Morning State Sports Briefs: UW quarterbacks Budmayr, Houston won't play next fall

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MADISON - University of Wisconsin head football coach Bret Bielema says quarterbacks Jon Budmayr and Bart Houston will not play this season.

Budmayr, a junior, missed all of last year due to nerve problems in his right shoulder. And Bielema says he now needs hip surgery. Houston, a freshman, had a shoulder operation earlier this spring – but he’s not expected to be ready until next spring. That leaves three healthy quarterbacks for the Badgers – transfer Danny O’Brien, walk-on Joel Stave, and Joe Brennan along with Curt Phillips who is still recovering from knee surgery. The coach also said that freshman defensive back Hugs Etienne will redshirt his freshman year. He took part in spring practices this year before hurting his left shoulder. Bielema said it was a pre-existing condition that needs to be taken care of.

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UW running back Montee Ball says he regrets his arrest at Madison’s Mifflin Street Block Party on May fifth. He was cited for trespassing, and he paid a $429. At a “Badger Day” event in Wisconsin Dells yesterday, Ball said he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He said the property owner wanted the party-goers to leave – and he was there for about two minutes when he was reported to the police. Ball, a Heisman Trophy finalist from last year, decided to return to the UW for his senior year this fall instead of turning pro. He said he needs to understand that everyone’s looking at him and quote, “I’ve got to make sure I keep myself away from ‘normal’ students – I can’t do what they do.” Coach Bret Bielema spoke to Ball about the incident, and the star running back apologized to his teammates. He said a felt a ton of emotions as he was handcuffed – and he said his parents were very disappointed. But Ball says it’s behind him.

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Donald Driver says he’s convinced there’s enough in his tank to win a receivers’ job with the Green Bay Packers this season – and despite what some think, Driver says he’s more than injury insurance. Driver returned to practice yesterday after winning his “Dancing With the Stars” competition. The Packers restructured the 37-year-old Driver’s contract, which is in its final year. Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post.com says it cuts Driver’s total salary and bonuses from five-million dollars down to two-and-a-half million – but it guarantees him a half-million no matter what happens. It also keeps him with the Packers for a 14th season. Driver says he’s in great playing shape, and he did a lot of football training while he was out in Los Angeles during his three-month dancing competition. Coach Mike McCarthy says he won’t rule out the possibility of keeping six receivers on the roster this year. Last year, the Packers had four receivers under age 30 who caught more passes than Driver – and practice-squad receivers Diondre Borel and Tori Gurley are both pushing hard to join this year’s receiving corps. Only 17 NFL receivers have caught at least one regular pass at age 37 – but Driver says age is just a number, and he plans to prove it this year.

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Marietta of Ohio won its second straight NCAA Division III baseball title yesterday, beating Wheaton of Massachusetts 7-2 in the final game at Fox Cities Stadium near Appleton. The Etta Express scored four runs in the first two innings and never looked back. Brian Gasser got the win, striking out six in eight innings. Evan Brockmeier went 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Marietta finished 48-8, with Division III's first back-to-back crowns since Rowan achieved it in 1978-and-’79. Saint Thomas of Saint Paul finished third, after losing to Marietta 5-0 earlier yesterday.

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SCORES

In the Midwest League…

Wisconsin 10, Cedar Rapids 2

Quad Cities 20, Beloit 3

Kane County 13, Clinton 10

Burlington 10, Peoria 1

Lansing 6, Bowling Green 4 in 10 innings

Dayton 9, South Bend 6

West Michigan 1, Lake County 0

Great Lakes 4, Fort Wayne 2 in 10 innings

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In the Northwoods League’s Opening Night…

Lakeshore (Mequon) 2, Green Bay 1 in 11 innings

Wisconsin 6, Eau Claire 4

Madison 6, Battle Creek 5

La Crosse 7, Wisconsin Rapids 3

Duluth 6, Saint Cloud 1

Waterloo 4, Rochester 2

Alexandria 12, Thunder Bay 3

Mankato 10, Willmar 4

Tags: wisconsin sports, sports, proam, badgers, packers