Danny O’Brien To Wisconsin Will Come With Lofty Expectations

Just one day after appearing at Penn State’s spring practice in full Nittany Lion regala, Danny O’Brien pulled the NWO-style swerve. The 2010 Freshmen All-American will play his football in the Big Ten, but at PSU’s Leaders Division rival Wisconsin.

The buzz is palpable, particularly from Badgers themselves. Per Twitter:

Bret Bielema was in immediate coach/diplomat mode in the university’s official statement. UW has an on-going quarterback competition in spring football between Joe Brennan and Jon Budmayr, and Bielema was quick to point out that the keys weren’t automatically being handed over to O’Brien.

But having lost a second starting quarterback that led UW to a second consecutive Rose Bowl, Big Ten championship and 11-win season, the writing is on the wall. O’Brien’s a player who helped a BCS program to nine wins in 2010 and proven his ability to work the pro style offense.

So the pressure of college football’s most coveted free agent, for lack of a better term, finally choosing a school is complete. Now, a new pressure begins.

BCS Championship. No sweat, right?

PSU offered O’Brien numerous opportunities, as discussed yesterday. The Lions return a talented core, but with a new head coach and looming distress, anything beyond a bowl appearance would likely be gravy. That’s not the case in Madison.

The Badgers have been at the forefront of the national conversation each of the past two seasons. Previous All ACC-turned-All Big Ten transfer Russell Wilson, a.k.a. #AllRussellWilsonEverything (copyright Michael Felder, 2011), helped UW come two Haily Mary passes from playing for the crystal ball. The comparisons to Wilson will be there, have been there from the moment UW was mentioned as a transfer possibility.

UW has been tantilizingly close to the grand prize each of the last two campaigns. With Heisman Trophy frontrunner Montee Ball back to anchor a nearly six TD per game offense, the expectations for 2012 will be just as high. They might even be higher.

Ball returns from a historic campaign. James White’s presence ensures defenses won’t be able to key in on Ball singularly; White was good for right under 1000 yards in 2010. Jared Abbrederis is a fine No. 1 target for O’Brien. The defense finished No. 13 in points allowed last season, and it returns more than half of its starting corps.

Roses smell sweet, but this fall Oranges smell even sweeter.

Hulk Hogan backed up his NWO turn by holding the championship belt. Can O’Brien help UW do the same?