Category Archives: Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s “Hippo” Formation

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Wisconsin Bucky Badgerby Travis Normand
October 4, 2019

I don’t normally write or comment on the “Xs & Os” of the game; however, that is merely because it is not my specialty (it is not because I don’t find it interesting).

In other words, while I truly enjoy in-game strategy, formations, and plays; there are other guys who are much better at discussing, writing about, and dissecting the finer points of the “Xs & Os.”

Having said that, there comes a time when I can’t help myself. After all, we all know a thing of beauty when we see it, and Wisconsin’s “14-Hippo” or “Hippo” formation was just that … a thing of beauty.

On September 21, Wisconsin unveiled this new formation against Michigan, and it worked to perfection. Actually, everything worked well for Wisconsin that day as they defeated the No. 19 Wolverines 35-14.

So, if you like “heavy” run packages, I would encourage you to check out what Wisconsin is doing with their Hippo formation. The formation includes seven (7) offensive lineman, two (2) tight-ends, a quarterback, and a running back (11 total players); and it really compliments the running game that is lead by Jonathan Taylor (RB). Taylor ran for 203 yards against Michigan, his highest of the season so far.

The formation has been covered at various sites that you can find here (USA Today), here (FiveThirtyEight.com), here (Bucky’s5thQuarter.com), and here (247Sports.com). I found the article at FiveThirtyEight.com especially interesting, as it was titled “In the spread offense era, can Wisconsin rush its way to the playoff?“

In any event, if you enjoy old-fashion power football where a team simply lines up and runs the ball down the other team’s throat, I would highly suggest that you start watching more of Wisconsin’s games this year.

Why would you play this game in Houston?

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by Travis Normand

Why would you tease your fans and alumni by scheduling a great non-conference game, only to then punish them by sending them to Houston, Texas (to play in Reliant Stadium)?

The upcoming Wisconsin vs. LSU match-up promises to be a good one.  However, if I were a Badger fan, I would much rather travel to Baton Rouge and see the game played on LSU’s campus.

The same goes if I were a LSU fan.  While I am sure Lambeau Field is great, I am not going to a Green Bay Packers’ game.  If I wanted to see Lambeau Field, I would go to a Packers’ game.  How disappointing it would be to travel all the way to Wisconsin (from Louisiana) and NOT see a game played at Camp Randall Stadium.

College football was meant to be played in college football stadiums.  If you have been to a college game that was played in an NFL stadium, you know exactly what I mean.

LSU will play the Badgers in Reliant Stadium in Houston to open the 2014 season and the Tigers will venture to the Packers historic home in Green Bay to play the Badgers in a return game in the 2016 opener.

See original article HERE.

Here is what one Wisconsin fan had to say about playing in NFL stadiums:

It’s an outright travesty this game isn’t a home-and-home

Here’s where the dream ends. Somehow the series was brokered to be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston and at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. On paper, playing college football in pro stadiums seems like a novel idea. In practice, it forces fans to travel farther and pay more money to see their teams play, while athletic departments make less or lose money on the deal.

Perhaps the idea is to give players a chance to bask in Reliant’s brilliant decade-long history. Or maybe both schools just wanted to help two clearly starving NFL franchises. Whatever the case, it sort of stinks for fans.

Read the entire article HERE.