Badgers will be healthier for this battle with the Cornhuskers

As Wisconsin gets ready to face Nebraska in Saturday night’s Big Ten football title game, coach Bret Bielema says his Badgers are a lot healthier than the last time they played the Cornhuskers.

Safety Shelton Johnson and defensive ends Brendan Kelly and Pat Muldoon missed that game due to injuries. And linebacker Chris Borland was not quite over a strained MCL knee ligament when he recovered two fumbles by Nebraska in the Badgers’ 30-27 loss back in late September.

All four of those players are expected to be ready for Saturday night’s rematch in Indianapolis. They’ll be needed if Wisconsin hopes to slow down a Nebraska offense which leads the conference in total offense and rushing yards, and is second in scoring with over 35 points a game.

Borland has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, but he practiced in full pads Wednesday.

Among other things, the Badgers hope to contain Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez, who had 187 passing yards and 107 rushing yards in the Huskers win over Wisconsin. Also, Nebraska is fired up by the return of running back Rex Burkhead, who played the second half last week against Iowa after missing four games with an injured left knee.

The 14th-ranked Cornhuskers have won their last six games. Wisconsin has lost three of its last four, all in overtime.

Montee Ball an All-American

For the second year in a row, Wisconsin running back Montee Ball was named today to the coaches association’s All-American team.

The senior was the only Big Ten player to make the squad, after he broke the NCAA record for career touchdowns last week at Penn State.

Earlier this week, Ball was named the Big Ten’s running back of the year for the second time in a row. He also was a consensus All-Conference first team selection by the league’s coaches and media.

Ball is one of two repeat choices on the coaches’ All-American team. The other is Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones.

’Jump Around’ No. 1 college football tradition

Wisconsin’s “Jump Around” has been voted the No. 1 college football tradition in the country. Sports Illustrated.Com had fans vote on their favorite traditions from a list of 16 rituals at college games.

It was 20 years ago when the House of Pain made “Jump Around” a hit. A few years later, young people in the Badger student section jumped up and down when the song was played between the third and fourth quarters in Madison.

Now, almost everybody in the stadium jumps around, causing Camp Randall Stadium to shake. Players from opposing teams often get in the act as well.

Tags: wi sports, sports, proam