'An absolute legend': Badgers fans, former Wisconsin athletes share memories of Barry Alvarez

“Man, Witt’s a dog,” sophomore Nick Herbig said. “He doesn't always get his job done in the prettiest way, but he gets his job done. No matter what, he’s scrapping, clawing, he's fighting every rep."

“You want the ability for a lot of guys to get reps. And the first thing to go is the number of reps when you don't have (healthy players), or those guys that need the reps aren't practicing," UW coach Paul Chryst said.

“What I do is special, whether it's in the NFL or college or wherever, every day is a gift and every day is special," Badgers RB coach Gary Brown told reporters. 

At UW’s second open practice of the spring on Tuesday, a handful of young players showed promise and might be carving out paths to playing time.

Following a COVID-19 diagnosis, sophomore linebacker Maema Njongmeta's cardiac testing revealed an effusion. 

Making headway and earning reps at inside linebacker for the loaded Badgers is a difficult task, but sophomore Tatum Grass was able to do that last season despite being a redshirt freshman walk-on and still new to the position.

Jake Ferguson breaks down why he returned to Wisconsin, the dynamics of the tight end meeting room, what he makes fun of coach Mickey Turner about, how veterans get through spring practices.

Improvements as a blocker and his first big play in college have junior tight end Jack Eschenbach ready for a breakout 2021 season. 

Chimere Dike showed big-play ability, tight ends were all over the field and Leo Chenal shined at the Badgers' ninth spring practice. 

Dean Engram and Alexander Smith have earned most of their playing time the past three seasons on special teams units.

“He told us that he wanted corners that played with a dog mentality. He just want dogs out there on the island," Badgers junior Alexander Smith said of  new cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat. 

The Badgers passing offense could be "explosive" if UW's top wide receivers can stay healthy this season. 

State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom for a special episode of the show: UW senior cornerbacks Faion Hicks and Caesar Williams enter the Red Zone!

A look at how special teams coach Chris Haering will choose a starting kicker, plus new on the return units and long-snapper position. 

The football and men's basketball coaches joined Mark Johnson, Tony Granato, Chris Bono and Yuri Suguiyama in having an extra year added.

The UW AD said he hasn't spoken to anyone at the conference about a role as a liaison between the league office and its football coaches.

From his Wisconsin roots to his business background, to his time as a Badgers tackle and in the NFL, here's what you should know about the Badgers' next AD. 

Wherever he goes, whatever he does after 31-plus years in the Madison spotlight, there’ll always be a part of western Pennsylvania — and its lunch-pail mentality — that never leaves Alvarez.

The announcement for the field name is expected to come Saturday and the name change will officially take place in 2022.

Sweeping changes are coming to college athletics in the form of NIL payments and athlete empowerment. UW's next AD has to take those challenges head-on.

State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom and discuss Barry Alvarez’s retirement ceremony, the search for the Badgers’ next AD and UW’s spring football practices.

The search for Barry Alvarez’s replacement as UW’s athletic director has begun. Here’s what we know about the process and the people, including football coach Paul Chryst, who will determine the best candidates.

The University of Wisconsin is looking for a proven leader and decision-maker to succeed Barry Alvarez as its athletic director.

The nine-member group will be led by Athletic Board chair Pete Miller

“Every time you get to your senior year, you kind of feel a responsibility that it’s kind of your time to take over the reins,” Logan Bruss said. 

The coach-turned-athletic director turned around the fortunes of the football team and solidified the bottom line.

Once it was over, Graham Mertz took time to reflect after his first college football season as a starter.

Barry Alvarez disclosed that a search committee to find the next athletic director will be led by Athletic Board chair Pete Miller.

Barry Alvarez, 74, will finish his term leading the UW athletic program this summer after a 17-year stretch in the seat during which the department's budget nearly doubled.