Following the departure of coach Bret Bielema to Arkansas, Wisconsin athletic director and former head coach Barry Alvarez will step in and lead the team against Stanford in the Rose Bowl.
Bielema said on Wednesday at his first press conference for Arkansas that Alvarez would coach the game, while sources confirmed to ESPN.com that it would be a one-game comeback.
There were rumors over the past two days that pointed to Alvarez coaching the game, but nothing was official. Alvarez said to the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that it could happen.
"I've got a meeting with the team tomorrow. I want to assure them that we will do everything we can to let the seniors go out on a positive note," Alvarez said to the WSJ. "We'll talk about dealing with (the Rose Bowl) tomorrow more so than right now. But there is a possibility that I would come back."
Wisconsin has been to the past two Rose Bowls, but has lost both games. Bielema, who coached in those games, joked with reporters at his press conference.
"I just heard that before I came here, which would be awesome," Bielema said., of Alvarez coaching the game. "They might finally win one. Everyone tells me he won three and I lost two."
Alvarez is a legendary figure in Wisconsin and was the head coach of the football team for 16 years. He stepped down in 2005 and picked Bielema as his successor. From 1990 through 2005, Alvarez went 118-73-4 and currently serves as the school's athletic director.
After Bielema left for Arkansas, Alvarez released an official statement through the school.
"I was very surprised when Bret told me he was taking the offer from Arkansas. He did a great job for us during his seven years as head coach, both on the field and off. I want to thank him for his work and wish him the best at Arkansas," said Bielema, according to the Associated Press.
Alvarez won three Rose Bowls in his career and according to the Wisconsin State Journal, was asked by the team captains to coach the game. He will announce the decision in a press conference on Thursday morning, according to the Associated Press.
In Alvarez's final season coaching the team, Wisconsin went 10-3 and tied for third in the Big Ten with a 5-3 record. The team played in the Capital One bowl and defeated Auburn 24-10.
The Wisconsin job is one of the most attractive jobs in college football and is already drawing some very big names. According to the Los Angeles Times, Boise State head coach Chris Petersen could be candidate and may be interviewed next week. Petersen has been linked to numerous jobs in the past few weeks, including at Arkansas, Tennessee and Auburn.
The Badgers went only 7-5 this season and finished behind Ohio State and Penn State in the Big Ten standings. The team made it to the conference championship game because both schools are on probation and handily defeated Nebraska 70-31 to advance to their third straight Rose Bowl.
Last season the Badgers finished 11-3 and won the Leaders division title with a 6-2 Big Ten record. Wisconsin defeated Michigan State 42-39 in the Big Ten championship game to advance to the Rose Bowl, but lost 38-45 to Oregon. In 2010, the team lost the Rose Bowl 21-19 against TCU.
