Madison (WQOW) -- Saturday, Wisconsin rushed for a mere 35 yards against unranked Oregon State, while allowing three sacks. Monday, head coach Bret Bielema does something to address the situation.
Bielema fires his offensive line coach, Mike Markuson, who was in his first season at Wisconsin after fourteen years in that role at SEC schools Arkansas & Mississippi. To some, it might seem like a very rash move, but Bielema believes it's the right thing to do.
"It wasn't a knee-jerk thing by me," Bielema says, "it's something we kind of talked about and processed through. It wasn't an overnight thing. I can't say there was a deadline on when it happened; I just felt Saturday night, flying home on the plane, long plane ride... I knew the direction I needed to go, and did something hopefully we're going to be able to capitalize on."
With Markuson out, Bielema promotes Bart Miller to offensive line coach. Miller is in his second season as a grad assistant on the UW staff. Miller worked with former Badgers O-line coach Bob Bostad last season, and he also played for Bostad at New Mexico. Bielema hopes Miller can be the bridge between what the Badgers line did under the highly-respected Bostad, and what current offensive coordinator Matt Canada has in mind this year.
"Not that there's a lot of differences, but there are subtle changes in communication and verbiage," says Bielema, "there was a lot going on for a 19, 20, 21, 22-year old kid to process, and I think he's going to bring that element that only he can bring, there's only one person in this world that has that capabilities, and the fortunate part is, I've got the ability to hire him."
Wisconsin will host Utah State, Saturday night at Camp Randall Stadium.
