Overlooking Fletcher Proves Costly

Wisconsin cornerback Jamar Fletcher was a runner-up for an award given by ABC to players who were overlooked for major college football awards.

But Fletcher, who returned an interception for a touchdown in the Badgers’ 38-31 Rose Bowl victory over UCLA last January, doesn’t mind being in the shadows.

“I don’t think I have anything to prove,” he said Sunday, after the Badgers began the final phase of their Rose Bowl preparation with a rugged, two-hour practice at the Coliseum.

“If people can come up with defensive backs who do what I do time and time again, let them.”

There aren’t many defensive backs as opportunistic as Fletcher, a onetime prep quarterback.

Fletcher, a two-year starter, led the Big Ten Conference in interceptions two years in a row with seven, and he tied for sixth nationally this season with an average of 0.64 in interceptions per game. He had 135 interception-return yards, fifth-best in the nation, and returned two interceptions for touchdowns, tying him for first in the conference. He also holds the Big Ten record with five interception returns for touchdowns.

It’s a matter of course for Fletcher to cover the opposition’s top receiver, and he welcomes that challenge against Stanford’s Troy Walters, who won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.

“He deserved it. He’s a good player. I feel I’m a good player too,” Fletcher said. “People tend to overlook you sometimes, but that’s all right.

“The main thing 1/8about Walters 3/8 is his quickness. He’s not real big but he uses his size to the fullest.”

He also sees parallels between Stanford and UCLA. “Like UCLA, Stanford has a good corps of receivers. UCLA has 1/8Danny 3/8 Farmer, Stanford has Walters,” Fletcher said. “We have to come out aggressive and be ready to play.

“He’s said to be the best, so this is going to be a challenge for me.”

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Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez was pleased with his team’s first practice in Southern California. The Badgers last practiced last Thursday, but some players left early because of final exams. They practiced only one other time last week.

“I thought our guys got back into the swing of things pretty well,” he said. “It was a physical practice. We wanted to get back into the speed of the game. The first four days, probably, we’ll go hard against one another.”

Alvarez also said he was delighted with the clear skies and breathable air Sunday. “A year ago I remember a lot more smog and the kids were really gassed,” he said. “They seemed to get through it pretty good today.”

Alvarez said he got only one Christmas present: a cane, and not the candy kind. He’s still recovering from knee replacement surgery and used a cart to get around the field Sunday, occasionally sliding out to stand and lean on the cane.

Who was it from?

“My therapist,” he said.

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Linebacker Donnel Thompson, the Badgers’ third-leading tackler and a team captain, injured his left ankle early in Sunday’s practice. He spent most of the session on the sidelines, first with his foot elevated and wrapped in ice and later with the foot in a walking cast.

Alvarez maintained his policy of not discussing injuries, but a team official said the ankle was twisted and did not appear to be seriously hurt. Thompson was told to apply ice and stay off his foot, standard practice for such injuries. He will be reevaluated after the initial swelling subsides.

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Given a choice of how to spend this evening, players voted to attend the Lakers’ game against Dallas at Staples Center. . . . Athletic Director Pat Richter’s son plays in the NHL--but it’s not New York Ranger goaltender Mike Richter, who attended Wisconsin. Pat Richter’s son is defenseman Barry Richter, who plays for the Montreal Canadiens, as Pat often, but not always, explains. “ 1/8The name 3/8 helps when I try to get a good hotel room in New York,” he said.

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Wisconsin Log

RECORD: 9-2

49 Murray St.: 10

50 Ball St.: 10

12 Cincinnati: 17

16 Michigan: 21

42 Ohio St.: 17

20 Minnesota: (OT) 17

59 Indiana: 0

40 Michigan St.: 10

35 Northwestern: 19

28 Purdue: 21

41 Iowa: 3