By winning its final seven Big Ten Conference games, the University of Wisconsin football team put itself in elite company.
The fourth-ranked Badgers finished 11-1 and earned the school's 12th Big Ten title and seventh trip to the Rose Bowl.
But it was the way UW played after losing its Big Ten opener at Michigan State that generated a rare national buzz. After closing with a string of dominant performances — the average score of their final four games was 59-21 — the Badgers are forcing people to contemplate their place in history.
Is the team that will play undefeated TCU on Jan. 1 the best team UW has sent to the Rose Bowl?
Better than the 1962 team that captured the hearts of the nation when its furious fourth-quarter comeback fell just short against Southern Cal? Better than the 1993 team that came together in a perfect storm and gave UW its first Rose Bowl victory? Better than the 1998 or 1999 teams that won back-to-back Rose Bowls behind the running of Ron Dayne and a dominant defense?
To answer that question, it seemed prudent to ask people who have seen every one of UW's Rose Bowl teams and who played in the Rose Bowl themselves. Surprisingly, Harland Carl, Dale Hackbart and Pat Richter — one from each of UW's first three Rose Bowl teams — are in agreement when it comes to the 2010 Badgers.
So which UW team was best?
"I'd almost have to say the one right now," said Carl, who was lightning to Alan Ameche's thunder for UW's 1952 team. "Of course, I haven't seen them play in the Rose Bowl yet. I do think that TCU's pretty good. I'm a little concerned about their speed. But I like our team right now, especially the balance.''
Hackbart, an all-Big Ten quarterback on UW's 1959 team, wasn't impressed by the Badgers during the nonconference season. They changed his mind, however.
"After that Michigan State game, something happened to these guys and they really put it together and started coming on strong," he said. "If they keep their wits about them and they stay focused, this probably could be one of the top Wisconsin teams that went to the Rose Bowl. That's just my feeling. They've got all the players at all the positions and the coaching job was (excellent)."
Like Hackbart, Richter watched the 1952 team as a kid growing up in Madison. A freshman at UW in 1959 and an all-American end in 1962, Richter thinks the passing attack led by Scott Tolzien puts this UW team above the rest because it has made the offense two-dimensional.
"I think this one is probably the best of any of them," said Richter, who lives in Madison. "I think when you get back in the '50s and whatever, it's hard to make a comparison. But in terms of the contemporary ones in the '90s, this just seems to be the most complete team that I've seen. It's much more balanced."
All three former stars agree UW's drive to the title is the best sustained stretch of play they've seen at UW. The Badgers opened some eyes with back-to-back victories over No. 1 Ohio State and No. 13 Iowa, then steamrolled the final four teams on their schedule.
All three also agree the offense in general and the offensive line in particular are the catalysts for UW's climb. They think the line is even better than the lines Barry Alvarez had during his 16-year run as coach.
"There were some good people that Barry had (in the line), but I don't think as a unit there's anybody that can come close to these guys," Richter said.
Like most of UW's Rose Bowl teams, the game plan this year is predicated on a power running game. John Clay, Montee Ball and James White are to this team what Brent Moss and Terrell Fletcher were to the 1993 team and Dayne was to the 1998 and 1999 teams.
The are two differences between this team and those teams, however. This UW line is better than any at blocking on the move than the other lines and Tolzien has been the most efficient quarterback UW has had.
"They are solid with that running game, which makes Tolzien a heck of a lot better passer," said Carl, who lives in Appleton. "He's faking all the time. They'll start out with a fake the first play and then throw the football. They've got to respect our running game and it gives our receivers a chance to get open. And we've got a smart kid managing the game."
UW's defense isn't as dominant as the 1998 and 1999 defenses were but, like the 1993 defense, it became opportunistic during the Badgers' stretch run.
"Their defense was a little shaky, but I'll tell you what, those kids got it together," said Hackbart, who lives outside of Boulder, Colo. "I think the coaching staff really must have worked hard with these kids on defense, especially the corners. The corners really started playing well."
So did the entire team. The final thing UW's three former stars agreed on was this: To be considered UW's best team ever, the Badgers must beat TCU in the Rose Bowl.
