September 1, 2015
Ben Jones
Rivals.com
Some new head coaches would rather open their first season at a school against a less daunting opponent than the University of Alabama. Some might also not be searching for a nationally televised game at a showy neutral site.
Paul Chryst isn't one of them.
The Wisconsin coach sees Saturday's season opener against Alabama as an opportunity.
Dan Sanger
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said he's looking forward to Saturday's game against Alabama.
"Certainly we know this is different," Chryst told reporters in Wisconsin on Monday. "But I think you want to have a team and an approach that whenever you get to play, you're ready to play and you maximize that opportunity. And whether it's early in the season, middle or late, just happy to be playing the game and you want to be as prepared that you go out and play as well as you can."
Chryst didn't cite the normal platitudes coaches reference about high-profile neutral site games. Instead of talking about recruiting and attention for the program, he talked about motivation for players.
Veterans see a game like Alabama on the schedule and might be more motivated in the offseason than they'd be for another nonconference opponent. Young players who are thrown into the game are forced to learn quickly, and coaches learn who can be counted on and who cannot.
"They are fun to be in, and I think you do find out a lot about your team," he said.
Wisconsin went 10-3 last year, and Chryst's arrival creates questions for Alabama as well. He was offensive coordinator for the Badgers from 2006-11 before spending three years as head coach at Pitt. He retained defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and while the Panthers operated a similar rushing attack to his Wisconsin offenses, the new coaching staff still creates some unknowns.
"For us offensively it's a little easier because they have the same coordinator at Wisconsin so we're assuming that he'll do a lot of the same things as the defensive coordinator," UA coach Nick Saban said. "A lot of that was sort of that way in the spring game.
"When it comes to what they would do on offense, our defense in preparation we kind of looked at both (Wisconsin and Pitt tape), but (Paul Chryst) has always been sort of that background, of Wisconsin-type run the ball, but also has pro (style) background in terms of what they did at Pitt, where they were a little more balanced."
The Badgers don't have to look back far to realize the kind of opportunity that lies ahead of them. Wisconsin's 34-31 win over Auburn in the Outback Bowl to cap the 2014 season was a statement win for the program. Along with Ohio State's win over Alabama in the College Football Playoff, it created questions about the SEC around the country.
It's one more opportunity for Chryst to look forward to.
"They've played similar opponents," Chryst said. "Our players played against Ohio State, so they watch the film and they see the guys that they know well and I think it does help in your preparation and assessing the opponent. I think everyone is proud of what they did and many of the teams and how they finished the year. I don't think that carries over to this game necessarily, but there are reference points I suppose players can take off of it. It boils down to (the fact that) it's a new team for us and it's a new Alabama team and we both kick off our season Saturday night."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1797921#sthash.CAVJdjuT.dpuf
Ben Jones
Rivals.com
Some new head coaches would rather open their first season at a school against a less daunting opponent than the University of Alabama. Some might also not be searching for a nationally televised game at a showy neutral site.
Paul Chryst isn't one of them.
The Wisconsin coach sees Saturday's season opener against Alabama as an opportunity.
Dan Sanger
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said he's looking forward to Saturday's game against Alabama.
"Certainly we know this is different," Chryst told reporters in Wisconsin on Monday. "But I think you want to have a team and an approach that whenever you get to play, you're ready to play and you maximize that opportunity. And whether it's early in the season, middle or late, just happy to be playing the game and you want to be as prepared that you go out and play as well as you can."
Chryst didn't cite the normal platitudes coaches reference about high-profile neutral site games. Instead of talking about recruiting and attention for the program, he talked about motivation for players.
Veterans see a game like Alabama on the schedule and might be more motivated in the offseason than they'd be for another nonconference opponent. Young players who are thrown into the game are forced to learn quickly, and coaches learn who can be counted on and who cannot.
"They are fun to be in, and I think you do find out a lot about your team," he said.
Wisconsin went 10-3 last year, and Chryst's arrival creates questions for Alabama as well. He was offensive coordinator for the Badgers from 2006-11 before spending three years as head coach at Pitt. He retained defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and while the Panthers operated a similar rushing attack to his Wisconsin offenses, the new coaching staff still creates some unknowns.
"For us offensively it's a little easier because they have the same coordinator at Wisconsin so we're assuming that he'll do a lot of the same things as the defensive coordinator," UA coach Nick Saban said. "A lot of that was sort of that way in the spring game.
"When it comes to what they would do on offense, our defense in preparation we kind of looked at both (Wisconsin and Pitt tape), but (Paul Chryst) has always been sort of that background, of Wisconsin-type run the ball, but also has pro (style) background in terms of what they did at Pitt, where they were a little more balanced."
The Badgers don't have to look back far to realize the kind of opportunity that lies ahead of them. Wisconsin's 34-31 win over Auburn in the Outback Bowl to cap the 2014 season was a statement win for the program. Along with Ohio State's win over Alabama in the College Football Playoff, it created questions about the SEC around the country.
It's one more opportunity for Chryst to look forward to.
"They've played similar opponents," Chryst said. "Our players played against Ohio State, so they watch the film and they see the guys that they know well and I think it does help in your preparation and assessing the opponent. I think everyone is proud of what they did and many of the teams and how they finished the year. I don't think that carries over to this game necessarily, but there are reference points I suppose players can take off of it. It boils down to (the fact that) it's a new team for us and it's a new Alabama team and we both kick off our season Saturday night."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1797921#sthash.CAVJdjuT.dpuf
