Slip Sliding Away

The Wisconsin Badgers football team has sunk two slots in the AP poll-- to 9th nationally. The team remains 7th in the Coaches Poll. There are a couple things to take away from this--

First, this is definitive proof that the media pays more attention to every game than assistant coaches or athletic department sports information assistants, or whoever else actually fills out the Coaches' Poll. That's because the Badgers, again, looked quite good for about twenty minutes on Saturday, but appeared seriously flawed the rest of the time. I've watched almost every snap this season (I missed the first three minutes of the UNLV game) and I'd rank them in the 10-15 range. There's potential on defense, but the team's defensive players often have the sort of slow reactions that come when you don't really know what you're doing. Not good. The running game is only ok because the offensive line is only ok, and the guy who may be our most talented running back can't play away games; the talent at tight end is excellent, but the wide receiver depth is iffy, and Donovan is dangerously mediocre at quarterback-- decent mobility, but lacking size, arm strength, accuracy, and good vision.

Second, despite all that, isn't it funny to win twice and move down four spots in the polls? Weirdness. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Hawaii, formerly the 25th ranked team, spanked UNLV in Vegas, winning by five touchdowns, while the Badgers barely beat the Rebels on the same field only a week earlier. (Maybe the Badgers' last minute win broke their spirits?) On a happier note, Washington State has beaten the two opponents it's played since losing to Wisconsin, putting up big offensive numbers against San Diego (aka Whale's Vagina) State and the University of Idaho Vandals. It's never too early to start rooting for the teams that your team has already beaten. Who does the Citadel play next week?