Varsity Magazine Vol 7 No 2

CONTENTS AUGUST 24, 2016 ▪ VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 DAVID STLUKA DAVID TAKING THEIR PLACE From a coach that continued a culture of championships on the ice to a record-breaking receiver to a women’s soccer pioneer, we welcome eight new members to the UW Athletic Hall of Fame. FEATURES LUCAS AT LARGE IN [FOCUS] MOVING ON The week's best photos Dan Beunning and Peter Konz are BY THE NUMBERS each following their own path and Facts and figures on UW finding their way after careers in pro football have come to a close. WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers USA TODAY SPORTS USA TODAY ASK THE BADGERS OLYMPICS Who will be in the HOF? GWEN GETS IT DONE BADGERING Lauren Carlini (Volleyball) Four years after a flat tire derailed her Olympic dream, nothing was INSIDE FOOTBALL going to stand between Gwen Jor- Cooperating for care gensen and a gold medal in Rio. INSIDE-SCROLL MEN’S FOR TRACKMORE- Ziemek already thinking 2020 Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711 VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Julia Hujet Editor/Designer Brian Mason Managing Editor Mike Lucas Senior Writer Andy Baggot Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Chris Hall, Jerry Mao Video Production Amy Eager Advertising Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, Max Siker, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2016 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM Linemen adjusting to life after football an Buenning and Peter “I feel pretty good,” said Buen- Brooks Bollinger. Konz will be in the dis- ning, 34. “I’ve had two post-ca- “It was a numbers game (in Dcussion. Rest assured, it reer surgeries and I probably Chicago),” said Buenning, a will happen at some point in the could have had more. I try to Green Bay native. “They wanted future for the former Wisconsin keep it together by staying fit someone younger and I couldn’t offensive linemen and first-team and going to the chiropractor.” catch on anywhere else. All-Americans. “I feel so much better,” said “At the time, my shoulders They may not be locks for the Konz, 27. “I was told by the were aching, I couldn’t lift a lot UW Athletic Hall of Fame, the doctors that every pound you and my knees were in bad shape. focus of this week’s Varsity. But take off your body, it’s like eight That made the decision easy to their names will come up for pounds off the knees and ankles, move on.” consideration and their creden- and that’s where I needed to But he admitted that it was tials will be discussed. take it off.” hard to leave the game and ad- Until then, they will contin- Buenning, a fourth-round draft just without it. ue to adjust to a life without pick of the Tampa Bay Bucca- “I worked, it seemed, my whole football; a “normal” life without neers in 2005, hung around the life to get into football, which excess bulk and weight. From a NFL for four seasons (36 games, is what it takes,” Buenning said. high of 320 pounds, Buenning is 23 starts), including a year with “I didn’t have a huge plan after- 260. From a high of 325, Konz is the Chicago Bears. Before retir- wards. But I had some ideas on 275. ing, he also played for the UFL’s what I was going to do.” Both are on a “high” after slim- Florida Tuskers, whose play-call- For the last couple of years, ming down. er was former UW quarterback Buenning has been selling cars TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BAY TAMPA Dan Buenning LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 3 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM at Neuville Chrysler Dodge Jeep “I think it would be hypocritical in Waupaca. He has three young of me to say no,” Konz said. “It’s “FOOTBALL HAS PROVIDED boys, ages 8, 6, and 3. Will he easy to say that you don’t want ME WITH SO MANY GREAT allow them to play football? your children to get hurt. But it’s OPPORTUNITIES. I’VE PLAYED “I understand how I was at hard to say that they can’t pro- WITH GREAT PLAYERS AND that age,” he said. “If they have vide a life for themselves. GREAT BUSINESSMEN. I the want-to, if they want to do “Football has provided me with COULDN’T TELL MY SON ‘NO’ something, I say, ‘Go do it.’ It’s so many great opportunities. I’ve BECAUSE I KNOW HOW IT hard enough to get people to played with great players and HAS BENEFITED ME.” do things. I’m not going to stop great businessmen. I couldn’t tell them.” my son ‘No’ because I know how didn’t have expectations on how Konz, who has a 2-year old it has benefited me.” long he’d play in the NFL; he son, was asked the same ques- Konz walked away from the didn’t have a number, not after tion. Will you let him play? sport while he still could. He a blood clot issue in his lungs at Wisconsin. But he knew when it was time to move on (39 games/28 starts; comparable to Buenning’s totals.) “You come to the realization that you’re thankful for every year that you do get (in the NFL),” said Konz, a second-round selection (55th overall) of the Atlanta Falcons in 2012. “When I got to four years and started to have more injury problems, I thought it would be a good time to hang it up. You’re vested, so you’re good on the money side. And you just wanted to get out before the health problems got more serious, especially with the concussion stuff coming out. “The players aren’t getting any smaller or slower, and that kind of ramps up the injuries.” Buenning was part of a 2012 concussion lawsuit filed against the NFL. Last September, Konz ICON SPORTSWIRE ICON reached an injury settlement with the Falcons after tearing Peter Konz his ACL in Week 7 of the 2014 season. LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 3 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM “For most people, maybe they Good people.” (since 1990) include Aaron Gib- don’t understand it, but I had my Just being around O-linemen son, Kraig Urbik, Gabe Carimi, dream job,” said Konz, a prod- put a smile on his face, too. John Moffitt, Kevin Zeitler, Travis uct of Neenah. “I had the job “It’s forever,” he said of the Frederick, Kyle Costigan and Rob that I had been preparing for bond with that position group. Havenstein. my whole life and now that has “And I’ve noticed it not just for Upon further review of his pro ended. the years that you were here. It’s career, Konz won’t miss “taking “I have other priorities (his with everybody. It’s with the Dan brutal beatings on Sundays.” wife is a second grade teacher Buennings and Joe Thomases...” To survive, he added, “You in Waunakee). My health and my have to do more than the other family have taken over and I’m guy. You have to make that a pri- trying to balance and juggle that “BEING A PART OF THESE ority; pretty much 365 days. The in finding a job that fits.” EVENTS IS REALLY HELPFUL. guys who do it the best make it Konz found some needed re- IT’S A WAY TO BE INVOLVED the No. 1 thing in their life.” WITHOUT BEING A PLAYER assurance and positive energy What does Konz miss the most OR IN THE SPOTLIGHT. BUT just by being around former UW about putting on the pads and YOU’RE STILL WITH DONORS, football players and boosters playing? STILL WITH THE PROGRAM, earlier this summer at the annu- STILL IN THE COMMUNITY.” “I’d be a fool if I didn’t say win- al Legends of Wisconsin Classic ning,” he emphasized. golf outing at University Ridge. There was a pause to collect “Being a part of these events is Obviously, Thomas will be his thoughts. really helpful,” he said. “It’s a way no-brainer for the UW Athletic “That feel of winning at Camp to be involved without being a Hall of Fame. Three offensive Randall,” he went on. “There is player or in the spotlight. But linemen from the Barry Alvarez nothing like it.” you’re still with donors, still with era have already been inducted: What else will he miss? Espe- the program, still in the commu- Joe Panos, Cory Raymer and cially from the NFL? BRIAN MASON nity. Chris McIntosh. “The checks,” said Konz, un- STLUKA DAVID “That has helped a lot ― just Besides Buenning and Konz, leashing his Hall of Fame cackle. being back with Wisconsinites. the list of O-line All-Americans “The checks.” ▪ LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 3 OF 3 ASK THE BADGERS WHO HAVE YOU PLAYED WITH THAT BELONGS IN THE UW ATHLETIC HALL? OF FAME? JACK MCLAUGHLIN JACK MCLAUGHLIN JACK DAVID STLUKA DAVID DAVID STLUKA DAVID KELLI BATES ZAK SHOWALTER MIKAYLA JOHNSON DARE OGUNBOWALE Junior ■ Volleyball Senior ■ Men’s Basketball Sr. ■ Women’s Hockey Senior ■ Football Bradley, Ill. Germantown, Wis.

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