If the players were seeking leadership from the top — in terms of preparing themselves for the physical grind of a season — they got it from Johnson who recently competed in his fourth Ironman Wisconsin triathlon.
“I got to the finish line again,’’ he said proudly. “My best one as far as time was my second one. This was my best one as far as how I was feeling at the end.
“Why do I do it? I don’t know, but I get asked that a lot. I guess to stay in shape. I think you need the challenge to keep working out and keep motivated.’’
Johnson’s motivation can be very subtle.
“My only message to them was, ‘Come to practice every day with a smile on your face and be ready to work,’’’ he said. “Each day we’ll get a little better. We’ll get tested on the weekends.
“We’ll wake up on Monday, figure out what we did well, what we didn’t do well and what we need to do to get better. If we get into that pattern, we’ll put ourselves in a position to be successful.’’
The Badgers will unveil their championship banner before Friday’s game at the Kohl Center.
“It will be one of those memories that will sit in the back of their minds the rest of their lives,’’ he said. “How are they going to react? I just hope when they drop the puck we’re ready to play.’’
That’s a given with a Johnson-coached team. But can this one match his last one?
Especially since the Badgers will be opening the 2011-12 season on a 27-game unbeaten streak.
“Last year was pretty unique,’’ he said. “Time will tell.’’
