2002 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Last updated

2002 Wisconsin Badgers football
Wisconsin Badgers logo.svg
Alamo Bowl champion
Alamo Bowl, W 3128 OT vs. Colorado
Conference Big Ten Conference
Record86 (26 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrian White (4th as OC; 8th overall season)
Defensive coordinatorKevin Cosgrove (8th as DC; 13th overall season)
Base defense 4–3
MVP Jim Leonhard
Captain Brooks Bollinger
Lee Evans
Al Johnson
Home stadium Camp Randall Stadium
(Capacity: 76,634, [1] Astroturf)
Seasons
  2001
2003  
2002 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 1 Ohio State $#+  8 0   14 0  
No. 8 Iowa  %+  8 0   11 2  
No. 9 Michigan  6 2   10 3  
No. 16 Penn State  5 3   9 4  
Purdue  4 4   7 6  
Illinois  4 4   5 7  
Minnesota  3 5   8 5  
Wisconsin  2 6   8 6  
Michigan State  2 6   4 8  
Northwestern  1 7   3 9  
Indiana  1 7   3 9  
  • # BCS National Champion
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
  • % BCS at-large representative
  • + Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll [2]

The 2002 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season.

Contents

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 237:00 p.m. Fresno State *No. 25
ESPN W 23–2175,136 [4]
August 316:45 p.m.at UNLV * ESPN2 W 27–742,075 [4]
September 711:00 a.m. West Virginia *No. 25
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
ESPN+ W 34–1776,320 [4]
September 1411:00 a.m. Northern Illinois *No. 22
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
ESPN+W 24–2177,460 [4]
September 2111:00 a.m. Arizona *No. 22
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
ESPN2W 31–1078,582 [4]
October 52:30 p.m.No. 20 Penn State No. 19
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
ABC L 31–3479,403 [4]
October 1211:00 p.m.at Indiana No. 23ESPN+L 29–3231,156 [4]
October 192:30 p.m.No. 4 Ohio State Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
ABCL 14–1979,729 [4]
October 266:00 p.m.at Michigan State ESPN2W 42–2474,507 [4]
November 211:00 a.m.at No. 9 Iowa ESPNL 3–2070,397 [4]
November 911:00 a.m. Illinois
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
ESPN+L 20–3778,709 [4]
November 1611:00 a.m.at No. 12 Michigan ESPN2L 14–21110,412 [4]
November 2311:00 a.m. Minnesota
ESPNW 49–3178,843 [4]
December 287:00 p.m.vs. No. 14 Colorado * ESPN W 31–28 OT50,690 [4]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP 25RV252222211923RV
Coaches Poll 2325211817161522RV
BCS Not releasedNot released

Season summary

Coming off a disappointing 57 2001 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 1914 Ohio State win that was Jim Tressel's first over the Badgers (having lost 2017 to Wisconsin the previous year). After going 03 to open their Big Ten slate, Wisconsin defeated Michigan State in Spartan Stadium 4224 for their first conference win of the season. After that game, Wisconsin would lose their next 3 games against Big Ten opponents, including a 203 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 16 in Big Ten play.

To close out the regular season, Wisconsin finally put together a complete game in a 4931 blowout of rival Minnesota, taking back Paul Bunyan's Axe and keeping Minnesota's losing streak in Camp Randall alive. The Badgers improved to 76 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 297 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 3128 in overtime for their 8th win of the season, knocking Colorado to 95 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. [5] QB Brooks Bollinger, in his senior season, completed 131 passes on 245 attempts for 1,758 yards and 14 touchdowns, with just 4 interceptions. [5]

Roster

2002 Wisconsin Badgers football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
G 58Kalvin Barrett Redshirt.svg  So
TE 88Mark Bell Redshirt.svg  Jr
FB 45 Matt Bernstein Redshirt.svg  Fr
FB 39 Erik Bickerstaff Sr
QB 5 Brooks Bollinger  (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
WR 84David Braun Redshirt.svg  Sr
WR 1Byron Brown Redshirt.svg  Jr
G 67 Dan Buenning Redshirt.svg  So
WR 87Darrin CharlesSo
G 50 Jonathan Clinkscale Redshirt.svg  So
QB 11 Owen Daniels Redshirt.svg  Fr
RB 28 Anthony Davis Redshirt.svg  So
OT 75Morgan Davis Redshirt.svg  So
TE 81Bob DochertySo
WR 3 Lee Evans   Cruz Roja.svg  (C)Sr
C 72 Al Johnson  (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
OT 64 Ben Johnson Redshirt.svg  Sr
OT 56Jason Jowers Redshirt.svg  Sr
OL 79Mike Kleber Redshirt.svg  Fr
FB 37Russ Kuhns Redshirt.svg  Sr
OT 61Mike Lorenz Redshirt.svg  So
TE 36Matt Mialik Redshirt.svg  Jr
TE 38 Jason Pociask So
WR 9 Jonathan Orr Redshirt.svg  Fr
TE 85Tony Paciotti Redshirt.svg  So
RB 20Jerrone Pettus Redshirt.svg  So
TE 38Jason Pociask Redshirt.svg  Fr
C, G 53 Donovan Raiola Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 16Matt Schabert Redshirt.svg  So
RB 30Dwayne SmithFr
QB 19 Jim Sorgi Redshirt.svg  Jr
TE 82Rob Tucker Redshirt.svg  Jr
G 66Andy Ulrich Redshirt.svg  So
RB 24LaMarr WatkinsFr
WR 6Brandon WhiteFr
WR 25 Brandon Williams Fr
OT 78 Jake Wood Redshirt.svg  Fr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
S 7Ryan AielloJr
CB 6Brett BellSo
S 42Robert BrooksSo
LB 10Chris Catalano Redshirt.svg  So
DT 97Nick Cochart Redshirt.svg  Jr
CB 4Chuckie Cowans Redshirt.svg  So
S 24Patrick Ellestad Redshirt.svg  So
LB 4Elliot GoodeFr
DT 77 Anttaj Hawthorne So
S 22Nate Howard Redshirt.svg  Jr
DE 90 Erasmus James Jr
DT 74 Jason Jefferson Redshirt.svg  So
DE 98Darius Jones Redshirt.svg  So
S 18 Jim Leonhard So
LB 12 Alex Lewis Jr
DE 91Traison Lewis Redshirt.svg  So
LB 46Jeff Mack Redshirt.svg  Jr
LB 30Kyle McCorison Redshirt.svg  Jr
CB 21 Levonne Rowan Fr
S 14Dontez Sanders Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 15Ryan Simmons Redshirt.svg  Sr
DE 99Jake Sprague Redshirt.svg  Sr
CB 2 Scott Starks So
LB 34Kareem Timbers Redshirt.svg  So
CB 23 B. J. Tucker Sr
DE 92 Jonathan Welsh Redshirt.svg  So
LB 27Broderick Williams Redshirt.svg  Jr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 97Matt AllenSo
K 16Scott CampbellJr
LS 86 Matt Katula Redshirt.svg  So
P 19R. J. MorseSo
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Brian White – Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs
  • Kevin Cosgrove – Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
  • Paul ChrystTight Ends
  • Ron CooperDefensive Backs
  • Jeff HortonQuarterbacks
  • Jim Hueber – Offensive Line and Run Game Coordinator
  • Henry Mason – Wide Receivers
  • Brian Murphy – Outside Linebackers/Special Teams
  • John PalermoAssistant Head Coach/Defensive Line

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster

Game summaries

Fresno State

Fresno State vs Wisconsin – Game summary
Period1234Total
Bulldogs707721
No. 25 Badgers0107623

at Camp Randall Stadium

  • Date: August 23, 2002
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C); Cloudy; Wind at N 6 MPH
  • Game attendance: 75,136
  • Referee: J. Strochertz
  • TV: ESPN
Game information

UNLV

Wisconsin vs UNLV – Game summary
Period1234Total
Badgers0240327
Rebels07007

at Sam Boyd Stadium

  • Date: August 31, 2002
  • Game time: 6:45 p.m.
  • Game weather: 97 °F (36 °C); Cloudy; Wind at SW 11 MPH
  • Game attendance: 42,075
  • Referee: Clair Gausman
  • TV: ESPN2
Game information

West Virginia

West Virginia vs Wisconsin – Game summary
Period1234Total
Mountaineers037717
No. 25 Badgers7270034

at Camp Randall Stadium

  • Date: September 7, 2002
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C); Clear; Wind at SW 7 MPH
  • Game attendance: 76,320
  • Referee: Gene Steratore
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information

Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois vs Wisconsin – Game summary
Period1234Total
Huskies3331221
No. 22 Badgers0107724

at Camp Randall Stadium

  • Date: September 14, 2002
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C); Cloudy; Wind at Var. 5 MPH
  • Game attendance: 77,460
  • Referee: S. Pamon
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information

Arizona

Arizona vs Wisconsin – Game summary
Period1234Total
Wildcats007310
No. 22 Badgers0247031

at Camp Randall Stadium

  • Date: September 21, 2002
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C); Sunny and Clear; Wind at NW 5-7 MPH
  • Game attendance: 78,582
  • Referee: D. Witvoet
  • TV: ESPN2
Game information

#20 Penn State

Penn State vs Wisconsin – Game summary
Period1234Total
No. 20 Nittany Lions10117634
No. 19 Badgers01461131

at Camp Randall Stadium

  • Date: October 5, 2002
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C); Clear; Wind at W 6 MPH
  • Game attendance: 79,403
  • Referee: J. Lapetoma
  • TV: ABC
Game information

Indiana

Wisconsin vs Indiana – Game summary
Period1234Total
No. 23 Badgers61013029
Hoosiers3771532

at Memorial Stadium

  • Date: October 12, 2002
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C); Cloudy; Wind at N/A
  • Game attendance: 31,156
  • Referee: Steve Newman
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information

#4 Ohio State

Ohio State vs Wisconsin – Game summary
Period1234Total
No. 4 Buckeyes1030619
Badgers770014

at Camp Randall Stadium

  • Date: October 19, 2002
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C); Cloudy; Wind at NE 10
  • Game attendance: 79,729
  • Referee: D. Honig
  • TV: ABC
Game information

Michigan State

Wisconsin vs Michigan State – Game summary
Period1234Total
Badgers2177742
Spartans0314724

at Spartan Stadium

  • Date: October 26, 2002
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C); Mostly Cloudy; Wind at W 5
  • Game attendance: 74,507
  • Referee: Dennis Lipski
  • TV: ESPN2
Game information

#9 Iowa

Wisconsin vs Iowa – Game summary
Period1234Total
Badgers03003
No. 9 Hawkeyes01010020

at Kinnick Stadium

  • Date: November 2, 2002
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C); Mostly Sunny; Wind at W 10
  • Game attendance: 70,397
  • Referee: S. Pamon
  • TV: ESPN
Game information

Illinois

Illinois vs Wisconsin – Game summary
Period1234Total
Fighting Illini101431037
Badgers3107020

at Camp Randall Stadium

  • Date: November 9, 2002
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C); Mostly Sunny; Wind at W 10
  • Game attendance: 78,709
  • Referee: S. Pamon
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information

#12 Michigan

Wisconsin vs Michigan – Game summary
Period1234Total
Badgers770014
No. 12 Wolverines1407021

at Michigan Stadium

  • Date: November 16, 2002
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: 35 °F (2 °C); Mostly cloudy; Wind at ENE 15
  • Game attendance: 110,412
  • Referee: S. Newman
  • TV: ESPN
Game information

Minnesota

Minnesota vs Wisconsin – Game summary
Period1234Total
Golden Gophers31110731
Badgers71472149

at Camp Randall Stadium

  • Date: November 23, 2002
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C); Partly cloudy; Wind at W 8
  • Game attendance: 78,843
  • Referee: D. Honig
  • TV: ESPN
Game information

#14 Colorado

Colorado vs Wisconsin – Game summary
Period1234OTTotal
No. 14 Buffaloes140140028
Badgers71407331

at Alamodome

  • Date: December 28, 2002
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors
  • Game attendance: 50,690
  • Referee: Terry Brown
  • TV: ESPN
Game information

Regular starters

Team players selected in the 2003 NFL Draft

PlayerPositionRoundOverall SelectionNFL Team
Al Johnson Center238 Dallas Cowboys
B.J. Tucker Cornerback6178 Dallas Cowboys
Brooks Bollinger Quarterback6200 New York Jets
Ben Johnson Offensive Tackle7216 Detroit Lions

[6]

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References

  1. "Wisconsin Badgers 2002 Football Schedule".
  2. "2002 NCAA Football Rankings - AP Top 25 Postseason (Jan. 5)". ESPN. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  3. Stapleton, Arnie (August 24, 2002). "Late FG Lifts Wisconsin". The Beaufort Gazette . Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "The Automated ScoreBook For Football" (PDF). University of Wisconsin Department of Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "UWBADGERS.COM - The Official Web Site of The Wisconsin Badgers Athletics - Football". Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  6. "2003 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.