It was definitely a fan-friendly game as Wis-
consin and Oregon took turns scoring touch- downs. At halftime, it was 28-28 and neither de- fense had slowed down the other's offense. In the end, it came down to one snap — the one
that the Badgers didn't get off from the Oregon 25-yard-line as time ran out, at least, according to referee Brad Allen and the officiating crew. The Ducks hung on for a 45-38 win, but what if the Badgers had one more play … "I do think about it,'' Ball said. "I'm positive
we would have scored. There's something spe- cial about Russell in moments like that. I'm sure that he would have found someone open in the end zone.'' Had the Badgers scored, UW coach Bret Bielema was planning on going for two points. "Really? I didn't know that,'' Ball said with
an incredulous double-take last week. "Hey, the man has guts. That's why he's one of the greatest coaches in the nation.'' Reflecting on the 2011 season, Ball posed rhe- torically, "What made us the team that we were? I would have to say what we did after those two losses that could have destroyed any other team. "We found a way to rally together and still get to the Rose Bowl. That was very special.'' And it bodes well for the future, the 2012 team, Ball emphasized. The Badgers have a chance to
make school history by returning to the Rose Bowl for a third-consecutive year. "It's in the back of our minds, of course,'' Ball
said.
That surfaced when the team reported on June 4 for summer conditioning. "The players reminisced a little bit on last sea-
son and what we left on the field,'' Ball said. "To be honest, I see a lot more players who are fo- cused on this season. I can sense a different feel- ing.
"Everybody is attacking the weight room hard
to make sure we win those games that we lost last year. That has been the approach — to be- come stronger and faster and bigger. "The difference for me now is being that vocal
leader — supporting every single player in the weight room. I have to stay on top of everything I do and lead by example. "Our chemistry is already starting to spark as a team.'' Citing his priority list, Ball said, "I want to
help get this team to another Big Ten champion- ship game and a bowl game and I want to beat the records that I set last year. "That's what I'm shooting for, and I promise you that I can come close.'' That's his pledge to play his best, to play his game. Sound familiar?
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