1990 Badger football co-captain Nick Polczinski died Feb. 16 at age 39 in his Oconto Falls home, Gannett Newspapers reported Monday.
Polczinski played his last season for UW Athletic Director and former Badger football head coach Barry Alvarez's first team.
Alvarez began to rebuild the Badger football program that year—the team went 1-10, despite Polczinski's insistence that the team win every game.
In Alvarez's autobiography,""Don't Flinch,"" he recounted Polczinski's unattainable goal and his response, ""Trust me, we're not good enough to win all of our games.""
Originally from Oconto Falls, Wis., Polczinski played football and excelled in track and field at Oconto Falls High School, which he graduated from in 1986.
He is survived by his wife, three children, mother, brother, sister and other relatives.
Polczinski's cause of death was unknown as of press time.
—The Appleton Post-Crescent contributed to this report.
