Jeff Mack embodies all the characteristics of an ideal captain on a Barry Alvarez-coached football team: toughness, intelligence, dedication and leadership. Alvarez knows it, and he couldn’t be happier with his senior linebacker.

“Jeff really exudes confidence, and I think it’s contagious with the other players,” Alvarez said. “I think they look up to him.”

Mack tries to downplay his individual role, but anyone who has ever watched a Badger game knows how important he is to the defense.

“I just get the calls out there to everybody — make sure that they’re in the right place,” Mack said.

While most players take several years to learn the nuances of the game, Mack immediately stepped in as a redshirt freshman on the Badgers’ 2000 Sun Bowl-winning team and made a significant contribution, starting 10 games and recording 55 tackles, the most by any freshman linebacker since Alvarez began his coaching career at UW.

“He’s felt comfortable from the day he walked in,” Alvarez said.

Most of the credit for Mack’s easy acclimation to playing at UW must go to his father, Jeff Sr., who was a wide receiver for the Badgers from 1972 to 1974, hauling in 57 receptions for 1,108 yards.

Even though his father starred for the Badgers, Jeff was never forced to come to Wisconsin. The Madison native decided on his own that being a Badger was the right thing for him.

“I actually wanted to play at Notre Dame,” Mack said, with a chuckle. “Coach Alvarez was at Notre Dame and was the linebackers’ coach there. I really loved Lou Holtz and what their program personified. My dad never forced me into playing for the Badgers … It was just something that I chose, and it just happened to turn out that way.”

The Badgers are quite pleased with Mack’s decision. Though injuries hampered Mack in 2001 and 2002, he nonetheless garnered national attention when he was named Defensive Most Valuable Player of the Alamo Bowl and to Sports Illustrated’s All-Bowl Team. The experts of college football took notice this off-season. The Sporting News rated Mack as the No. 17 best middle linebacker in the nation, while Lindy’s tabbed him as No. 20. So far this year, the senior linebacker has lived up to the billing, recording 86 tackles (five for losses), a sack, and a 55-yard touchdown scamper off a fumble recovery against Purdue.

For Mack, as well as the other senior players, Saturday’s game against Iowa will be their last chance to play in Camp Randall stadium. And, for a guy like Mack who has made an impact in each of his four years, the game holds extra significance.

“Just the last time, me being out there with my teammates and going through the tunnel with them, yeah, that’s something,” Mack said. “And plus … we’re still playing for a lot — an awful lot with this win.”

When Mack’s career comes to an end, the linebacker will have plenty of great memories to look back on. Rather than focusing on his great plays as an individual, however, the senior linebacker looks fondly on the achievements of his team.

“I’m not really concerned about individual goals,” Mack said. “I mean, individually I think my best was probably Purdue, but … I don’t even like to even remember that game. I’d have to still say Ohio State — just being a part of that. I mean, even with the littlest things of making the calls, things like that. Just to be a part, to be in that defense.”

Everyone knows of Mack’s competitive fire on the field, but few know of his passion for the video game Halo, which he plays frequently in his spare time.

“I’m the best,” Mack said. “Nah, I’m joking. I’m pretty good, though. My best friend is probably the best. I have to give him credit, my friend Derrus Ward.”

All kidding aside, Mack is prepared for life after college, whether it be in another football uniform or a business suit.

“I’m graduating in December with a real estate degree,” Mack said. “If the pros, god willing … if I can make it to the pros, that’d be great. If not, you know, I gotta get into the real world and start working.”

No matter what the future holds for Mack, he hopes Badger fans will remember some simple things about him.

“I played hard. I played hard. I played for my teammates,” Mack said. “And I loved Wisconsin football.”