Wisconsin Football: Will Basketball Transfer Controversy Reflect on Football?

Jarrod Uthoff has caused quite a stir in Madison. While the notion of transferring is nothing new, the ensuing drama that followed Uthoff is not par for the course at the University of Wisconsin. 

Over the last week, Uthoff, a redshirt freshman, has asked to leave the Badger basketball program, was released with major restrictions and finally allowed to go anywhere outside the Big Ten. While college players transfer every day, this particular soap opera played out in the national media with Bo Ryan cast as the villain. 

This latest development on the basketball side will bring its share of criticism for the crew operating out of the Kohl Center. But it could bleed into the Camp Randall offices. 

It is no secret that the Badgers have reaped the benefits of star transfers on the football field. Russell Wilson opened the door as a collegiate free agent, and this year Danny O'Brien walked the same path to the cardinal and white. While Wilson and O'Brien are both graduate students, the debate about transfers in general became commonplace on every sports radio show.

In fact, O'Brien's journey to Wisconsin was also fraught with restrictions. Randy Edsall felt the scorn of the public and eventually caved under the weight of the social and traditional media outcry.

Wisconsin was the benefactor of that situation, and Maryland's reputation suffered. 

Even though the two sports and the two head coaches are different this time around, the perception created by Ryan's actions could affect the entire program. Regardless of how the entire saga is concluded, will transfers be more gun shy about considering the University of Wisconsin in the future?

Bret Bielema hopes not.