ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

	AP Photo/Andy Manis
	Wisconsin QB Allan Evridge doesn't have to be 'Superman' for the Badgers.

Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema took a playful jab at Allan Evridge when evaluating the quarterback's first start for the Badgers.

"It's not too hard to hand the ball off 60 times and throw it 10," Bielema cracked. "It's a pretty easy grading system for a quarterback."

Evridge's left arm will get a little more use later this fall, but if things go as planned, the fifth-year senior will spend much of his time watching P.J. Hill and the running backs go to work like they did in a 38-17 win against Akron last Saturday.

He's not the first Badgers quarterback to have this type of job description.

Unlike many teams both inside and outside the Big Ten, Wisconsin doesn't sink or swim depending on its quarterback. The term game manager might as well be accompanied with a picture of Bucky Badger next to it, as Wisconsin wins consistently without putting a cardinal "S" on its quarterback's chest.

Evridge, a Kansas State transfer who made his first start in three years, doesn't mind the label.

"It was great seeing those offensive linemen open up the big holes and our backs run through 'em," Evridge said. "Man, if I was the coordinator, I would just keep running the ball, too. Why pull away if it's working? It's a good system."

Despite a prolonged wait to see meaningful action in a game, Evridge kept his emotions in check. Bielema said the left-hander's ability to decrease his anxiety and make better decisions helped him win the starting job over Dustin Sherer.

"Last year, it was kind of a whirlwind," said Evridge, who completed 7 of 10 passes for 75 yards with a touchdown and an interception against Akron. "I was still trying to think through the plays. I would know what it was X's and O's-wise, but that image wouldn't just pop in my head. This year it's nice to hear the play and not have to think about it, just have the image pop in your head and go from there."

Bigger challenges lie ahead, most notably a Sept. 13 trip to No. 21 Fresno State, and red-zone efficiency tops Evridge's to-do list.

He threw a 3-yard touchdown to Garrett Graham on the game's opening drive against Akron, but he also threw an interception in the end zone. Wisconsin had back-to-back giveaways inside the Zips' 10-yard line.

"We had three trips where we should have come out with touchdowns and we shot ourselves in the foot," Evridge said. "Those are great learning experiences as a whole offense. Luckily, we were able to rebound and come out strong the second half, but those are things you do want to clean up."