PICKING ON TEAMS THAT HAVE WORSE TROUBLES. Thus does Jim Hu characterize Wisconsin's rather ugly win over Northern Illinois today.

Northern Illinois, losers of four straight, suffered its worst defeat since a 73-7 setback at Kansas State in 1998 and didn't get a first down until just over a minute to play in the first half.

No doubt the retirement watch will stress that piece of history. These remarks won't placate them.

"I went into the locker room at halftime and three things I said," Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak said. "I said: 'We're not coaching good enough. We're not blocking good enough. We're not tackling good enough.'"

It was a gorgeous day for a football game.

The Wisconsin band made a creditable effort at performing the Huskie Fight Song, with an inventive symmetric nIu formation.


The game itself was over fairly early, with Northern Illinois still looking for the successor to Michael Turner or Garrett Wolfe.

Northern Illinois had minus-13 yards rushing. The last time UW held an opponent to negative rushing yardage was against Temple on Sept. 10, 2005. It was the second-best defensive performance against the run in school history. The record is minus-18 yards against Iowa in 1951.

A sports pundit for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel had time to deal with some e-mails asking why this game was even on the schedule.

Now if this was NIU last year, would I be getting the same e-mail? ;) :) Don't forget that because there are 11 Big Ten teams, one has to be vs. a non-conference each week. I'm not sure that would work with a nine-game schedule and no bye week. Also, teams like those non-conference games. They feel they get beat up enough in the Big Ten as is.

Apparently this pundit also remembers Michael Turner and Garrett Wolfe.

It was a good day for a football game, with Wisconsin traditions old and new.

Varsity.

Jump Around.