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You hate to see players go down with a physical ailment, although in most cases, there's a point where they can return to the field.  The toughest thing about Joel Stave's situation at Wisconsin was that we didn't know if or when he would return to full participation. After starting 19 games at quarterback the past two seasons for the Badgers, Stave suddenly couldn't execute basic throws in practice or warmups. Physically, he was fine. Mentally, he was a mess. He had come down with what many in the sports world know as the yips, a sudden inability to perform basic athletic tasks one has done for years.
When Stave would emerge from the fog was anybody's guess. Fortunately, he seems to be improving. Stave told reporters Tuesday in Madison that he's now symptom free and getting closer to a return. He acknowledged that, as many had suspected, the issues began after Wisconsin named Tanner McEvoy as its starting quarterback around Aug. 20. Stave had performed well in the preseason, and many thought he would retain the top job ahead of McEvoy. From FoxSportsWisconsin.com: "I tried to tell myself, 'Just stay positive, don't worry about it,'" Stave said. "But you get in your own head a little bit. And when you get in your own head a little bit, it's kind of tough. But it was a new thing for me. I had to work through it, and I feel a lot better coming out of it because you've had those days where you start to throw the ball bad and your practice will just go into the toilet. "I feel like now that I've gone through something like this, I won't necessarily let that happen again. I have a bad throw and it's just a throw. You're going to get the next one. That's kind of my mindset."
Stave couldn't make basic throws during warmups before Wisconsin's opener against LSU, raising some suspicion. Two days later, coach Gary Andersen issued a statement that Stave would be shut down because of lingering issues with his throwing shoulder, which he injured during the 2014 Capital One Bowl. Andersen actually was trying to protect Stave, but after Stave spent the day telling concerned friends that his shoulder was, in fact, OK, he then met the media and revealed the mental issue. It added up to a bizarre 72 hours in Badgerland. Stave said he has grown from the experience. He started feeling normal again during warmups before a Sept. 20 game against Bowling Green. Although McEvoy remains Wisconsin's starter, Stave is ready when needed.
"If things start to go bad or Tanner gets hurt, through this whole thing I've prepared mentally like I always would," Stave said. "I've watched film, taken notes and done what I need to do to feel like I have a good enough feel for the defense. So just continue to do that. If my number is called, then I'll be ready to go."
Great to hear.
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