Madison (WXOW) -- The Wisconsin football team is 1-0 heading into week two but did not play well in a five-point win over Northern Iowa.
Wisconsin did not name any MVPs following the game, as coach Bret Bielema said nobody earned it in any phase of the game. A number of players said their play was a product of a poor week of practice. At his weekly press conference Monday, coach Bielema agreed.
"I wasn't happy with it," says Bielema. "But on the same account you kind of live in the moment and try to be as positive as you can going into Saturday. I think for all the reasons I just mentioned, the uncertainty of playing UNI, not being able to have a full grasp of what they're going to come out in with a new quarterback and what he was going to bring to the table. The guy a year ago was a little bit different. So some of the stuff that we were preparing for is chasing windmills a little bit. But bottom line we got out of there with a W and that's always a positive."
Bielema says his defense will have to improve after nearly allowing Northern Iowa to steal the game late. Wisconsin defensive coordinator Chris Ash said the unit played well for 42 minutes, but did not finish strong. Coming into this week's game, Ash says his message to the defense won't change.
"It's the same thing we've been preaching, great defenses and great players play 60 minutes," says Ash. "It only takes one guy to make a mistake that can cost the whole football team and you don't want to be that guy.You've got to have that shared fear. We talk about having a shared fear of letting your teammates down and if you have invested a lot you'll have it and these guys have invested a lot and they have it."
Wisconsin looks to fix its mistakes and prepare for Oregon State. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. Saturday in Corvallis, Oregon.
