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Hasn't sunk in yet Dayne's teammates to take couple days to appreciate
Posted: Saturday December 11, 1999 11:17 PM
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Ron Dayne's teammates never doubted he would become the reigning king of college football. Still, they admitted having a few jitters before Dayne was awarded the Heisman Trophy Saturday night. "I got a few butterflies in my stomach just waiting for them to announce it, but I felt confident that he would and I'm glad to see him win it," said quarterback Brooks Bollinger. The players said the Heisman was not only a win for Dayne, but for them as well. "I think it's going to take a couple days to realize that we did block for a Heisman winner," offensive guard Bill Ferrario said. Dayne was named the Heisman winner at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York, while his fellow Wisconsin football players watched the ceremony via cable television in Camp Randall Stadium, where the lights flooded the Madison football field for the occasion. "I think it was kind of fitting that we all watched it as a team and it was nice to see everybody's excitement once they announced the winner, and celebrate with the guys that helped him do it," said tackle Chris McIntosh. Dayne beat out four fellow finalists for the distinction: quarterbacks Joe Hamilton of Georgia Tech, Drew Brees of Purdue, Chad Pennington of Marshall or freshman Michael Vick of Virginia Tech. The award was not exactly unexpected, especially after Dayne ran for 6,397 yards this year, breaking Ricky Williams' year-old record to become the leading major college rusher in history. Dayne also led Wisconsin (9-2) to the Big Ten Conference title and a second straight Rose Bowl. In Wisconsin, football fans in bars and homes across the state watched expectantly before Dayne was handed the trophy. In a short speech, Dayne singled out Badger coach Barry Alvarez for teaching him to be not just a football player but also a father to his young daughter. He saved more of his highest praise for his uncle and legal guardian, Ron Reid, for helping him succeed. Saturday was declared "Ron Dayne Day" in Wisconsin, and Gov. Tommy Thompson said it would be the "crime of the millennium" if Dayne wasn't awarded the Heisman. Dayne is Wisconsin's second Heisman winner. The first was another running back known for power and speed -- Kenosha native Alan "The Horse" Ameche who won the Heisman in 1954 before going on to a career in pro football.
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