Freshman running back Montee Ball has not played in the first four games but is part of the Badgers' game plan for Minnesota on Saturday, according to Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema.
Ball was going to play against Wofford, but he got sick the Friday before the game and had to go to the emergency room at 4 a.m. with congestion issues.
He also ended up having to go home that weekend for his grandfather's funeral and missed the game.
"He came to eight out of 10 games in high school when I was a senior," Ball said. "Me, my dad and him used to go fishing all the time. We were pretty close.
"Going back home with the family helped out a lot. We did more celebrating than mourning. It was not as bad as I thought."
Ball missed the start of practices last week and Bielema didn't feel comfortable putting him on the field against Michigan State. But Ball is back to 100 percent and has practiced all week. Bielema and Ball had a meeting on Monday to discuss the situation.
"We had planned on using him," Bielema said. "Just because of the timing of it, (we) haven't gotten him into the game. We've got eight games remaining on our schedule and he felt comfortable. When I asked him, if he's still good to go, it took him about point-five seconds to respond with a big smile."
Junior strong safety Jay Valai has a keepsake from UW's 35-32 victory over Minnesota last season at Camp Randall Stadium.
In a drawer in Valai's bedroom is a gold "M" decal that flew off the helmet of Gophers tailback Shady Salamon after a helmet-to-helmet collision with Valai late in the first quarter.
Salamon needed to be helped off the field. Meanwhile, TV replays showed Badgers assistant coach Randall McCray picking up the decal -- the hit occurred near the UW sideline -- and handing it to linebacker Culmer St. Jean.
Eventually, it ended up in Valai's possession.
"I think it's my good-luck charm," Valai said.
Jim Polzin contributed to this story.
Posted in Football, Tom_mulhern on Thursday, October 1, 2009 10:00 pm | Tags: Montee Ball, Uw Football, Badgers, Minnesota
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