Tag Archives: Wisconsin

LeAnn Rimes Tears Up At First Concert Out Of Rehab

Sounds like this was therapeutic for all!

LeAnn Rimes took a break from rehab this past weekend to fly to Eau Claire, Wisconsin to perform for fans, who were treated with a very intimate evening from the country cutie.

So intimate, in fact, that the 30-year-old began to tear up while performing one of her ballads! The power of love, huh!

The waterworks didn’t last long though and, despite all that “stress and anxiety,” LeAnn shared lots of laughs with her audience too.

Her treatment program seems to be working because LeAnn really seemed to be able to put her problems behind her and just enjoy her time on stage during the 70-minute set.

As far as we know she’s resuming her stay at the recovery center this week, but will be packing her bags again this weekend for a trip to Maine where she’ll perform at the Oxford County Fair.

[Image via Splash News.]

LeAnn Rimes Breaks Free From Rehab For Fans!

Crooning country Queen LeAnn Rimes may be working out some personal issues during a 30 day rehab program, but at least the girl is mentally well enough to fly to her Wisconsin fans for a show!

LeAnn posted on her personal website:

“I’m on a plane headed to see all my fans in Wisconsin tonight! I can’t wait to play, I’m so ready. I’ve got a zillion fashion mags, my journal, ipod, water and a butterfinger. I’m all set :) Seems I’ve developed a sweet tooth after turning 30. If that’s all that comes with 30, I think I’m settinling in pretty well. So far, the new decade is treating me great! Hope you all have a fantastic weekend and I look forward to seeing all of my fans and friends over the next 3 days.”

Aww, well it’s good to hear her sounding so chipper amidst profanity lawsuits and whatever ‘coping’ problems she has that pushed her to seek rehab in the first place.

Keep up the self-reflection LeAnn! Get you mind smoothed out so you can continue to pleasure the world with that iconic voice of yours!

[Image via WENN.]

LeAnn Rimes Breaks Free From Rehab For Fans!

Crooning country Queen LeAnn Rimes may be working out some personal issues during a 30 day rehab program, but at least the girl is mentally well enough to fly to her Wisconsin fans for a show!

LeAnn posted on her personal website:

“I’m on a plane headed to see all my fans in Wisconsin tonight! I can’t wait to play, I’m so ready. I’ve got a zillion fashion mags, my journal, ipod, water and a butterfinger. I’m all set :) Seems I’ve developed a sweet tooth after turning 30. If that’s all that comes with 30, I think I’m settinling in pretty well. So far, the new decade is treating me great! Hope you all have a fantastic weekend and I look forward to seeing all of my fans and friends over the next 3 days.”

Aww, well it’s good to hear her sounding so chipper amidst profanity lawsuits and whatever ‘coping’ problems she has that pushed her to seek rehab in the first place.

Keep up the self-reflection LeAnn! Get you mind smoothed out so you can continue to pleasure the world with that iconic voice of yours!

[Image via WENN.]

Wisconsin star RB Ball attacked on campus

Five men attacked Wisconsin RB Montee Ball, a top Heisman Trophy candidate, near the school’s campus early Wednesday morning.

According to the police report, the men knocked Ball to the ground, kicked him and ran off. The attack was unprovoked, and Ball was treated and released from the hospital with head injuries.

The Badgers begin practice on Monday and open their regular season on Sept. 1. Head coach Bret Bielema expects Ball to make a full recovery.

Ball decided to return to Wisconsin for his senior season after rushing for 1,923 yards last season and tying Barry Sanders’ NCAA record with 39 touchdowns.

Danny O’Brien transfers to Wisconsin

ESPN – Wisconsin has added another coveted quarterback transfer, as Danny O’Brien will suit up for the Badgers.

The team on Tuesday announced the signing of O’Brien after the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported his arrival. Because O’Brien graduated from Maryland in three years, he will have two seasons of eligibility at Wisconsin and can play right away.

Bret Bielema confronted Urban Meyer over recruiting tactics

In the two months following his hiring by Ohio State, Urban Meyer took what was shaping up to be a middle-of-the-road recruiting class and turned it into a consensus top-five group by the time National Signing Day 2012 had been put to bed.

In getting to as high as No. 3 in the Scout.com rankings, Meyer and his coaching staff flipped several highly-touted recruits, including some who had been verbally committed to other Big Ten schools. Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan State all felt the Meyer Effect in one way or the other on the recruiting trail, and it was the latter two programs that have not been shy about expressing their “displeasure” with the recruiting tactics that have brought to the conference.

Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema told reporters that he had prior concerns over what he considered recruiting tactics on the part of the new OSU regime that were — his word — illegal. As a result, Bielema claims to have spoken to Meyer about the situation and resolved whatever issue there was.

Full story on College Football Talk

Montee Ball returning to Wisconsin

Wisconsin running back Montee Ball has decided to remain in school for his senior season rather than bolting for the NFL draft, according to ESPN.

Ball, a Heisman Trophy finalist and the Big Ten’s offensive player of the year this season, announced his decision Thursday afternoon in Madison. He said the NFL draft advisory board gave him a third-round grade, which left him “disappointed.”

He lost significant weight after the 2010 season, but plans to put on more weight in preparation for the 2012 season.

Ball said he’s returning to “better myself, my stock and also my team.”

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Ball as the nation’s No. 5 junior running back.

Wisconsin Rose Bowl Uniforms Released

Three days after Nike and Oregon set the internet ablaze with the unveiling of “Duck Vader” Rose Bowl uniforms, Wisconsin’s new look for the Jan. 2 game has been released by Adidas and the results, as expected, are a lot more modest.

As shown on the Football Fanatics website last week, the Badgers’ uniform features rose-patterned numbers on the front and a standard Rose Bowl patch. The helmets also have a rose pattern on them.

We have already admitted to being traditionalists so it should be no surprise we are a big fan of these. They are understated and don’t completely overhaul a solid uniform-helmet combo but also add some nice flavor for the “Grandaddy of Them All.”

Continue Story on Lost Lettermen

Pitt to hire Paul Chryst as coach

Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst will be the next coach at Pittsburgh, sources told ESPN’s Joe Schad on Wednesday.

Pitt was left scrambling for a coach after Arizona State plucked Todd Graham Dec. 14 after one season with the Panthers.

Chryst, 46, was a candidate for Pitt’s coaching vacancy last year, and was under consideration for recent openings at Illinois and Kansas.

He joined the Badgers as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2005, and was previously Wisconsin’s tight ends coach in 2002. He was offensive coordinator at Oregon State from 2003-04 and served as an assistant with the San Diego Chargers from 1999-2001.

Continue Story on ESPN

Dayne Crist considering Wisconsin, Kansas as transfer options

Dayne Crist is nearing a decision on where he will play his senior season.

Crist, who spent four years at Notre Dame, is eligible for next season because he graduated this fall.

He has visited both Kansas and Wisconsin in recent days.

Playing for the Jayhawks would reunite him with former coach Charlie Weis, who recruited Crist to Notre Dame.

Weis was hired earlier this month after one year as the offensive coordinator at Florida.

“He’s been supportive of me the last four years whether he was here or not,” Crist told WNDU in South Bend. “Always staying involved in my life. Always helped me along and gave me advice even before he was at Kansas.

“I have a high comfort level with the offense he runs—know it very well. It would be a pretty good advantage walking in the door.”

Continue Story on USA Today

2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Week 6 Rankings – AP Top 25

2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Week 6 Rankings – AP Top 25

1 Syracuse (51) 10-0 1,607
2 Ohio State (7) 8-1 1,478
3 Kentucky (4) 8-1 1,468
4 Louisville (2) 9-0 1,374
5 North Carolina (1) 8-2 1,373
6 Baylor 7-0 1,284
7 Duke 9-1 1,273
8 Xavier 8-0 1,122
9 Connecticut 8-1 1,087
10 Missouri 9-0 1,030
11 Marquette 9-0 988
12 Kansas 7-2 945
13 Florida 7-2 891
14 Wisconsin 8-2 728
15 Pittsburgh 9-1 696
16 Georgetown 8-1 602
17 Mississippi State 9-1 574
18 Indiana 9-0 462
19 Illinois 10-0 375
20 Michigan 7-2 354
21 Michigan State 8-2 310
22 Texas A&M 8-1 270
23 Alabama 8-2 204
24 Murray State 10-0 93
25 Creighton 7-1 88
25 Vanderbilt 6-3 88

Others receiving votes: Harvard 73, San Diego State 59, Virginia 57, UNLV 41, Stanford 39, Saint Louis 26, Gonzaga 25, Memphis 13, Northern Iowa 7, Cleveland State 7, Arizona 5, California 3, Long Beach State 3, Northwestern 2, Wichita State 1

Dropped from rankings: Memphis 21, Gonzaga 23, Harvard 25

QB Dayne Crist could land at Wisconsin

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported earlier this week that sources say former Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist is very interested in Wisconsin as a transfer destination. He has one year of eligibility remaining, and because he’s set to graduate this month, he could play in 2012. It was the same situation with Russell Wilson, who completed his undergraduate requirements at NC State and could play immediately for Wisconsin.

Full Story

2011 NCAA Football Rankings – Final BCS Standings

2011 NCAA Football Rankings – Final BCS Standings

1 LSU 13-0
2 Alabama 11-1
3 Oklahoma State 11-1
4 Stanford 11-1
5 Oregon 11-2
6 Arkansas 10-2
7 Boise State 11-1
8 Kansas State 10-2
9 South Carolina 10-2
10 Wisconsin 11-2
11 Virginia Tech 11-2
12 Baylor 9-3
13 Michigan 10-2
14 Oklahoma 9-3
15 Clemson 10-3
16 Georgia 10-3
17 Michigan State 10-3
18 TCU 10-2
19 Houston 12-1
20 Nebraska 9-3
21 Southern Miss 11-2
22 Penn State 9-3
23 West Virginia 9-3
24 Texas 7-5
25 Auburn 7-5

2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Week 5 Rankings – Coaches Poll

2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Week 5 Rankings – Coaches Poll

1 Kentucky (19) 8-0 763
2 Ohio State (11) 8-0 754
3 Syracuse (1) 8-0 713
4 Louisville 7-0 654
5 Duke 7-1 611
6 North Carolina 6-2 594
7 Baylor 7-0 582
8 Xavier 6-0 538
9 Connecticut 7-1 533
10 Missouri 7-0 511
11 Marquette 7-0 468
12 Florida 5-2 419
13 Kansas 5-2 385
14 Pittsburgh 7-1 359
15 Alabama 7-1 326
16 Wisconsin 6-2 306
17 Creighton 7-0 222
18 Mississippi State 8-1 208
19 Michigan 6-2 164
20 Memphis 4-2 154
21 Georgetown 7-1 136
22 Gonzaga 5-1 96
22 Illinois 8-0 96
24 Harvard 8-0 95
25 Texas A&M 6-1 79

Others receiving votes: UNLV 62, Vanderbilt 61, California 32, San Diego State 30, Michigan State 29, Indiana 23, Saint Louis 18, Northwestern 8, Murray State 8, Stanford 7, Kansas State 4, Purdue 4, Saint Mary’s 4, Virginia 4, Washington 3, Cincinnati 3, Cleveland State 3, Tulane 2, Arizona 2, George Mason 1, Northern Iowa 1

Dropped from rankings: Vanderbilt 19, UNLV 20, California 23, Saint Louis 25

2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Week 5 Rankings – AP Top 25

2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Week 5 Rankings – AP Top 25

1 Kentucky (47) 8-0 1,606
2 Ohio State (18) 8-0 1,575
3 Syracuse 8-0 1,491
4 North Carolina 6-2 1,328
5 Louisville 7-0 1,325
6 Baylor 7-0 1,283
7 Duke 7-1 1,264
8 Xavier 6-0 1,133
9 Connecticut 7-1 1,120
10 Missouri 7-0 1,009
11 Marquette 7-0 982
12 Florida 5-2 923
13 Kansas 5-2 833
14 Wisconsin 6-2 665
15 Pittsburgh 7-1 660
16 Alabama 7-1 635
17 Mississippi State 8-1 493
18 Georgetown 7-1 491
19 Creighton 7-0 352
20 Michigan 6-2 312
21 Memphis 4-2 216
22 Texas A&M 6-1 199
23 Gonzaga 5-1 197
24 Illinois 8-0 193
25 Harvard 8-0 191

Others receiving votes: UNLV 188, Vanderbilt 141, Michigan State 135, San Diego State 50, Virginia 26, Saint Louis 25, Stanford 23, Purdue 12, California 11, Cleveland State 9, Florida State 7, Kansas State 6, Arizona 5, Indiana 4, Murray State 2, Northern Iowa 2, Oregon State 2, UC Santa Barbara 1

Dropped from rankings: UNLV 18, Vanderbilt 20, Saint Louis 23, California 24

2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 14 – USA Today Poll

2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 14 – USA Today Poll

1 LSU (59) 12-0 1475
2 Alabama 11-1 1411
3 Virginia Tech 11-1 1291
4 Stanford 11-1 1289
5 Oklahoma State 10-1 1245
6 Houston 12-0 1096
7 Oregon 10-2 1041
8 Boise State 10-1 1033
9 Michigan State 10-2 941
10 Arkansas 10-2 937
11 Oklahoma 9-2 882
12 Wisconsin 10-2 852
13 South Carolina 10-2 833
14 Georgia 10-2 816
15 Kansas State 9-2 681
16 Michigan 10-2 658
17 TCU 9-2 534
18 Baylor 8-3 457
19 Nebraska 9-3 390
20 West Virginia 8-3 295
21 Clemson 9-3 286
22 Penn State 9-3 192
23 Southern Miss 10-2 173
24 Florida State 8-4 86
25 Cincinnati 8-3 56

Dropped from rankings: Georgia Tech 21, Notre Dame 24, Virginia 25

Others receiving votes: Texas 51, Georgia Tech 42, Brigham Young 29, Notre Dame 29, Northern Illinois 19, Missouri 16, Arkansas State 13, Ohio 8, Virginia 8, Rutgers 6, Louisiana Tech 4

2011 NCAA Football Rankings – 7th BCS Standings

2011 NCAA Football Rankings – 7th BCS Standings

1 LSU 12-0
2 Alabama 11-1
3 Oklahoma State 10-1
4 Stanford 11-1
5 Virginia Tech 11-1
6 Houston 12-0
7 Boise State 10-1
8 Arkansas 10-2
9 Oregon 10-2
10 Oklahoma 9-2
11 Kansas State 9-2
12 South Carolina 10-2
13 Michigan State 10-2
14 Georgia 10-2
15 Wisconsin 10-2
16 Michigan 10-2
17 Baylor 8-3
18 TCU 9-2
19 Nebraska 9-3
20 Clemson 9-3
21 Penn State 9-3
22 Texas 7-4
23 West Virginia 8-3
24 Southern Miss 10-2
25 Missouri 7-5

2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Week 4 Rankings – ESPN/USA Today Poll

2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Week 4 Rankings – ESPN/USA Today Poll

1 Kentucky (22) 6-0 765
2 Ohio State (8) 6-0 748
3 Syracuse (1) 6-0 701
4 Duke 7-0 691
5 North Carolina 5-1 628
6 Louisville 5-0 620
7 Wisconsin 6-0 530
8 Baylor 5-0 509
9 Florida 4-1 493
10 Connecticut 6-1 456
11 Xavier 4-0 447
12 Alabama 7-0 443
13 Missouri 6-0 356
14 Kansas 3-2 342
15 Michigan 5-1 310
16 Marquette 5-0 309
17 Pittsburgh 5-1 287
18 Gonzaga 4-0 248
19 Vanderbilt 5-1 200
20 UNLV 7-0 186
21 Memphis 2-2 145
22 Creighton 5-0 104
23 California 5-1 98
24 Mississippi State 7-1 86
25 Saint Louis 6-0 78

Others receiving votes: Texas A&M 63, Harvard 61, Arizona 27, Florida State 25, Purdue 25, Northwestern 23, San Diego State 20, Cleveland State 12, Georgetown 8, Michigan State 8, Illinois 7, Indiana 3, Marshall 3, George Mason 3, Washington 3, Texas 2, Stanford 1, Cincinnati 1

Dropped from rankings: Florida State 20, Arizona 23, Texas A&M 24

Badgers to face Spartans for Big 10 title

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema has seen the highlight over and over, more times than he’d care to remember.

The deflected Hail Mary pass fell into the arms of Michigan State wide receiver Keith Nichol, who wrestled it over the goal line. After a replay review ruled in Michigan State’s favor, the Spartans were celebrating a wild last-second victory.

That loss, combined with a shockingly similar defeat at Ohio State the following week, erased Wisconsin from the national championship picture. But when No. 15 Wisconsin takes on No. 11 Michigan State in Saturday’s Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis, the Badgers won’t be using revenge as their motivation.

“Michigan State earned that victory,” Bielema said. “Obviously, they scored more points than we did and were able to execute at the end of the game in a way that gave them a victory. And our kids have to take that and learn from it.”

Instead of seeking revenge, Wisconsin players see Saturday’s game as a chance to continue what has been an impressive rebound from those two late collapses.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Badgers linebacker Chris Borland said after Saturday’s victory over Penn State. “We were frustrated with the way that game ended. But we’re not going to overplay the revenge thing.”

For Michigan State, it’s a chance to go to the Rose Bowl after being shut out of the BCS last season.

“We felt like we were the odd man out, felt like we at the very least should have gone to a BCS game,” Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said. “We played a tough schedule. There were all those things that were documented or whatever, we talked about last year. So we were sort of the odd man out. But in retrospect, we didn’t play at that level when we had a chance to play in the Capital One bowl game, so that ended the discussion as far as I was concerned.”

Michigan State (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten) clinched the Big Ten Legends division early. Wisconsin (10-2, 6-2) had to beat Penn State on Saturday to claim the Leaders division on a tiebreaker and secure a spot in the title game.

That means the Big Ten’s powerhouse programs — Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska — all will be watching from home Saturday.

“You can’t erase the history that those four schools have had,” Bielema said. “But history is in history books. We try to focus on the now, what’s in the newspapers today. And I really respect and admire everything about what we’ve done here at Wisconsin, and the same thing could be said there at Michigan State.”

Dantonio said it’s natural for programs to fluctuate over the years, and he believes he has Michigan State on the upswing.

“Right now, Michigan State is moving in the direction that we want it to move,” Dantonio said. “It’s not an end deal yet, I don’t think we’ve accomplished our ultimate goal yet. But we’re very, very close and we’re very excited about the opportunity to be able to do that.”

For the Big Ten, a rematch in conference play is something of a novelty.

“We’ve played them five times since we’ve been here, so we know each other, that’s for sure,” Dantonio said. “We’ve played them every year, and now we’ll get to play them chance No. 6. We’ve won three out of the last four. I think that needs to be recognized by our players and it gives us confidence. We understand what we’re up against, the challenges that we face and we look forward to a great football game.”

And Dantonio said the frantic nature of the Oct. 22 victory over the Badgers showed him that neither team is likely to quit.

“Both teams have a way of hanging in there and continuing to play,” Dantonio said. “To me, that’s impressive. It’s one thing to be a good football team when everything’s going well. When things don’t go so well and somebody has to make a play and you keep playing, those are the things that impress people.”

And both coaches expect the Big Ten title game to create a buzz, both nationally and in Indianapolis.

“I don’t think there’s a hotel room in town there in Indy,” Dantonio said. “If there is, let me know, because I’ve got some people looking for them.”

Bielema is looking forward to the big stage.

“When we added Nebraska, I think there was no doubt in our mind that this was going to be a successful opportunity for our conference to showcase the two best teams over the course of the season, and I (think) the two best teams did get to Indianapolis,” Bielema said. “I really have a lot of respect for many of the teams in our league, but Michigan State and ourselves got to this point. And there’s a buzz now.”