What Went Wrong?

It could have been a huge win for Bucky, but it ended being nothing short of a nightmare. A bad dream that seems all to familiar.

While Sparty's offense looked solid early in the game, they were unable to punch it in, and settled for field goals on two drives that looked promising. Wisconsin then went down and James White punched one in the endzone. Bucky was leading 10-3, and it looked like Wisconsin was about to take control. Then the special teams came back on the field.

Follwing a Michigan State field goal, Wisconsi was forced to punt. Another special teams play that would come back to haunt the Badgers. Keyshawn Martin took it the distance, and Wisconsin was now down 13-10. Still a close game, but that is when the offense turned stagnant, and the Michigan State offense came alive. Scoring another touchdown giving them a 20-10 lead heading into halftime.

The Wisconsin offense would be able to answer right off the bat in the second half with a touchdown after a big defensive stop to start the third quarter. Then the defense would yet again falter. The Spartans would answer that score with a touchdown, and would answer the next Wisconsin touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The failing in the fourth quarter would be the defense. Unable to get off the field on multiple occasions on third down, and the Spartans put together a eight minute drive that essentially ended the game. Wisconsin left with only two minutes left in the game were unable to answer and the Spartans went on to the victory.

So far this season it has been the special teams that has either won the game, or lost the game. In the Arizona State game it was almost the special teams that lost it after a kick-off return for a touchdown, and a near catastrophe right before half time with another big kick return. Then late in the forth quarter Jay Valai blocked an extra point that led the Badgers to a 19-20 victory.

In the Michigan State game it was again special teams that gave up the big play, and this time the Badgers were unable to recover. The punt return by Keyshawn Martin came at a huge point in the game. Wisconsin had the crowd back out of the game. They were taking the momentumn in the game. The punt return ended all of that.

Without addressing the special teams concerns, what seemed like a great season could become a below average one. It's not without saying that this is impossible, but with Ohio State and Iowa looming down the road...the problems will need to be fixed soon.