Former Badger tailback Ron Dayne, the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner and NCAA Bowl Subdivision career rushing leader, will have his No. 33 jersey officially retired, UW Athletic Director Barry Alvarez announced Monday.
The ceremony will take place Nov. 10 when the Badgers square off against Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium.
We all know what he did and what he brought to [the football] program and his accomplishments are well-documented,"" Alvarez said. ""I'll be very proud to do that officially on Nov. 10.""
Dayne, whose career spanned four years from 1996-'99, set the career rushing record at 6,397 yards (not including bowl contests) in UW's 41-3 victory over Iowa on Nov. 13, 1999, which clinched a Big Ten title.
Following the game, Dayne was honored by the UW Athletic Department as his name and number were revealed on the faà §ade of Camp Randall.
Alvarez, the Badgers' head coach from 1990 through 2005, has fond memories of recruiting Dayne out of high school and coaching Dayne as a Badger. He said they shared a ""special bond"" during the tailback's career at UW.
Alvarez also discussed the assets that made Dayne an All-American and the winner of one of the most prestigious awards in college sports.
""He's very unique in his body size, he really had a fullback build, but had tremendous speed and ran what we were running, the zone play, so well,"" Alvarez said. ""He had tremendous breakaway speed.
""Ron really put the stamp on our personality offensively ... for four years, we sure rode his coattails,"" he added.
He was selected as the 11th pick overall in the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. Since then, he has played for the Denver Broncos and is currently with the Houston Texans.
Including bowl games, Dayne compiled 7,125 yards rushing and 71 touchdowns, both school records. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and was an integral part of two conference championships, in 1998 and 1999. He earned MVP honors in back-to-back Rose Bowls, both wins for UW.
Bielema comments on victory
Head coach Bret Bielema expressed satisfaction with the UW football team's 44-3 victory over Northern Illinois at his weekly news conference Monday.
Bielema hopes the success of the team's performance last Saturday will carry over to this Saturday's matchup against Indiana, as well as the three conference games to follow.
""For every phase of the game on Saturday, to play the way they did, and really for four quarters,"" Bielema said. ""As we started to sub people in there, you worry about things getting sloppy, and I really felt the guys continued to move forward.""
One area of weakness for the Badgers thus far has an inability to create turnovers. Prior to Saturday's contest, the Badgers ranked 10th in the Big Ten in turnover margin and dead last in the conference in takeaways.
On Saturday, sophomore safety Shane Carter picked off Huskies quarterbacks twice, including one on the first series of the second half. He returned the interception to the NIU four-yard line, setting up a touchdown by sophomore tailback P.J. Hill.
Getting takeaways will be a critical factor for the Badgers' success in the games remaining, according to Bielema.
""Takeaways happen when you have more people to the football, when you swarm and when you are able to play with a little more of a higher energy,"" Bielema said.
Following the game Saturday, several players pointed to senior wide receiver Luke Swan's address to the team Friday as being one of the motivating factors in their dominant play against Northern Illinois.
Bielema told Swan he would be allowed to speak to the entire team for the remaining games when he felt comfortable doing so. The head coach praised Swan's leadership and heart as the clock winds down on his final season as a Badger.
""He had a great message, he always does,"" Bielema said. ""Luke is such a strong person, on the football field, off the field, about his faith and the way he handles people. I knew there'd be big ears [among the rest of the team].""
