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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — The year was 2010.
Wisconsin won 11 games for just the third time in school history and earned a share of the Big Ten title for the first time since 1999.
Offensively, the Badgers averaged a school-record 41.5 points, including 45.2 in conference games, the second-best in league history.
Besides turning the ball over just nine times, the fewest in college football, they were also the least penalized team in the nation, averaging just 3.13 per game.
Moreover, they were nearly the first team in FBS history to have three 1,000-yard rushers with true freshman James White (1,052), junior John Clay (1,012) and sophomore Montee Ball (996).
The year was 2010, the starting line for a decade featuring two royal weddings – Prince William of Wales/Kate Middleton; Prince Harry of Sussex/Meghan Markle – and such fads as planking, Linsanity, Gangnam Style, the Harlem Shake, Poke'mon Go, the Ice Bucket Challenge and fidget spinners.
During this past decade, winning was clearly in vogue for the UW football program: Seven seasons of 10 or more wins. Four Rose Bowls. Six New Year's Six bowls. Three Big Ten titles. Six league championship game appearances. Four Doak Walker Award winners. Ten consensus All-Americans.
Since 2010, only one Big Ten school has won more games than the Badgers. Ohio State has 117 victories, Wisconsin has 102.
Recently, Sporting News ranked the 25 best programs of the last 10 years and the Badgers were No. 8 behind Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida State and Oregon. The only other Big Ten schools listed were Michigan State (No. 14), Michigan (No. 17) and Penn State (No. 22).
In the spirit of lists, here's my All-Decade Team on offense for Wisconsin.
Subject to discussion/debate.
Left Tackle: Gabe Carimi
Strong consideration: Ryan Ramczyk
Carimi, a local product (Monona Grove High School), won the 2010 Outland Trophy. Other finalists were Florida State's Rodney Hudson and Colorado's Nate Solder. Carimi was only the second UW player to ever win the Outland. The other was the tackle that he replaced in the lineup: Joe Thomas. Carimi, a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears, was Big Ten Offensive Lineman of Year as senior.
Left Guard: Michael Deiter
Strong consideration: John Moffitt
Deiter was a wild card on the line of scrimmage. Played multiple positions. Started 54 career games: 24 at left guard, 16 at center, 14 at left tackle. Was first-team All-American and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2018. Two-time team captain. Deiter, a Curtice, Ohio, native, drew national attention after scoring touchdown on a 4-yard backward pass against Illinois.
Center: Travis Frederick
Strong consideration: Peter Konz and Tyler Biadasz
Pride of Big Foot High School and Sharon, Wis. (Population: 1,551). Was first true freshman to ever start a season opener on UW offensive line. Redshirted as a sophomore. Versatile. Played guard and center. First-team All-American in 2012. Strong in the weight room. Stronger in the classroom (double major in computer engineering and computer science). First-round pick of Dallas Cowboys.
Right Guard: Kevin Zeitler
Strong consideration: Beau Benzschawel
Relentless. Physical. Focused. Serious. Grinder. Battler. Fighter. That's how Zeitler's teammates described him. His actions spoke louder than words. Was first-team all-state at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Broke into UW's starting lineup as a sophomore. Was first-team All-American as a senior. First-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals. At one time, he was the highest paid right guard in the NFL.
Right Tackle: Rob Havenstein
Strong consideration: David Edwards
Was reliable fixture in lineup (not unlike pro career with Rams). Started 41 straight games for Badgers. First team All-American in 2014. Raised in suburban Maryland community (Mount Airy), north of Washington, D.C. and west of Baltimore. Towering presence at 6-8, 330 pounds. Used to joke about pronunciation of name: "Havenstein, rhymes with Frankenstein.''
Quarterback: Russell Wilson
Strong consideration: Scott Tolzien
After passing on minor league baseball and souring on his NC State experience, Wilson was extraordinary in his one season (2011) as a QB for the Badgers. Completing 72.8 percent of his passes (Tolzien actually had a higher percentage, 72.9, in 2010) and setting an FBS record with his pass efficiency rating of 191.8, Wilson threw for a school-record 3,175 yards (226.8 per game) with 33 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. He also ran for six scores.
Tight End: Lance Kendricks
Strong consideration: Troy Fumagalli
Led team in receiving in 2010 with 43 catches for 663 yards (15.4) and five touchdowns. Was named first-team All-American. Finalist for the John Mackey Award. Had 78 career catches for 1,160 yards and eight scores. Born in Milwaukee. Played football and basketball at Rufus King High School. Also excelled in track and field as triple jumper (later competing for Badgers in field event).
Wide Receiver: Nick Toon
Strong consideration: Alex Erickson
Toon, the son of UW legend Al Toon, is the fourth leading receiver in UW history with 171 receptions for 2,447 yards and 11 touchdowns. His dad had 131 catches for 2,103 yards and 19 touchdowns in one fewer season of eligibility. Nick was one of Russell Wilson's favorite targets in 2011 and led the receiving corps with 64 catches for 926 yards (14.5) and 10 touchdowns.
Wide Receiver: Jared Abbrederis
Strong consideration: Quintez Cephus
Abbrederis was a walk-on option quarterback out of Wautoma who was recruited primarily to run the scout team during practice. Once he made the move to receiver, he opened eyes with his hands and route-running. Tied with Brandon Williams for most career catches (202). Ranks No. 2 behind Lee Evans in career yardage with 3,140. Scored 23 touchdowns. Also dangerous as return specialist.
Fullback: Alec Ingold
Strong consideration: Derek Watt
Ingold had a unique prep background in that he was a first-team all-state quarterback and wrestler at Bay Port High School. As a UW freshman, he moved from linebacker to tailback and later found a home at fullback. During his career, he scored on 17.95 percent of his touches. Had 103 rushes for 343 yards and 17 touchdowns. Also had 14 catches for 185 yards and four TDs.
Tailback: Jonathan Taylor
Strong consideration: James White
Taylor won back-to-back Doak Walker Awards. Only the third player to do so. (Texas' Ricky Williams and Arkansas' Darren McFadden were the others). FBS record-holder for most rushing yards in a three-year span. Only player in FBS history to rush for more than 6,000 yards in just three seasons. Rushed for over 200 yards 12 times during career. Topped 100 yards in 32 of 41 games.
Tailback: Melvin Gordon
Strong consideration: Montee Ball
This was totally unfair to pick one over the other, Gordon over Ball. Easily could make an argument for both. Especially since Ball is UW's second-leading rusher all-time with 5,143 yards and broke the NCAA scoring mark with 83 total touchdowns. That said, MG3 was spectacular in 2014 with 2,587 rushing yards (7.5) and 29 TDs. He gets the edge based on his raw explosiveness (408 vs Nebraska).
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Mike Lucas' Wisconsin All-Decade Team: Offense - University of Wisconsin Badgers
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