University of Wisconsin junior running back Zach Brown remembers watching football games on television, when a player made a crucial mistake.

The television cameras would find the guilty player on the sidelines, then show close-ups of his agony the rest of the game. Brown would watch and wonder how the player felt. Now, he knows.

"You see the camera on the person, following him up and down (the sidelines)," Brown said. "I was like, 'Man, this is how it feels.' It's not good."

Brown lost a critical fumble in the fourth quarter last week at Minnesota, his third in three games, which was returned 88 yards for a touchdown. Instead of a comfortable victory, it made for plenty of anxious moments - with the cameras fixed on Brown - until the Badgers prevailed 31-28.

Despite the adversity, Brown said he has not lost any confidence. Yet, when enough bad things start to pile up, it can start playing tricks with a player's head.

"I think any time you go through what he's going through, having been a guy that has been pretty sure-handed, I'm sure there's got to be a little something going on upstairs," running backs coach John Settle said. "The thing he has shown, he shows up to work every day."

Brown remains the team's starting tailback going into Saturday's game at Ohio State. Sophomore John Clay, the Big Ten Conference's leading rusher at 116.4 yards per game, wore a protective boot during the early part of the week but has practiced the last two days. Clay rushed for 184 yards on 32 carries against the Gophers.

"He woke up Sunday morning and, as you can imagine after a day of work like that, (he) was a little bit sore," UW coach Bret Bielema said after practice on Thursday. "I think he had (the boot) on Monday and maybe Tuesday, but after that was out (of it). He practiced (Wednesday) and practiced (Thursday) and looks to be full go."

Brown remains the starter because Clay has shown no interest in holding the spot.

"Kind of everybody's a backup running back," Bielema said. "John doesn't want to be a starter, so he's a backup, but he's probably our best option at the tailback position right now."

Freshman tailback Montee Ball saw his first action last week, with four carries for five yards. He admitted it was an adjustment getting used to the speed of the game, but Settle said Ball earned the chance for more plays.

"I wanted to see him play," Settle said. "Hostile environment, rivalry game, break him in and get some contact. He showed he can play college football. We're going to look to put a little more on his plate this week."

Still, nobody is giving up on Brown. Bielema recalled how Brown made his first career start as a true freshman at No. 1 Ohio State two years ago. Brown had 20 carries for 63 yards and would have been close to 100 except for a long gain called back by a penalty.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about this three-game stretch for Brown is he had an outstanding camp in which he won the starting job. But he has not carried that into the season. He has rushed 52 times for 211 yards, a 4.1 average.

"I think this experience is making me hungry," Brown said. "Just because you put in that hard work doesn't mean it's going to carry over. You have to keep on doing it. I have to treat the season like it's camp."

Sick Buckeyes

Ohio State has been dealing with flu symptoms the last few weeks. The concern this week is with the offensive line.

Left tackle Mike Adams missed practice Tuesday, but returned Wednesday. His backup, Andrew Miller, has been out sick all week. Left guard Justin Boren and tight end Jake Ballard were out sick Wednesday.

"You really don't know," who's going to be available, offensive line coach Jim Bollman told the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. "Every day, a couple more guys will be back, then a couple more guys will be out. Everybody that's a backup had better be on their toes, because they could be needed any minute."

Native son

Junior right guard Bill Nagy, from Hudson, Ohio, has missed all but one game this season with a foot injury sustained in a moped accident in July. He has been pleading with Bielema to return to the lineup.

"Bill is probably, to this point, as good as he's ever been (since prior to) fall camp," Bielema said. "I know this is an important one for him, being from Ohio. He walked into my office (earlier this week) and volunteered to be a tight end. He wants to get in the starting lineup real bad."

Bielema said sophomore Kevin Zeitler will start his sixth consecutive game at right guard. "Kevin's the starter, but Billy will be in there," Bielema said.

Jim Polzin contributed to this story.

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