[NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day Two ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Day two of the countdown ... I can smell the tailgates beginning already!:)

Quick reminder of our countdown here ...

> DAYS 1-10: The top coaches of the decade

10) Glen Mason, Minnesota

> DAYS 11-20: The top games of the decade
> DAYS 21-30: The top players of the decade
> DAYS 31-40: The top teams of the decade

So let's continue our journey through the past decade of Big Ten football. As always, feel free to comment, discuss, debate and suggest!

TOP COACHES
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9) Bret Bielema, Wisconsin

(38-14 overall record, 20-12 in league play)

With these type of numbers and two seasons of 10 or more wins, the Cheeseheads might argue that Bielema should be a bit higher on the list ... except for one thing. We really don't know yet how Bielema does when standing on his own two feet. The first of those big-win seasons was really more of an indication of the full cupboard Barry Alvarez left when he departed Madison after the 2005 season. The following two years saw a decline in wins and some wondered whether he was a good fit.

Bielema answered his doubters a bit last year with 10 wins, but the regular season lacked a major win and featured losses to Ohio State, Iowa and Northwestern. Fortunately for Bielema, he capped the 2009-10 season with a major bowl win over Miami in Orlando to get that signature victory. The only problem for him is that now expectations in Madison have surged for 2010.

The young coach was certainly given the keys to a top-notch program when he took over in 2006, and the Badgers rolled to a 12-1 season and Citrus Bowl victory. After the slide to 9 and 7 wins in 2007 and 2008, Bielema returned to Badger football in 2009, pounding the ball and out-physicaling opponents. We will probably have to wait until the coming decade to truly see if the Badgers made the right choice for the long haul, but there’s certainly reason for the cheeseheads to be optimistic with a young coach at the helm and the program poised to become a permanent resident of the league’s upper echelon.

Two down, eight to go ...

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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