University of Wisconsin Badgers, "On Wisconsin"

[uwbadger12000]

The Badgers just landed WR Nick Toon from Middleton,WI. He is a very good WR and an outstanding kick returner.

[Jeff Cottrill]

Toon Commits to the Badgers

Al Toon's son commits to UW
Junior wide receiver a star at Middleton
By JEFF POTRYKUS
jpotrykus@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 25, 2006

Now that Nick Toon has made an oral commitment to play football for the University of Wisconsin, he inevitably will be compared to his father, Al.

Al Toon was a decorated wide receiver for UW from 1982-'84 and played eight seasons in the National Football League. Nick Toon, a junior wide receiver at Middleton High School, is the first player to commit to UW for its 2007 freshman class.

"You hate to compare somebody to his father," Middleton coach Tim Simon said from his Middleton home Friday afternoon. "Especially somebody who has been as successful as Al Toon, but there is no question he is a lot like Al.

"Not only is he quick and fast and can leap like a gazelle, he is just graceful in everything that he does."

Nick Toon, 6 feet 2 inches and 195 pounds, was a multi-threat player for Middleton last season. He caught 26 passes for 425 yards (16.3 yards per catch), had 15 punt and kick returns for 345 yards (23 yards per return) and rushed four times for 57 yards (14.3 yards per carry).

Al Toon is No. 3 all-time at UW in catches (131) and receiving yards (2,103), No. 2 in single-game receiving yards (252), tied for second with Lee Evans in receiving touchdowns in a season (nine) and tied for third all-time with Jonathan Orr in receiving touchdowns (19).

Two players reinstated: Freshman tailback P.J. Hill and redshirt freshman defensive back Jameson Davis successfully appealed recent suspensions under UW's student-athlete discipline policy, school officials announced Friday.

Hill, expected to battle for the starting tailback position in the spring, was suspended on Jan. 19. He was arrested by university police after he allegedly brandished a bat during an altercation outside a UW dorm. Hill did not injure anyone but was cited for disorderly conduct while armed.

Davis was arrested Feb. 6 in Jefferson County, along with teammate Antonio Freeman. Their car, driven by Davis, was clocked at 101 mph. Marijuana was also allegedly found in the car.

Freeman, who was also suspended, faces a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession. Davis faces two misdemeanor charges, marijuana possession and obstructing an officer.

Budget approved: The UW Athletic Board on Friday approved a $2 increase for men's basketball tickets for the 2006-'07 season and a budget approaching $80 million.

The budget breakdown includes $70.4 million for athletics, $5.4 million for University Ridge golf course and $2.4 million for various camps.

[Renegade Empire]

the UW budget is huge, Minnesota's is somewhere around $52 mil I believe. That just seems wierd that there would be a $30 mil difference between the two schools especially since Minnesota is better than UW :D

[uwbadger12000]

especially in football and basketball, the sports people care about :D

[David Barrionuevo]

Just wanted to see how Badgers fans feel about starting off the 07 season against Washington State. I think it's a great move for the Cougs, especially if the Badgers follow through with their end and come up to either Pullman or Seattle in 08.

Thoughts?

[uwbadger12000]

I don't mind. The Badgers seem to play Pac Ten schools a lot.

[parks]

wow...interesting week...geno cruse and antonio freeman get kicked off the team for "violating team rules," and joe monty is "lucky to be alive" after getting into an accident while driving drunk on his moped at 2 in the morning last friday...and then we get josh ogelsby

[uwbadger12000]

The Badgers get the most highly-touted o-lineman in the country. Great start for Bielema! Now, go out and get Clay.

[mdmgrand]

This season i am not impressed with the Badgers at all.... they are not the offensive machine that they were last year, and they looked to have some trouble with Western Illinois..... They usually seem to play towards their competition though, so who knows

[parks]

oh man...stocco was god awful...the defense did great, but i don't like our chances against michigan with langford out there...he can't cover, and can't tackle...he got bailed out by our safeties so many times yesterday...it was awful...

also, i just recently realized this, but every time stocco has a "great" play (according to the announcers), its almost always when he throws the ball away avoiding a sack after he's stood in the pocket all day...many times this happens with WRs open...the only other time he got credited with a "great" play yesterday was the throw to crooks yesterday, and he actually threw it behind him...crooks adjusted very well and made the catch...

and i dont' want to hear any stocco apologists saying "he was injured" if the guy's injury is so bad he can't hit dywon rowan standing about 5 yards away from him when he has great protection, he really shouldn't be playing, he should be nursing the injury so he can come back healthy for the big game next week...

[Jeff Cottrill]

I agree. Like I said in the other thread. He's just not that good.

[mdmgrand]

Am I the only one who does not see anything good in P.J. Hill?
he just doesnt appear to be good, he's sloppy and doesnt seem to have any quickness at all

[Jeff Cottrill]

What are you getting at? Explain to me how he is sloppy. I just don't know where you're coming from with that. He's solid, but unspectacular. I agree, he's not a burner, but he runs with good power and keeps his legs moving. I don't see a ton of potential for him as a pro, but as a college back he's not too bad. It's not like anyone is proclaiming him as anything more than an average back. The defense is what has been carrying this team thus far anyway.

[mdmgrand]

well i must admit half the reason i am not impressed is because i read a lot of praise about him on a wisconsin sports forum...... i guess i was basically getting at potential, which he clearly does not have much

if Clay (who has clearly been hampered by injuries) decides to come to madison, what would you expect with Hill and Smith there, who would end up changing positions

[Jeff Cottrill]

I honestly don't see the potential in Clay either. I've watched him play and come away disappointed. He does not look fast and his footwork is sloppy. He just dominates the high school level because he is so much bigger than most of his opponents. I don't see him being all that different than Hill is now for them. My high hopes are for Smith to become the man.

I would also like to add that Clay has impressed many people with his play as a linebacker in the past and his future might be brighter there regardless of his production at running back.

This post has been edited by Jeff Cottrill on Sep 27 2006, 01:06 PM

[mdmgrand]

yeah i watched some video and clay seemed quite a bit more dominant playing defense.... and i totally agree with the size being the main factor
but i must say that clay does have a burst and is fast, straightline though....

i keep getting excited for the badgers year in and year out and they always play the same, which is to play up or down to their opponents

[Jeff Cottrill]

Well I honestly did not expect much with so many key losses on the offensive side of the ball. I knew Stocco would struggle this year. He's just lucky that Hill and the tight ends have helped him out a bit.

[uwbadger12000]

The offense really came alive, granted it was against Indiana. The defense really did well also. However, the one thing that worries me, as it has the last couple years, is that the Badgers aren't very good at stopping the running quarterbacks.

[uwbadger12000]

What a game by everyone on the Badgers! The only not-so-bright spots were the multiple turnovers and the extra point play.

[parks]

haha...that game was scary as hell...i find it weird that a team that lives in wisconsin has such issues with weather, meanwhile the opponent doesn't...

i was scared as hell when they got up 21-3, but when they went down the field in no time only to blow it on 3rd and goal and drop a TD, i realized that they were still illinois, and we definitely had a shot