Why Wisconsin's Bret Bielema Should Consider Starting Curt Phillips in '09

To be fair to Penn State, the Nittany Lions dominated Wisconsin in all areas last Saturday. But the one distinction between the teams that was blatantly obvious was quarterback play. Badgers passer Allan Evridge was outplayed by Penn State's Darryl Clark, and by a wide margin.

Coincidence? I don't think so.

What Bret Bielema hasn't realized is that experience at the quarterback position is what wins games in the Big Ten. The starting-the-senior-for-one-year approach isn't working out in Madison. Nothing against Evridge, but he just doesn't have the experience to compete. The same could be said for Tyler Donovan last season.

Let's look at next year for the Badgers. Dustin Sherer will be the frontrunner to start, based on Bielema's history with quarterbacks, but he should really give Curt Phillips a long look.

Take a gander at the Big Ten next season. Ohio State's Terrell Pryor, Penn State's Clark, Minnesota's Adam Weber, Illinois' Juice Williams, and Michigan's Steven Threet will all be coming in with at least a year of starting experience under their belts. Wisconsin will have no quarterback with any starting experience next season if Evridge finishes the season as the starter.

Next season, if Wisconsin starts Sherer, you can expect a season similar to this campaign. And then after next season, Sherer will graduate, and the process will repeat.

But what if Bielema starts Phillips? He was a top-10 quarterback coming out of high school and impressed coaches this offseason with his playbook retention and passing prowess. Phillips will only be a redshirt freshman, and while Bucky would take some bumps next season, it sets up the Badgers better down the road.

Remember the good days for the Badgers? Former quarterbacks like Brooks Bollinger, Jim Sorgi, and John Stocco all started more than one year. It is no coincidence that these quarterbacks were solid for UW and all had plenty of starting experience.

Sure, my argument may sound counterproductive by starting a redshirt freshman with zero playing time, but two or three years down the road, the experience will be there.

Maybe I am the only one who isn't happy with the current approach to quarterbacks at Wisconsin. Trips to Orlando for the Capital One Bowl or San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl just doesn't do it for me.

If any Badger fans want to make it back to Pasadena, they will embrace a quarterback that isn't a senior. Phillips has all the makings of a quarterback who can lead us back to prominence with a couple of years under his belt.

There is no reason we have to throw away another talented Badger squad because of a quarterback who is inexperienced. The mistakes will be plenty for Phillips, but Bielema should start Phillips next season for Bucky's future.