USD Football 1997

FRESH OFF A STUNNING ROOKIE SEASON, WISCONSIN BATTERING R AM RON DAYNE MAY WELL MUSCLE THE HEISMAN FROM PEYTON MANNING.

very effectively. We put Ron in, in the fourth quarter, and it just changed the com– plexion of the football game." Dayne finished the Stanford game with 12 carries for 75 yards. One week later, against a bowl-bound Penn State team, Dayne started the game on the second string but did not stay there for long. "We put him in the second series of the game, instead of the end of the game," White said. "He just played a great game against Penn State. Rushed for 130-some yards (24-129, two TD). So we knew at that time he was ready to start." The rest, as they say, is history. In six of the next nine games, Dayne rushed for over 100 yards. Even when Dayne was not putting up the eye-pop– ping numbers, he was still impressive. Against Michigan State, Dayne rushed for 81 yards on 15 carries for a 5.4-yard average. But when he's on, watch out. In the club's final three games, including the Copper Bowl. the Pine Hill, N.J. native rushed for 874 yards and 11 touchdowns on 107 carries. That translates into an average of 291 yards per game and an amazing 8.2 yards per carry. McCullough, as the number-two back. finished Wisconsin's 8-5 season with a respectable 534 yards and three touch– downs on 117 carries, while Stecker placed third with 36 attempts for 292 yards and three scores. A quiet man with little to say about his own abilities, Dayne describes his run– ning style in simple terms. "I just go out there and play and then get ready for the next game." Understandably, the Badgers finished the regular season with the Big Te n 's

By Peter Hayes

1992. However, a versatile quarterback with a knack for winning named Charlie Ward from Florida State whisked away the award. Historically speaking, Alan Ameche is the only Badger to win the Heisman (1954). Nicknamed "The Iron Horse," Ameche rushed for 3,345 yards and 25 touchdowns and helped the Badgers win 26 games from 1951 to 1954. In '54, Ameche rushed for 641 yards in nine games. Dayne rushed for 628 yards in the club's final two games last year. Not only does the soft-spoken back have history on his side, he has the cre– dentials to boot. Dayne's 1996 rushing totals established a new Big Ten single– season record, eclipsing such gridiron greats as Lorenzo White (2,066 in 1985), Eddie George (1.927 in '95) and Tim Biak– abutuka (1,818 in '95). On the way, Dayne also set school marks for yards rushing in one game (339), yards rushing in a half (250), 200-yard games in one season (five), attempts in a season (325) and single-season scoring (126 points). The Big Ten co-Freshman of the Year finished 13th in the Heisman balloting last year with a measly eight votes, but enters the '97 season as the second-leading vote-getter behind, you guessed it. Man– ning (81). How and when did the Great One burst onto the scene? Wisconsin running backs coach Brian White pointed to the second half of the third game of the sea– son, versus Stanford. "We were struggling offensively the whole game," White said. "Carl [McCul– lough] and Aaron Stecker were playing most of the game and couldn't run the ball

hat a difference a year makes. Last year, tail– back Ron "Great" Dayne was not even

listed in the Wisconsin media guide's four-deep depth chart. One year and 2,109 rush ing yards later, the 5-foot-10, 261- pound, record-setting battering ram is prominently featured on the cover of the school's spring prospectus. Dayne is not only the featured back in the Badgers' offset-I offense, he is the best back in college football and the player with the best chance to wrestle the Heisman Trophy away from prohibitive favorite Peyton Manning of Tennessee. Before anyone quickly dismisses Dayne's chances of overtaking Manning, a little Heisman history is required. Last the Volunteer signal-caller was the ear-cut favorite to win, but a hor– rendous first half in the loss to Florida derailed his

chances and opened the door for Florida QB Danny Wuerffel. In 1993, San Diego Marshall

enough to stop "Great Dayne" from rolling for 246 yards and three touchdowns In last year's Copper Bowl, a 38-10 Wisconsin win.

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