Wisconsin sophomore tailback Ron Dayne, shown in this 1997 photo.THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Web posted December 31, 1997

By Andy Johnston
Staff Writer

TAMPA, Fla. -- It's not like Champ Bailey has been awakened abruptly by visions of Ron Dayne stomping and snorting and stampeding right at him.

Still, it's something he'd rather not experience. Trying to tackle Wisconsin's 262-pound tailback is something Georgia's 180-pound cornerback looks upon, well, with dis-Dayne.

``It'll be a big accomplishment if I bring him down by myself,'' Bailey said. ``He's a load, a big man. I hope those guys up front take care of him. They better. I don't want to see him near me.''

Just a sophomore, Dayne is already a legend in Wisconsin, the most popular person or thing outside of Green Bay. Rushing for 3,530 yards and 36 touchdowns over parts of two seasons will do that to a player, especially one who is an anomaly, one whose size suggests he would be better suited to another position or sport, like bowling.

But Dayne is not your average 262-pound football player. He is not fat or an oafish lineman or even one of those sluggish fullbacks who make their living scoring short-yardage touchdowns.

No, this polite and quiet young man is blessed with speed (4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash), intelligence (B average), thighs that are a tailor's worst nightmare and, at 5-foot-10, a center of gravity that Wisconsin running backs coach Brian White said ``is somewhere near his feet.''

Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez was an assistant at Notre Dame when Jerome Bettis, the Pittsburgh Steelers' big back, played there. What astounds Alvarez is that ``Ron weighs 20 pounds more than Jerome and is quicker. I've been around a lot of great players and I've never been around one like this. He is very special.''

After breaking Herschel Walker's NCAA freshman rushing record with 1,863 yards last year, Dayne ran for 1,421 yards this season, despite missing two entire games and parts of two others with knee, ankle and neck injuries. His career highlights: 339 yards rushing at Hawaii (1996); 50 attempts for 297 yards against Minnesota ('96); an 80-yard touchdown run against San Jose State ('97); 246 yards in three quarters in last year's Copper Bowl; and four touchdowns on four occasions.

``Against Illinois this year, he shot out the back end and was outrunning 190-pound defensive backs and I just stood and watched,'' Wisconsin offensive guard Dave Costa said. ``It's amazing that he can do stuff like that. He does stuff that no other backs in the country can do. Sometimes we watch film and just sit back amazed. And we see him all the time.''

And just think, Dayne this week declared himself healthy for the first time this season.

``I don't have any of the aches and pains I've had,'' he said. ``It feels good to get back to 100 percent.''

That's the usual short response you'll get from Dayne, who says he'd rather watch and listen to people rather than talk. It's something he learned from uncle Robert Reid Sr., a minister, who took in Dayne when his parents divorced when he was 11 years old.

``People think I'm shy,'' Dayne said. ``I guess I'm a little shy. I like to sit back and listen first.''

Or, as offensive tackle Chris McIntosh said, ``He's a boring guy, really.''

But it's not Dayne's mouth that the Bulldogs have to contend with. No, those churning legs and bulky body and massive arms are what leaves them worried.

``We've just got to get as many people around him as possible,'' linebacker Brandon Tolbert said. ``We've got to surround him. That's the only way to stop him. It's tough for one man to do it by himself.''