Gilreath trades big plays for big trips
October 12, 2016 | Football, Andy Baggot
Still remembered for igniting Wisconsin’s 2010 upset of Ohio State with game-opening 97-yard kickoff return, David Gilreath now turns heads with his globetrotting ways.
Featured in this week's Varsity Magazine, this article is part of a feature series celebrating Wisconsin's history playing Ohio State.
- Lucas - Measuring Stick: Badgers' battles with Buckeyes often memorable
- Lucas - Looking Back: Rare 'trash talk' from Bollinger added spice to OSU rivalry
- Lucas - Looking Back: Tolzien recalls ecstatic moments, missed opportunities
- Lepay - The Voice: Despite the hype, Chryst stays the course
- Baggot - Running game focusing on discipline, consistency
- Alvarez - Big games showcase our best to nation
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — David Gilreath is an enthusiastic traveler whose excursions have taken him to 27 countries, put countless miles on his personal odometer and made his creative juices flow.
Just this year Gilreath has made his way to China, Thailand, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Canada. He engages his nearly 2,500 followers on Twitter (@DavidGilreath18) with scenic photos, taken with his iPhone, from each stop.
One day he's walking the campus of Stockholm University. Check back later and he's in Singapore, the world's only city-state, or snapping a landscape from Istanbul.
"I don't actually have a goal in mind," Gilreath said of his numerous explorations throughout Europe, Asia and North America. "Just seeing as many places as I can until I can't physically do it anymore."
Funny how Wisconsin football fans best remember Gilreath for a single journey covering 97 yards.
The night of Oct. 16, 2010 is a keepsake moment in UW lore thanks to a 31-18 victory over top-ranked Ohio State that came during a raucous night game at Camp Randall Stadium.
Gilreath, then a fifth-year senior wide receiver from Minneapolis, famously set the tone by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The 97-yard thunderbolt was the only TD return for Gilreath in a versatile career that has him situated prominently in the school and Big Ten record books.
"It's pretty cool to be appreciated as far as what that play meant for our school that night and I guess our history because we're still talking about it six years later," Gilreath said.
There's a reason for that.
Almost six years to the day, second-rated Ohio State comes to Camp Randall to duel the eighth-ranked Badgers under the lights on Saturday. Both teams feature different coaches and different rosters, but that shouldn't detract from the sense of drama, pageantry and anticipation.
Gilreath had a distinguished career at UW. He ranks first in program history and second on the all-time Big Ten list with 135 kickoff returns for 3,025 yards during a career that spanned 2007 to '10. He also had the distinction of having as many 100-yard receiving days as 100-yard rushing days (one).
But when it comes to signature sequences, Gilreath has one.
"It was a special moment," he said. "I appreciate people still remembering that as a great moment in history."
On a perfect autumn evening, Gilreath gathered in the initial kickoff from Drew Basil at his own three-yard line and started up the middle before angling slightly to his left. That's when he saw a seam to his right and whistled through it with Buckeyes defenders in pursuit.
The ultimate hole was created when then-junior fullback Bradie Ewing buried Basil and Gilreath outraced everyone to the end zone. Gilreath said the sequence was rare because all 10 blockers were later graded perfectly by the coaches.
"There were a lot of people around me that did some special things that night on that play that actually allowed me to do that," Gilreath said. "I feel like I did a lot of good, productive things during my career, but that's what people remember me for – that play – and it's pretty cool." The 18th-ranked Badgers built a 21-0 lead and hung on after Ohio State closed within three points. They closed out the regular season with seven consecutive wins, including a dramatic 31-30 victory at Iowa the week after toppling the Buckeyes.
Omen alert: After facing Ohio State this Saturday, UW travels to Iowa City.
Gilreath left Wisconsin with a degree in family, consumer and community education and is now based in Los Angeles. Much of his travel is through his job with Top Fancy Creation Limited, a jewelry company that specializes in time pieces. Gilreath said he attended a convention in Hong Kong and got hooked on the lifestyle.
"It's something I've always thought about, traveling," he said. "It's anybody's dream."
Gilreath said his first trips were heavily scripted because he wasn't sure of himself.
"Once I got the hang of it, it was like, 'Hey, this is pretty easy,'" he said.
Gilreath said its relatively easy to get around Europe and do so cheaply.
"From there I started branching out a little bit around Asia," he said.
Gilreath said he has an acquaintance who's been to 54 countries and thus began a good-natured competition. He's said he's traveled alone as well as with friends.
"I've always wanted to branch off the norm," Gilreath said. "It's something I'll keep doing for a long time."
Visitors to Gilreath's profile on Twitter are met with a replica of the famous Hollywood sign that reads "BADGERWOOD." His photos and routine thank-you notes to Google Maps leave an interesting trail.
"I put it out there and got some feedback from people saying, 'Hey, keep it going,"' Gilreath said. "It went from there."
Gilreath emphasized that he's not trying to show off.
"Just letting people see what I'm doing and what's going on," he said.
Gilreath said his favorite destination thus far is Turkey.
"It's a beautiful place," he said. "It's kind of underrated because I've not heard a lot of people talking about it, but it's my favorite place. "It's a great place between the people, the culture, the food and the history. It's an amazing place."
A recent trip took Gilreath to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he caught up with his younger sister, Suzanne, who's a freshman guard for the Wisconsin women's basketball team. The Badgers were playing a series of preseason exhibition games in Canada in August.
"I was glad to have somebody beside me to see how I was doing and give me support," Suzanne said.
"It was a great feeling seeing her play," David said.
Suzanne, who set a Minnesota high school record for three-point field goals, revels in her brother's travels.
"Your vision changes once you're out there, so I think it's a great thing he's out there doing that," she said.
Suzanne said she came to UW in part because of the experience her brother had in Madison. She said she made numerous trips to town growing up, but was back in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, watching that 2010 game on TV and cheering wildly with her family.
"Everywhere I go, people ask, 'Are you David Gilreath's sister?'" Suzanne said. "He has good history here and it's amazing to know that he does."
