MADISON, Wis. -- Joel Stave recognizes few quarterbacks, if any, have been through as much tumult as he has in a college career: three head coaches, four quarterback coaches, three years worth of spring practices in which he had to demonstrate why he even deserved to be Wisconsin's starter -- and two instances in which all that work left him on the bench to begin the following season.
He'd become so conditioned to prove himself in such settings that if coaches had asked Stave to endure yet another quarterback competition for the starting job this spring, he would have done it without so much as a hesitation. Competition, he has learned, brings out the best in everyone, even if it means someone else might perform better than him.
Instead, something entirely new and different has transpired this spring that has brought a measure of comfort and relief to Stave. For the first time in his Wisconsin career, Stave is participating in spring practices with the knowledge that he is the unquestioned leader of the offense, a starter whose experience already has proven enough to coaches and players that he deserves the opportunity.
"It's nice," Stave said. "It's a little relaxing, reassuring I guess. It gives me an opportunity to really pick out things and work on things instead of doing whatever I can to be perfect everyday. Because it's practice, you don't need to be. It gives me an opportunity to work on things, work on timing, maybe throw it earlier than I'm used to, maybe throw it earlier than I'm comfortable with, just to build that kind of chemistry. I think that's one thing that's really positive from it."
Stave has been on campus for more than four years now, and if you've followed his story in the slightest, you know nothing has been handed to him. He arrived at Wisconsin in the spring of 2011 as a walk-on whose lone scholarship offer came from Western Michigan. He took a redshirt season his first year and watched as Russell Wilson produced the finest season by a quarterback in the history of the program, throwing 33 touchdowns to only four interceptions and leading the team to a Rose Bowl appearance.
Wilson set the bar so high that few quarterbacks could match that level of performance. And his departure after one season put in motion a quarterback carrousel of sorts, with Stave involved in some way every season since.
In 2012, Stave and Curt Phillips spent the spring competing for the top spot on the depth chart, only to see former Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien earn the starting job that fall after transferring (Stave would take over after three games). In 2013, Stave and Phillips again battled in the spring, and Stave ultimately edged Phillips and an injured Tanner McEvoy for the starting role that fall. But in 2014, McEvoy became the latest challenger, and former coach Gary Andersen opted to open the season with McEvoy, which led to the most difficult season of Stave's career.
Stave ultimately won back his starting job after five games last season, but not before a mental battle with his throwing mechanics cost him a month of the season. When he returned, he was not the same quarterback who threw 22 touchdowns passes as a sophomore in 2013, and the numbers reflected as much. Stave completed 53.4 percent of his passes -- the lowest mark of his career -- and threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine).
Still, Stave's leadership in trying moments could not be denied. He helped Wisconsin win seven consecutive games to capture the Big Ten West division and guided the team to a 34-31 comeback victory against Auburn in the Outback Bowl despite throwing three interceptions.
"I think there were a lot of positives that came out of last year," Stave said. "I thought I played some of my best football down the stretch . . .
"For us to come back and win a game being down 17-3 (against Nebraska), win a really close one against Iowa at Iowa, win a really close one against Minnesota, win a really close one against Auburn, I think just winning those close games is something that we can really build on. For me personally, I think we did a lot of good things down the stretch in those games as an offense and as a pass game to really help us build our confidence."
Stave's experience was enough for new head coach Paul Chryst to declare him the starter after the team's first spring practice in March. Chryst and Stave have a strong relationship formed years ago when Chryst was the team's offensive coordinator and Stave was a freshman in 2011. But Chryst believed this spring Stave provided the team with the best chance to win, as did the rest of the coaching staff.
"It was just obvious that this group believed in him a ton," Wisconsin offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said. "They believed in his leadership. So I think kind of bringing that support behind him, knowing, 'OK it's on, let's go,' is good. I think that's something he'd put on himself anyway."
Chryst's decision also was one met with delight by Stave's teammates, who had seen the ways in which he'd battled to return to form.
"I love that coach Chryst did that because Joel is a great quarterback," Badgers running back Dare Ogunbowale said. "I think he's the best quarterback we have. And I'm glad that he was named the starting quarterback because he deserves it. Now he can just go out there and play. He doesn't have to worry about being in a competition."
Added receiver Alex Erickson: "He can just come out here and work on his craft. Work on those little details and not worry about, 'Oh, if I make a bad throw, am I going to move down on the depth chart?' It's like when you're shooting a 3-pointer and you look over and the coach is going to pull you if you miss it. It's tough. It's hard to have confidence. That's one thing. He's got more confidence, and he's out here just improving."
Stave still has much to prove in his final season of college football. He is 21-7 as a starter over three seasons, and at most programs, fans would consider him a hero. At Wisconsin, fans generally pick apart his flaws and note the team's strong running game during that span (see Montee Ball, James White, Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement) as the primary reason for the team's success.
Some may also believe Stave's status as Wisconsin's starter comes by default because there are no serious challengers. McEvoy has moved to safety, and Bart Houston is the only quarterback on the roster to have thrown a pass in a game. D.J. Gillins, Alex Hornibrook and Austin Kafentzis, meanwhile, are underclassmen who aren't yet ready for a more prominent role.
Stave has heard it all in his career. And, with the backing of coaches and teammates, he's simply ready to finish with a flourish.
"There's not a ton of guys who stick around in college for as long as I have," Stave said. "I'm kind of I guess a unique situation. I've just really enjoyed my time here, really enjoyed the opportunity to play so much and you learn a lot with every start, with every game. You learn a lot about yourself as a player, about the game itself. And I think those 28 starts have really been valuable for me, and I think it'll really help me moving forward."
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