Craig Meier's Road Home
While almost every successful athlete has experienced some bumps on the road to success, very few must face their adversity at such an early stage in their athletic career. So while he’s already achieved so much on the field, local product and 2004 Madison Edgewood graduate Craig Meier knows to be thankful for every moment given to him between the lines.
It was just three years ago that Meier was gearing up for his senior season at Edgewood High where he competed as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball. In the past, Meier experienced success in all three arenas but football and baseball proved most rewarding and he had expectations to compete in one of the two after high school. All was going well for the young superstar, until just minutes into the football season, everything took an unexpected turn.
“I did it two minutes into our first game of my senior year. It was a pretty big blow for me,” said Meier.
That big blow was actually three major injuries. Meier, the team’s starting quarterback, had torn not only his ACL and MCL, but also the meniscus in his left knee.
“I did it on defense oddly enough. I was coming up to make a tackle and my foot got stuck in the ground and my knee twisted. I heard a pop and knew it wasn’t good.”
The injury would sideline Meier for nearly four months. Suddenly, all that seemed so promising was filled with uncertainty. He who once had college coaches drooling over his potential was now greeted with skepticism. Could he make a full recovery? Would this be a recurring injury? All were questions that coaches, and even Meier himself, would have to consider. With a torn ACL alone, many people take a full year to recover.
Meier battled though … mentally that is. With the love and support of friends and family, he even says he became a stronger person.
“Everyone that was my age during that time, around 18, we all feel like we’re invincible and [the injury] kind of brought me back to reality about how important every practice is and just being in the moment.”
But it wasn’t just his friends and family who lent Meier their support. He actually received advice on how to cope with the anguish of not playing from a man who knew exactly what he was going through.
“Lee Evans [former University of Wisconsin and current Buffalo Bills wide receiver] came in and talked to me for about two hours because he had done the same thing. He told me that he wrote a diary every day about what his mental state was and he said it helped him out a lot. I actually started doing that.”
So with diary in hand, and Evans’ words in the back of his head, Meier spent the next four months doing all he could to prepare himself for a return to athletic competition … rehab and workout.
His return would finally come in the spring of 2004 in his other favorite sport of baseball. With no physical ailments to hold him back, Meier opened practice with the team and stepped onto an athletic field for the first time in almost six months … and he did so with no mental roadblocks.
“I had done so much rehab at that point that I felt confident [in my knee]. The biggest thing was that I was just excited to practice again. My coach wouldn’t let me steal though. I didn’t steal a single base the whole season.”
Even without the stolen bases Meier looked as if he’d never missed a beat, garnering a series of accolades for his play during the season. He was named All-Conference for the second year in a row as well as Utility Man All-State and Madison City Player of the Year. He received each award with a new lease on his athletic life.
“Looking back, it really did help me. It was a big learning experience. I would never like to do it again but it made me a stronger person and more of a man.”
After graduating from Edgewood in the spring, Meier’s dreams of college athletics were realized. Perhaps surprising to some, he elected for a return to football. But this time, it would be on a much more demanding stage. Meier accepted an offer to attend the University of Wisconsin in the fall as a preferred walk-on. He would compete there as a quarterback.
The 2004 season was solid for the UW football squad as Meier, a redshirt freshman, watched the team claw its way to a 9-3 record. On the practice field, he continued to be successful earning the Badgers’ Scout Team Player of the Year accolades. But as Meier notes, something was absent from his life.
“Whatever sport I wasn’t playing I was missing and baseball really stuck out to me. I love playing baseball and I really missed it.”
Those sentiments are what led Meier to make a phone call to MATC Head Coach Mike Davenport at the end of his first year at UW. Just days later, he would be working out in front of the coach and was offered a spot on MATC’s team for the 2005-2006 school year. Meier was officially making the move back to baseball.
In his first season with the Wolfpack, Meier posted a 4-4 record with 46 strikeouts and just 16 walks, catching the eye of MATC assistant and Madison Mallards Manager C.J. Thieleke. Although Meier wasn’t on the Mallards 2006 opening day roster, it wouldn’t take long for Thieleke to give him a call.
“The funny thing was that two days prior to that I started for my other summer team and I had pitched like 130 some pitches,” said Meier. “I got a call asking would I be willing to start tomorrow. I’ll never turn down an opportunity like that.”
Meier didn’t disappoint either, delivering five innings and allowing just two runs on three hits. The terrific spot start placed the Ducks in position to defeat the Wisconsin Woodchucks 7-5 that night, June 7, and gave the team its fourth win of the season.
“I pretty much lived on adrenaline that entire day and it was just a great experience being in front of so many people and having a great time.”
Not bad for a kid who just two years earlier was unsure of what his athletic future held. Still, Meier knows now not to take anything for granted, admitting that he’s having the time of his life pitching for the fans at the Duck Pond.
“This has been one of my biggest dreams ever since I’ve started playing baseball. To come here and play with the Mallards during the summer and it’s worked out great. I’ve had a ton of support – family and friends – everyone’s always here at the game.”
And so goes Meier’s career as a Mallard and as a baseball player. Will there be more difficulty? Undoubtedly so. But with the support of his friends and family, Meier now knows he can meet it all head-on … and the Madison Mallards know they have a pitcher who has faced adversity in the past and conquered it.
Article appeared in Madison Mallards Media Guide and Game Program
It was just three years ago that Meier was gearing up for his senior season at Edgewood High where he competed as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball. In the past, Meier experienced success in all three arenas but football and baseball proved most rewarding and he had expectations to compete in one of the two after high school. All was going well for the young superstar, until just minutes into the football season, everything took an unexpected turn.
“I did it two minutes into our first game of my senior year. It was a pretty big blow for me,” said Meier.
That big blow was actually three major injuries. Meier, the team’s starting quarterback, had torn not only his ACL and MCL, but also the meniscus in his left knee.
“I did it on defense oddly enough. I was coming up to make a tackle and my foot got stuck in the ground and my knee twisted. I heard a pop and knew it wasn’t good.”
The injury would sideline Meier for nearly four months. Suddenly, all that seemed so promising was filled with uncertainty. He who once had college coaches drooling over his potential was now greeted with skepticism. Could he make a full recovery? Would this be a recurring injury? All were questions that coaches, and even Meier himself, would have to consider. With a torn ACL alone, many people take a full year to recover.
Meier battled though … mentally that is. With the love and support of friends and family, he even says he became a stronger person.
“Everyone that was my age during that time, around 18, we all feel like we’re invincible and [the injury] kind of brought me back to reality about how important every practice is and just being in the moment.”
But it wasn’t just his friends and family who lent Meier their support. He actually received advice on how to cope with the anguish of not playing from a man who knew exactly what he was going through.
“Lee Evans [former University of Wisconsin and current Buffalo Bills wide receiver] came in and talked to me for about two hours because he had done the same thing. He told me that he wrote a diary every day about what his mental state was and he said it helped him out a lot. I actually started doing that.”
So with diary in hand, and Evans’ words in the back of his head, Meier spent the next four months doing all he could to prepare himself for a return to athletic competition … rehab and workout.
His return would finally come in the spring of 2004 in his other favorite sport of baseball. With no physical ailments to hold him back, Meier opened practice with the team and stepped onto an athletic field for the first time in almost six months … and he did so with no mental roadblocks.
“I had done so much rehab at that point that I felt confident [in my knee]. The biggest thing was that I was just excited to practice again. My coach wouldn’t let me steal though. I didn’t steal a single base the whole season.”
Even without the stolen bases Meier looked as if he’d never missed a beat, garnering a series of accolades for his play during the season. He was named All-Conference for the second year in a row as well as Utility Man All-State and Madison City Player of the Year. He received each award with a new lease on his athletic life.
“Looking back, it really did help me. It was a big learning experience. I would never like to do it again but it made me a stronger person and more of a man.”
After graduating from Edgewood in the spring, Meier’s dreams of college athletics were realized. Perhaps surprising to some, he elected for a return to football. But this time, it would be on a much more demanding stage. Meier accepted an offer to attend the University of Wisconsin in the fall as a preferred walk-on. He would compete there as a quarterback.
The 2004 season was solid for the UW football squad as Meier, a redshirt freshman, watched the team claw its way to a 9-3 record. On the practice field, he continued to be successful earning the Badgers’ Scout Team Player of the Year accolades. But as Meier notes, something was absent from his life.
“Whatever sport I wasn’t playing I was missing and baseball really stuck out to me. I love playing baseball and I really missed it.”
Those sentiments are what led Meier to make a phone call to MATC Head Coach Mike Davenport at the end of his first year at UW. Just days later, he would be working out in front of the coach and was offered a spot on MATC’s team for the 2005-2006 school year. Meier was officially making the move back to baseball.
In his first season with the Wolfpack, Meier posted a 4-4 record with 46 strikeouts and just 16 walks, catching the eye of MATC assistant and Madison Mallards Manager C.J. Thieleke. Although Meier wasn’t on the Mallards 2006 opening day roster, it wouldn’t take long for Thieleke to give him a call.
“The funny thing was that two days prior to that I started for my other summer team and I had pitched like 130 some pitches,” said Meier. “I got a call asking would I be willing to start tomorrow. I’ll never turn down an opportunity like that.”
Meier didn’t disappoint either, delivering five innings and allowing just two runs on three hits. The terrific spot start placed the Ducks in position to defeat the Wisconsin Woodchucks 7-5 that night, June 7, and gave the team its fourth win of the season.
“I pretty much lived on adrenaline that entire day and it was just a great experience being in front of so many people and having a great time.”
Not bad for a kid who just two years earlier was unsure of what his athletic future held. Still, Meier knows now not to take anything for granted, admitting that he’s having the time of his life pitching for the fans at the Duck Pond.
“This has been one of my biggest dreams ever since I’ve started playing baseball. To come here and play with the Mallards during the summer and it’s worked out great. I’ve had a ton of support – family and friends – everyone’s always here at the game.”
And so goes Meier’s career as a Mallard and as a baseball player. Will there be more difficulty? Undoubtedly so. But with the support of his friends and family, Meier now knows he can meet it all head-on … and the Madison Mallards know they have a pitcher who has faced adversity in the past and conquered it.
Article appeared in Madison Mallards Media Guide and Game Program
Women's Soccer Program In Good Hands
UNLV's first-year head coach is youngest in all of Division I
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Jennifer Klein knows she's young. But don't be fooled. That's not going to deter UNLV's newest women's soccer head coach. At just 25 years of age, Klein was officially handed the reigns to the Rebel program on June 15, taking over for the departed Kat Mertz. Now 26, Klein holds the distinction of being the youngest head coach in all of Division I women's soccer. And while coaching a Division I program may seem like a tall order for most people that age, Klein chooses to recognize the distinct benefits that come with coaching at such an early stage of life.
"I think I'll always face the challenge of being young," said Klein. "I don't see it as a disadvantage. I see it as an advantage. I've found it to be very helpful in relating to my players because I'm still very close to the experiences that they're going through. I think bringing a young energy has really helped out as far as getting the players going."
So how did Klein ascend to the position of head coach so quickly? It's best to start at the beginning. She says her and her twin sister were introduced to soccer around age five by their parents. After discovering a love for the game, Klein continued playing through elementary school and junior high. As a prep, she excelled in both soccer and cross country. On the trail she was named a two-time All-American after winning all but two races in her high school career. Nonetheless, Klein, who hails from Prescott, Ariz., elected to attend the University of Arizona on a soccer scholarship. During her time with the Wildcats, she served as a team captain in both her junior and senior seasons while also helping guide the team to its first-ever Pac-10 Conference championship in 2004. Nevertheless, the path of a collegiate soccer coach still wasn't a foregone conclusion.
"It's kind of funny," said Klein. "It was not my original plan. My original plan was to get into forensic science and be the whole CSI kind of person. I was a biology major and a chemistry minor."
So why is it that we now find Klein on the soccer field instead of the crime scene? She says her dad was a major influence in that decision.
"I coached camps (during college) in the summer to earn some extra cash and my dad was like `you'd be really good at it.' It finally kind of clicked towards the end of my junior year of college that maybe this would be something I'd like to do. I figured I'd give it a shot and got in as a volunteer assistant right out of college at the U of A."
After just one season as a volunteer assistant at Arizona (2006), Klein was brought on as the top assistant to Mertz at UNLV. After serving three years in that position, Mertz departed for the University of Texas and Klein was the logical choice to succeed her. Now in the midst of her first season as a Division I coach, Klein says her perspective on the game and her athletes has definitely changed.
"One of the best pieces of advice that Kat gave me as an assistant was to look at (the game) like a head coach. I thought I did but I realized I wasn't thinking the same way until I got this job. It's just trying to look at a whole season rather than game-by-game and strategy."
And coaching for a whole season means making decisions based on the Rebel's 18-game schedule not including the Mountain West Conference Tournament and other postseason play. Klein admits that can be challenging given she'll be making many decisions for the first time in her coaching career. But with age comes experience and Klein seems destined to obtain much of that. In the meantime, she remains focused on developing players and becoming a better soccer coach. On the field, the goal is simple.
"I want them to become soccer players," said Klein. "I don't want to be the coach that just gives them answers. I want to give them guidelines so they can learn through the game and make their own decisions and see what works and what doesn't."
Off the field, Klein's wishes remain similar. She says she wants her athletes to mature not only as soccer players but as people too. If she can do that, the rest will take care of itself. But if she's ever uncertain of anything of she's doing, she knows she can always turn to the man that helped get her started in soccer over 20 years ago ... Dad.
"He does a really good job of telling me to just have confidence in what I’m doing because I’ve already done so much at such a young age," said Klein. "He's my booster when I want to feel good about what I've accomplished."
And feel good she should. So should fans of UNLV. It's not often that coaches like Klein come around. Alumni, fans and students can all take comfort in knowing that the women's soccer program is in great hands for many years to come.
"I think I'll always face the challenge of being young," said Klein. "I don't see it as a disadvantage. I see it as an advantage. I've found it to be very helpful in relating to my players because I'm still very close to the experiences that they're going through. I think bringing a young energy has really helped out as far as getting the players going."
So how did Klein ascend to the position of head coach so quickly? It's best to start at the beginning. She says her and her twin sister were introduced to soccer around age five by their parents. After discovering a love for the game, Klein continued playing through elementary school and junior high. As a prep, she excelled in both soccer and cross country. On the trail she was named a two-time All-American after winning all but two races in her high school career. Nonetheless, Klein, who hails from Prescott, Ariz., elected to attend the University of Arizona on a soccer scholarship. During her time with the Wildcats, she served as a team captain in both her junior and senior seasons while also helping guide the team to its first-ever Pac-10 Conference championship in 2004. Nevertheless, the path of a collegiate soccer coach still wasn't a foregone conclusion.
"It's kind of funny," said Klein. "It was not my original plan. My original plan was to get into forensic science and be the whole CSI kind of person. I was a biology major and a chemistry minor."
So why is it that we now find Klein on the soccer field instead of the crime scene? She says her dad was a major influence in that decision.
"I coached camps (during college) in the summer to earn some extra cash and my dad was like `you'd be really good at it.' It finally kind of clicked towards the end of my junior year of college that maybe this would be something I'd like to do. I figured I'd give it a shot and got in as a volunteer assistant right out of college at the U of A."
After just one season as a volunteer assistant at Arizona (2006), Klein was brought on as the top assistant to Mertz at UNLV. After serving three years in that position, Mertz departed for the University of Texas and Klein was the logical choice to succeed her. Now in the midst of her first season as a Division I coach, Klein says her perspective on the game and her athletes has definitely changed.
"One of the best pieces of advice that Kat gave me as an assistant was to look at (the game) like a head coach. I thought I did but I realized I wasn't thinking the same way until I got this job. It's just trying to look at a whole season rather than game-by-game and strategy."
And coaching for a whole season means making decisions based on the Rebel's 18-game schedule not including the Mountain West Conference Tournament and other postseason play. Klein admits that can be challenging given she'll be making many decisions for the first time in her coaching career. But with age comes experience and Klein seems destined to obtain much of that. In the meantime, she remains focused on developing players and becoming a better soccer coach. On the field, the goal is simple.
"I want them to become soccer players," said Klein. "I don't want to be the coach that just gives them answers. I want to give them guidelines so they can learn through the game and make their own decisions and see what works and what doesn't."
Off the field, Klein's wishes remain similar. She says she wants her athletes to mature not only as soccer players but as people too. If she can do that, the rest will take care of itself. But if she's ever uncertain of anything of she's doing, she knows she can always turn to the man that helped get her started in soccer over 20 years ago ... Dad.
"He does a really good job of telling me to just have confidence in what I’m doing because I’ve already done so much at such a young age," said Klein. "He's my booster when I want to feel good about what I've accomplished."
And feel good she should. So should fans of UNLV. It's not often that coaches like Klein come around. Alumni, fans and students can all take comfort in knowing that the women's soccer program is in great hands for many years to come.
My Top 5 Moments in Camp Randall Stadium History
Jamar Fletcher Returns a Drew Brees pass 52 Yards for Score – It was homecoming 1998 and Wisconsin’s defense had been at the mercy of Drew Brees’ right arm all evening. As the future pro-bowler and Super Bowl MVP continued to zip passes up, over and around the Wisconsin secondary, I remember thinking “eventually, they’re going to step in front of one.” Then in one of those magical moments that make live sports so special, Wisconsin’s eventual Thorpe Award winner Jamar Fletcher answered the call. With just over a minute to play in the third quarter and Purdue once again driving, the freshman left corner read and jumped the out-route just as the receiver cut towards the east sideline of Camp Randall. As I watched the play develop from section II, I knew if Fletcher could just hang on to the ball, no one would catch him. The seemingly always sure-handed cornerback didn’t disappoint, securing the pic and returning it 52 yards to the North endzone. The play would give Wisconsin the break it needed in what had been a back-and-forth contest. Adding to the moment … the now well-known, end-of-third-quarter celebration involving House of Pain’s song Jump Around made its debut at Camp Randall just a few moments later. Between Fletcher’s unforgettable play and the reenergized student section, the Badgers had what they needed to secure an unforgettable, 31-24 victory.
Ron Dayne Breaks College Football’s All-Time Rushing Record – For someone who’s attended Wisconsin football games since 1995, it would be ludicrous to not include at least one of Ron Dayne’s amazing rushing performances. On Nov. 13, 1999, all of Dayne’s incredible runs culminated with him breaking college football’s Division I all-time rushing record. The date is forever engrained in my mind as it was the day after my 16th birthday and subsequently, the day after I received my driver’s license. There was simply no greater birthday present then being able to attend that game with three of my close high school friends. While my dad and sister occupied our usual seats in section II, my friends and I were fortunate enough to land seats in row 14 behind the Wisconsin sideline. The section escapes me but I suspect E or F, as we sat nearly straight up from where Dayne was finally tackled on his record-setting run. It seemed too perfect that the bruising Badger would break the record against the Iowa Hawkeyes, a team that in many ways had helped to shape the Wisconsin program as much as Dayne himself. Coach Barry Alvarez spent a considerable amount of time as an assistant under legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Frye and in many ways introduced a similar blueprint for success in Madison (although Alvarez’s alma mater Nebraska was also a major influence). Dayne seemed to be the last great piece in establishing Wisconsin as a major power in the college football landscape.
The run that officially broke the record would come in the 2nd quarter on a play in which Dayne burst through a hole between his right guard and tackle. The senior tailback took the handoff from redshirt-freshman quarterback Brooks Bollinger before accelerating and bouncing to the east sideline on a gain of 31 yards. While the play itself was simply one on a long list of great runs by Dayne, it served as a reminder of all the amazing things the New Jersey native was able to accomplish during his time in Madison.
David Gilreath Returns the Opening Kickoff versus Ohio State for a Touchdown – Often times, big games come down to one or two critical plays late in the contest. On Oct. 16, 2010, the Badgers didn’t wait to deliver their biggest punch of the evening. While many students were characteristically still making their way into the stadium, senior David Gilreath gave those in their seats a show they wouldn’t soon forget. The scrappy receiver from Minneapolis took the Buckeye’s opening kick 97 yards to the house, giving Wisconsin an early 7-0 lead on the No. 1 team in the nation.
Watching from my usual seat in section II, I feel comfortable saying I’ve never felt more like a kid than I did on that play. Upon seeing Gilreath burst through the hole and ultimately cross the goal line, I began raucously jumping around and without the aid of House of Pain. I quickly scanned the field, half-expecting to see something ready to rob me of my joy … mainly a yellow flag. After finally confirming an absence of flags, I caught myself thinking that perhaps the Badgers could pull this off. As it turned out, Gilreath’s big play was the catalyst for a day in which Wisconsin would not be denied. After going up 7-0, UW continued to push, steamrolling their way to a 21-0 first-quarter lead. And despite Ohio State’s best efforts at a comeback, the hole would prove too much as Wisconsin earned an impressive 31-18 home victory.
Matt Schabert to Lee Evans – It seems any victory over Ohio State tends to be memorable due mainly to the Buckeyes long history of success and reputation as a strong program. Thus, Matt Schabert’s improbable bomb to Lee Evans is the second Badger moment involving the Buckeyes to make my list. What had been a relatively nice day in Madison turned into a cold, rain soaked evening. It was 2003 and Camp Randall was in the early stages of a $109 million renovation. Memorable in all this was the fact the endzones were not sporting their traditional cardinal paint with white block lettering nor was the school’s motion W present at midfield. Aesthetics aside, no one could have predicted how the game would have ended that day. After seeing starting quarterback Jim Sorgi knocked out thanks to an obviously malicious choking incident on the part of Buckeyes’ linebacker Robert Reynolds, Schabert was forced into action. Now a student at UW, I was once again watching from my usual seats in section II. On a personal note, I remember this being one of the few weekends my dad was unable to make the trip to Madison for the game. Instead, I watched with a childhood friend who had made his way to campus from UW-Platteville for the weekend. As we sat in the stands, soaking wet and cold, it seemed the Badgers simply wouldn’t have enough firepower to keep up with the No. 3 Buckeyes … man, was I wrong. With the game knotted at 10 and roughly five-and-a-half minutes to play, Schabert took the snap and dropped back to pass. Evans, who was running an out-and-up on the play, gave just enough of a fake on his “out” to make Buckeye defender Chris Gamble bite. At that point, it was all over. Schabert’s pass cut threw the rain and wind like a missile and found Evans at midfield. From there, it was a footrace to paydirt and Evans showed why he would soon be playing on Sundays after easily making his way in for the score. The play proved to be the difference, capping what would ultimately be a 17-10 victory for the Badgers.
Jamar Fletcher’s Three-Interception Day vs. Joey Harrington and the Oregon Ducks – The 2000 Wisconsin Badgers gained a lot of hype during the preceding off-season and to this day I maintain it may have been one of the most talented squads UW has ever fielded. That said, the now infamous ordeal involving alleged improper benefits from a local shoestore helped derail the season before it ever began. “Shoegate,” as it’s now conveniently known to some, forced several key players to miss games that season … none of them bigger than Jamar Fletcher. Despite the circumstances, the season still started fairly strong and an undefeated UW team was set to host an equally potent squad in the Oregon Ducks. At the time, the Ducks lacked much of the flash they’re known for today (including the limitless uniform budget from Nike), but it was still a very strong team/program led by future first-round draft pick, quarterback Joey Harrington. After Fletcher had sat out the first two games of the year as part of his suspension for involvement with “shoegate,” the cornerback was called upon to return for the high-profile matchup with Oregon. It should be noted that Wisconsin was granted the right to stagger player suspensions that season, allowing some to fulfill their obligation by sitting out non-consecutive contests. UW took advantage of this with Fletcher. Wisconsin’s number-one cornerback played in his first game of the season versus the Ducks and made an immediate impact, intercepting Harrington on three separate occasions. The performance helped guide No. 6 Wisconsin to a 27-23 victory and further solidified Fletcher’s status as one of the greatest defensive players Bucky has ever seen.
Honorable Mention: John Stocco’s QB draw to beat Michigan in 2005, Wisconsin’s impressive 48-17 victory over Nebraska in the Cornhuskers’ Big Ten debut (also the Big Ten debut of Russell Wilson)
Ron Dayne Breaks College Football’s All-Time Rushing Record – For someone who’s attended Wisconsin football games since 1995, it would be ludicrous to not include at least one of Ron Dayne’s amazing rushing performances. On Nov. 13, 1999, all of Dayne’s incredible runs culminated with him breaking college football’s Division I all-time rushing record. The date is forever engrained in my mind as it was the day after my 16th birthday and subsequently, the day after I received my driver’s license. There was simply no greater birthday present then being able to attend that game with three of my close high school friends. While my dad and sister occupied our usual seats in section II, my friends and I were fortunate enough to land seats in row 14 behind the Wisconsin sideline. The section escapes me but I suspect E or F, as we sat nearly straight up from where Dayne was finally tackled on his record-setting run. It seemed too perfect that the bruising Badger would break the record against the Iowa Hawkeyes, a team that in many ways had helped to shape the Wisconsin program as much as Dayne himself. Coach Barry Alvarez spent a considerable amount of time as an assistant under legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Frye and in many ways introduced a similar blueprint for success in Madison (although Alvarez’s alma mater Nebraska was also a major influence). Dayne seemed to be the last great piece in establishing Wisconsin as a major power in the college football landscape.
The run that officially broke the record would come in the 2nd quarter on a play in which Dayne burst through a hole between his right guard and tackle. The senior tailback took the handoff from redshirt-freshman quarterback Brooks Bollinger before accelerating and bouncing to the east sideline on a gain of 31 yards. While the play itself was simply one on a long list of great runs by Dayne, it served as a reminder of all the amazing things the New Jersey native was able to accomplish during his time in Madison.
David Gilreath Returns the Opening Kickoff versus Ohio State for a Touchdown – Often times, big games come down to one or two critical plays late in the contest. On Oct. 16, 2010, the Badgers didn’t wait to deliver their biggest punch of the evening. While many students were characteristically still making their way into the stadium, senior David Gilreath gave those in their seats a show they wouldn’t soon forget. The scrappy receiver from Minneapolis took the Buckeye’s opening kick 97 yards to the house, giving Wisconsin an early 7-0 lead on the No. 1 team in the nation.
Watching from my usual seat in section II, I feel comfortable saying I’ve never felt more like a kid than I did on that play. Upon seeing Gilreath burst through the hole and ultimately cross the goal line, I began raucously jumping around and without the aid of House of Pain. I quickly scanned the field, half-expecting to see something ready to rob me of my joy … mainly a yellow flag. After finally confirming an absence of flags, I caught myself thinking that perhaps the Badgers could pull this off. As it turned out, Gilreath’s big play was the catalyst for a day in which Wisconsin would not be denied. After going up 7-0, UW continued to push, steamrolling their way to a 21-0 first-quarter lead. And despite Ohio State’s best efforts at a comeback, the hole would prove too much as Wisconsin earned an impressive 31-18 home victory.
Matt Schabert to Lee Evans – It seems any victory over Ohio State tends to be memorable due mainly to the Buckeyes long history of success and reputation as a strong program. Thus, Matt Schabert’s improbable bomb to Lee Evans is the second Badger moment involving the Buckeyes to make my list. What had been a relatively nice day in Madison turned into a cold, rain soaked evening. It was 2003 and Camp Randall was in the early stages of a $109 million renovation. Memorable in all this was the fact the endzones were not sporting their traditional cardinal paint with white block lettering nor was the school’s motion W present at midfield. Aesthetics aside, no one could have predicted how the game would have ended that day. After seeing starting quarterback Jim Sorgi knocked out thanks to an obviously malicious choking incident on the part of Buckeyes’ linebacker Robert Reynolds, Schabert was forced into action. Now a student at UW, I was once again watching from my usual seats in section II. On a personal note, I remember this being one of the few weekends my dad was unable to make the trip to Madison for the game. Instead, I watched with a childhood friend who had made his way to campus from UW-Platteville for the weekend. As we sat in the stands, soaking wet and cold, it seemed the Badgers simply wouldn’t have enough firepower to keep up with the No. 3 Buckeyes … man, was I wrong. With the game knotted at 10 and roughly five-and-a-half minutes to play, Schabert took the snap and dropped back to pass. Evans, who was running an out-and-up on the play, gave just enough of a fake on his “out” to make Buckeye defender Chris Gamble bite. At that point, it was all over. Schabert’s pass cut threw the rain and wind like a missile and found Evans at midfield. From there, it was a footrace to paydirt and Evans showed why he would soon be playing on Sundays after easily making his way in for the score. The play proved to be the difference, capping what would ultimately be a 17-10 victory for the Badgers.
Jamar Fletcher’s Three-Interception Day vs. Joey Harrington and the Oregon Ducks – The 2000 Wisconsin Badgers gained a lot of hype during the preceding off-season and to this day I maintain it may have been one of the most talented squads UW has ever fielded. That said, the now infamous ordeal involving alleged improper benefits from a local shoestore helped derail the season before it ever began. “Shoegate,” as it’s now conveniently known to some, forced several key players to miss games that season … none of them bigger than Jamar Fletcher. Despite the circumstances, the season still started fairly strong and an undefeated UW team was set to host an equally potent squad in the Oregon Ducks. At the time, the Ducks lacked much of the flash they’re known for today (including the limitless uniform budget from Nike), but it was still a very strong team/program led by future first-round draft pick, quarterback Joey Harrington. After Fletcher had sat out the first two games of the year as part of his suspension for involvement with “shoegate,” the cornerback was called upon to return for the high-profile matchup with Oregon. It should be noted that Wisconsin was granted the right to stagger player suspensions that season, allowing some to fulfill their obligation by sitting out non-consecutive contests. UW took advantage of this with Fletcher. Wisconsin’s number-one cornerback played in his first game of the season versus the Ducks and made an immediate impact, intercepting Harrington on three separate occasions. The performance helped guide No. 6 Wisconsin to a 27-23 victory and further solidified Fletcher’s status as one of the greatest defensive players Bucky has ever seen.
Honorable Mention: John Stocco’s QB draw to beat Michigan in 2005, Wisconsin’s impressive 48-17 victory over Nebraska in the Cornhuskers’ Big Ten debut (also the Big Ten debut of Russell Wilson)