When University of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema informed Bill Nayes that the Sporting News was coming to Madison to do a story on Nayes, the UW's director of football operations, there was a moment of silence followed by a predictable response. "I thought Bret was kidding,'' Nayes said. "I was definitely caught off guard.''

Nayes was featured in the May 26 edition of the Sporting News which spotlighted a variety of "dirty jobs'' ranging from wedge-busting (in the NFL) to poop-scooping (behind the University of Colorado mascot, Ralphie the Buffalo). Nayes was flattered by the attention even though he was unsure why his job, Football Ops, made the list.

In making the transition from an NFL job with the Seattle Seahawks -- Nayes worked five seasons for coach Mike Holmgren -- to a Big Ten job with the Badgers, there have been some different challenges logistically. "You're just dealing with more things on campus,'' Nayes said. "Like academics and NCAA rules.''

But that doesn't make his job necessarily a dirtier job.

What does?

"Scheduling,'' Nayes said.

Over the last year, Nayes has taken over the scheduling for the Badgers.

"It's not fun, because it's not easy to get games,'' he said. "It's being called a volatile business right now. There are a lot of things going on with schools pricing people out of games or pulling out of contracts because they can get more money elsewhere. Guarantees have skyrocked with the addition of a 12th regular season game.''

How much say does Nayes have in selecting an opponent?

"I just can't go out and pick a game,'' he said. "I try to get a target list of teams who may be open on a certain date. That will be our starting point.''

The key word being "our.''

Bielema and UW athletic director Barry Alvarez are the gatekeepers, pointing Nayes in the direction that they want to go. If one school isn't available, Bielema and Alvarez will advise Nayes on the next option. "I'm not the one making the final call,'' Nayes said.

But he still has a big role in the process. "I have to find the teams that have open dates,'' Nayes noted, "and I've got to get the deal done.''

So what's so dirty about putting together a schedule? "Everybody,'' Nayes said, "has a little theory on who we should play or why we should play them. And it seems like no one is ever happy with who you're scheduling. That makes it fun but frustrating.''

Beginning with the 2010 season, there will be more continuity because the four nonconference games will be slotted before the start of Big Ten play.

That will eliminate the disruption and awkwardness of playing a Cal-Poly in late November (2008) or a Northern Illinois in late October (2009).

That will also preserve a valuable bye during the conference season, itself.

Adding a ninth Big Ten game would seem like a reasonable solution to reduce some of the headaches associated with finding suitable nonconference opponents.

But getting the coaches to agree to such a thing may be the dirtiest job of all.