Melvin Gordon ran all over LSU in the first half and first drive of the third quarter on Saturday. However, he was conspicuously absent in the second half after he ripped off a 63 yard run to start the third quarter. We now know the reason for his absence.

Head coach Gary Andersen said that Gordon suffered a hip flexor, which limited his playing time in the second half versus LSU. Wisconsin ended up blowing a 17 point lead and losing 28-24. Gordon finished the game with 140 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. After the 63 yard run, Gordon only got three more carries for a total of one yard.

"I should have let them know, let Coach A know and stepped up and told them, 'Look. I need to be in there,'" Gordon said. "I put that on myself."

Andersen said he knew something was not right with his star tailback on that 63 yard run. "It was very obvious he pulled up," Andersen said. "We were trying to be smart with him."

There was also some good news for Wisconsin in regards to the much depleted defensive front three. Both Konrad Zagzebski and Warren Herring were injured against LSU and caused them to leave the game.

Zagzebski suffered a neck injury, which sent to the hospital for precautionary reasons. He was released from a local Houston hospital in time to make the flight home with his teammates. Zagzebski may return against Western Illinois this week.

As for Herring, he is listed as day-to-day after he suffered an injury to his right knee late in the third quarter. He too could see some action against Western Illinois this week. The news of both starters on the defensive line will be welcome news. It is one of the concerns coming into, and out of, the LSU game.

A smaller news piece is that quarterback Tanner McEvoy will start against Western Illinois on Saturday. McEvoy had a poor game passing the ball, going 8 of 24 for 50 yards and two interceptions. McEvoy's play has some clamoring why Joel Stave did enter the game.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Matthew Dixon
I follow College Football at all levels; FBS, FCS, Division II, and Division III. In addition, I am a horse racing enthusiast.