Wisconsin’s Nick Toon ready to go

He seems to be a mostly forgotten man in an offense that grinds out yardage.

But Wisconsin receiver Nick Toon will be ready if called upon Saturday against Texas Christian in the Rose Bowl.

Despite sitting out four games because of a toe injury, Toon finished second on the team in receptions behind All-American tight end Lance Kendricks.

A son of former Wisconsin and NFL receiver Al Toon, the 6-foot-3, 218-pound junior caught 33 passes and scored three touchdowns for an offense that has averaged 247.3 yards rushing a game.

“When other guys are having success and the team is winning, you can’t complain,� Toon said. “The running backs are playing great and the receivers have done what we needed to do.�

However, Toon was among the stunned when Wisconsin rushed the ball 29 consecutive times during the second half of a 48-28 victory over Michigan on Nov. 20.

“It was kind of crazy,� said Toon, who had caught three passes in the game. “Obviously, as a receiver, you’d love it if they threw the ball every down. But when [opponents] can’t stop the run game, you don’t need to pass.

“That’s just the way we play football. You’ve got to know that coming in and not be disappointed.�

Toon might get opportunities against a TCU defense that leads the nation in total defense and rushing defense.

“You have to keep the keep defenses on their toes,� he said. “Sometimes, they can’t stop more than one thing.�

Happy return

Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez enjoyed a week that did not include coaching.

“You can’t appreciate being in the Rose Bowl as a coach because you have so many things on your mind,� said Alvarez, who guided the Badgers to victories in 1994, 1999 and 2000 and was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame last year.

Alvarez was happy to watch his successor, Bret Bielema, put the Badgers through workouts this week.

“I can come out and watch practice and I can shoot the breeze with [former USC Coach] John Robinson and [Fresno State coach] Pat Hill. I’m having a hell of a time. Bret’s out there, he’s got to work.�

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