It’s a tradition unlike any other,” as Jim Nantz would say when it comes to Wisconsin Badgers tailbacks.
Senior Corey Clement is the latest in a long line that includes such stalwarts as Ron Dayne, Montee Ball, Melvin Gordon, James White, Anthony Davis, P.J. Hill, Brent Moss, Terrell Fletcher, John Clay and Alan Ameche.
Hello Wisconsin football friends, yes the #8 Badgers suffered a heart-breaking loss in the B1G Championship game, but now they move on to greener pastures in Dallas. They’ll take on #15 Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl Classic at Jerry Jones’ monument.
It’s a chance for the Badgers to make a statement by handing P.J. Fleck and company their first loss of the season. The All-Midwestern showdown deep in the heart of Texas gives Corey Clement one last go around, a tremendous opportunity to greatly impress pro scouts and wash the ugly taste of the B1G title game out of his mouth.
Clement is ready to move on.
“Basically at the moment, the sadness is out of the way,” he said postgame in Indianapolis.
“I’m extremely proud of the way these guys came out and battled. And this season that we’ve been on, it wasn’t an easy road.
“So if I can look back, this season has been definitely a great season to come back for. And as of right now, this team’s definitely going to stick with me forever.
“These are new brothers I bonded with and made new friendships, especially with the freshman class. Those guys helped lead the way, too. If I can look at it, I’m just extremely proud and the sadness is definitely out the window now. All I can think about is the positives.”
Clement is currently ninth on all the time Badger rushing touchdown list with 35, and 12th in career rushing yards with 3,021. Thus, he’s among the all time greats in a position group that is certainly among the best of the best in all of college football.
Corey Clement knows however, that he wouldn’t be where he is today without the stellar offensive line in front of him.
“It starts up front,” he said in Indy in response to a question about the rushing attack.
“Those guys did a heck of a job making adjustments every time they got a chance to snap the ball. So my hat’s off to the O line for doing their prep earlier in the week which allows my patience to connect with those guys.”
He knows what the key will be to beating the MAC powerhouse Broncos in Big D.
“It’s all about being relaxed and patient with this O line, because they work in such a fantastic way that you have to allow them to set up the blocks the way they needed to.”
This will be the final game for Clement, and fellow tailback Dare Ogunbowale. That means the torch is now passed to a new generation, freshman Bradrick Shaw. He’ll be in pole position to be the focal point of the Badgers attack next season.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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