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The Wisconsin Badgers are still scheduled to visit Martin Stadium--but it won't be happening for 10 years, according to the Washington State athletic department. The series between the two schools, originally schedule for 2014 and 2015, has now been pushed back to 2022 and 2023. Wisconsin's trip to Pullman is slated for the second leg.
WSU athletic director Bill Moos also officially announced the 2014 and 2015 Rutgers series, which serves as a replacement for the rescheduled Wisconsin games. The 2014 Rutgers game in Seattle will take place on August 29th to open the season.
In his typical fashion, Moos spun the Wisconsin move as a positive development.
"Adding two BCS opponents to those already on future nonconference schedules benefits our program and is sure to be appealing to our fans," said Moos. "Our 2014 schedule also allows us to bring five quality Pac-12 games (Arizona, USC, Cal, Oregon and Washington) to Pullman to showcase our newly completed facilities."
The good news there is that Moos wasn't tempted to play two games in Seattle, and that the Oregon matchup will take place in Pullman. The spin? Moos says that two BCS opponents have been "added" to the schedule. In reality, Rutgers is the only new addition. The Wisconsin series is merely a (disappointing) rescheduling.
It's hard to get excited about a home game against Wisconsin 10 years down the road. Some of the players that will take part in that game are currently wrapping up the third grade, and possibly have never played a down of organized football. Additionally, 10 years just seems like a long time for Wisconsin to figure out a way to back out of the agreement. Ohio State already bought out a trip to Pullman recently, and the Badgers just blew off a series with the Cougars for neutral site games with LSU and Alabama.
Moos has done well in a number of areas, including building fundraising interest and improving facilities, but football scheduling is still an area where he is falling short of expectations. Cougars fans are still waiting for that marquee non-conference visitor to step foot on the Martin Stadium turf. Will any of them still have hair on top of their heads by the time that happens?