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Bielema explains blunder in the closing minutes of Ohio State game

With just more than a minute left in their most important game of the year, the Wisconsin defense didnâÄôt know what was going on. As Ohio State snapped the ball from the 11-yard line , the Badgers defense was in disarray, with its linebackers still huddled in the middle of the field. “They didn’t get lined up, and we were saying, ‘Snap it! Snap it!’ because there wasn’t anyone lined up over there,” Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said. Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor ran through the left side for a touchdown, giving now No. 12 Ohio State a 20-17 win . Badgers head coach Bret Bielema said he wasnâÄôt aware of the confusion at the time, and that he wouldâÄôve used the teamâÄôs final timeout if he had been . A player could have called the timeout, Bielema said, but he would have preferred that one of his coordinators up in the booth would have notified him so he could have called it . âÄúOur defensive personnel were in a situation where youâÄôre getting down towards the end of the game, and you only have one timeout,âÄù he said. âÄúObviously, if they called it, if they felt that they werenâÄôt ready, I wouldnâÄôt have objected to it at all. But for the most part, we try to take that into our hands on the sidelines.âÄù It was the second straight loss for the Badgers, who have dropped out of the AP Top 25 Poll after being No. 9 just two weeks ago. The Badgers blew a 19-0 second-half lead to unranked Michigan the week before . âÄúThe expectations are high on this team, and weâÄôd like them to be high,âÄù Bielema said. âÄúAs long as IâÄôm here, itâÄôs better to have high expectations than low expectations. And weâÄôre five points away from being a 5-0 football team.âÄù Injury report As would be expected at the official midpoint of the season, there were a rash of injuries in the Big Ten this week. – Ohio State backup running back Boom Herron will miss the teamâÄôs game against Purdue with a concussion. Herron was a big part of Ohio StateâÄôs offense when starter Beanie Wells was injured and took 10 carries against Minnesota in WellsâÄô first game back . Buckeyes receiver Dane Sanzenbacher will also miss the Purdue game because of an unrelated concussion. âÄúWe’re very conservative in college football when it comes to head injuries,âÄù Tressel said. âÄúWe need to make sure those kids are ready to go.” – Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki will likely miss the HawkeyesâÄô game against Indiana with a leg injury . The junior is coming back from a foot injury suffered early this year, and missed the majority of last season with a dislocated arm. âÄúI don’t think it’s realistic that he’ll be back on the field,âÄù Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. âÄúI feel bad for Tony.” – MichiganâÄôs top receiver, Martavious Odoms , and starting defensive end Brandon Graham are both questionable for the teamâÄôs nonconference game against Toledo (Ohio) this week . Linebacker Austin Panter will also miss the Toledo game, as Michigan gets rested in anticipation of their next game, against No. 6 Penn State . bo

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