No Monday morning quarterbacking
Dietzen doesn’t regret returning to Badgers
MADISON – Saturday was a time to reflect, albeit briefly, for Jon Dietzen.
The sixth-year senior offensive lineman from Seymour High School entered Camp Randall Stadium knowing that, barring an unforeseen development, he would be playing in his final home game for UW.
“Prepping for the game,” he said, “thinking about how it was going to be my last time playing here… it still feels like I just got here yesterday.
“It really, really does go by in the blink of an eye.”
Dietzen's final season at UW hasn't gone as planned.
The Badgers are just 2-2 entering the regular-season finale Saturday at Iowa (5-1). Three games – Nebraska, Purdue and Minnesota – were lost because of the coronavirus pandemic.
UW could still face Minnesota next weekend during Champions Week, but those matchups have not been determined.
Nevertheless, Dietzen has enjoyed being back in the locker room and on the field with his teammates after sitting out the 2019 season to allow his body to heal from multiple injuries/surgeries.
“I've been feeling really good,” said Dietzen, who has started all four games at left guard. “Haven't gotten nearly as many games as I expected to, but it has been holding up and I'm still going fullgo and I'm feeling good.”
Joe Rudolph, UW's offensive coordinator/line coach, and Dietzen arrived in Madison in 2015. Rudolph came from Pittsburgh with head coach Paul Chryst; Dietzen redshirted that season.
Rudolph watched Dietzen start a total of 20 games at left guard in 2016 and '17 and then switch to left tackle in 2018 because that is where he was needed. He watched Dietzen battle through pain to start 12 games in '18 before Dietzen finally announced after the season he was limping away from football.
“I think he got to the point where he was disappointed that he wasn't able to play at a level where he thought he was helping,” Rudolph said.
Rudolph insisted, however, that Dietzen gave the coaches what they needed in 2018. That was a dependable starter who allowed the staff to break in Cole Van Lanen, a redshirt sophomore at the time.
To the surprise of no one, Rudolph was ecstatic to see Dietzen return this season for one last run with his teammates.
“It's actually been awesome,” Rudolph said. “I think he has played at a really high level. You talk about rooting and being excited for someone. He loves the game. He loves Wisconsin.
“To be able to feel good again and come back and really appreciate what he is doing is pretty cool. I think it is not only seen by me, it is seen by everyone.
“He is an awesome kid and for him to have this second opportunity is pretty cool. He definitely has taken advantage of it.”
Dietzen and the other members of UW's offensive line face a formidable challenge Saturday against an Iowa front four that might be as good as any unit in the Big Ten.
Tackle Daviyon Nixon, a graduate of Indian Trail High School in Kenosha, leads the team in sacks (51⁄2) and tackles for loss (13).
Ends Chauncey Golston (41⁄2 sacks, 71⁄2 tackles for loss) and Zach VanValkenburg (31⁄2 sacks, 81⁄2 tackles for loss) will test UW's tackles.
“They're probably the best front that we've seen to this point,” Dietzen said. “They're really impressive. They play physical ball. But they're also athletic. They know what they're doing and they play their scheme well. …
“They're a team that prides themselves on the same things that we do. Having those similar identities makes it a more interesting battle. Who plays this type of ball better? Who plays that physical, smash-mouth football better?
“That has always been exciting game for me, one of my favorite trophy games that we play.”