MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Athletics is proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest seasons and careers in college football history. Ron Dayne’s incredible 1999 season was immortalized with the breaking of the NCAA Division I rushing record and the winning of the Heisman Trophy.
On Saturday, Sept. 14 Wisconsin Athletics will honor Dayne during the football game against Alabama, including a special anniversary presentation by members of the Heisman Trust.
“Ron Dayne set the NCAA Division I career rushing record and won the Heisman Trophy and we are proud to celebrate the 25th-anniversary of that 1999 season,” Director of Athletics Chris McIntosh said. “That was one of the great years in the history of both our football program and athletic department. Ron was a unique combination of size, speed and power and he epitomized the blue-collar, hard-nosed style of football our team played. Along with my teammates on the offensive line, I am proud to have blocked for Ron and to have helped him and the rest of our team accomplish our goals. Ron is college football’s career rushing leader and no debate over whether his bowl game statistics count changes that.”
“The 1999 season was a very special year for me, my Badger teammates, as well as the entire University of Wisconsin family,” Dayne said. “I am honored to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of winning the Heisman and excited that all fans can join the celebration with this merchandise collaboration with Under Armour.”
During his incredible career, Dayne broke the NCAA rushing record and finished with 7,125 yards – a total that is still unmatched in Division I history. A two-time All-American, Dayne swept the national player of the year awards in 1999, winning the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Doak Walker Award among others. Dayne helped lead Wisconsin to back-to-back Big Ten Championships and Rose Bowl victories and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
The celebration of Dayne also includes the launch of a special merchandise collaboration between Wisconsin, Ron Dayne and Under Armour. The collection includes more than a dozen unique shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, pants and hats and will be available at retail outlets: Bucky’s Locker Room and University Book Store as well as all participating Dicks Sporting Goods, Scheels Sporting Goods and Rally House locations. The collection will also available online at BuckysLockerRoom.com.
Wisconsin Athletics’ celebration of Dayne includes a tribute page on UWBadgers.com that includes new feature stories, commemorative videos, photos and more.
