titles from 1929 through 1931. This was prior to the playoff era in the NFL. Unbelievably, Dilweg was also considered the best two-way player in the NFL when he played, as he also played defensive end, where he was a fierce tackler and also intercepted a whopping 27 passes when the NFL was a “three yards and a cloud of dust” league back then.

Dilweg was also the grandfather of Anthony Dilweg, who played quarterback for the Packers in 1989 and 1990.

Verne Lewellen

Then there is Verne Lewellen. The former Nebraska star was also part of the team which won three straight NFL titles in 1929, 1930 and 1931. Lewellen was a do-it-all type of player, as he rushed for 2,410 career yards and 37 TDs, passed for 2,076 yards and threw nine TDs and gained another 1,240 yards receiving and had 12 more scores.

Lewellen was also the Green Bay punter, as he averaged 39.5 yards per kick. Lewellen was named All-Pro four times and should have been named to the NFL All-Decade team of the 1920s like Dilweg was. When he retired from the NFL, Lewellen was the all-time leading scorer in the history of the league.

Don Hutson and Cecil Isbell

Finally, there is Cecil Isbell. The former Purdue star had a short five-year career before he retired. But what a great career he had in those five years. Isbell was a two-time First-Team All-Pro and a three-time Second-Team All-Pro. Isbell also went to four Pro Bowls.

Isbell was so prolific throwing the ball to Hutson, that he was named to the NFL All-Decade team of the 1930s. From 1920 through 2000, there have been 21 quarterbacks selected to the All-Decade teams. All but Isbell are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The two best years that Hutson ever had were in 1941 and 1942 when Isbell was throwing him the ball. In 1941, Hutson caught 58 passes from Isbell for 738 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 1942, Hutson caught 74 passes from Isbell for 1,211 yards and 17 touchdowns.  In ’42, Hutson became the first-ever 1,000 yard receiver.

In his short career, Isbell threw 61 touchdown passes versus 52 interceptions for 5,945 yards (better stats than Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh). He was not a bad runner either, as he rushed for 1,522 yards and 10 scores. Isbell also found time to catch 15 passes.

Bottom line, Dilweg, Lewellen and Isbell all deserve to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That would also even up the Packers and da Bears in terms of having 11 players apiece on their early teams when each team won six NFL titles through 1946.