Varsity Magazine

CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 ■ VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 COVER STORY PREPARED TO LEAD Michael Caputo's play has caught fans' attention on the field, but his preparation and leadership outside the lines have earned him the respect of his teammates and coaches. FEATURES FEATURE IN [FOCUS] JUMPING OFF POINT The week's best photos BEHIND THE DESK How Wisconsin's 'Kangaroo Kicker' Camp Randall is ready inspired Dave Revsine's book on BY THE NUMBERS college football's beginnings. Facts and figures on UW WHAT TO WATCH XC teams off and running ASK THE BADGERS Advice to freshmen LUCAS AT LARGE BADGERING... ALWAYS A CLIMBER Molly Hanson (WXC) INSIDE FOOTBALL Hall of Famer Chris McIntosh is no A greater gameday stranger to overcoming obstacles, INSIDE MEN'S BASKETBALL and he's still climbing today. Hall of Famer Mike Kelley INSIDE-SCROLL VOLLEYBALL FOR MORE- Hall of Famer Steve Lowe INSIDE MEN'S HOCKEY Hall of Famer Steve Reinprecht 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 Matt Lepay Columnist Drew Scharenbroch Video Production Amy Eager Advertising Andrea Miller Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Patrick Herb, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Diane Nordstrom, Kelli Grashel Photography David Stluka, Greg Anderson, Neil Ament, Cal Sport Media, Icon SMI, USRowing, USA Triathlon Cover Photo: David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2014 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS » UWBADGERS.COM Hall of Fame nod another summit for McIntosh lthough 37-year-old losing 40 pounds. the cagey veteran,” he recalled, Chris McIntosh has nev- “The priority was saving my “which is kind of scary to know Aer stopped reaching for leg versus saving my playing as a sophomore. But it forced the stars — the impetus behind career,” McIntosh said. “Even me to take the next step in my McIntosh’s ascent of Mount as an 18-year-old who proba- development.” Rainier, Mount Orizaba and bly lacked the ability to see the That entailed growing up in Mount McKinley — he never saw larger picture, it got through my a hurry. “Prior to that I didn’t himself as a star; someone who thick head that football might want to be the guy who gave up someday would be inducted not actually come to fruition the sack to lose the game; that’s into the University of Wisconsin and I might not have a college what motivated me, the fear Athletic Hall of Fame. career.” of making mistakes,” he said. But that day will arrive Friday But he persevered. After red- “From that point on, I was mo- for McIntosh, an All-American shirting as a true freshman in tivated to compete … I gained left offensive tackle that opened 1995, McIntosh took over as confidence … and the game holes for Ron Dayne; a two-time the starting left tackle on captain on the 1998 and 1999 an O-line that featured teams that won the Big Ten title fifth-year seniors Jamie and the Rose Bowl; and a first- Vanderveldt, Derek En- round selection of the Seattle gler, Manny Castro and Seahawks in the 2000 NFL Draft. Jerry Wunsch in 1996 — “It’s surreal,” McIntosh said, the same year that Dayne “just because it’s something I burst on to the scene by could never have dreamed up rushing for 2,109 yards. as an 18-year-old freshman or a “It was kind of baptism 22-year-old senior leaving (Wis- by fire,” McIntosh said. “If consin). It’s one of those things I’m honest with myself, you see happen but never really I didn’t have a lot or any think about in the context of confidence in my ability being able to do it yourself.” to play left tackle at Wis- His narrative is worth revisit- consin in the Big Ten with ing in light of his Hall of Fame four other seniors. I know induction. I didn’t feel like I be- After he tore his ACL the third longed there. It was just a game of his senior year at Pe- really tough season and I waukee High School — yes, the took my lumps.” same school that would spawn Once again, he per- the $100 million defensive end severed; a developing J.J. Watt — there were more trend. The following sea- questions than answers about son, McIntosh was the his future, especially after con- lone returning starter on tracting a staph infection and the offensive line. “I was -PAGE 1 OF 2- LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS » UWBADGERS.COM slowed down for me.” McIntosh believed in. “I thought ier (14,417 feet) was his begin- McIntosh had the ability to we could do it and I knew oth- ner’s “hill,” followed by Orizaba motivate others, too. After the er guys thought we could as (18,491), the tallest mountain Badgers got crushed by Georgia, well,” he said. “We left that team in Mexico, followed by McKinley 33-6, in the 1998 Outback Bowl meeting with 100 percent buy- (20,237), the highest peak in — Mike Bobo completed 26 of in on that idea and every player North America and one of the 28 passes and Hines Ward set a agreed that was our goal (the Seven Summits — the name giv- bowl record with 12 catches — Rose Bowl) and what we should en to the highest climbs on each McIntosh decided it was time to work towards.” of the seven continents. get something off his chest and Two Rose Bowl trips later, “It was scary but rewarding speak out. McIntosh was starting as a rook- at the same time,” he said of “I didn’t come to Wisconsin to ie in the NFL with the Seattle his Denali expedition. “It forced go to the Outback Bowl, I came Seahawks. But after injuring his me to push through these limits here to go to the Rose Bowl,” he neck, he was forced into ear- that we all self-impose, which said, later conceding, “That’s a ly retirement. “It was the first kind of took me back to my foot- pretty lofty goal after getting our time that I just couldn’t ‘tough’ ball days. I could hear Coach butts kicked by Georgia and that through it,” he said. “I couldn’t Alvie (Barry Alvarez) in my head was completely out of my com- just grit my teeth. That was frus- yelling at me to push myself and fort zone to stand in front of my trating.” compete.” teammates and say something Since then, he has found an It’s a competitive streak that like that.” outlet for his competitiveness: he shares with the other Hall of But it was something that mountain climbing. Mount Rain- Fame inductees. ■ I DIDN’T COME TO WISCONSIN TO GO TO THE OUTBACK BOWL, I CAME HERE TO GO “ TO THE ROSE BOWL. ” -PAGE 2 OF 2- BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ » UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Updates make opener even more exciting he home opener is always floors of the academic center, a mitted, we’re committed. exciting. First of all, you state-of-the-art facility that has Chris was one of our better Tlove playing here. Camp few rivals anywhere in the coun- captains. He was a tough guy. Randall Stadium is one of the try. I remember him saying that he best venues in the country. The Bud Selig Hall of Champi- didn’t come here to go the Out- Plus, there’s always so much ons is now our entryway. A few back Bowl, he came here to go energy and excitement around years ago, it was a tunnel under to the Rose Bowl. campus the first week of school. the stadium with an old door Here we had just gotten our Everything is so fresh, so vi- going into the McClain Facility butt beaten by Georgia in the brant. and it had a garbage can sitting Outback Bowl and he was This will be the first time our in front of it. Now, we’ve got a talking about the Rose Bowl. young players will take the field glassed-in area, a Wall of Cham- That was impressive, especially at home in front of a full house, pions with different videos de- coming from such a young play- all those people in red. It’s a picting our title teams, trophies, er, a sophomore. special feeling running up that Heismans, rings and pictures of I like it when somebody has ramp. some of our outstanding stu- the grit and confidence to stand I think our fans will notice a dent-athletes. up and make a statement like huge difference in the stadium If you look up that corridor — that. But you’ve got to back it with all of our game day en- with Lot 17 on one side and the up. And those players did. The hancements. We’ve added 700 stadium on the other — that’s a next two years, we were Rose television screens and a lot of in- really impressive area, whereas Bowl champs. formation will be disseminated. it used to be just a driveway, an Steve Bennett, a baseball The addition of a free Wi-Fi alleyway. All-American, will also be in- network will give people better On Friday night, we’ll hold our ducted Friday. Steve and his access to the internet and our UW Athletic Hall of Fame induc- wife Marsha stepped forward Badger Gameday app that will tion at Heritage Hall.

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