USD Football 1997

RUNAWAY DAYNE CO NTIN U E D

11 He's the toughest kid

in the Big Ten to bring down. He is as hard a runner as I've ever had the privilege - and I don't know that 'privilege' is the right word - to ever coach against. 11 Minnesota head coach Jim Wacker

top-rated ground game, averaging 241.1 yards. Wisconsin was ranked 12th nation– ally in the same category. In 1995 B.D. (Before Dayne}, coach Barry Alvarez and Co. ranked 10th in the conference in rush– ing (128.9 ypg) and needed a road map and an apple to find the top 20 nationally. There is so much more to Dayne's legacy than just the multiple rushing records. On Nov. 9, Dayne was having his best game of the season to date, versus Minnesota. Alvarez pulled the freshman out of the game after 40 carries and 230 yards. At the time, Wisconsin was com– fortably ahead by 28 points. However, the Wisconsin offense ground to a halt and the Gophers rallied, pulling within 14 points. Alvarez reinserted Dayne in order to recapture the momentum. An ice-cold Dayne returned to the lineup and carried the ball 10 times for 67 yards, including a 24-yard scamper, his second-longest run of the day. "He was totally cooled down and we had to put him into a relatively difficult situation," White said. "The momentum was on their side and he broke their momentum with first down after first down after first down. It's nice to have

someone you can rely on."

ever had the privilege - and I don't know that 'privilege' is the right word - to ever coach against," a bewildered Wacker said. "There's not a lot of coach– ing strategy. You just wipe the blood off

After the game, Minnesota head coach Jim Wacker was just as impressed. "He's the toughest kid in the Big Ten to bring down. He is as hard a runner as I've

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