Alvarez may return to coach Wisconsin in Rose Bowl

Published 1:41 am Thursday, December 6, 2012

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema says he won’t coach the Badgers in the Rose Bowl. He has an idea who might, however.

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez has a news conference scheduled for Thursday morning where he’s expected to discuss staffing for the Rose Bowl. Alvarez was Bielema’s predecessor at Wisconsin, and there’s speculation he’ll return to the sideline when the Badgers play Stanford on Jan. 1.

“I think he’s actually coaching their bowl game,” Bielema said Wednesday during his introduction as Arkansas’ coach. “I just heard that before I came here, which would be awesome. They might finally win one. Everyone tells me he won three and I lost two.”

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Bielema declined to speculate on who his permanent replacement might be, saying whoever Alvarez chooses “will be awesome.”