When speaking to the media Monday, Darius Hillary had to catch himself when talking about the meaning of Senior Day.
For just a second, Hillary forgot he was a member of this year’s senior class.
“I can’t believe it’s already here,” Hillary said. “We just want to send the seniors out right.”
That’s when Hillary realized he was actually a member of that group after five seasons in Madison.
Hillary said it first hit him Sunday when he was scrolling through Twitter and clicked on a hype video from the @UWBadgers account with the message, “One more time. For the seniors.”
When he saw highlights of himself, the emotions began to set in.
For Alex Erickson, a fifth-year wide receiver and former walk-on, the emotions will come to a head when he trots out of the tunnel and onto the Camp Randall turf one final time.
“One last time is going to be the same feeling. You’re going to have goosebumps running down your arms,” Erickson said. “It’s going to be a little more emotional knowing it’s your last time doing it.”
This senior class in particular has been through a lot. They’ve been through three head coaches, including Bret Bielema, Gary Andersen and now Paul Chryst.
The constant shift in coaching staffs forced the players to rely on each other and build special bonds.
“I think that’s really made this group bond together,” Erickson said. “Especially after a coach leaves, all you got is each other.”
According to quarterback Joel Stave, who will have a chance to tie Brooks Bollinger’s school record for career wins Saturday (29), the coaching changes made the players more accountable.
Stave remembers spending long hours during spring practices, trying to learn new offenses while handling class.
“We really got to see it all,” Stave said. “It wasn’t always easy … but ultimately it’s the players out there on the field and a lot of it comes down to trust and chemistry. I think this team has come together through all the changes and through all the things that have kind of been up and down with this program.”
Stave also pointed out the past two Senior Days and how the Badgers’ starts haven’t been ideal.
In 2013, Penn State scored less than two minutes into the game. Last season, Minnesota went up 17-3 before UW came back to clinch the Big Ten West and punch its ticket to Indianapolis.
UW head coach Paul Chryst said though there’s heavy emotion at the start of the game during the pregame ceremonies and when players’ parents greet them on the field, the easiest way to handle it is just to enjoy the moment.
“I believe the best way to approach it is to embrace it all,” Chryst said. “There should be emotion, and yet I think it’s an interesting way that we do it. But I think you’ve just got to be in the moment and embrace the moments, and you’ve got a couple of different ones going on.”
