Wisconsin’s reasoning is a little shaky

For the seventh consecutive year, Wisconsin earned Paul Bunyan’s Axe — the coveted keepsake of its 120-game football rivalry against Minnesota.

Minnesota? Well, after a 41-23 loss, it had an axe to grind.

Golden Gophers Coach Tim Brewster wasn’t happy with Wisconsin’s Bret Bielema, and he let the opposing coach know about it during their postgame handshake — which ended when Brewster dramatically yanked his hand down and away from Bielema’s grip.

Brewster was hot because after Wisconsin had pushed its lead to 41-16 by scoring with 6 minutes 39 seconds to play, Bielema ordered the Badgers to go for a two-point conversion.

Later, having cooled off only a little, Brewster called Bielema’s choice “a very poor decision by a football coach.”

Brewster, now 0-4 against Wisconsin, added, “He’ll have to live with that because it was wrong and everyone in here knows it, and everyone in college football knows it. It was wrong.”

Bielema offered a lame and rambling excuse, referring to some kind of coaching card he implied advised him what to do.

“I know Tim wasn’t happy with it,” Bielema said, “but you know what? “if I’m down by 25 in the third or fourth quarter I would call a play knowing that they’re probably going to run a two-point conversation because that’s what the card says.”

We’re not sure exactly what “card” he’s talking about, but if there really is such a thing — authored by Stanford Coach Jim Harbaugh perhaps? — it obviously doesn’t figure in good sportsmanship.

Pete Carroll might wonder what Bielema’s deal is.

Mixed message?

Contrary to what you might think — given the four-game suspension the NCAA hit Georgia receiver A.J. Green with — selling a game-worn college football jersey is actually allowed.

We know this because Nebraska is doing exactly that: advertising on its athletic program website that it will be auctioning off jerseys to be worn by Cornhuskers players during Nebraska’s Oct. 16 game against Texas.

The difference, presumably, is that the proceeds from Nebraska’s auction will go to the school’s general athletic fund. With Green, the green went to Green.

Still, we love the irony, which was first noted by Atlanta Journal Constitution sportswriter Tony Barnhart a couple of days ago.

More irony: The No. 3 that will be worn by Huskers quarterback Taylor Martinez already has a high bid of $999.99.

Green sold his for $1,000.

Speaking of Georgia

Bulldogs Coach Mark Richt can’t win for winning.

The heat has been on Richt as Georgia’s high hopes for this year faded fast after a 55-7 rout over Louisiana Lafayette in the season opener.

Before Saturday, the Bulldogs had lost four consecutive games, their longest skid since 1990.

So what does Richt do? He rights the ship just in time for Georgia to rout Tennessee, 41-14.

Not that crushing that particular team this particular year will necessarily earn him any more fans around Athens.

That’s because Tennessee’s first-year coach happens to be Derek Dooley, whose father, Vince, was Georgia’s popular football coach from 1964 to 1988 and athletic director from 1979 to 2004.

Say what?

With Ohio State’s win over Indiana, the Buckeyes’ Jim Tressel became the third-fastest coach in Big Ten history to reach 100 conference wins. He did it in 121 games.

Tressel is also famous for his rambling news conference statements, when he often responds to a single question by touching on numerous topics — occasionally without ever broaching the original query.

On Saturday, though, Tressel raised eyebrows with one very short statement.

Commenting on Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State’s highly regarded Heisman Trophy candidate after the quarterback shook off a strained muscle in his left thigh to pass for three touchdowns and a career-high 334 yards, Tressel said, “I thought Terrelle made some good decisions. He’s coming along.”

Coming along?

Michigan countdown

The Michigan-Michigan State football rivalry by the numbers:

5—People taken to University of Michigan Hospital by early Saturday because of high intoxication levels, according to AnnArbor.com.

4—People cited for urinating in public, according to University of Michigan campus police.

2—Arrests for marijuana possession.

1—Underage drinker cited for disorderly conduct.

Add and subtract

North Carolina got back safety Deunta Williams on Saturday, but fullback Devon Ramsay became the latest player to sit out while the NCAA investigates allegations of agent-related violations, improper benefits and academic misconduct within the Tar Heels’ football program.

North Carolina was missing 11 players against Clemson, but still won, 21-16.

Ramsay played in North Carolina’s first four games.

mike.hiserman@latimes.com