Wisconsin is starting to look like Wisconsin again
The Badgers' defense turned in its third straight dominant performance. And had quite the celebration afterward, too.
EVANSTON, Ill. — Wisconsin earned a piece of its identity back on Saturday.
No, not by going under center on fourth-and-1 — the Badgers did do that for a change, too — but by embracing the unadulterated fun that had come to define this program during its heyday.
When pleasantries were done being exchanged following Wisconsin’s 23-3 win at Northwestern, a mass of white and red jerseys darted off the field and among the fans in an open corner of this pop-up stadium.
Their direction? Lake Michigan.
Their purpose? To see strength coach Brady Collins make good on his word and jump in the lake after victory.
“He hopped in there, but he held his own,” receiver Will Pauling said. “He could swim a little bit, handled the cold pretty well.
“Coach Brady’s a crazy guy. He’s always gonna bring that energy. So love him to death and super awesome to see that.”
It doesn’t get more Wisconsin than that.
Damn the elements, even if this was an unusually warm late-October day on the lakefront. Cops still had to help multiple fans out of those same waters at halftime, with signs atop the accompanying rocks warning all passersby to stay out.