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It will be funny to have a bunch of Samoan linemen

Alvarez had been DC at ND and when he started at Wisconsin was 1-10,
5-7 with blowout losses, 5-7 with close losses and 10-1-1 his first years so he probably thinks he's reincarnating.

JSOnline Blog
http://m.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/184065491.html
Q. How is Andersen regarded as a recruiter? He doesn't seem to have much - if any - experience in the East or Midwest.

Denniston: He's a very good recruiter. He started winning battles against BYU and Utah, which is normally unheard of for the Aggies. While at USU, his emphasis on recruiting focused on three areas: in-state kids, LDS Church missionary kids and Polynesian players. USU also had a pretty good Florida pipeline. He will definitely recruit well at Wisconsin.

Graham: Arguably the best recruiter in the state. He took over a program that was in ruins in the middle of nowhere and found a way to bring great athletes to the school. While his coaching career has been spent on the West Coast it shouldn't take him long to adapt to recruiting the Midwest. He has that innate ability to connect with high school coaches, players and parents.

Q. Wisconsin has three coaches which didn't leave - RB coach Thomas Hammock; OL coach Bart Miller and DB coach Ben Strickland. Could you see Andersen keeping any of these guys, or just bringing in an entire new staff?

Denniston: Not sure to tell you the truth. What I've been hearing is that he's bringing his entire staff with him, which makes sense since DC Dave Aranda turned down a job at Texas Tech and OC Matt Wells turned down a job at NC State. However, Wells could be considered for the USU coaching vacancy.

Graham: Sources have told me he plans on bringing most of his staff but not all of them. That tells me there is a chance he can keep one if not all three of those coaches. Since it's a completely new environment I'm guessing he would want some coaches that know the in's and out's of the program.   

Q. Speaking of coming with him, do you think any Utah State players will follow Andersen? On Twitter, both his son Keegan and QB Chuckie Keeton appeared to say they would stay with the Aggies.

Denniston: I think Chuckie and Keegan will stay. I'm sure a few players, perhaps some verbals, will follow him to Madison. He has twin boys who will be freshmen in college next season. One plays linebacker and verbally committed to USU. The other plays wide receiver.

Graham: That's a good question. The players were very loyal to him yet I know some are shocked he's leaving after he originally said he would stay. Time will tell.

Q. What kind of defense does Andersen run? Aggressive? Blitz a lot? Press corners?

Graham: Andersen prefers an aggressive style of defense. He wants corners with speed and the ability to play man press coverage. He likes to confuse offenses with a variety of looks and pressure packages. 

Other thoughts:

Denniston: Gary is a great guy. He was easy to work with. Wisconsin is getting a winner and it'll be fun to see him and Urban Meyer battle it out now.

It's one thing to out-recruit BYU and Utah.

I don't know, I just can't see how this is some big upgrade over Bielema.

Denniston: Gary is a great guy. He was easy to work with. Wisconsin is getting a winner and it'll be fun to see him and Urban Meyer battle it out now.[/quote]
Man, I hope Andersen does well at Wisconsin and there is every reason to believe he can. But, let's be realistic. Nick Saban is pretty much the top guy in college football. He's 1. 1A is urban Meyer. He's about the only guy in football you could argue is the guy you'd rather have than Saban.

To say stuff like the quote above, and compare the two, either sells Meyer severely short or completely gives too much credit to Andersen, imo.

pioneer98 wrote:It's one thing to out-recruit BYU and Utah.

I don't know, I just can't see how this is some big upgrade over Bielema.

It is a big upgrade over not having a football coach after the previous coach quit.

AWvsCBsteeeerike3 wrote:Denniston: Gary is a great guy. He was easy to work with. Wisconsin is getting a winner and it'll be fun to see him and Urban Meyer battle it out now.
Man, I hope Andersen does well at Wisconsin and there is every reason to believe he can. But, let's be realistic. Nick Saban is pretty much the top guy in college football. He's 1. 1A is urban Meyer. He's about the only guy in football you could argue is the guy you'd rather have than Saban.

To say stuff like the quote above, and compare the two, either sells Meyer severely short or completely gives too much credit to Andersen, imo.

He was Urban's def coord at Utah and turned down an offer to be Urban's def coord at tOSU, he is not going to be intimidated by Urban Meyer. If Bielema had stayed, Wisconsin wouldn't get to another conference championship game until realignment put them in the other division or Meyer decided to leave. Bielema couldn't beat Luke Fickell's Buckeyes when he had a NFL quality QB in Russell Wilson.

I thought Gary Anderson was still placekicking in the NFL.

slide_into_first wrote:

AWvsCBsteeeerike3 wrote:Denniston: Gary is a great guy. He was easy to work with. Wisconsin is getting a winner and it'll be fun to see him and Urban Meyer battle it out now.
Man, I hope Andersen does well at Wisconsin and there is every reason to believe he can. But, let's be realistic. Nick Saban is pretty much the top guy in college football. He's 1. 1A is urban Meyer. He's about the only guy in football you could argue is the guy you'd rather have than Saban.

To say stuff like the quote above, and compare the two, either sells Meyer severely short or completely gives too much credit to Andersen, imo.

He was Urban's def coord at Utah and turned down an offer to be Urban's def coord at tOSU, he is not going to be intimidated by Urban Meyer. If Bielema had stayed, Wisconsin wouldn't get to another conference championship game until realignment put them in the other division or Meyer decided to leave. Bielema couldn't beat Luke Fickell's Buckeyes when he had a NFL quality QB in Russell Wilson.

None of which suggests he can hold Meyer's jock strap. Again, to say the two are the same coach or on equal footing suggest Andersen is one of the 3-4 best coaches in the country. He may be. Even if it's a given he's a better coach than Bielema, he simply hasn't proven himself to be in the same category as Meyer who was the "Coach of the Decade" last decade or has 2 national championships and should be in a 3rd one this year. Andersen has won the WAC, once, in what 4 years.

AWvsCBsteeeerike3 wrote:

slide_into_first wrote:

AWvsCBsteeeerike3 wrote:Denniston: Gary is a great guy. He was easy to work with. Wisconsin is getting a winner and it'll be fun to see him and Urban Meyer battle it out now.
Man, I hope Andersen does well at Wisconsin and there is every reason to believe he can. But, let's be realistic. Nick Saban is pretty much the top guy in college football. He's 1. 1A is urban Meyer. He's about the only guy in football you could argue is the guy you'd rather have than Saban.

To say stuff like the quote above, and compare the two, either sells Meyer severely short or completely gives too much credit to Andersen, imo.

He was Urban's def coord at Utah and turned down an offer to be Urban's def coord at tOSU, he is not going to be intimidated by Urban Meyer. If Bielema had stayed, Wisconsin wouldn't get to another conference championship game until realignment put them in the other division or Meyer decided to leave. Bielema couldn't beat Luke Fickell's Buckeyes when he had a NFL quality QB in Russell Wilson.

None of which suggests he can hold Meyer's jock strap. Again, to say the two are the same coach or on equal footing suggest Andersen is one of the 3-4 best coaches in the country. He may be. Even if it's a given he's a better coach than Bielema, he simply hasn't proven himself to be in the same category as Meyer who was the "Coach of the Decade" last decade or has 2 national championships and should be in a 3rd one this year. Andersen has won the WAC, once, in what 4 years.

I agree with everything you are saying but as a fan I'm glad Andersen is the new coach. At least Wisconsin has a chance to compete in the Leaders Div. Bielema upset Ohio St once but in general couldn't keep up- I'd like to try this guy. Obviously a lot of Wisconsin fans are skeptical.