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Dayne's hopes done? RB's lengthy rests leave him trailing in run to record
Posted: Wednesday October 20, 1999 08:14 PM
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Ron Dayne claims he never notices how close he is to the major-college career rushing record, except when he drives past a billboard counting down the yards near Camp Randall Stadium. The billboard reads 697 this week. With just four games to go, its chances of getting that yardage are beginning to fade. For the first time, Wisconsin players, coaches and fans are seriously considering the possibility the bruising senior tailback won't be able to reach Ricky Williams' career total of 6,297 yards. Blowout wins, minor injuries and inconsistency all have taken a toll on Dayne's run at history. Dayne's failing quest is generating controversy in Madison, where some observers are angry the Badgers haven't done more to get Dayne the record. "Somewhere down the line, Dayne and this duel with history have to become more of a priority," columnist Andy Baggot wrote in the Wisconsin State Journal on Sunday. "The pursuit of a Big Ten title is job one, of course, but Dayne should be a close second." While Dayne stood helmetless on the sideline during the second half of Wisconsin's 59-0 victory over Indiana last Saturday, the home fans twice struck up chants of, "We want Dayne! We want Dayne!" The tailback grinned at the fans and mouthed a thank-you, but remained out of the lineup. With 1,020 rushing yards, Dayne is averaging 145.7 yards per game -- 95.4 of which came in the first halves of Wisconsin's seven games. He has run for as few as 80 yards and as many as 231 in an inconsistent season, and he has just two carries for 6 yards in the team's fourth quarters. "We've said all along that the record will be broken if he stays healthy and gets [enough] touches," Wisconsin offensive coordinator Brian White said. So far, he has done neither. In keeping with his long-standing philosophy, coach Barry Alvarez and his assistants have removed Dayne early from victories over Murray State, Ball State and Indiana, which came by a combined score of 158-20. Dayne has sat out five quarters of Wisconsin's first seven games. In addition, the Badgers have used Dayne erratically during games, often holding him out for an occasional first-half series and giving him extended breathers during one of Wisconsin's long, run-oriented drives. He also has suffered several minor injuries, from dislocated fingers and ankle sprains to a mild stinger in his neck. "We go about every game with our regular game plan," Alvarez said. "We're a team that's tailback-oriented, but we don't go into a game saying the tailback should get X amount of carries. We play for the situation." Typically, Dayne is fairly close-lipped on the hottest topic of conversation in Madison. He's also supportive of Alvarez's team-first philosophy, and says he would trade the record for another Rose Bowl victory. "If I don't get it, I won't be mad," Dayne said. "But I would be happy if I got it." Dayne has already accomplished much. He's the leading rusher in the history of the Big Ten, and he's one of only four backs with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Dayne has been responsible for roughly one-third of all the yards Wisconsin has gained during his four seasons and is well on the way to a record third Big Ten rushing title. Of course, there's still ample reason to think Dayne could get the record anyway. After facing Michigan State on Saturday, the Badgers play Purdue, Northwestern and Iowa, all ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten in run defense. But Northwestern and Iowa are both enduring dismal seasons, and Wisconsin could blow them out early. If that happens, Alvarez steadfastly maintains he won't play Dayne just to chase the record. "I'm concerned with keeping him healthy, not with racking up yards," Alvarez said. "Once the score gets out of hand like it has for us several times this season, I don't think you can justify leaving a guy out there just for statistics' sake."
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