MAKING A CONNECTION Markuson has been around some
special running backs, too, includ- ing the Arkansas tag-team of Dar- ren McFadden and Felix Jones; a couple of 1,000-yard rushers. The Badgers beat the Hogs, 17-14,
in the 2007 Capital One Bowl and Markuson still hasn't forgotten how UW cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu tackled McFadden from behind, saving a touchdown. "We were amazed he caught
him,'' said Markuson, noting Pey- ton Hillis was also in that backfield with McFadden and Jones. In 2010, Hillis rushed for over 1,000 yards with the Cleveland Browns. "Good backs can make a great offensive line,'' he went on. "Those guys got into the hole so fast that big things happened. It might be stop, stop and one goes for 70 or 80 yards.''
Breaking from Nutt has afforded Markuson a fresh start.
"All good things have to come to
an end,'' he rationalized. "Meeting new people and getting in a new system and going out there and do- ing something different is invigo- rating.''
Although he doesn't have a per- sonal connection to Wisconsin's new offensive coordinator Matt Canada, he has a link to him through one of his former colleague at Arkansas. "We're all connected to some-
one,'' he said. "It's a small frater- nity.''
Alvarez was probably thinking the same thing. "Mike will be an unbelievable fit here,'' Alvarez said.
That was the backdrop to Buh formally meeting in Madison with Wisconsin's co-defensive coordinators: defensive line coach Charlie Partridge and secondary coach Chris Ash.
"We met quite a bit through this whole process,'' said Buh. "It was normal conversational stuff; most of it was me listening and then responding to some of the ques- tions that they had. "We started talking about family and where I've been and who I've coached and we then tran- sitioned into some (defen- sive) schemes and how I coached.
"They really seemed like pros. It never felt like an interview.''
Maybe that's because Buh has been in their position.
"When you've been a coordinator like I've been here (Nevada),'' he said, "you rely on your staff which typically doesn't get the credit that the coordi- nator does.
"But the strength of a coordinator is his staff – the continuity that is there – and being able to bring up ideas and figure out things together in a quick and de- tailed manner.''
Buh is replacing Dave Huxtable, who had taken a similar career path. Huxtable gave up his defensive coordinator's title at Central Florida to coach the Badger linebackers during the 2011 season.
"It wasn't an issue to change titles,'' Buh emphasized. "Wisconsin is a national program chasing Big Ten titles and national championships. They're competing at the highest level and they have a record that reflects a consistent winner.
"That made my decision to be a position coach again very easy.'' » Read More on UWBadgers.com
47
