T1B

As the University of Wisconsin football program made its pitch this week to land North Carolina State transfer Russell Wilson, Ohio State was waving goodbye to the troubled Terrelle Pryor era.

Those two significant developments involving quarterbacks — which unfolded at basically the same time — could have a drastic impact on the Big Ten Conference landscape in the fall.

Wilson arrived in Madison on Tuesday and finished up his visit prior to 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

“It was a home run — a grand slam in baseball terms,” a UW source said about the visit.

Meanwhile, Pryor announced Tuesday night in a one-sentence statement released through his attorney, he would not return for his senior season this year with the Buckeyes. Pryor is the subject of an NCAA investigation over a variety of potential infractions.

If the Buckeyes held a big edge over the Badgers in the Leaders Division, it was mostly at the quarterback position. Even though Pryor was originally suspended for the first five games, the offense was considerably more potent with him on the roster.

Now, not only is Pryor gone, the Badgers appear to have an excellent chance at landing Wilson, who would be eligible to play in the fall because he has already earned his degree.

UW coaches are not allowed to comment on Wilson because he is an unsigned recruit.

But the source said Wilson spent considerable time with offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, learning about the team’s offense, as well as with the players.

Wilson, 5-foot-11, 202 pounds, has 8,545 career passing yards, with 76 passing touchdowns and 26 interceptions, as a three-year starter at North Carolina State. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

He previously visited Auburn and it appears his choices are down to the Badgers or Tigers.

“He definitely liked Madison better than Auburn,” the source said of the two communities.

The Badgers have much to offer, including two talented running backs in junior Montee Ball and sophomore James White, another good offensive line that returns three starters, as well as a top target in senior wide receiver Nick Toon.

The addition of Wilson would likely make the Badgers the favorite out of the Leaders Division to reach the first Big Ten championship game and possibly return to the Rose Bowl.

Although Auburn won the national title last season, it is considered to be in a rebuilding mode and is not expected to contend for the West title in the Southeastern Conference.

The Tigers lost more than 30 lettermen from last year’s team. They will have four new starters in the offensive line and few proven receivers.

Wilson is currently playing minor league baseball with the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists in the Colorado Rockies farm system. He reportedly was paid a $250,000 bonus as a fourth-round draft pick last year. He likely would have to pay back a significant portion of that bonus if he leaves early.

The Tourists’ regular season ends on Sept. 5. The Badgers open preseason camp on Aug. 4 and kick off the regular season at home against UNLV on Sept. 1.

Third-year sophomore Jon Budmayr emerged from UW’s spring practices as the No. 1 quarterback. He appeared in mop-up duty in three games last season and will be backed up by redshirt freshman Joe Brennan and freshman walk-on Joel Stave.

Pryor’s departure leaves a void at quarterback for the Buckeyes. Senior Joe Bauserman was No. 1 in the spring while Pryor recovered from a foot injury. But fans are already clamoring for freshman Braxton Miller, who enrolled early and looked good in the spring game.

Wilson’s hometown is Richmond, Va., but he has a Midwest connection. He has a brother who lives in the Chicago area, according to the source.

“He’s got to weigh some things,” the source said of Wilson’s decision, which is expected to come soon.

Papa Willie wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:“It was a home run — a grand slam in baseball terms,” a UW source said about the visit.

:o

Do they call home runs touchdowns up there?

Wilson has always been a little over-hyped. Nothing super-special about him at all. Add to that - AU is probably going to have two 4* Freshmen duking it out, so Wilson isn't really a huge score for them.

Papa Willie wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:

Papa Willie wrote: :o

Do they call home runs touchdowns up there?

Wilson has always been a little over-hyped. Nothing super-special about him at all. Add to that - AU is probably going to have two 4* Freshmen duking it out, so Wilson isn't really a huge score for them.

Translation: Auburn will be rebuilding this year so a freshman QB will only be one of a number of liabilities.

We can call anything we want a home run. Baseball was a victim of Title IX.

That's stupid.

Right now, we're the champs, and YOU got beat by a Food Junior Store team in the Rose Bowl. :D

Papa Willie wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:

Papa Willie wrote:
:o

Do they call home runs touchdowns up there?

Wilson has always been a little over-hyped. Nothing super-special about him at all. Add to that - AU is probably going to have two 4* Freshmen duking it out, so Wilson isn't really a huge score for them.

Translation: Auburn will be rebuilding this year so a freshman QB will only be one of a number of liabilities.

We can call anything we want a home run. Baseball was a victim of Title IX.

That's stupid.

Right now, we're the champs, and YOU got beat by a Food Junior Store team in the Rose Bowl. :D

SoCalTrjn wrote:"we" what position do you play on the team? I didnt even refer to teams I coached as we and you have so little going on in your life that you claim to be a part of a team of players you have no connection to, pathetic

SoCalTrjn wrote:I didnt even refer to teams I coached as we

SoCalTrjn wrote:Good to see the other pathetic people who live so vicariously through other peoples accomplishments

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:And what is your issue with saying "we" if you're the coach? A coach is part of the team, jackass. What are you so insecure about?

SoCalTrjn wrote:Good to see the other pathetic people who live so vicariously through other peoples accomplishments that they claim them as their own have Papas back

Killian wrote:Shut the fuck up, you myopic douchebag.

Carson wrote:I'd rather see "us" burn Kyle Frazier's redshirt than invest this year in an ACC second-tier washout.

Goober McTuber wrote:8,545 career passing yards, with 76 passing touchdowns and 26 interceptions in 3 years

Auburn fan - the nouveau riche of college football.

Sudden Sam wrote:Or...even better...have Frazier and Pike transfer, Trotter and Moseley look like Michigan State's QBs against Bama last year (sorry, Mgo...too easy), Dyer regress and become a puss, and fall flat on your faces and go 3-9. :D

Dinsdale wrote:I propose we consider a new rule for the BTPCFB Forum:

Whenever possible, everyone here shall refer to the squad we root for as "we."

Russell Wilson, a three-year starter at quarterback for North Carolina State, has decided to play football for Wisconsin this fall, sources told the Journal Sentinel this morning.

He is scheduled to appear on ESPN's "College Football Live" TV show at 2:30 this afternoon and make his announcement.

Wilson, who had been trying to decide between baseball and football, left the Class A Asheville Tourists this morning. He had been taken in the fourth round of Major League Baseball's draft last summer by the Colorado Rockies and was released from his scholarship by the Wolfpack in the spring.

Because Wilson graduated in four years from North Carolina State he will be eligible to play one more season of college football.

Wilson had narrowed his choices to either the Badgers or Auburn. He visited both schools.

Wilson, 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, completed 682 of 1,180 passes (57.8%) for the Wolfpack. He finished with 8,545 passing yards, 76 touchdowns and only 26 interceptions. He also rushed 362 times for 1,089 yards (3.0 yards per carry) and 17 touchdowns. He was a first-team All-ACC pick as a freshman in 2008 and a second-team pick as a fourth-year junior last season.

At Asheville, Wilson batted .228 with three home runs and 15 RBI.

UW must replace two-year starter Scott Tolzien, who last season completed 72.9% of his passes for 2,459 yards, with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.

The Badgers closed spring practice with two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, neither of whom has started a college game. Jon Budmayr, who will be a redshirt sophomore, closed the spring as the No. 1 quarterback. Redshirt freshman Joe Brennan is No. 2 and freshman Joel Stave is No. 3.

Dinsdale wrote:I propose we consider a new rule for the BTPCFB Forum:

Whenever possible, everyone here shall refer to the squad we root for as "we."

SunCoastSooner wrote:Toe jam can fuck off as far as I am concerned on that note.

Goober McTuber wrote:"We" just became a top 10 team.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote:"We" just became a top 10 team.

Meh, we'll see. I still think you guys lost too much talent/leadership to the NFL and/or graduation, and the addition of Wilson doesn't make up for all that. It's good to bring in a qb with BCS-level (chuckle) game experience, but there will still be an adjustment period playing in a new environment, learning a new system, etc. In any event, I hope to see you tards in Indy.

EDSBS wrote:Best starting quarterback in a conference whose QBs can best be summed up as as "A big bag o'ass"

Carson wrote:I'd rather be 4-8 in the SEC than anywhere in the Big [insert number here].

Goober McTuber wrote:You mean we don't get a chance to thump you in the regular season?

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Check that, the game will be at Spartan Stadium 8 PM ET. You guys are fucked.

Goober McTuber wrote:At least now it will mean something when we win. Is that Cousins kid still there? Hasn't he been there like 8 years already?