Senior Mack a Big Hit
September 11, 2003 | Football
Coming off the 2002 Alamo Bowl in which he was named Most Valuable Defensive Player, linebacker Jeff Mack has started the 2003 season with the same success he had to end last year's campaign. The Madison, Wis. native has 23 tackles in the Badgers first two games to rank No. 2 in the Big Ten. In last week's contest against Akron Mack made game-high 14 tackles, including the key stop on fourth and goal early in the fourth quarter. In addition to having a career-high 14 tackles, Mack also had a sack and a tackle for a loss against the Zips.
When he is healthy, Mack has played a major role in the Badgers success over the past two seasons. Wisconsin is 9-1 in its last ten games with Mack in the line-up. The Badgers are 1-5 in games Mack has been sidelined due to injury during that time. Despite missing six games during the 2002 season the four-year starter still ranked fifth on the team with 72 tackles. He also missed the final four games of his sophomore season in 2001 due to injury. The senior captain is the career tackles leader among current players with 184. Mack, who was named to the 2003 Butkus Award watch list, is one of five Badgers to be named to preseason watch lists.
Mack is second generation Badger football player. His father, Jeff Sr., was a wide receiver for the Badgers from 1972 to 1974 making 57 catches for 1,108 yards in his career.
Jeff Jr. and the Badgers continue the 2003 season Saturday, Sept. 13 (11 a.m. CDT, ESPN2) when they host the UNLV Rebels at Camp Randall.
