UW football: Bostad happy to be back in the trenches
University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema hasn't shortened the length of practice this spring, although you could have fooled Bob Bostad.
"That first practice went so fast it wasn't even funny," said Bostad, who took over as the Badgers' offensive line coach in January after Bob Palcic left for UCLA. "And in the past, truth be told, those other practices for me, they got to be kind of a long deal."
Make no mistake, Bostad enjoyed coaching the tight ends the past two seasons. He helped develop Travis Beckum into an All-American and formed a bond with players like Beckum, Garrett Graham, Andy Crooks and Mickey Turner.
But Bostad's passion is in the trenches, which is why the Pardeeville native has felt like something was missing since he returned to his home state and joined Bielema's first staff two years ago.
"I'm just passionate about the offensive line," said Bostad, whose first coaching job was overseeing that position group at his alma mater, UW-Stevens Point, from 1990-91. "I always have been. I always will be. It really gets my juices flowing."
Bostad fits in perfectly in a program he grew up watching as a kid. Sure, UW's passing game has improved under offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and the Badgers have even sprinkled in some of the shotgun spread attack during spring practice. But this is still an offense that features a power rushing attack built around big, tough offensive linemen.
Those words are music to Bostad's ears.
"I wouldn't be happy coaching offensive line in a spread offense if we were whipping it around 50 percent of the time," said Bostad, who also serves as UW's run-game coordinator and is one of the program's best recruiters. "That smashmouth attitude, that mentality, that's really what I'm looking for. That's really what makes me go. That's what I really like about the offensive line, where you can physically dominate the other side of the line of scrimmage. That's a pretty good feeling right there. That's what we're striving for."
Replacing Palcic with Bostad was a no-brainer for Bielema, who hired Bostad in 2006 with the understanding that he likely would get the opportunity to coach the offensive line eventually. In fact, Bielema wanted to, as he put it, "re-figure the offensive line by title" prior to last season. That didn't happen, although Bostad did assist Palcic with the tackles.
That's part of the reason Bielema expects a smooth transition for the returning group of linemen, although he notes there will be some changes.
"I think it's an easy transition, but it's totally different," Bielema said. "If you really watch what goes on during our individual periods and the way those guys work, and the way that they go about their business, they're a lot more repetitive about getting off the football, basic fundamentals, a little bit different footwork with (Bostad) compared to coach Palcic.
"It was easy because our guys were familiar with him, they worked with him already a lot of times especially the tackles, but I see a significant increase in the way we've been able to move people off the football."
Bostad wants his position group to be sound, tough and finish strong. He's also a stickler for details.
"I like the way he teaches the game," said John Moffitt, a sophomore-to-be who is expected to take over as the unit's starting center. "I feel like he's really explaining the game to me in a way I understand."
Some of the veteran players were concerned initially when they heard Palcic was leaving because they knew they'd have to adjust to their third position coach in four seasons. Those concerns disappeared when they heard the news that Bostad got the job.
"It's been great," said right guard Kraig Urbik, who will be a fifth-year senior in the fall. "I'm really happy I got the opportunity I got to work with him my senior year. He's a good coach, he's a good teacher. He'll get after you when he needs to. He's just making everyone better."
Bostad has a veteran group coming back. Urbik has started 39 consecutive games; right tackle Eric Vanden Heuvel and left guard Andy Kemp have 23 starts a piece under their belts; Gabe Carimi played well in 13 starts as a freshman after taking over for Joe Thomas at left tackle; and although Moffitt is learning a new position, he has plenty of game experience after starting six games at left guard last season. Josh Oglesby, who redshirted last season, also may be in the mix for playing time by the time the 2008 starts in late August.
"Guys are familiar with him and his approach," Chryst said. "And yet I think there is no denying, there's a new line coach so there's going to be some learning, but I think it will be pretty seamless.
"The one thing about that group is they just want to be good. Whoever's coaching them, they'll be all ears and eyes, and I like the group that way. They're workers."
So is Bostad, who is a regular in the weight room. Kemp said it's not uncommon for the players to finish a set on the bench press and look over and see Bostad completing one of his own.
"He comes in there and he pushes us," Kemp said. "You see him putting up big weights and it makes you want to do it, too."
Kemp and Urbik both said that Bostad's passion shows during practices, which isn't surprising considering he's been itching to return to the trenches.
"I was completely at ease out there, like a kid in the candy store," Bostad said of UW's first practice of the spring. "It's really, really good to be back. Two years was long enough."
jpolzin@madison.com
File photo/Michelle Stocker/The Capital Times
Bob Bostad is the Badgers' offensive line coach.
