SPORTS
Senior trio forming core of UW line
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Also by Ryan Glasspiegel:
- Senior tight end duo quietly thriving (September 28, 2005)
- Senior trio forming core of UW line (October 12, 2005)
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- Clinksdale, Buenning take leadership roles on Badger line (August 29, 2003)
- Taking offense (September 3, 2003)
- Offensive linemen building chemistry for '06 season (March 29, 2006)
- Stocco looks to hold on to starting job (March 15, 2005)
- Former Badgers making names for themselves in NFL (December 4, 2003)
by Ryan Glasspiegel
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
The University of Wisconsin is renowned for perennially producing NFL-caliber offensive linemen. Wisconsin alumni Dan Buenning, Al Johnson, Casey Rabach, Corey Raymer and Mark Tauscher are all offensive linemen in the NFL.
With a trio of seniors in its interior — Donovan Raiola, Jason Palermo and Matt Lawrence — this year's Wisconsin offensive line is performing up to the standards of previous seasons, opening plenty of holes for tailback Brian Calhoun. Calhoun has taken advantage, rushing for 4.8 yards-a-carry and 11 touchdowns behind the group. And to think the new-look offensive line was a question mark entering the season.
The three senior linemen are a unique story because they all came to Wisconsin in the same class, redshirted in their first season and are now fifth-year senior starters.
Palermo, one could argue, was always meant to come to UW. As the son of assistant head coach and defensive line coach John Palermo, the school's combination of top-level football and academics hooked him early on.
"I always thought 'I want to get a degree no matter what,'" Palermo said. "Wisconsin is a good school, so it has something to back [the degree] up."
When Palermo became a Badger, he was expecting to play on the defensive side of the ball and learn from his father — he was first team all-state with 100 tackles and eight sacks in his senior year of high school.
"Freshman year I was playing defense," Palermo said. "We had some [younger offensive linemen] quit. My dad told me '[we need offensive linemen,]' and I liked it. It ended up working out fine."
Lawrence and Palermo found themselves in the same boat this season — finally getting a shot to start after biding their time as reserves behind former UW standouts Buenning and Jonathan Clinkscale. Despite growing up halfway across the country from each other (Lawrence comes from Millsboro, Del.) the two quickly bonded, forming a strong friendship early on. They are roommates, and that chemistry has shown in their play on the field this season.
"[Palermo and Lawrence] are getting their opportunity," Raiola said. "They leave it all out there. Every play they play it like their last. It is a good time."
Raiola's story is very different. The brother of former Nebraska star Dominic Raiola, he came to Wisconsin from Honolulu, Hawaii — 4,158 miles away from Madison. And Raiola had plenty of game experience under his belt entering the season, having started 25-straight games over the course of the past two years. This year has been no different, as the fifth-year senior has extended that streak to 31 contests.
This preseason Raiola was named the No. 5 best center in the nation by "The Sporting News" and was named in the preseason as an honorable mention All-American offensive lineman by "Street & Smith."
However, Raiola doesn't get caught up in the honors — he's focused on the task at hand.
"I don't think [the accolades] really matter," Raiola said. "I just want to go out and perform to show that [I'm] effective on the field."
This week, the trio of senior offensive linemen will look to continue its nice start to the season when Wisconsin faces a Minnesota defense that has allowed 924 rushing yards in six games.
And even beyond trying to hold onto Paul Bunyan's axe with a strong showing against the Gophers, the trio is treasuring the opportunity in front of them in the season's final six regular season games.
"It's awesome," Palermo said. "I came in with these guys … We're very close and being able to finish out this last year together is something special."
Tom Ziemer contributed to this report.
