Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Varsity - December 29, 2011

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Year-old lessons still fresh for Badgers LUCAS AT LARGE MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM little less than a year ago, UW defensive tackle Ethan Hemer was taking off his gear in front of his Rose Bowl locker stall and peering into the future after a disheartening 21-19 loss to TCU. "Because we've been here,'' Hemer said of the BCS stage, "this gives us more incentive to come back. We know what it's like now. We've got a taste of it and everyone wants to be a part of it again.'' Reminded of those words after practice last week, Hemer sighed and said, "Seems like just yester- day. It really does. The Rose Bowl is definitely still fresh in my mind.'' Pondering the reality of return- ing to Pasadena, he added, "At the end of the game last season there were a lot of emotions — 'We want to get back there,' 'We will get back there' kind of things. A "It's really rewarding now to have our hard work pay off. We're very aware of how blessed we are to be in this situation and we're go- ing to try and take advantage of it. "It's all about recognizing the stage and not letting it overwhelm you. A majority of the guys have been there and seen it so there isn't that awe factor like there was last year.'' The 97th Rose Bowl — presented by Vizio and earmarked "Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories'' — was unique in that TCU was from a non-automatic BCS qualify- ing conference. The Pac-10 vacated its slot when 10 » VARSITY DECEMBER 29, 2011 "It's all about recogniz- ing the stage and not letting it overwhelm you," Ethan Hemer said. "There isn't that awe factor like there was last year.'' Oregon advanced to the national championship game. That opened the door to the Horned Frogs out of the Mountain West Conference. The Badgers were making their first trip to Pasadena since 2000. "I remember walking into the Rose Bowl and the atmosphere itself,'' said Hemer, recalling "how perfect the grass field was, the con- trast in colors (red and purple) and the huge Badger fan base.'' Asked about potential distrac- tions, he said, "You have to be pretty disciplined to stay focused.'' Asked if he was in awe of the surroundings — Did he have big eyes? — he said, "A little bit, yeah.'' But he quickly got up to game speed and played pretty well against TCU — recording a couple of tackles along with registering the key block on Brad Nortman's run on a fake punt. Hemer was unique to the Rose Bowl in that he was a walk-on who was starting; a distinction that he will have again this season against Oregon. He will go on scholarship next semester. The Ducks also take pride in their walk-on program, though walking is not permitted on offense at Oregon. "They pride themselves on their speed and they have it,'' Hemer observed. Practicing for that dimension becomes more problematic. "Their tempo on offense is defi- nitely unlike anything we've ever seen,'' Hemer said. "Just watching them on film, they go fast in every aspect of the game. It's a hard thing to simulate. "But that's not to say it intimi- dates us. We're going to be ready for this game just like they will. What it's going to come down to is the team that comes out and executes the best.'' That was the difference between TCU and Wisconsin. The Horned Frogs made a few more plays — and fewer mistakes. "It was a very empty feeling af- terward knowing that all that work came down to a couple plays,'' Hemer said. "I think it's going to definitely help us because every- thing happens for a reason.' Whether it was the loss to TCU in Pasadena, or the last-second losses to Michigan State and Ohio State, Hemer said, "They definitely made us a better team.'' That will not be forgotten when he returns to the Rose Bowl. "Everything is still fresh,'' he said. "I can go down the line with every returning player and they can still remember how that game ended. That's pretty powerful stuff and we'll definitely use it.''

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