Putting Braelon Allen In Perspective

I ranted about this a bit my last time on the soapbox, but it bears repeating.

I don't fault freshman Braelon Allen, the uber-talented 17-year-old running back who was held to 47 yards -- after seven straight 100+ games. The kid is just that, a kid. He's nicked up, beat up and has been playing full-contact football for six of the last nine months. That's because Fond du Lac High School, like many state schools, played a six-week schedule in the spring because of Covid.

He played seven high school games in the spring. He rushed 71 times for 1,047 yards and 21 touchdowns. He caught four passes for 135 yards and two more TDs. And, he was playing defense as well! Once that season ended, he turned around in May and started training again.

It's been well-documented that, coming into Wisconsin, the coaching staff wasn't quite sure where he would end up. Would it be safety? Would it be linebacker? Seems like running back was an afterthought.

I think they got it right.

Wisconsin fans are spoiled. I'm right there, too. Twenty straight seasons of bowl games does that. Remember the decades if futility? The Don Morton years? Playing with Morton's "explosive veer offense" over 40,000 fans disguised as empty seats attended games at The Camp. And a half-full Camp Randall led to budget deficits that cost us a college baseball program, among others.

Let's face it. The Badgers are NOT a program on a par with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan or Penn State. Sure, every now and then Bucky can put together a season to compete -- and beat -- those teams. But season after season after season? Probably not.

So enjoy the bowl games, the success in the Big Ten West and all the rest. I remember the dark days -- and trust me, we don't want to go back to them

That guy knocked over on the sidelines Sunday in the Packer-Rams game, the one that Davante Adams helped put the stocking cap back on?

That was Green Bay's physician, Dr. Pat Mckenzie -- the pride of Oshkosh Lourdes Academy. I knew Pat when covering Lourdes in the mid-1970s, and trust me when I say that as a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and tennis, if my memory serves) he was much more nimble and light on his feet back then.

Speaking of the Rams-Packers game, I saw a couple of interesting stats pop up on the NFL RedZone channel: Rams quarterback Matt Stafford entered the game 0-16 when facing teams that were at least five games over .500, while Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was 3-0 against Rams teams when he faced them in Wisconsin.

Some things just don't change.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

 I'm not adverse to the National Football League sticking with a bit of history when it comes to Thanksgiving Day games. 

After all, the Detroit Lions have been a Thanksgiving fixture since they started playing the game in 1934. And the Dallas Cowboys? They've hosted since 1966.

Detroit's game wasn't always such a turkey, though the team has lost the last five and, in truth, hasn't really been relevant since winning it's last NFL title in 1957. Heck, since 1960 the Lions have only made the playoffs 12 times. They are one of three teams (Cleveland and Jacksonville are the others) to have never played in a Super Bowl!

Did you know that, for a stretch from 1951 to 1963, Detroit's opponent was ALWAYS the Green Bay Packers? Coach Vince Lombardi hated playing the game, and starting 1964, opponents were rotated.

This was an odd year in that not one home team put up a victory. Still, despite the cry from those around the NFL to stop giving Detroit the game, I'm fine with the Lions hosting.

There is something to be said for tradition.

SAW NUMBERS FROM the opening weekend of Wisconsin's gun deer season that, while over 85,000 deer were taken, the total was down some 14% from 2020. Lot of factors there, I think, but the article went on to note that some 179,000 deer had been killed if the other seasons (bow, etc.) that came prior to the nine-day gun season.

I have friends who hunt, and in their opinion all the additional seasons aren't helping the traditional gun season.

Will be interested to see what the final totals are for 2021.

SO THE BADGERS failed to bring the axe home from Minnesota. Well, those pesky Gophers had a great game plan, played exceptional defense and befuddled Coach Paul Chryst. Wisconsin made a TON of mistakes. Self-inflicted wounds from penalties, missed opportunities and the like didn't help. Nor did a number of questionable calls by the officials.

There will be those who will no doubt lay the blame at the feet of the offense, and rightfully so. When Minnesota blunted Wisconsin's running game (hey folks, that's a pretty damn good defense there) it forced the Badgers to win through the air.

Wisconsin wasn't good enough to do that.

I don't fault freshman Braelon Allen, the uber-talented 17-year-old running back who was held to 47 yards -- after seven straight 100+ games. The kid is just that, a kid. He's nicked up, beat up and has been playing full-contact football for six of the last nine months. That's because Fond du Lac High School, like many state schools, played a six-week schedule in the spring because of Covid.

So let's see how the Badgers do in their bowl game once the team gets healthy before we rush to judgement.

Some Pre-Thanksgiving Thoughts

 Watched a bit of the high school football title games last week. Franklin, led by UW recruit quarterback Myles Burkett, topped Sun Prairie, 38-17 in D-1.

This is the last time Sun Prairie will be in the state playoff per se, as next year the city splits into two high schools. Will be interesting to see which schools are powers in which sports.

The G.O.A.T of Wisconsin high school football coaches can be found in Fond du Lac. Bob Hyland just wrapped up his 51st season (yes, you read that right) leading the St. Mary's Springs Ledgers. Though Colby stopped Hyland's run of three straight state titles, 22-7, Hyland still stands atop the state with a record of 492-113-2.

That's a winning percentage of over 81%, folks.

Will the 76-year-old Hyland come back for a run at 500 wins? We'll see.

I would recommend "The Baseball 100" by Joe Posnanski as a great Christmas gift for the serious, or even casual, baseball fan. The book is more than just statistics. It goes into detail on each player that is sure to give more than one "Wow? I didn't know that..." moment.

Anyone's list of anything is always so open to discussion. That's what Posnanski wants, as he includes players from baseball's past and present as well as those from the Negro Leagues -- denied the chance to compete in the Major Leagues before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947-- and Japan's Sadaharu Oh.

Why Oh?  Well, all he did in the Japanese League was hit 868 home runs. The major leaguers who saw him play or played against him in exhibitions all agree he would have had great success in the U.S. That's good enough for me.

By the way, my all-time favorite Chicago Cub, pitcher Fergie Jenkins, came in at No. 81. Fergie is the only Canadian-born pitcher in baseball's Hall of Fame. When the Cubs traded Fergie, I gave up on them and have held that grudge for over 50 years!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Safe travels.

"Next Man Up" Rings True For Packers

 With quarterback Aaron Rodgers sidelined with the covid kerfuffle, it's time for the next man up to step in. Jordan Love will be sorely tested by the Kansas City Chiefs, but I think the Green Bay Packers rally 'round their young QB and get the job done.

As to Rodgers, am sure many Packer fans share his feelings on covid and vaccinations. And are probably willing to forgive him at this point in the year.

But make no mistake about it, had this arisen during the playoffs and cost the Packers a Super Bowl shot, the torches and pitchforks would have come out of storage in a hurry. Remember, this is the fan base that, in the early 1970s, killed head coach Dan Devine's dog when the team fell into mediocrity!

The Wisconsin Badgers made short work or Rutgers yesterday, with the defense helping to force a 52-3 route. Bucky is now bowl-eligible for a 20th straight season. Those of us of a certain age recall when all Wisconsin fans did was dream about a bowl game. Any bowl game.

Those were the days of Greg "Grape Juice" Johnson and Rufus "The Road Runner" Ferguson toting the ball for Bucky. When Wisconsin was normally drubbed by any and all Big Ten foes.

What ever happened to really cool nicknames for football players? Gotta come up with something sweet for Fond du Lac freshman Braelon Allen, who now has five straight 100-yard games. The 17-year-old running back won't turn 18 until January. We need to give him a classy moniker.

No surprise that Avi Garcia of the Milwaukee Brewers is testing the free agent market. If he gives Milwaukee a home-town deal, fine. Otherwise, look for the Brewers to be aggressive in the free agent market as they have salary to work with and a solid base of starting pitching to build on. The club was 19th in MLB with a payroll just over $99 million -- below the league average of $128 million.

Tops in baseball? Those Los Angeles Dodgers at over $271 million. Two other clubs, the New York Yankees and the New York Mets, topped the $200 million mark.

Congrats to the Oregon High School boys soccer team, capping a 22-0-3 season by winning the Division 2 state championship, beating Whitefish Bay 3-1. For my local high school, this is a fourth state title and the first since 2018.

Oh, Mr. Rodgers!

 From time to time, I serve as a volunteer driver for the local senior center, dropping off noon meals around the village and the area.

Other than a "Hi, are you doing okay?" exchange with the folks I am dropping off to, there's not much else said.

But Thursday, an older gentleman took the meal from me, noted my Green Bay Packers stocking cap and asked "So, what do you think about (Aaron) Rodgers?"

Certainly, that's been the main topic of concern for Packer fans everywhere, as our Hall of Fame quarterback contracts Covid-19 and will, per NFL protocols, be out for at least one game and possibly two, starting with this week's contest with the Kansas City Chiefs.

My response to the question? "Stupid, stupid move by Aaron. Selfish. But it's the next man up and we'll see what Jordan Love can do. Seems to me there was a guy named Zeke Bratkowski who used to fill in when Bart Starr was injured. And things worked out pretty well..."

Not that Jordan Love is Zeke, mind you, but you get the drift. If a man goes down, the next man steps up and the team rallies around him. And let's not forget that Coach Matt LaFleur has been pretty darn successful in the early stages of his career. Gotta trust that he and his staff will taper the game plan to take advantage of Love's strengths...and probably rely heavily on running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon to help carry the load.

They won't get a ribbon or a partipacipation trophy for it, but note that the Milwaukee Brewers were playoff victims of the last three World Series Champions. So close, people, so close! 

Congrats to the Atlanta Braves for winning the World Series, 4-2 over the TrashCan Bangers from Houston.

The WIAA high school football quarterfinal games are this week. There's many a familiar name listed on the schedule, teams like Kimberly and Franklin to name a couple. But down there in Division 6 is Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs, coached by the 75-year-old Bob Hyland. This is Hyland's 50th season (yes, you read that right) with Springs, having started in 1971. His squad is 9-2 going into a game with top-seed Kenosha St. Joseph. Hyland is the winningest coach in state history with a record that stands at 487-109-2. Should he come back for a 51st year, he could top the 500 mark.

I will say that our paths crossed in the early 1970s while I was covering Oshkosh Lourdes Academy, a conference foe of Springs. And Hyland's sideline presence scared the crap out of me then, I wasn't even playing!