Badgers fans on Twitter still not impressed after Wisconsin crushes Illinois
Columnist Jim Polzin asked Badgers fans on Twitter what they thought of the University of Wisconsin football team's 24-0 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Il.
Here's what fans were saying after the Badgers picked up their first Big Ten victory over the season:
Took long enough
About time
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 9, 2021
Same old team
No improvement on offense, just played an inferior team, nothing changed from previous weeks. Where is the development on offense?
— kb1236ogy (@kb1236ogy) October 9, 2021
Building a foundation
Nice win, especially against Bielema. Too many ‘almost’ moments though - a lot of ‘almost’ picks on D, and a lot of ‘almost’ decent passes by Mertz that were too short or long. We’ll need more against better teams, but a shutout is a great place to start!
— Jeff Bob (@thejeffbob) October 9, 2021
Group effort pays off
Running back by committee was highly successful and will give a needed boost to what the program is known for. Dominating defense smothered Illinois offensively. Have to clean up penalties and turnovers, along with Mertz connecting on his receivers. Good win!
— Jeff Ostach (@jeff_ostach) October 9, 2021
Taking back control
Dominant performance minus penalties. Not convinced Mertz is healthy, with underthrown deeps balls when normally he overthrows. 25 yards and in had nice zip. D will eventually create Turnovers, they are too good not to. And Go Penn State! Give us a chance to control our path!
— Matt Uhlmann (@UhlmannMatt) October 9, 2021
Still too sloppy
I'll gladly take a W but still lots to clean up. Was happy to see our run game find its legs (no pun intended) against an above-average run D. O-Line looked great on both run and pass pro. D is lights-out as always. Would love to see Mertz be more consistent.
— MK (@Mike_Kowieski) October 9, 2021
Breaking through
I agree Berger ends up in the Portal after the season. He maybe RB5 now
— Raliegh Weist (@theweisthouse) October 9, 2021
How sweet it is
A Champaign toast to the rest of the schedule everyone!
— Rob Hernandez (@RobHernandezGLF) October 9, 2021
Finding their footing
Really liked the play calling in the second half. Thought Mertz looked more in rhythm as the game went along. Liking the dynamic Allen brings to the running game.
— Jon Bell (@KosherCoach) October 9, 2021
Howling at the moon
I’ve given up on Mertz. I’d start giving Wolf some chances.
— Aaron L Gramza (@AaronGramza) October 9, 2021
Giving it away
We can win vs bad teams playing old badger football and not passing. We have talent at WR and TE but zero marbles in place at QB. Worst QB we have had in a long time
— Nick Askey (@thekickaskey) October 9, 2021
Still out of step
Would have been nice to see the passing offense get on track. Too many under thrown balls to open receivers. Not sure Mertz was ever allowed to get in rhythm.
— Andy Steinbrenner (@ajsteinbrenner) October 9, 2021
Missing in action
What happened to Berger? pic.twitter.com/P4CAttR07L
— Christopher Dalton (@_Chipz) October 9, 2021
Looking for a bright side
It gives me hope that we can run the ball against mediocre opponents (other than Iowa, mediocrity is all we face until a potential bowl).
— Craig Smith (@smithcp1) October 9, 2021
Turning a corner
Looked more like a WI Badger football team today. Need Mertz to throw a little more accurately!
— Raliegh Weist (@theweisthouse) October 9, 2021
It is what it is
Means nothing, really. It probably feels good for the players, which is a great thing. but it doesn’t prove they have improved anywhere.
— Rich Zanon (@rich_zanon) October 9, 2021
Holding the line
OLine got the win for maybe the first time all year. Kudos to them and the defense.
— Ben Moser (@TheMrMoser) October 9, 2021
Take what you can get
Happy for any win over Bielema. Go, Badgers!
— BethAnn Meier (@BAMeier) October 9, 2021
Hard to fathom
How did Nebraska lose to this terrible Illinois team? 93 total yards.
— Pat Richards (@pgrichards0407) October 9, 2021
Plenty to remedy
Badgers needed a win. O-line was able to beat up on a sub par opponent. Passing game was subpar and needs a lot of work.
— Erik Grinde (@egrinde) October 9, 2021
Stomped into the ground
A win is a win, but Illinois is a door mat
— Michael Martin (@mjmartin557) October 9, 2021
Don't stop now
If Penn St hangs on Badgers should stay extremely motivated
— Douglas Greenberg (@DougGreenB) October 9, 2021
Nothing to see here
Meh. Expect to win these games.
— WiscoAP (@WiscoAP) October 9, 2021
Wake us when it's over
Snoozeville!!!
— SeanMackey (@sean_mackey369) October 9, 2021
Most importantly for Wisconsin, Mertz, who had to wear extra protective gear under his normal pads Saturday after being knocked out a week ago in the loss to Michigan, got out of the game healthy.
Assessing quarterback Graham Mertz's play, an unsung hero on defense, and a perplexing strategy from the Illini defense.
Jalen Berger, a four-star recruit out of Newark, N.J. who was one of the top recruits in UW's 2020 class, is the third running back to leave the team this season. Here's what we know.Â
UW has won the past 14 meetings with Purdue, but both the 2017 (17-9) and 2018 (47-44, 3OT) matchups came down to the wire.
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst did not offer details on Jalen Berger's dismissal, but multiple sources said Berger missed meetings and workouts before being removed from the team.
Saturday marks just the fourth meeting between UW and a service academy program and the first since 1979, but all three previous matchups were notable for their own reasons.
Whether you are heading down to Camp Randall or watching from the comfort of your couch, the State Journal has Badgers fans covered with a complete breakdown of everything they need to know as Wisconsin takes on Army on Saturday night in Madison.
The UW football team won for the second week in a row as Graham Mertz and the Badgers escaped with a 20-14 victory over the Army Black Knights in a battle under the Camp Randall lights.
UW's secondary must deal with another stud receiver in Purdue's David Bell if the Badgers want to stay in the race for the wide-open Big Ten West title.
Braelon Allen's maturity and willingness to seek guidance helped make him an integral piece of the Badgers offense by the midway point of his freshman season.Â
When UW has the ball against the Boilermakers, attention must be paid to defensive end George Karlaftis.Â
