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Article: FEWER BIG PLAYS A BIG GOAL FOR UW THE DEFENSE GAVE UP 52 PLAYS OF 20 YARDS OR MORE IN 2000 - A BIG REASON FOR THE BADGERS' SUBSTANDARD SEASON.(SPORTS)
- Article from:
- The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI)
- Article date:
- August 13, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Capital Newspapers. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Tom Mulhern Wisconsin State Journal
It is probably the First Commandment of playing defense at the University of Wisconsin.
Thou shalt not give up big plays.
But it was broken so many times last season, UW defensive players could have spent the offseason serving penance.
UW's defense allowed 52 plays of 20 yards or more in 13 games in 2000 (14 runs and 38 passes). That compared with totals of 42 in 1999 and 35 in 1998, in 12 games each season.
"I think it's got to be rule one," defensive line coach John Palermo said. "If you don't stop the big play, you don't have a chance to be a good defense."
UW's defensive statistics have slipped ...