Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema seems to have a case of amnesia when it comes to a particular decade-old game in Lincoln, but it’s not hard to imagine why.
During his press conference Monday ahead of the Fighting Illini’s game this weekend at Nebraska, Bielema was asked about his experiences with the environment at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium.
He mentioned the loudness and tenacity of the crowd as he recalled a visit to Memorial Stadium in 2000 as an Iowa assistant and another trip to Lincoln in 2003 when he was on the Kansas State staff.
“That was the last time I was there because we didn’t play them during my tenure at Wisconsin at their place,” he said.
What he had forgotten was the time his Wisconsin team traveled to Lincoln on Sept. 29, 2012. It was the conference opener, and the Badgers appeared to be in firm control after taking a 27-10 lead in the first five minutes of the third quarter. The score came on a short drive after a Taylor Martinez sack and fumble, and the situation looked bleak for the home team.
It turns out the Huskers were just getting warmed up. Nebraska proceeded to unleash a comeback that matched the second-biggest in program history. Immediately after falling behind by 17, Nebraska mounted touchdown drives of 77 and 75 yards and then tied the game with a Brett Maher field goal in the final minute of the third quarter.
Bret Bielema on the sideline during the 2012 game in Lincoln.
Bruce Thorson photo-USA TODAY Sports
In the fourth period, Nebraska put together its fourth consecutive scoring drive. After starting at their own 10, the Huskers drove to the Wisconsin 24. There, Maher kicked what proved to be the game-winner from 41 yards out with 9:41 left.
All the while, the Blackshirts were keeping the Badgers at bay. After taking that 17-point lead, Wisconsin was outyarded 287 to 81. Nebraska held the Badgers to 56 net yards rushing for the game.
Forgettable stuff indeed from the Badgers’ perspective.
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A little over two months later, however, it was Bielema and Wisconsin’s turn for a game the opposition would just as soon forget. The Badgers administered a 70-31 whipping on the Huskers in the Big Ten Championship Game, running over, around and through the Nebraska defense for 539 rushing yards.
Bielema left Wisconsin for the Arkansas job after the 2012 season. He is now in his second second season at the helm for Illinois and has his team ranked 17th nationally entering Saturday’s game. A Nebraska win would give the Huskers something to remember: their first win over a ranked team in over five years.
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