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 Sunday, November 14
Dayne delivers record run to become No. 1
 
Associated Press

  MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Now he's the Greatest Dayne.

Ron Dayne broke the major-college career rushing record Saturday on a 31-yard run with 4:32 left in the second quarter of No. 9 Wisconsin's 41-3 win over Iowa.

Ron Dayne
Wisconsin's Ron Dayne gets a hug from A.D. Pat Richter after breaking the major-college career rushing record.
The run gave Dayne 6,288 rushing yards in his career, breaking the record of 6,279 set just last year by Texas' Ricky Williams. Dayne finished with 216 yards in the game and 6,397 for his career as the Badgers clinched their second straight Rose Bowl berth.

Dayne, who scored on a 1-yard first quarter run, gained just 39 yards on his first 12 carries on Saturday, but broke loose for a 37-yard run midway through the second quarter, dodging three tacklers and dragging two more to the Iowa 26, putting him 23 yards from breaking the record.

After the Badgers scored and got the ball back on their 17 with 4:40 to play, Dayne broke through the line on first down and dodged two tacklers while heading for the Wisconsin sideline. After being dragged down at the 48, his teammates mobbed him.

The sellout crowd at Camp Randall Stadium shook the bleachers several times with cheers, first when Dayne was introduced as one of Wisconsin's graduating seniors and then when he broke the record. Dayne threw the game ball to the sideline and stayed on the field to help Wisconsin complete a scoring drive.

NCAA Rushing Leaders
1. Ron Dayne Wisconsin 6,397
2. Ricky Williams Texas 6,279
3. Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh 6,082
4. Charles White USC 5,598
5. Travis Prentice Miami, Ohio 5,433

A streaker ran onto the field as Wisconsin lined up for its next play, which eventually was a 21-yard keeper by quarterback Brooks Bollinger. Dayne had three more carries for 20 yards after breaking the record.

The record was the capstone for the tailback from Berlin, N.J., who rushed for 1,863 yards during a phenomenal freshman season in 1996 and never looked back. Dayne, the Big Ten Conference's career leader in rushing and scoring, is one of just four players with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons and has all but wrapped up his third Big Ten rushing title.

The 252-pound Dayne soon became known for his bruising, head-on style of running. He benefitted throughout his career from one of the nation's best offensive lines, including the 1999 unit led by Outland Trophy finalist Chris McIntosh.

Dayne began the season 1,717 yards away from Williams' record, but a sluggish set of games midway through the season put the chase in jeopardy. Dayne raised his game during the Badgers' Big Ten schedule, rushing for 981 yards in Wisconsin's last five games.

Last week against Purdue, Dayne passed Tony Dorsett, who had held the record for 22 years.

Dayne also put himself in position to become Wisconsin's first Heisman Trophy winner since Alan Ameche in 1954. Wisconsin's mascot, Bucky, wore a gold jumpsuit at the game and struck the classic Heisman pose.

 


ALSO SEE
Dayne through the years

Badgers fans greet Dayne's day with emotion

Badgers clinch Big Ten title on Dayne's big day

A jagged journey led Dayne to greatness

Neyer: Don't expect a trend

Harig: Coincidence drew Dayne, Williams together

ESPN's experts remember Ron Dayne



AUDIO/VIDEO
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 Ron Dayne makes history with a 31-yard, second-quarter run.
avi: 897 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

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 Ron Dayne is the new NCAA all-time rushing leader.
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 Dayne goes untouched into the endzone.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1