"It is what it is,'' Bielema said of the high expecta- tions for this year's team. "It's a sign of respect. It's something that I know helps in recruiting and helps your program in other areas."
Part of the routine — the final weekend before
the start of the preseason training camp routine — is for Bret to play a round of golf with his dad on Saturday morning. Rounding out the foursome are usually Keith May, a director in the athletic devel- opment office; and Rev. Michael Burke, the pas- tor who married Bret and Jen at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Parish. "Father Mike got a hole-in-one when we played
two years ago,'' Bielema said, "and he claims that the last two Big Ten championships were because of it.'' No Wisconsin team has ever won three consecu-
kind of intrigued me a little bit. "I've never taken a cooking class; I've never read
a book on cooking. It's the kind of thing where I've either seen something (prepared) in a restaurant or it just comes together in my mind.'' Bielema can be quite creative with his menu, al-
though he started Friday's dinner with a standard lettuce wedge; blue cheese dressing and French drizzle, and some black olives. The sides included sautéed spinach with red onion and a little bit of garlic and olive oil; and stir fry (a Bielema staple) with brown rice and peas. Marinated steak filets were the main course. "I do like experimenting, which I'll usually do
when it's just Jen and I,'' he said. "I also love to turn some music on; relax and let everyone enjoy the meal as I cook and prepare.'' On this night, Marilyn and Arnie dined with Frank Sinatra while Jen listened to Michael Buble.
tive league titles, which is part of the challenge awaiting Bielema and the 2012 Badgers, who are the favorites in the Leaders Division. Make that consensus favorites since neither
Ohio State, nor Penn State, is eligible for postsea- son competition, including the Big Ten champion- ship game in Indianapolis. Being cast in the favorite's role is not a burden to Bielema. "It is what it is,'' he said. "It's a sign of re- spect. It's something that I know helps in recruiting and helps your program in other areas.'' Despite the elevated national profile, Bielema
can't help but think about how much higher it could have been had victory not slipped through Wiscon- sin's grasp against TCU and Oregon in back-to- back Rose Bowls. "If you didn't care who won, if you didn't have a favorite, they were both great games to watch,'' he said. "On the flip side, in that caliber of a BCS game, you're playing a great team in all phases. "You have to be prepared … on offense, defense
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