Badgers wiser after ’08 defeat

By BOB BAPTIST

COLUMBUS — Wisconsin is a wiser team, Coach Bret Bielema believes, than the one that pulled defeat from the jaws of victory against Ohio State last year.

For one, safety Jay Valai hasn’t missed any games for helmet-first hits, like those with which he separated Daniel Herron (Warren Harding High) and Dane Sanzenbacher from their senses.

Two, Bielema thinks the Badgers know better now than to try to make a play on the fly rather than be sure of their assignments.

Their ad lib last season cost them when a confused defense gave up Terrelle Pryor’s winning, 11-yard touchdown run with 1:08 remaining. The Buckeyes won 20-17 to snap the Badgers’ 16-game home winning streak.

Ohio State and Wisconsin, undefeated and tied for the Big Ten lead, meet again Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

“Everybody’s got to touch that hot stove once. You’ve only got to get burnt once, and the only way to do it is to do it,” Bielema said. “I think our players are a lot more aware.”

Wisconsin’s defense was not aligned properly on Pryor’s touchdown — the linebackers were huddled toward the middle of the formation — when Ohio State snapped the ball and Pryor ran an option play to the left.

“They were doing some late substituting before their plays the whole game,” linebacker Jaeve McFadden said. “We were supposed to get the call in from the sideline and didn’t get it till real late. I tried to get everybody lined up, but obviously it didn’t work.”

Only Valai was in position to defend the option, and he chose the pitch man. Pryor cut upfield behind Valai and ran into the end zone.

Bielema said his assistant coaches also learned from the breakdown.

“If we’re ever in the situation [again] where they can see something from the sideline and we have a timeout, get it out there, make me aware of it,’ he said.

“We used that in spring ball as well as fall camp: ‘Remember the play against Ohio State.’ We weren’t all set with our communication, and the result was a play that resulted in a touchdown and ultimately a defeat.”

Bielema also addressed another matter in the spring after the Big Ten announced a crackdown on helmet-first hits like the one that resulted in Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman being suspended for the Indiana game on Saturday.

“I walked up to Jay [Valai] and said, ‘ÀúHey, buddy, I can pull out five plays right now that I know were questionable hits by you a year ago. You’ve just got to be smart about the way you’re playing,’ ” Bielema said. “My hat goes off to him because we haven’t had an issue [yet] and he has still been involved.

“If you really want to curb someone’s behavior in a certain way, playing time is the way to do it. I know that Jay doesn’t want to miss one snap of the football.”