Error processing SSI fileFootball: Notebook
Calhoun, Wisconsin well-grounded offensively
Ex-receiver ranks third nationally in rushing yards (157) for Badgers, who are sixth overall.
Barry Alvarez will retire with a losing record against U-M. He is 2-7 against the Wolverines heading into Saturday's game.Related links
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ANN ARBOR -- Brian Calhoun left Colorado because he wanted to be a tailback, not a receiver.
At Wisconsin, Calhoun is running the ball.
And running. And running. And running.
Calhoun (5-foot-10, 194 pounds), who said his motivation this season is to prove he is worthy of being a tailback, is third nationally in rushing, averaging 157 yards. He is fourth in all-purpose yards, averaging 185.3.
As the 14th-ranked Michigan Wolverines (2-1) prepare for their Big Ten opener Saturday at Wisconsin, they are applying much of their focus to Calhoun.
"What I saw was that Brian Calhoun, in the heat down there in North Carolina, I think he only came out for a couple of plays," said coach Lloyd Carr. "He played almost every down, which speaks to how tough he is and how strong he is, and certainly how well-conditioned he is."
The Badgers are sixth nationally in rushing, averaging 272.3 yards. Booker Stanley and Jamil Walker are the other tailbacks, and Matt Bernstein (6-2, 266 pounds) is the Badgers' fullback.
Losing record vs. U-M
Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez, who is retiring after this season, is 2-7 against Michigan.
Why so much trouble with the Wolverines.
"I think it is as simple, just a simple fact that they're pretty good and always have (been)," Alvarez said. "I think if you take a look at every other team in the league, there has been some slipping. Some teams have slipped and had years when they've had down years, but I can't remember a year when Michigan has been down. Their down years are pretty good years.
"They're very talented and their play has been very consistent over the years. Then they've continued to recruit well, and because of their tradition and location, I'm sure they'll continue to do that."
Carr is 6-0 against Wisconsin and 3-0 at Camp Randall Stadium.
Defensive issues
The Badgers are fourth nationally in rush defense, yielding an average 39.7 yards. But Wisconsin has several injuries on defense.
Defensive end Jamal Cooper and tackle Justin Ostrowski are out because of knee injuries. It is unclear whether reserve end Kurt Ware (chicken pox) can play.
Offensive tackle Joe Thomas could switch to defensive end if needed, as he did in the 2003 Music City Bowl.
"Last week we had him ready if need be for a goal-line situation," Alvarez said. "It might be for a play here or there in an emergency. That would be the only way. But there's a possibility."
So what to history?
Michigan has lost its last five road openers, including three on the West Coast.
Receiver Carl Tabb said that is not even an issue for this team.
"The funny thing about stats like we've lost our last five road openers, you can look at a stat like that and take it at face value and say, 'Wow, they haven't won on the road in the last five games,'" Tabb said. "But as a team, we don't look at things the same way that the media will look at things.
"You're saying that we lost our last five road openers, to me, that's surprising because I didn't know that. But at the same time, going into this game, I'm not going to sit and say that we've lost our last five openers, we need to do something special in this one. You have to approach every game the same. I'll never walk into a game saying the chances of winning this one are slimmer because we haven't done it the past five times. If anything, it's going to make me want to win even more."
You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at Angelique.Chengelis@detnews.com.
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