'Sconnie Six Pack 11/14
Highs on the field and devastating lows off the field are driving today's conversations for sports fans in Wisconsin
Packers erase 14-point fourth quarter deficit, defeat Cowboys 31-28 in OT
The Packers have officially won a game more recently than the Milwaukee Brewers. With last night’s victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers’ losing streak ends at five games.
Fans were left talking about two different wide receivers after the win, but for very different reasons: Christian Watson and Amari Rodgers. Watson had a breakout game not only catching his first career touchdown pass, but adding two more for a stat line of four catches and 107 yards with three touchdowns on the day. After spending most of this season hobbled by five different injuries, Watson showed Packers fans just how good the former second-round draft pick can be.
Amari Rodgers, needless to say, is not receiving the same praise as Watson is. Amari bobbled one punt return and fumbled another turning the ball over to the Cowboys deep in Packers territory leading to a Dallas touchdown. Following the fumble, Amari did not field another punt return on the day. In his postgame interview, Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur would not commit to Amari Rodgers being permanently removed from punt return duty, but it is hard to see Amari returning to that role. On the season, the former third-round pick has five fumbles - the most of any non-quarterback. For his career, Amari has seven fumbles - just one fewer than his career total receptions (eight).
Packers fans needed a win. Chants of “Go Pack Go” could be heard throughout the concourse for a long time following yesterday’s game. Despite Green Bay only improving to 4-6 on the season, the win felt bigger.
Bucks back in action at home tonight against Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks
The Milwaukee Bucks will play their first of back-to-back home games tonight. First up on the short homestand is the Atlanta Hawks. You can catch the game at 7:00PM CST on Bally Sports Wisconsin. If you would rather watch in person, you can come join me tonight at the Fiserv Forum! Follow me on Twitter to get the update on where I will be pre-game and where my seats are.
The Bucks anticipate some players returning from injury that missed Friday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. Giannis is still listed on the Bucks’ injury report as day-to-day with a knee injury, but he is probable to return to the lineup tonight. Grayson Allen, who missed Friday’s game after being ruled-out last minute, is still day-to-day with an illness, but he is also probable for tonight’s game. The Bucks’ most recent first-round pick and burgeoning fan-favorite, MarJon Beauchamp is the newest addition to the injury report as he is probable to play tonight with a bruised calf. Jrue Holiday remains sidelined with an ankle injury.
Former University of Virginia football player in custody following deadly shooting on Virginia campus
A former member of the University of Virginia football team, who had not been a member of the program for “over a year” according to school officials, is in custody following a shooting on the UVA campus that killed three and physically wounded two others. All three of the young men who were killed were members of Virginia’s football team.
Devin Chandler, Lavel “Tyler” Davis, and D’Sean Perry lost their lives in the shooting. Wisconsin fans will recognize Devin Chandler as a former wide receiver for the Badgers. Chandler was with the Badgers for two seasons.
This is a developing story. If information becomes available that is contradictory to what currently appears here, this post will be updated accordingly.
Former Badgers running back Brent Moss dies at age 50
Brent Moss, a member of the Badgers’ 1993 Big Ten Championship team whose 158 yards and two touchdowns helped secure a 1994 Rose Bowl victory, died on Sunday. No cause of death was immediately reported.
The Wisconsin-native’s breakout campaign in 1993 was overshadowed by his suspension during the 1994 season following an arrest for drug possession. Following brief stints in multiple professional football leagues, Moss struggled with drugs throughout his life including receiving a one-year prison sentence in 2017.
Moss was among the first great running backs that have since become the hallmark of Wisconsin football. He, along with Terrell Fletcher, highlighted Barry Alvarez’ fourth season at Wisconsin and the subsequent generational success the Badgers have since enjoyed.
Wisconsin women’s hockey prepares for a border battle against top-ranked Minnesota
While most UW fans have their eyes set on next week’s border battle for Paul Bunyan’s axe, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team is preparing for their own showdown against Minnesota in a battle of two of the nation’s top programs. Wisconsin faces Minnesota in a two game series at home inside LaBahn Arena this Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
The Badgers and Gophers are each ranked among the nation’s top three teams according to this morning’s edition of the USCHO coaches poll. Top-ranked Minnesota (9-0-1, 9-0-1 in the WCHA) is currently in second-place in the WCHA conference standings with a six-point edge on third-ranked and third-place Wisconsin (10-2-0, 7-1-0). Two wins in regulation this weekend would put the Badgers in a tie with the Gophers in the conference standings.
Wisconsin had the previous two weeks off from play and will look to get a pair of crucial conference wins before their Thanksgiving bye-week.
Topping-off the six pack: Ohio State gets key win over Nebraska in the quest for the Big Ten volleyball title
Wisconsin has been sitting in a three-way tie for first in the Big Ten standings with Ohio State and Nebraska, but a match between the Buckeyes and Cornhuskers yesterday meant only two teams would remain atop the standings after this weekend. Ohio State ended up being victorious at home in four sets (31-29, 25-21, 26-28, 25-16) in an epic battle between two of the nation’s top teams. Nebraska and Ohio State came into last week ranked fourth and sixth respectively according to the AVCA coaches poll. This week’s poll will be released later today.*
*This week’s coaches poll was released shortly after publication of this article. Nebraska and Ohio State are now ranked sixth and fifth respectively.
Wisconsin and Ohio State now each control their own destiny for an outright Big Ten title. Both the Badgers and Buckeyes are enjoying 14-match win streaks. Following this weekend’s matches against Rutgers and Penn State, Wisconsin will close out the season on Thanksgiving weekend with road matches at Nebraska and ultimately Ohio State. If neither team gets upset before then, Wisconsin and Ohio State may be playing a Big Ten title-deciding match on November 26th - the same day Wisconsin football will battle for Paul Bunyan’s axe.
On, Wisconsin.
Hopefully benching Amari for Nixon to return punts will at least stop killing the Packers momentum every time he fumbles
Another banger write up btw 👍