During the last 10 years, it seems that you could count on three things: death, taxes and the Wisconsin Badger football team finishing the season with a 1,000-yard rusher in its backfield. A Wisconsin running back has eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau every year since 1993, when Brent Moss rushed for 1,637 yards. Terrell Fletcher and Carl McCullough each broke 1,000 yards in 1994 and 1995, respectively, to keep the string going.
Ron Dayne then ran for more than 1,000 yards all four years of his college career between 1996 and 1999, gaining a career high of 2,109 yards during his freshman season.
In 2000, Michael Bennett rushed for 1,681 yards during his only year as a starter at UW. Current Badger Anthony Davis rushed for more than 1,000 yards each of the last two seasons to continue the Badgers’ streak.
Wisconsin’s 10 consecutive seasons with a back gaining 1,000 yards is tied for the second longest such streak in NCAA history. Southern California went 10-straight years with a 1,000-yard rusher from 1972 to 1981. The University of North Carolina holds the NCAA record with a string of 12 consecutive seasons from 1973 to 1984. As the streak has continued, the tradition of 1,000-yard rushers at the UW has become part of the program’s identity.
“It’s something our offensive line and running backs take a lot of pride in,” offensive coordinator Brian White said.
White, who has also been the running-backs coach since 1995, stressed the importance of the mark to the personality of Wisconsin football.
“We know that if we have a healthy running back for the whole year with what we do, we know were going to have a 1,000 back,” White said. “It is our trademark.”
However, as the 2003 season draws to a close, the Badgers are dangerously close to ending their year without a 1,000-yard running back. With Davis sidelined by a nagging ankle injury for nearly half the year, freshman Booker Stanley and sophomore Dwayne Smith have both filled in and seen considerable playing time. UW’s three-headed ground attack has piled up over 2,000 yards this season. However, due to the distribution of carries, Smith leads the team in rushing with only 737 yards.
With only Iowa and their bowl game remaining on their schedule, the Badgers are faced with a daunting task if they want to extend their decade-long streak. For Smith, maintaining the legacy of UW running backs by gaining 1,000 yards this year would mean a great deal to him.
“It would be an honor,” Smith said about joining the ranks of former Badger running backs who have contributed to the streak. “It would be great to be a sophomore and to have 1,000 yards to continue that tradition.”
At the same time, Smith has put the situation in proper perspective.
“To be honest, I’m not really worried about the 1,000 yards right now,” Smith said. “If it happens, it would be great. If it doesn’t happen this year, it will start up again next year. Right now our focus is getting to a better bowl and getting a win for the seniors.”
White echoed Smith’s words, emphasizing that winning is the ultimate goal.
“The streak is not something that consumes us,” White said.
White also said the Badgers would not force the issue by purposely running the ball just to get the mark in the final two games. White compared the situation to Ron Dayne’s pursuit of the NCAA rushing record.
“If it happens, it will be done in the context of the game,” White said. “It does not drive our decision making process during the game.”
Still, White acknowledged that the team would love to accomplish the feat for an 11th consecutive season.
“It’s a very meaningful streak that we would love to continue,” White said. “It would be a tremendous honor for this football team.”
