Nice Guys Finish First
October 31, 2001 | Football
Most fall Saturdays Brooks Bollinger is wearing his number 5 jersey, barking out signals as the starting quarterback for the Wisconsin football team. Thousands of fans in the stadium and millions at home watch and listen as the junior attempts to pick apart opposing defenses with a combination of running and passing skills few QBs possess.
Every move he makes, whether successful or not, is analyzed. And while many people only know Bollinger in this light, the football field is only a portion of his life.
Many days Bollinger is in the UW Children's Hospital, putting smiles on the faces of sick children. The only cameras present there are those of parents, catching the precious moments as their son or daughter meet the Badger quarterback.
'It's an unbelievable feeling when you walk in the door of their room and their face lights up,' Bollinger said. 'If I can do a little something to brighten their day, especially when they don't get a chance to smile that much in the hospital, then I feel good about what I've done. '
Bollinger was recently named to the 2001 American Football Coaches Association 'Good Works' Team. The team is comprised of student-athletes who are actively involved and committed to working with charitable organizations, service groups or other community service activities. Former Badger Cecil Martin, now in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, was named to the team twice during his UW career.
Bollinger doesn't limit his activities to visiting kids in the hospitals. He also speaks to a number of children through youth group- and school-sponsored talks, autographs items for benefit auctions and has served as a celebrity waiter for benefit dinners.
'The thing that I enjoy most is sitting down and talking to a group of young kids,' Bollinger said. 'I like to have a message when I talk to them, things like how to enjoy school or to be thankful for what they have. '
Earlier this season, Bollinger made a visit to the hospital, however, not of his own will. In the season-opener against Virginia, Bollinger was tackled and fell on the ball. The impact left the junior with a bruised liver and he ended up spending two nights in the hospital.
Bollinger made the most of his time there, though, taking the chance to visit the children's hospital during his recuperation. While not only helping the kids in their recovery, the service allowed Bollinger to regain his focus.
'When I was able to go down and visit with some of those kids during my own hospital stay, I felt a lot less sorry for myself,' Bollinger said. 'They certainly made my time there a lot more enjoyable.'
Bollinger has been involved in speaking to youngsters since his days as a star quarterback at Central High School in Grand Forks, N.D. Recently named the 38th-best athlete in North Dakota's history by Sports Illustrated, Bollinger was well-known in the Grand Forks area long before leading the Badgers to a Rose Bowl Championship. His mother, Lisa, is a second grade teacher and Bollinger made frequent visits to his mother's classroom. He also had opportunities to speak in front of large groups of children and visit area hospitals.
When he came to Wisconsin, Bollinger participated in many of the community service projects with his teammates, including regular Friday visits to the Children's Hospital. Once he earned the starting job as a redshirt freshman, his notoriety skyrocketed. And so did the requests for his time.
'Brooks is by far the most requested of all the players, ' director of football operations John Chadima said. 'Because of his schedule, you really have to pick and choose which ones he does.'
Bollinger estimates that he spends roughly 60 hours a week devoted to football, between practice and film study. Combined with class and study time, that leaves little room for much else.
'It's incredible how he can balance all the requirements he has, especially in season,' Chadima, who handles most of the team 's service requests, said. 'People don't realize the time commitment necessary to be a successful student as well as a leader on this team. '
Another reason Bollinger is so good with children is because of that leadership ability. The confidence he he has in himself and his abilities is noticeable in everything he does, whether it be a speaking engagement or on the practice field.
'You can't coach that in a player,' quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton said. 'It's something they either have or they don't have. This football team responds to him in a positive way. He knows when to turn up the heat on guys and when to back off them. I think that's what makes him special.'
Even as a redshirt freshman on an offense with seniors like Ron Dayne and Chris McIntosh, both future NFL first-round draft picks, Bollinger took control. In his first career start, at Ohio State, he rallied the Badgers from a 17-0 deficit. Dague Retzlaff, another senior on that team, recalled the uncanny confidence of the rookie.
'He was the first one to get in the huddle and say, `We 're going in (for the score),'' Retzlaff said after the victory. 'One time he called a play, `Slide draw, to the house (end zone.' '
Bollinger's leadership abilities are due in large part to his upbringing. His father, Rob, was an offensive coordinator at the University of North Dakota while Brooks was growing up.
'I was around my dad's teams from a young age, ' Bollinger said. 'You can see the guys that are good leaders and learn from them. I've been fortunate to be around leaders my whole life.'
While the quarterback is one of the glamour positions on the football field, Bollinger knows the pressures of performing. He also realizes that the job of a captain is not always pretty.
'It's not easy to be a leader. Sometimes you have to do some things that are tough to do and say some things that are tough to say. Then you have to stand up and do what you believe in.'
The same can be said of Bollinger's off-the-field exploits. Walking into the hospital room of a sick child is not most people's idea of a good time, especially a 21-year old college kid. For Bollinger, though, the work is just as rewarding as a game-winning touchdown pass.
'I tell people sometimes I do it for selfish reasons because it makes me feel so good to go and see those kids smiling,' the sociology major said. 'Kids tend to look at you a little differently than anyone else. They 're just so happy that you take the time to be with them and don't care how the game went last Saturday.'
Much like he is under center in front of 80,000 screaming fans, Bollinger is cool and collected in front of a large group or one-on-one with a kid facing tough times.
'I think there's a direct carry-over from his demeanor on the field,' Horton said. 'He's comfortable getting in front of a group of people, whether they be old or young, and getting to their level. He may be the starting quarterback but he's just a regular guy. I think people really feed off of that.'
Another correlation for Bollinger is the enjoyment he gets out of both football and working with young people. His generosity is the type found only in someone who genuinely cares for others.
'It makes me feel so good to go in and see those kids smiling,' Bollinger said. 'I love hanging out with kids, playing with them, laughing with them. I enjoy every minute of it.'
And while some of the situations Bollinger walks into are tough, he follows a simple plan for success.
'I just try to go in with a smile on my face and try and have fun with them,' Bollinger said. 'If it's a tough situation where they're in the hospital, I try to do whatever I can to take their mind off it.'
