Morning State Sports Briefrs: UW downplays O'Brien-Wilson comparisons

• University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin

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MADISON - The University of Wisconsin football team is trying to downplay comparisons between their new quarterback Danny O’Brien and Russell Wilson.

Both transferred from the ACC, and Wilson had a stellar season for Wisconsin a year ago before he was recently named as the starting quarterback of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. Badgers’ coach Bret Bielema says he wants everybody to cut O’Brien some slack, and let himself establish himself without facing unrealistic expectations. Bielema said he understands there will be comparisons, since both transferred from the ACC – but the coach said the similarities end there. O’Brien came to Madison from Maryland, where he excelled in his freshman year but struggled last season when the Terrapins changed their offense. O’Brien has two years of eligibility, while Wilson had just one. O’Brien said Wilson did some great things with the Badgers but quote, “This is a brand new team, a clean slate.” O’Brien has performed well during Wisconsin’s preseason camp. And running back Montee Ball says that’s all his teammates expect from O’Brien.

The Badgers will open their season on Saturday in Madison against FCS opponent Northern Iowa kick-off is at 2:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

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Former Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre remains embroiled in a lawsuit in which two massage therapists accused him of getting them fired from the New York Jets when he played there. An attorney for Shannon O’Toole and Christina Scavo wants Favre to either admit-or-deny that he solicited women for sex and sent explicit photos to former Jets’ game hostess Jenn Sterger. But Favre’s lawyers have asked a judge for permission to not respond. They said some of the plaintiffs’ requests are irrelevant to the lawsuit, and they’re just trying to embarrass him. One of the requests called for Favre to admit that a lewd photo on a sports gossip Web site was actually him. O’Toole and Scavo said the now-retired quarterback sent text messages to Scavo and another woman asking to get together, saying quote, “I guess I have bad intentions.” Scavo’s husband asked Favre to apologize – and that Scavo and O’Toole were soon fired after that. The Jets said the two had only worked for a total of five days with the Jets – and the team was never told about the women’s concerns. Favre played in the NFL for 20 years – 16 with Green Bay – before he retired with Minnesota after the 2010 season. He now helps coach a high school team in his home city of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

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SCORES

In the Midwest League…

Beloit 6, Wisconsin 5 in 12 innings

Clinton 6, Burlington 3

Quad Cities 6, Kane County 5

Cedar Rapids 9, Peoria 5

Lake County 7, Bowling Green 2

Lansing 7, South Bend 3

West Michigan 1, Fort Wayne 0

Great Lakes 5, Dayton 4

Tags: wisconsin sports, sports, proam, badgers