Starting Badgers quarterback Danny O’Brien (left) and reserve Chase Knox practice early this month at Camp Randall Stadium. Credit: Joe Koshollek

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Madison - With 17 starts on his college résumé, quarterback Danny O'Brien is comfortable commanding the huddle.

He appears confident in his abilities and displays the poise to make plays under pressure.

"He has been good in all types of situations," University of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said.

Although his first start for UW won't come until Saturday, when the Badgers host Northern Iowa, his new teammates have seen enough in practice.

"He is a great decision-maker," senior tailback Montee Ball said. "He will make the right read and make the right throw."

Since transferring to UW from Maryland earlier this summer, O'Brien has been amused to learn there is one arena in which his calls are ignored.

That happens in his apartment, where his roommates / teammates call an audible whenever O'Brien attempts to choose the music.

O'Brien, who describes his musical tastes as eclectic, once tried to expose his new friends to some hip-hop courtesy of Kid Cudi.

"I didn't want to go into rap mode," he said, laughing. "I like everything, but I knew they wouldn't like rap. I'm not a huge rap fan, but I threw on some Kid Cudi, a little bopping song."

The reaction from the audience was swift and harsh.

"He was in the living room and we were all in the kitchen," redshirt junior left guard Ryan Groy said, smiling. "We all stormed in there and yelled: ' Turn this off! Turn this off!If you put this music on, you're out of the house!'

"It was funny. He said: 'Sorry, noted.' "

Center Travis Frederick, another roommate, added:

"We were all sitting jamming to country. . . . I think he had been here for about a month. He was there long enough to know better but not long enough to know the consequences."

O'Brien moved in with Groy, Frederick, defensive tackle Ethan Hemer, linebacker A.J. Fenton and Sam Edmiston, a former reserve lineman.

Their No. 1 genre is country. Their No. 2 genre is country. Their No. 3 genre? What do you think?

"I thought they might like Kid Cudi," O'Brien said. "Not so much. It got shut off in like three seconds.

"The second they didn't hear an acoustic guitar . . . it was done."

Like any veteran quarterback confronted with a hostile opponent, O'Brien has adapted.

"I just got used to the country," he said. "I don't know the names, but every country song you can think of they listen to."

When O'Brien steps into the huddle Saturday, his first time in a UW uniform, the calls will be his to make.

The start will be his first since Nov. 12, a 45-21 loss to Notre Dame. O'Brien's ended that day because of a fractured left arm.

Ball and O'Brien talked earlier this week about what will be his 18th start.

"I told him," Ball said, 'I can't wait to see your eyes when all of our fans are out there going wild.' "

Is O'Brien getting anxious? Nervous?

Not yet.

"It wouldn't surprise me if I got a little bit nervous," he acknowledged. "Football is football. I've played it. I know what to expect.

"But at the same time it is almost like my first start ever. . . . I'm pumped."

If O'Brien decides to pump up the volume in the locker room before the game, he would be wise to wear headphones - at least if his roommates are in the vicinity.