“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.

“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."

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 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.

"For Wisconsin football and Wisconsin athletics in general, he's put the ‘W’ on the map.”