BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Coming across the delivery on his doorstep, Ron Dayne was wondering, "What is this?"
It had been raining. "So, it was a wet package," he said.
But he was glad to discover, "It was dry inside."
Finally realizing what it was, he reacted like a little kid finding presents under a Christmas tree. Or maybe like a 270-pound tailback (which he once was) finding a 170-pound safety in the hole.
It was a sheer adrenaline rush for the 40-year-old Dayne, the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner, college football's all-time leading rusher (including bowls) and a 2013 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
"I called out to my wife (Courtney) and I ran upstairs to show her," said Dayne, now a trim 242. "I was so hyped and so excited, I didn't know what to do. It was one of the biggest days of my life."
To document the moment, he said, "I took pictures of it and put it on Facebook."
"It" was his diploma, his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin.
"I have it sitting next to my dresser — I see it every day," said Dayne, who graduated in December. "It was something I had to do — to come back and get my degree."
After considering entering the NFL draft after his junior season, Dayne returned for his senior year and won the Heisman. When he did leave school, 18 years year ago, he left without graduating.
Dayne was drafted in the first round, the 11th pick overall, by the New York Giants. He wound up playing seven seasons with the Giants, Denver Broncos and Houston Texans.
Although getting his degree was on the back burner, it was not completely out of his mind.
"When I was at Denver (2005)," he said, "I tried to come back and get it once earlier."
But he didn't have his heart into it. "I told Coach Alvy, 'I can't do it,"' he remembered.
Coach Alvy (Barry Alvarez) realized there were factors influencing his thinking.
"When he came back during the offseason, he was still playing pro ball and I don't think he was really committed then to getting his degree," said Alvarez, the UW athletic director.
"He was still trying to decide whether he wanted to play in the NFL anymore; and he was still trying to find himself and what he was going to do with his life."
Alvarez doesn't usually take "no" for an answer.
"Not when I'm right," he said, chuckling.
As a result, Alvarez kept after Dayne in a constructive manner.
"I told him why his degree was important," said Alvarez, who can be quite persuasive.
Dayne was raised by his uncle, Rob Reid, a minister in Berlin, New Jersey, and Alvarez recalled, "I promised the family when Ron came here that he would get an education and a degree."
Alvarez also reminded Dayne that Heisman winners are generally held to a higher standard and are not only representing themselves but their programs and schools long after they're done playing.
"It was important for his future both personally and professionally," Alvarez said of attaining a degree. "He worked in the athletic department, but he couldn't do anything meaningful without it.
"We couldn't hire him at just any position. We could use him to help fund raise and do some things like that. But he needed the degree to move up."
Dayne, who had his No. 33 jersey retired in 2007, rushed for 7,125 career yards and 71 touchdowns. In December, he made points with Alvarez by finishing what he started academically.
"I'm proud of his persistence," Alvarez said.
• • • •
In making the jump from Overbrook High School (Pine Hill, New Jersey) to a University of Wisconsin classroom, Dayne had no idea of what he was getting himself into.
"I never thought about college when I was younger," said Dayne, who grew up in a broken home where education was not a priority. "I thought once you got done playing football in high school, you played in the NFL. I never knew about the Heisman Trophy. I didn't have a feel for any college team.
"Really, I never thought about going to college until my junior year of high school. And I never thought my grades counted or mattered until then."
Moreover, he never thought about getting his degree until after leaving Wisconsin.
"Then it sunk in," he admitted. "I saw friends working at McDonald's or at gas stations. Some of them were working 9 to 5 and getting paid 10 dollars an hour.
"All they kept saying was, 'If only I had gotten my degree.'
"And they'd see me and ask, 'You were in college and you didn't get your degree?"'
Reflecting on that, he conceded, "If I didn't have the Heisman, nobody would have even noticed me; nobody would have thought about giving me a job. I'd have just been regular ol' Ron Dayne."
It's something that he has been preaching to his son, Javian, who starred at Waunakee High School and earned a scholarship to play football at Boston College.
The Badgers extended a walk-on invitation to the younger Dayne, a 6-foot, 230-pound tailback, who will have the same running backs coach at BC — Brian White — that his dad had at UW.
"Coach White hasn't changed a bit," said Dayne, who's comfortable with Javian playing at Boston College realizing how difficult it might have been for him to follow in his father's footsteps at Wisconsin.
"I was thinking it would be too tough on him just because I did so much in college. I wouldn't try to put that burden on my kid. Even if he had a good game, someone would be comparing us."
The importance of getting a degree has come up during their father-son chats.
"That was the first thing we talked about," said Dayne. "What if you don't make it in the pros?
"You need your degree to support your family if you want to have a family someday."
By returning to school to get his degree, Dayne was walking the walk with his family and setting an example for his kids — Javian and Jada, who will be a junior at the University of Michigan.
Jada Dayne has been an Academic All-Big Ten selection in each of her two seasons on the Wolverines soccer team. Last year, she scored the first goal in Michigan's 2-1 win over Wisconsin.
Jada was 2 when her dad broke Ricky Williams' NCAA career rushing mark in the Iowa game. Dayne printed her name on his wristbands for inspiration throughout that historic 1999 season.
Now, he's hoping to inspire Jada and Javian.
"Now that I have mine (degree)," Ron Dayne said, "I want my kids to get theirs."
Truth is, they've been his motivation all along to return to school.
"The thing that really drove him was that he wanted to graduate ahead of his children," said David Sedor, a senior athletic academic advisor at Wisconsin.
"It was important for him to show them that he was serious about his education. And he took pride in getting things done and graduating in a timely manner."
Sedor, who has worked closely with Dayne the last few years, has been impressed with his stick-to-it-iveness while dealing with time management challenges and re-learning how to study again.
"He never gave up — he saw the prize at the end of the journey," Sedor said. "A lot of people were depending on him to get it done. But more so, internally, I think it just meant a lot to him."
• • • •
In 1999, Dayne and Chris McIntosh, a consensus All-American left tackle, were among Wisconsin's four team captains. Today, McIntosh is the Deputy Athletic Director to Alvarez.
"He (Dayne) has bright children who look up to him and this was an important step," McIntosh said. "A degree from Wisconsin certainly brings with it opportunity, and it will be no different for Ron."
Just like it has been no different for other former UW athletes who have gone on to professional careers and then have been welcomed back to complete their studies.
"It has been a focus of the department," said McIntosh. "Anybody who was an athlete here is aware of the opportunity to come back and to finish up at no cost. The department picks up the bill.
"For some people who are local, it's easier than for others who live further away."
Last year, Dayne was taking classes on the Madison campus along with current Wisconsin hockey coach Tony Granato, 54; and former UW basketball center Rashard Griffith, 43.
Granato got his degree and Griffith is still working towards his.
"That was pretty cool," McIntosh acknowledged of their individual commitments, "and symbolic of what you'll see to come and, that is, more guys coming back to finish up."
McIntosh can relate.
"I left and went to Seattle with 12 credits of work to do," said McIntosh, a first-round draft choice of the Seahawks in 2000. "I came back four years later and finished it up.
"It's humbling to come back. During that period of time, you grow and mature and you become even more of an adult. And there are pros and cons to that."
Dayne can relate.
"With him (Dayne), it was just wrapping his head around what it takes to be successful in the classroom," Sedor said. "I think he was a little uncomfortable, too, being the oldest guy in there."
Dayne agreed.
"I was older than the professors and the TAs and it felt weird," Dayne said. "I'd ask questions in class and they'd call me, 'Mr. Dayne.' I told them, 'You can just call me Ron."'
Not all his classmates knew who he was. Not initially. But word spread quickly. And they would eventually make the connection. Some would even ask for autographs.
He appreciated the interest that they showed in him.
Just like he appreciated all the support that he has received in getting his degree. Especially at home from Courtney. "She stayed on me the whole time," he said, "and made sure that I was on point."
And, of course, she was there the day that the diploma arrived, and they celebrated together.
"That piece of paper symbolizes achievement and opportunity," McIntosh said. "When Ron got that in the mail and held it between his fingers, it brings it all to life."
Some post-graduation plans are already in the works.
"I want to wait until my daughter graduates and help her get established," Dayne said. "I want to do stuff with the (UW) Foundation, and go to different communities with after school programs."
Dayne didn't get a chance to walk the stage during winter commencement. But he's planning on doing it Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium, the site of so many of his greatest athletic triumphs.
"I'd like to see him," Sedor suggested, "strike the Heisman (pose) out there."
Whether he does or not, Dayne says, "I got my degree and I know it's going to help me get to where I need to go. On the inside, I know how hard I worked. It was something I had to do."
