Paul Chryst downplays 'battle' vs. Dave Aranda
Madison – Dave Aranda vs. Paul Chryst?
Don’t try to sell that storyline to Wisconsin’s second-year head coach.
Yes, Aranda and Chryst will be on opposite sidelines when UW and No. 5 LSU meet at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Lambeau Field.
Aranda, who served as UW’s defensive coordinator for the last three seasons, is set to make his debut in that job with the Tigers.
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Chryst, whose fingerprints will be all over UW’s offense again this season, enjoyed jousting Aranda in practice during their one season working together in Madison.
But…
“We’re going to be different than what we were last year,” Chryst insisted. “And what LSU will do (defensively) will be different than what we did last year.
“In the end, it is LSU and Wisconsin. Coaches will have a part in it, but the game will be played by the players between the lines.
“It is going to be a big storyline. ... I don’t know if anyone’s got the upper hand.”
UW last season was the stingiest team in the nation in points allowed at 13.7 per game and finished No. 2 in yards allowed at 268.5 per game.
Aranda was hired to revamp an LSU defense that finished 41st nationally in points allowed (24.3 per game) and 25th in yards allowed (347.2 per game). Chryst hired former USC coordinator Justin Wilcox to replace Aranda at UW.
“There is always going to be a chess match with coach Aranda,” redshirt senior tailback Dare Ogunbowale said. “He likes the mental side of the game a lot.
“A mind like Coach Chryst and a mind like Coach Aranda’s, it is going to be fun to see and fun to be a part of.”
UW players, particularly those on defense, have been asked throughout the offseason about facing Aranda.
Senior cornerback Sojourn Shelton started as a freshman in 2013, Aranda’s first season at UW.
“Coach Aranda is a great coach,” Shelton said, “but I really won’t see Coach Aranda until after the game. It really won’t be emotional.
“We’ve done some really good things with Coach Aranda. We’re proud of that but this is a whole new year and it’s time to get rolling.”
Senior outside linebacker Vince Biegel blossomed last season under Aranda and finished with eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss, both No. 2 marks on the team.
Biegel’s hell-bent playing style was a perfect match for Aranda’s aggressive play-calling.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dave Aranda,” Biegel said. “It was a very fun defense to be a part of. He’s got a lot of fun blitz packages.
“But once he made his decision to go to LSU…”
Biegel moved on.
“You guys are probably eating this up. A lot of storylines,” Biegel told reporters. “You can’t (make) this up. The storylines are endless in this game.
“But you can’t buy into the hype. You can’t overanalyze things. You just have to go out there and do what you’re trained to do.”