Ron Becomes the "Great Dayne" in 1999
The NCAA record-setting RB became the 2nd Badger to win college football's top
individual award. Alan Ameche (1954) was Wisconsin's first Heisman winner.
The Great Dayne
When Ron Dayne finished his Badgers
career, he exited as college football's top
career rusher of all-time.
Ron Dayne's Heisman
Season in Review
Ron Dayne in the NFL
Big, bruising and fast were three components
that helped Badger halfback Ron Dayne explode
through the rushing books on his way to setting
the NCAA’s all-time rushing record. Much like an
Old Clint Eastwood movie, Dayne made a
sudden impact his freshman year by eclipsing
Herschel Walker’s freshman mark by more than
200 yards en route to a 1,863 yard season.
With nearly half of his yards accumulated after contact, Dayne continued to punish his opposition with 1,421 yards his sophomore season and 1,279 his junior year. Heading into the 1999 campaign, the 5-10, 252-pound Dayne was within 1,717 yards of breaking Ricky Williams’ all-time career mark. Much like Williams who had set the new rushing standard in 1998, Dayne surged past the record in his final regular season game. Dayne finished with 6,739 career yards.
| 1999 Heisman Trophy Voting | ||||
| Player | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
| Ron Dayne-Wisconsin (RB) | 586 | 121 | 42 | 2042 |
| Joe Hamilton-Georgia Tech (QB) | 96 | 285 | 136 | 994 |
| Michael Vick-Virginia Tech (QB) | 25 | 72 | 100 | 319 |
| Drew Brees-Purdue (QB) | 3 | 89 | 121 | 308 |
