Familiar territory: Illini know the way to Wisconsin

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Nov. 22—MADISON, Wis. — It is the giant, red-clad, weasel-adjacent animal in the room. An obvious plot line that few of the principals want to talk about: the deep connection between the Wisconsin and Illinois football programs.

Illinois coach Bret Bielema spent nine years in Madison, two as Wisconsin's defensive coordinator and seven as the boss.

Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry was a star defensive back for the Badgers before launching his coaching career. Defensive line coach Terrance Jamison played at Wisconsin before his career was cut short by injuries. He holds two degrees from the school.

Illinois assistant running backs coach James White was a star for the Badgers before a successful NFL career.

Beyond the coaches, the Illinois support staff is dotted with Wisconsin alums. It makes sense with Bielema spending most of a decade at the school.

Bielema's list of coaching mentors would certainly include Wisconsin legend Barry Alvarez, whom he replaced in 2006.

"Coach and I talk quite a bit," Bielema said Thursday. "I know everybody wants to go to that narrative, but it's just friends in my past. We've got a lot of great memories there."

Nothing to see here

The Illinois coaches attempted all sorts of verbal gymnastics to try to avoid the subject. Jamison, who has done outstanding work in a half-decade on Bielema's Illinois staff, kept bringing the talk back to his team. Like a political candidate determined to pivot back to his point.

"It is a great opportunity for this Illinois football team to go on the road and face a good challenge," Jamison said.

No judgment against the Illinois coaches, who are trying to keep the attention on the game and the opponent. Where they came from is not relevant.

"This is another opportunity to write the story for the 2025 football season," Jamison said. "Particularly at this time in the month of November. This is when you play your best football. It was even that way at my time as a player. The good news is I'm under the leadership of the same head coach. A coach who knows how to win in these moments."

Of course, there are also Illinois-Wisconsin player connections. Defensive linemen James Thompson Jr. and Curt Neal, plus linebacker Leon Lowery, played at Wisconsin until their transfers to Illinois this season.

One more try

Henry has been around me for five years, so he anticipated my Badgers-related questions: Do you enjoy going to Wisconsin to play games? Is it fun for you?

"Is that a trick question?" Henry said. "Are you winking your eye at me? I figured you were going to ask me something like that."

Then, he answered.

"It's no secret my daughter's middle name is Madison," Henry said. "My wife is from Milwaukee. I went to college there. Wisconsin means a lot to our household. All that's cool. It's great. It's awesome. I'm sure it's going to be nostalgic walking back to the stadium."

But …

"As I told our players (Sunday), it ain't about me," Henry said. "I'll have my moment walking through that stadium. I can remember being there."

Wisconsin is part of Henry's past.

"Here's home," he said. "What's going to be really cool is to be able to go in there with our players. It's truly about going in there and trying to take care of business."

Henry's history at Wisconsin reminds him coach Luke Fickell's Badgers are dangerous. Like a cornered, well, badger.

"Don't let the record and the things they've been dealing with … that's a really good football team," Henry said. "Just like a lot of teams throughout the country, they have experienced some struggles. When you watch them play, they are a hard-nosed, tough football team. No matter what the score is, they are battling the whole game. I think that's a testament to Coach Fickell. That's a testament to historically what that place has been."

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