Paul Chryst is the right hire for Wisconsin as long as he understands one thing.
He must re-create 2011 as quickly as possible in Madison. That means finding the next Russell Wilson — or something close to it at quarterback — as soon as possible.
Chryst, who spent the past three season at Pittsburgh, appears to be the Badgers' choice to replace Gary Anderson as football coach, with reports flying Friday of a deal in the works. Athletic director Barry Alvarez released a statement Friday that said the Badgers can’t hire a coach until Dec. 17 in compliance with university policy.
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We all know where this is going. Chryst should be named coach sometime next week, and his priority should be finding a dynamic quarterback for an offense in need of a jolt.
We know Wilson didn’t happen overnight. Only he did. Wisconsin snagged Wilson from North Carolina State as a graduated transfer in Chryst’s final season as offensive coordinator, and the results were off the charts.
Wisconsin was sixth in the nation in points per game (44.1) with coach Bret Bielema and Chryst in 2011. If not for back-to-back Hail Mary losses to Michigan State and Ohio State, the Badgers might have played for a national title. Two-loss Wisconsin matched scores with Chip Kelly-led Oregon before losing 45-38 in the Rose Bowl.
There's talent in Madison. It can happen again. The Badgers have become an assembly line for everything else a school needs to succeed.
Eight active NFL offensive linemen, including future Hall of Fame tackle Joe Thomas, played under Chryst. Heisman Trophy finalists Montee Ball or Melvin Gordon put up NCAA-record seasons in the Badgers' offense. Defensive end J.J. Watt is the NFL’s best defensive player, and linebackers DeAndre Levy and Chris Borland are among the 32 NFL players from Wisconsin.
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Alvarez built this framework to turn a cellar dweller into the Big Ten's best team not named Ohio State, although Michigan State is a bit ahead right now and Michigan won’t be far behind if it finds the right coach. That’s fine. The Badgers are in the Big Ten West division and thus in a class by themselves.
Chyrst would take Wisconsin to the next level with the right quarterback. Consider that through the past two seasons, Badgers quarterbacks Joel Stave, Curt Phillips and Tanner McEvoy averaged 18 TDs and 14 interceptions. Wilson had 33 TDs and four interceptions in 2011, and he added 484 rushing yards and six TDs.
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Chyrst might not find the next Wilson immediately, but plenty of dual-threat quarterbacks pop up in every recruiting class. In lieu of starting a message-board riot, can you picture Braxton Miller in a Badgers uniform?
That's not going to happen, but a game-changing quarterback is the fastest ticket back to the Big Ten title. Wisconsin found out just how much damage any dual-threat quarterback can do in this season's championship game when third-string fill-in Cardale Jones led the Buckeyes to a 59-0 rout on Dec. 6. Running Gordon off tackle all night wasn’t enough. It's not enough anymore in the Golden Age of Offense.
With the right guy under center, Wisconsin can get back to Indianapolis next season with a shot at redemption and perhaps a berth in the four-team College Football Playoff.
Chryst isn’t rock-star material, but his crew-cut, off-tackle style is right in line with Alvarez or Bielema. Those three had the right vision in 2011. No school with the exception of maybe Alabama does power football better. The Tide, however, were willing to tweak that with offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, and that brought another 12-win season.
Wisconsin should follow the model.
Chryst is the right guy for this job, as long as he understands what comes first.
