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Bret Bielema excited for return to Wisconsin, grateful for extra time to prepare

Grant Bricker

By Grant Bricker

Published:

Bret Bielema will be returning to Madison to face Wisconsin on Oct. 1. The former Wisconsin HC and current Illinois HC had some kind words to say about the Badgers program per Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.

Bielema was at Wisconsin from 2004-2012 as a defensive coordinator and eventually a head coach. He finished with a 68-24 record before his tenure with the Badgers ended in 2012. It’s safe to say he’s proud of his time in Madison.

“I’ve never met a successful man who isn’t proud of where they came from,” said Bielema. “Proud of the things I accomplished there, but nothing I did there helps us on Saturday.”

Bielema also knows how tough Wisconsin is going to be to play against. Illinois has not beaten Wisconsin since 2019, and Bielema is glad that his team gets nine days to prepare for the game.

The longtime Badgers HC wants to be respectful towards his former employer, and explained that he wants this game to be about Illinois going to Wisconsin and nothing more. Bielema has not taken too many interviews about his return because of this.

Bielema has still has a lot of respect for Wisconsin as a whole. There is no set time for the game Illinois-Wisconsin just yet, but it should be a great watch.

Grant Bricker

Grant Bricker covers the B1G for Saturday Tradition. His previous stops include the Williamson Homepage and Nashville Post.