FanHouse Tyler Donovan

Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema wasn't the happiest man in the world after Wisconsin lost to Tennessee 21-17 in the Outback Bowl on Tuesday. Bielema was of the opinion that there were quite a few missed calls, and some plain bad ones as well during the game that cost his team a chance.

He wasn't shy about his feelings after the game, either.

"You guys in the offseason are going to give me some questions about scheduling and different things like that," Bielema said. "I guarantee you I'm never going to schedule a game that's officiated by WAC officials, that's for sure."

Well, coach, that's fine if you truly feel that way, but I feel the need to tell you that those weren't WAC officials out there. They were from the Mountain West Conference.

I find it pretty annoying when coaches start blaming the officials for everything. One of Bielema's biggest complaints about the officiating came on plays that had no outcome on the game. There was an illegal shift called against the Badgers when they had a 3rd and goal from the 1-yard line to move them back five yards. Bielema came running out onto the field to yell at officials about that call. Then on the very next play when Tyler Donovan scored on a six-yard run, which made the illegal shift a moot point, Bielema was ticked off there was no call for helmet to helmet contact on Donovan as he crossed the goal line.

There was also an overturned call on a fumble late in the game that pretty much sealed things for Tennessee, but I don't think Bielema could have too much of a problem with that call, as I'm pretty sure the refs got that one right.

Maybe instead of being mad at the officials on Tuesday, Bielema should take out some of that frustration on his players, coaches, and himself. After all, they had a lot more to do with Wisconsin's loss than any official did.

The Wisconsin Badgers didn't just lose a game on Saturday in Champaign, it turns out they've lost wide receiver Luke Swan as well.

Swan was injured after making a catch late in the game. After jumping into the air to make the grab, Swan came down and landed awkwardly, doing a split that made every man at home cringe simultaneously. It turns out Swan tore his hamstring thanks to the landing, and is done for the year.

Wisconsin wide receiver Luke Swan will miss the rest of the season because of a torn hamstring and is scheduled for surgery Wednesday.

"Luke is a great kid," coach Bret Bielema said Monday. "It was a hard day yesterday. It is tough for everybody."

Swan is a fifth year senior that currently leads all of the Badgers receivers with 25 catches and 451 yards, so the former walk on will be missed. Yes, the Badgers still have Travis Beckum at tight end who currently leads all Badgers with 485 receiving yards, but the loss of Swan will hurt him as well.

Now opponents can focus their coverage schemes to stop Beckum and not have to worry about covering Swan as well. Swan's injury will also effect P.J. Hill, who himself was banged up in the loss to the Illini. Don't be surprised when you see a lot more eight man fronts from opposing defenses as teams dare Tyler Donovan to beat them.

Granted, that's been the case for most opponents already, but without Swan it's going to be even tougher for the Badgers to move the ball consistently.

Every year players depart college football via graduation, the NFL draft, or fightin' in da club, leaving behind a horde of fans wondering just who is going to replace the heroes of yesteryear. Herewith, the most heated/important position battles in the Big Ten this year.

1. Wisconsin Quarterback

The Badgers return just about everyone from their 12-1, Citrus Bowl-winning 2006 team except quarterback John Stocco (@ right) and Joe Thomas, the man who protected his blindside. As a result, many are projecting the Badgers to be Michigan's strongest Big Ten challenger in this gleefully Troy Smith-free year, but if the Badgers are going to make a run at the Rose Bowl or even the national championship game they're going to have to get some kind of production out of Not Stocco, whoever he is. Fifth year senior Tyler Donovan is the odds-on favorite; Kansas State transfer Allan Everidge is also in the running. Donovan started two games last year when Stocco was out with an injury. You can't tell much from a game against Buffalo, but Donovan was cool and collected against a kinda decent -- but not very -- Iowa defense, going 17 for 24 with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Donovan also added 61 rushing yards. Meanwhile, the last time Everidge surfaced he was true freshman overwhelmed at Kansas State. Whoever wins the job will have to perform well when Michigan rolls into Madison for one of the 2007 season's key contests, as fat Wisconsin running backs have never performed against the Wolverines and Michigan's secondary is a blinking red sign that says "exploit me"; a BCS bid hinges on the arm of either Donovan or Everidge if all goes according to plan.