Hoosiers, Badgers to Meet on Senior Day in Bloomington
Closing out the home portion of its 2008 schedule, the Indiana football team faces Wisconsin at Memorial Stadium (49,225). Kickoff is set for noon EST on Saturday, Nov. 8, and the game will be televised by the Big Ten Network with Mark Neely (play-by-play), Chris Martin (analyst) and Anthony Herron (sideline) on the call. The game can also be heard on the statewide IU Radio Network with Don Fischer (play-by-play), Pete Compise (analyst) and Joe Smith (pre-game, halftime and post-game).
Senior Salute
Fifteen Hoosiers will don the IU uniform for the final time at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Running back and captain Marcus Thigpen, linebacker Jerry Williams, holder Dustin Hass, cornerback and captain Christopher Phillips, kicker Austin Starr, wide receiver Brandon Walker-Roby, safety Rayshun Calhoun, safety Brandon Mosley, safety Joe Kleinsmith, defensive end Ryan Marando, defensive lineman Isaac Price, linebacker Geno Johnson, defensive tackle Greg Brown, tight end Taylor Donnell and defensive lineman Arik Wolf will bid farewell to the Hoosier faithful.
The Wisconsin Series
Wisconsin holds a 34-18-2 advantage in the all-time series against Indiana. The Badgers own a 14-9-1 edge in Bloomington, including a 52-17 win on their last visit (Sept. 30, 2006). UW has won the last three meetings after the Hoosiers earned back-to-back victories in 2001 and 2002. In 2002, the Hoosiers knocked off the No. 23 Badgers, 32-29, at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 12, following a 63-32 triumph at Camp Randall Stadium the previous season (Oct. 6).
Family Reunion
Hoosier true freshman linebacker Chad Sherer will see a familiar face across the sideline on Saturday. His brother, Dustin, has started the last three games for the Badgers at quarterback, has posted a 1-2 record and is listed atop the depth chart again this week.
The brothers hail from Cicero, Ind., and attended Hamilton Heights High School. Chad has not seen action this season, while Dustin has thrown for 627 yards, three scores, three interceptions, completed 52.4 percent and rushed for one touchdown in seven games.
Scouting Wisconsin
After starting the season with three straight victories, including a 13-10 win at No. 21 Fresno State, Wisconsin has lost five of its six Big Ten games. The Badgers are 4-5 overall and they earned their lone conference victory over Illinois, 27-17, on Oct. 25.
UW has one of the nation's most potent rushing attacks, averaging 200.3 yards per game (second in the Big Ten, 21st nationally). The Badgers are averaging 24.2 points, 185.1 passing yards and 385.4 total yards per game Junior P.J. Hill and redshirt freshman John Clay spearhead the ground game. Hill is sixth in the conference with 79.9 yards per game to go along with six touchdowns. He has carried the ball 154 times for 719 yards, good for 4.7 yards per carry. Clay is eighth in the league with 65.7 yards per game and five touchdowns. He has carried the ball 104 times for 591 yards, good for 5.7 yards per carry.
Junior quarterback Dustin Sherer has started the last three games after replacing fifth-year senior Allan Evridge. Sherer has thrown for 89.6 yards per game and holds an efficiency rating of 107.35. Junior tight end Garrett Graham leads the team with 398 yards, 30 receptions and four TDs, while sophomore wideout David Gilreath has 310 yards, 21 catches and three scores. Gilreath is sixth in the Big Ten with 133.6 all-purpose yards per game. He has 661 kick return yards, 122 rushing yards and 109 punt return yards in addition to his receiving totals.
The Badger defense is fourth in the Big Ten giving up 324.7 yards per game (203.4 passing and 121.2 rushing). Wisconsin is even in the turnover battle, as the defense has picked off 11 passes and recovered seven fumbles. UW has 14 sacks on the season. Junior linebacker Jaeve McFadden leads the team with 67 tackles followed by senior linebacker DeAndre Levy. Levy has 52 stops to go along with three sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, one INT and one fumble recovery. Sophomore cornerback Niles Brinkley is tied for fifth in the league with three picks.
Redshirt freshman kicker Phillip Welch shares 12th nationally with 15 field goals in 18 attempts with a long of 52. True freshman Brad Nortman is averaging 41.6 yards per punt.
Bret Bielema is 25-10 (.714) in his third season at the helm of the Badger program. He led UW to a 12-1 record and a Capital One Bowl victory over Arkansas in 2006 followed by a 9-4 season and an Outback Bowl appearance in 2007.
Wisconsin Connection
Five players on the IU roster hail from The Badger State. True freshman wide receiver Shane Covington (Milwaukee, Riverside University), senior holder/quarterback Dustin Hass (Oconto/Oconto), redshirt freshman punter Chris Hagerup (Whitefish Bay/ Whitefish Bay), junior free safety Nick Polk (Milwaukee/Vincent) and sophomore right tackle Mike Stark (Platteville/Platteville) all came to Bloomington from the state of Wisconsin.
