Wisconsin Football Dream Team: How Barry Alvarez Landed Ron Dayne

Ron Dayne’s remarkable journey to Heisman glory in 1999 with the Wisconsin football team all started with a pivotal recruiting encounter with legendary Badgers head coach Barry Alvarez.

Speaking with Jim Rome in anticipation of the Wisconsin vs. Ohio State game, Dayne reminisced about how Barry Alvarez kickstarted his incredible football career. It all began when Alvarez personally recruited Dayne while he was still a high school student in New Jersey.

Dayne’s Heisman-winning season was one that Badgers fans will never forget, as he amassed 1,834 rushing yards on 303 carries (6.1 YPC) and scored 19 touchdowns.

However, the humble beginnings of this storied career can be traced back to that initial meeting with Coach Alvarez.

Wisconsin Football Legend Shares a Barry Alvarez Recruiting Story

The recruitment story takes an unconventional twist as Ron Dayne reveals the circumstances surrounding his first meeting with Barry Alvarez.

At the time, cell phones were not as prevalent, and Dayne was visiting a friend’s house when he received a call from his aunt. She informed him that a coach from the Wisconsin football team was eager to meet and talk with him.

So, Dayne walked home, only to be greeted by his unexpected visitor.

“As I opened the door, Coach Alvarez gave me a big hug,” Dayne said. “I’m like, I don’t even know you, and he gave me such a big hug. I was like, alright.”

Dayne’s curiosity during that meeting revolved around his weight of 285 pounds and whether he would have the potential to play as a running back. It was a simple yet significant inquiry that would define his path.

Alvarez’s response was the catalyst for history in the making. The Wisconsin head coach assured the young recruit that he could carry the football as much as he desired as a Badger.

Recalling that pivotal moment, Dayne shared, “He was like, ‘You got any questions for me?’ I was like, ‘I’m 285 pounds. Can you let me run the football as a running back?’ He said, ‘Yes, as much as you want to run the football.’ And the rest, as they say, is history.”