2002 Wisconsin Badgers football team
Encyclopedia
The 2002 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season
.
, the Badgers of 2002 wanted improvement. Despite amazing statistics from WR Lee Evans
and RB Anthony Davis, the Badgers had issues closing out games, and an overworked defense managed lackluster efforts when the team could hardly afford them.
In the spring game, Wisconsin's offense suffered a devastating blow when top receiver Lee Evans was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Evan's loss was a significant blow, but despite it, Wisconsin managed to start off the season by winning all five of their nonconference games. From there, though, things did not go Wisconsin's way; the Badgers lost their first three Big Ten games by less than 7 points. Among those was a near-upset of eventual National Champion Ohio State, a 19-14 Ohio State win that was Jim Tressel's first over the Badgers (having lost 20-17 to Wisconsin the previous year). After going 0-3 to open their Big Ten slate, Wisconsin defeated Michigan State in Spartan Stadium 42-24 for their first conference win of the season. After that game, Wisconsin would lose their next 3 games against Big Ten opponents, including a 20-3 loss to Big Ten co-champion Iowa, and yet another close game against a Lloyd Carr
-coached Michigan team
. The loss to Michigan dropped Wisconsin to 1-6 in Big Ten play.
To close out the regular season, Wisconsin finally put together a complete game in a 49-31 blowout of rival Minnesota, taking back Paul Bunyan's Axe
and keeping Minnesota's losing streak in Camp Randall alive. The Badgers improved to 7-6 on the season.
Wisconsin was awarded a berth in the Alamo Bowl, having gotten the required 6 wins in the regular season, and faced Colorado, a Big Twelve opponent that had won the Big Twelve North outright and lost the Big Twelve Championship Game 29-7 to Oklahoma. At 9-4, Colorado entered the game ranked 14th in the nation, and hoping for a ten-win season. But Wisconsin managed to keep up with Colorado, and won the game 31-28 in overtime for their 8th win of the season, knocking Colorado to 9-5 on the year.
For Wisconsin, Freshman WR Jonathan Orr
put together a good season in the absence of Lee Evans, catching 47 passes for 842 yards, with 8 receiving touchdowns. RB Anthony Davis ran for 1,555 yards on 300 carries, with 13 touchdowns. QB Brooks Bollinger
, in his senior season, completed 131 passes on 245 attempts for 1,758 yards and 14 touchdowns, with just 4 interceptions.
2002 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season ended the season with what most consider an exciting double overtime national championship game. Ohio State and Miami both came into the Fiesta Bowl undefeated. The underdog Buckeyes defeated the Hurricanes 31–24, ending Miami's 34 game winning...
.
Schedule
Season summary
Coming off a disappointing 5-7 2001 season2001 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2001 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Schedule:-Season summary:...
, the Badgers of 2002 wanted improvement. Despite amazing statistics from WR Lee Evans
Lee Evans (American football)
-Buffalo Bills:Evans was initially assigned the jersey number 84. Evans, as a reference to his full name, had always worn the number 3 in college, a number that was not allowed to be used in professional football for wide receivers...
and RB Anthony Davis, the Badgers had issues closing out games, and an overworked defense managed lackluster efforts when the team could hardly afford them.
In the spring game, Wisconsin's offense suffered a devastating blow when top receiver Lee Evans was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Evan's loss was a significant blow, but despite it, Wisconsin managed to start off the season by winning all five of their nonconference games. From there, though, things did not go Wisconsin's way; the Badgers lost their first three Big Ten games by less than 7 points. Among those was a near-upset of eventual National Champion Ohio State, a 19-14 Ohio State win that was Jim Tressel's first over the Badgers (having lost 20-17 to Wisconsin the previous year). After going 0-3 to open their Big Ten slate, Wisconsin defeated Michigan State in Spartan Stadium 42-24 for their first conference win of the season. After that game, Wisconsin would lose their next 3 games against Big Ten opponents, including a 20-3 loss to Big Ten co-champion Iowa, and yet another close game against a Lloyd Carr
Lloyd Carr
Lloyd H. Carr is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 1995 through the 2007 season. Under Carr, the Wolverines compiled a record of 122–40 and won or shared five Big Ten Conference titles...
-coached Michigan team
2002 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2002 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2002 college football season. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. The team was led by All-Americans Bennie Joppru and Marlin Jackson as well as...
. The loss to Michigan dropped Wisconsin to 1-6 in Big Ten play.
To close out the regular season, Wisconsin finally put together a complete game in a 49-31 blowout of rival Minnesota, taking back Paul Bunyan's Axe
Paul Bunyan's Axe
Paul Bunyan's Axe, named after the mythical giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan, is a prize awarded every year to the winner of the college football game between Minnesota and Wisconsin.-History:...
and keeping Minnesota's losing streak in Camp Randall alive. The Badgers improved to 7-6 on the season.
Wisconsin was awarded a berth in the Alamo Bowl, having gotten the required 6 wins in the regular season, and faced Colorado, a Big Twelve opponent that had won the Big Twelve North outright and lost the Big Twelve Championship Game 29-7 to Oklahoma. At 9-4, Colorado entered the game ranked 14th in the nation, and hoping for a ten-win season. But Wisconsin managed to keep up with Colorado, and won the game 31-28 in overtime for their 8th win of the season, knocking Colorado to 9-5 on the year.
For Wisconsin, Freshman WR Jonathan Orr
Jonathan Orr
Jonathan Orr is a former American football wide receiver who played for the NFL's Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans. He was drafted in the sixth round, pick 172 of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Titans...
put together a good season in the absence of Lee Evans, catching 47 passes for 842 yards, with 8 receiving touchdowns. RB Anthony Davis ran for 1,555 yards on 300 carries, with 13 touchdowns. QB Brooks Bollinger
Brooks Bollinger
Brooks Bollinger is a retired American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, in his senior season, completed 131 passes on 245 attempts for 1,758 yards and 14 touchdowns, with just 4 interceptions.
Regular starters
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Quarterback | Brooks Bollinger Brooks Bollinger Brooks Bollinger is a retired American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft... |
| Running Back | Anthony Davis |
| Fullback | Matt Bernstein Matt Bernstein Matt Bernstein is a former American football standout at University of Wisconsin–Madison, who is currently a free agent of the Arena Football League after a stint in the National Football League with the Detroit Lions. Inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2006... |
| Wide Receiver | Darrin Charles |
| Wide Receiver | Jonathan Orr Jonathan Orr Jonathan Orr is a former American football wide receiver who played for the NFL's Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans. He was drafted in the sixth round, pick 172 of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Titans... |
| Tight End | Tony Paciotti |
| Left Tackle | Ben Johnson Ben Johnson (American football) Ben Johnson is a former American football offensive tackle of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft... |
| Left Guard | Dan Buenning Dan Buenning Dan Robert Buenning is an American football guard for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin.Buenning has also been a member of the Chicago Bears.-External... |
| Center | Al Johnson |
| Right Guard | Jonathan Clinkscale |
| Right Tackle | Jason Jowers |
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Defensive End | Charles Sprague |
| Defensive Tackle | Anttaj Hawthorne Anttaj Hawthorne Anttaj Hawthorne is an American football defensive lineman for the Arizona Rattlers of Arena Football 1. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin.-Early years:Hawthorne attended Hamden High School in Hamden,... |
| Defensive Tackle | Jason Jefferson Jason Jefferson Jason Jefferson is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
| Defensive End | Erasmus James Erasmus James Erasmus James is an American football defensive end who is currently signed by the New Mexico Stars of the Indoor Football League . He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings 18th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft... |
| Outside Linebacker | Alex Lewis Alex Lewis Alex Lewis is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin where he currently holds the record for most sacks in a game with 6.5 on October 18, 2003 vs. Purdue... |
| Inside Linebacker | Jeff Mack |
| Outside Linebacker | Kareem Timbers |
| Cornerback | Scott Starks Scott Starks Scott Starks is an American football cornerback formerly for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He is currently a free agent. Jason Fletcher of Blueprint Sports is his agent... |
| Strong Safety | Jim Leonhard Jim Leonhard James Andrew "Jim" Leonhard is an American football safety for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2005. Leohnard has also played for the Baltimore Ravens... |
| Free Safety | Ryan Aiello |
| Cornerback | B.J. Tucker |
Team players selected in the 2003 NFL Draft
| Player | Position | Round | Overall Selection | NFL Team |
| Al Johnson | Center | 2 | 38 | Dallas Cowboys 2003 Dallas Cowboys season 2003 marked the 44th season for the Dallas Cowboys organization as the team, coming off three consecutive 5–11 seasons, hired former New York Giants and New England Patriots coach Bill Parcells.... |
| B.J. Tucker | Cornerback | 6 | 178 | New York Jets 2003 New York Jets season The 2003 New York Jets season was the 44th season for the team, and the 34th in the National Football League. The team tried to improve upon its 9–7 record from 2002 and defend its AFC East title. The Jets finished the season with a record of 6–10.... |
| Brooks Bollinger Brooks Bollinger Brooks Bollinger is a retired American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft... |
Quarterback | 6 | 200 | Miami Dolphins 2003 New York Jets season The 2003 New York Jets season was the 44th season for the team, and the 34th in the National Football League. The team tried to improve upon its 9–7 record from 2002 and defend its AFC East title. The Jets finished the season with a record of 6–10.... |
| Ben Johnson Ben Johnson (American football) Ben Johnson is a former American football offensive tackle of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft... |
Offensive Tackle | 7 | 216 | Detroit Lions 2003 Detroit Lions season The 2003 Detroit Lions season was the 74th season in franchise history.-Staff:-Schedule:-External links:***... |