Friday, August 20, 1999
Dayne to return
for Hula Bowl
The Wisconsin running back,
By Paul Arnett
a front-runner for the Heisman,
had one of his biggest games
here in 1996
Star-BulletinWisconsin running back Ron Dayne has accepted an invitation to play in the 2000 Hula Bowl, Bowl Games of Hawaii officials announced yesterday.
A front-runner in this year's Heisman Trophy race, Dayne is best remembered by Hawaii fans for his phenomenal night as a freshman in 1996.
He carried the ball 39 times for 339 yards and four touchdowns in leading the Badgers to a 59-10 rout of the Rainbows. The New Jersey native could have set the NCAA single-game rushing record, but Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez pulled him in the third quarter. As it was, he still set two freshman records for rushing yards (1,616) and number of carries (292).
Dayne needs about 1,700 yards to break the record for career rushing yards set last year by Texas standout Ricky Williams.
Earlier this year, Dayne led Wisconsin to a 38-31 victory over UCLA in the Rose Bowl by rushing for 246 yards and four touchdowns, which tied a bowl mark. He fell only 1 yard shy of tying the Rose Bowl rushing record held by USC's Charles White.
Dayne could be the third consecutive Heisman Trophy winner to play in the Hula Bowl, following Williams and Michigan's Charles Woodson. The game is set for Jan. 22 and will be played at Maui's War Memorial Stadium.
