It's camp for Wisconsin football but exposure for UW-Platteville

Officials at UW-Platteville think University of Wisconsin football players will be surprised to see what kind of facilities they'll be using when they arrive for camp Tuesday. In a good way, it should be noted. Kristina Navarro, the athletic director at the Division III school near the Iowa border in southwestern Wisconsin, has tried to change the narrative about the campus and the athletic program.

How much it will cost for Wisconsin football to train at UW-Platteville "I think there is a stigma out there that Platteville is in the middle of nowhere, in farm country, with nothing to do," she said. "Let the record show that we are no longer the UW-Platteville of your parents' timeframe. " Some at UW-Platteville hope the Badgers' use of the Pioneers' facilities will work in their favor but perhaps in a different way than the Chicago Bears' 18-year training camp stay did.

The Bears held their camp at UW-Platteville from 1984 to 2001, bringing in late-summer tourism dollars from those looking to get a glimpse of the NFL team. The Badgers' practices won't be open to the public and there's no indication that this year's visit will include any outside interactions. Big Ten commissioner wants help from Congress to change 'not true NIL' But there's a feeling in the Pioneers' athletic department office suite that if the setting was good enough for a pro team, it's good enough for a Big Ten school — especially with some of the upgrades that UW-Platteville has made in the last decade.

The school added to the training facilities in the Pioneer Athletic Center in 2019. A wood practice court and a nearby outdoor turf practice field were christened at the same time. The training room, new in 2016, has a hot tub and a cold tub along with eight stations for working on players.

UW-Platteville Sports Medicine Area Inside the University of Wisconsin-Platteville sports medicine area that the Badgers could utilize during their stay on campus for the early portion of their August training camp. Jake Kocorowski | Wisconsin State Journal The door from there goes outside to a track with a grass infield. It's about a quarter-mile walk to Pioneer Stadium and the George Chryst Locker Room, named for the former Pioneers football coach who also was an assistant for the Badgers.

There are 115 locker stalls — more than the Badgers should need — made of a durable material that resembles a countertop. They all have USB ports and a fan on the inside. The Pioneers got the lockers four years ago, football coach Ryan Munz said, because the Golden State Warriors had them and having some of the same amenities as the best teams can make a difference in players' minds.

The stadium suffered $1. 7 million in damages from a June 2014 tornado that swept a soccer goal across the street to the Rountree Commons residence hall and knocked a light pole onto a part of the seats. "I don't know if they've found the bleachers yet," Munz said with a laugh.

What was seen and heard during Wisconsin football's 'Squat Fest' The Bridgeway Commons residence hall where UW players and staff members will reside for the week opened in 2013. It's air conditioned and has a dining hall in the basement. Rooms are double-occupancy, and two rooms share a bathroom in the middle.

That's pretty far from what the Bears had. "You think about like the Refrigerator (William Perry) and Walter Payton and folks in these tiny little beds trying to squish in," Navarro said. "And now the luxurious spaces they have — with air conditioning, mind you.

It's usually pretty hot in August. So I think they'll be happy to have that. " Navarro grew up in Madison and graduated from La Follette High School in 2002.

She joined the rowing team at UW-Madison but transferred to UW-La Crosse and became a track and field athlete and volleyball player. UW-Platteville Locker Room Lockers. jpeg A look inside the University of Wisconsin-Platteville locker room where the University of Wisconsin football team will dress for practices in early August.

Jake Kocorowski | Wisconsin State Journal She welcomed a group of six people from UW football that was led by chief of staff Greg Gillum earlier this year for a site visit. UW-Whitewater also was trying to make a play to host the camp, but Platteville won out and Pioneers officials got to work putting together what Navarro said will be a "first-class experience. " UW reserved 10 rooms in Doudna Hall for team meetings.

Multi-purpose rooms in the residence hall are being used as coaches' temporary work spaces. The UW-Platteville football team, meanwhile, will be ready to move in when the Badgers move out on Aug. 8.

The Division III preseason begins a week later than it does for Division I teams, so the timeline worked. Polzin: Why Big Ten eliminating divisions is a positive for Wisconsin football If the Badgers wanted to go to a longer remote camp in 2024, the Pioneers would have to adjust. Then again, UW wouldn't be using its facilities so maybe a trade would work.

The Badgers are using the remote camp as a way to disconnect from distractions in Madison. First-year coach Luke Fickell had a similar setup when he was at Cincinnati. UW-Platteville weight room The University of Wisconsin-Platteville weight room that the Badgers could utilize during their stay on campus during the early portion of their August training camp.

Jake Kocorowski | Wisconsin State Journal UW-Platteville jumped at the chance to be the destination. Its officials like to advertise a high return on investment, something they hope continues with the Badgers. "I think it helps continue to put us on the map as far as, first of all, being good neighbors, good hosts," said Paul Erickson, UW-Platteville's chief communications officer and a veteran of the days when the Bears made the city their temporary home.

"Also for our athletic facilities, that our athletic facilities are on par with anybody's. And I think that's something that we take pride in the university, not just our athletic facilities, but all of it. " .