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LUCAS AT LARGE M I K E LUCA S • UWB A DGERS.C OM Badgers know Big Brother is watching I t didn't take long for Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen to cut to the chase with his firstyear players, which include his tendered freshmen and junior college transfers. "I met with them as a group and took them through our policy manual for about an hour,'' said Andersen, who also met individual with each player shortly upon their arrival in Madison. "I just want them to be as comfortable as they can be to understand, number one, they have an obligation now to perform academically and socially. "They have more pressure on them than they've ever had before to take care of business and move themselves through life and they have to prepare for football. "But,'' Andersen said with emphasis, "I want them to know that we're here for them and what we told them in recruiting ― that we're going to take care of them first ― starts now. "We have to put our money where our mouth is ― as a program and as a group of coaches ― to take care of these kids as they go through the transition. "They're going to get homesick, they're going to have their dilemmas and they're not going to know where they are going some days (on campus).'' Andersen has responded by implementing his Big Brother program. "Some of our upperclassmen are 8 » VARSITY JUNE 20, 2013 going to be asked to take care of these kids and help them adjust,'' he said. "That's kind of how we deal with it. "If a young guy has an issue, if he's late for a class, or he can't find his way to the right spot, his big brother has got to ― and it's not an option ― be able to take care of him and get him in the right spot. "That little brother has to feel like he can call the big brother.'' They know that they can always call and reach out to their coaches, Andersen noted. But very often young players communicate more easily, and freely, with their own teammates. The coaching staff will mix and match by position, geography and personality. Quarterback Tanner McEvoy, a JC transfer, has drawn quarterback Curt Phillips, a sixthyear senior, for a big brother. Andersen agreed it's an interesting pairing since McEvoy is expected to be in the mix ― with Phillips and Joel Stave ― to be the starter. Andersen has already talked to McEvoy about expectations. "He has gone through some of this before, obviously,'' said Andersen, alluding to McEvoy's transition after transferring from South Carolina to Arizona Western Community College. "But you can't be your own worst enemy, especially at that position. You've got to be able to roll with the punches a little bit and take every day as it comes ― you have to take it one day at a time. "Right now, it's coming in waves and he's going to learn the offense through a fire hose basically without a coach telling him how to learn it until we get back in August (for the start of training camp). "There's a lot on his plate, but I think he will handle it well.'' Andersen feels the same way about another JC transfer, Tekeim "T.J.'' Reynard, who spent last season at Independence (Kan.) Community College. Reynard is a defensive back from Virginia Beach, Va. "The way they've handled themselves since we signed them to get all the work done and get through the process has been impressive,'' he said of Reynard and McEvoy. "They're very competitive.'' On any level, however, there's still a transition and he pointed out "it's a major adjustment more so for the freshmen.'' So what's next for Andersen's first recruiting class at Wisconsin? "They'll all be given an opportunity to compete whether they're a freshman or a junior college transfer,'' he said. "The offensive linemen are young and kind of developmental type kids. "Obviously, there are a couple of skill kids who will have the opportunity to play early. "But it's too early to name names there.'' All of the first-year players can count on one thing. Big Brother will be watching.