Bradbury Robinson, Father of the Forward Pass

Bradbury Robinson’s name may not be recognizable to casual or even hardcore football fans today, but his influence on the sport has made the game what it continues to be today. In an era where passing rules are amended to protect the quarterback and make things easier for wide receivers it can be difficult to remember that the game once rarely featured a single pass in the game. In fact, it was illegal until Robinson suggested to that be changed.

Robinson, born in Ohio and raised in St. Louis, attended the University of Wisconsin in 1903, with his arrival to the football team was reported to be a sigh of relief. As one unidentified reporter explained at the time, Robinson’s unique athleticism would help the “football eleven” fill a void after losing one of their star players from the year before who had accepted a job as a high school coach for a sum of $500. Wisconsin’s “Cardinal team” (Wisconsin fielded two separate football teams, reminiscent to Varsity and JV or freshmen squads) finished the season with a 6-3-1 record, finishing sixth in the Western Conference (today’s Big Ten). Robinson became a rising figure in the sport with two touchdowns in an 87-0 victory over Beloit (a Division 3 school in Wisconsin today).

“Robinson’s star work seems to show [the] second eleven is not far behind the first,” a newspaper report on the game described. Robinson’s influence on the game was about to change in a much greater way though when President Theodore Roosevelt sought suggestions on how to make the sport of football safer and more enjoyable.

Robinson’s suggestion? The forward pass. … Continue Reading

Quotable: Wisconsin’s Gary Andersen on importance of defense

Wisconsin has found their new head coach, the defensive-minded Gary Andersen. The now former Utah State head coach is coming off the most successful season in school history, with 11 wins and a blowout bowl victory against Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. As ironic as it may be, a loss at Wisconsin may have kept the Aggies from making a push to play the role of BCS Buster this season.

Gary Andersen got a taste of Madison earlier in 2012. Now he will be leading the program. Getty Images.

I like the hire of Andersen at Wisconsin because I think he fits that typical Big Ten mold that focuses on sound defense. He also joins a division with one of his former bosses, Ohio State’s Urban Meyer, so this could be fun.

Last week I had the opportunity to interview Andersen as his team was prepping for the bowl game. The interview focused mostly on Utah State’s 2012 season and the match-up with Toledo but I asked Andersen about his thoughts on the importance of defense in an era that is flooded with offenses going up-tempo and scoring points at will in some cases. I tend to agree with his answer, suggesting that college football goes in cycles and defenses will eventually catch-up.

“Football is a cyclical game,” Andersen told me for the interview on Crystal Ball Run. “It starts with something, than people figure it out, then it goes to the no-huddle, then pace, then defenses spend the whole off-season trying to figure it out, then offenses do something else to counter it. That’s what coaches do. … Continue Reading

Episode 133 – 2012 Big Ten Championship Game Preview

Wisconsin and Nebraska collide in the Big Ten championship game Saturday night.

The Big Ten is still getting used to this whole championship game idea, but at least the two schools meeting in Indianapolis are pretty well adjusted to it. Wisconsin returns to Indianapolis this week to make their second straight trip representing the Leaders Division, although this year they arrive thanks to NCAA sanctions to undefeated Ohio State and second place Penn State. Nebraska, on the other hand, earned their place in the game in their second season in the Big Ten, and two trips to the Big 12 championship game are still fresh in the memories of a number of Huskers.

Can Wisconsin defend their conference crown and return to the Rose Bowl, or can Bo Pelini and his Huskers finally get that conference championship monkey off their backs? Regardless of the outcome, it should make for a competitive and entertaining game.

To preview the championship game from both perspectives I was happy to welcome two past guests to this special Big Ten championship game preview podcast. We begin by discussing Nebraska with Brandon Cavanaugh (@eightlaces) from Rant Sports. In the second half we talk about Wisconsin with Andy Coppens (@andycoppens) from Madtown Badgers and Delany’s Dozen.

Don’t forget, this podcast can be heard at anytime on Stitcher Radio (and click here for a promo code to get started and a chance to win $100)!

A portion of this podcast will be featured in our first ever encore presentation Friday evening, airing live on Pioneer Digital TV channels 150 and 152 in Oklahoma, and parts of Texas and Kansas where available. Click here for more information, and stay tuned for some announcements for the podcast and site coming soon.

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Wisconsin building a new scoreboard

Via Wisconsin Football Twitter

One of the benefits of Big Ten expansion and on-field success for Wisconsin is having additional funds available to work on some stadium renovations. The two-time Big Ten Leaders Division champions are looking to make it three straight trips to Pasadena to represent the conference in the Rose Bowl (maybe the third time is the charm?), but today we got a glimpse in to a nice little stadium upgrade already underway at Camp Randall Stadium. … Continue Reading

Big Ten Championship Game scenarios for Nebraska, Michigan

With one final weekend in the regular season to play, the battles for the Big Ten’s Legends Division championship will determine who goes to Indianapolis to play in the Big Ten Championship Game. In an odd twist this season, the Big Ten’s Leaders Division champion will not get to play for the Big Ten’s automatic BCS spot, as the Ohio State Buckeyes are serving a postseason ban this season and are ineligible for the championship game and a bowl game.

Even though Ohio State has clinched the outright Leaders Division title this season and can complete an undefeated season this weekend, it will be the Wisconsin Badgers heading to their second straight Big Ten Championship Game. Wisconsin locked up a spot in the championship game a couple of weeks ago, thanks in part to Ohio State and Penn State being ineligible. Wisconsin lost a tough one to Ohio State last weekend and heads to Penn State this weekend looking to build some momentum as they prepare to return to Indianapolis next week.

Figuring out who Wisconsin will face is pretty straight forward. It will be Nebraska or Michigan. … Continue Reading