SPY’s Community Newsletter
(12/7/24)
Check This Out
Ronald Dayne #33, is an American former football running back who played for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, where he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy. He was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft. He also played for the Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans. Dayne is one of only two players in college football history to rush for 2,000-plus yards in a single season twice in his career.
Dayne is the all-time rushing yards leader in NCAA Division I FBS history, with 7,125 yards. His athleticism and speed made him a star running back at Overbrook High School in his hometown of Pine Hill, New Jersey, and he was heavily recruited by many colleges. He also excelled at track and field. In 1995, he won the New Jersey Meet of Champions, setting a new meet record in the discus throw. In 1996, he won state titles in both the shot put and discus, breaking both meet records. He won the Meet of Champions in both events and breaking his own meet record in the discus. He has the fifth-best distance ever thrown in the discus by a U.S. high school athlete at 216 feet, 11 inches (66.12m).
His football role was expected to change when he reached college. At 270 pounds out of high school, many felt that he was too big to be a tailback and believed he would be best suited as a fullback. Eventually, coach Barry Alvarez promised Dayne a tailback position and persuaded him to come to play for Wisconsin. Dayne attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he played for the Wisconsin Badgers football team from 1996 to 1999. Known as the "Great Dayne" and "The Dayne Train" throughout college, Dayne was the starting running back all four years at Wisconsin and had 1,220 carries during his career. Over his four seasons, Dayne set the NCAA Division I-A rushing record for total yards in a career. He gained 1,863 yards as a freshman, 1,421 as a sophomore, 1,325 as a junior, and 1,834 as a senior. He broke the record in the final game of the 1999 season against Iowa. Dayne ended his career with 6,397 rushing yards (which does not include yardage from the four bowl games he played in), eclipsing the record set the previous year by Ricky Williams of Texas.
Dayne excelled in three bowl games for Wisconsin. He rushed for 246 to lead the Badgers to a 38–10 victory in the 1996 Copper Bowl against Utah, garnering MVP honors. Dayne only gained 36 yards in the 1998 Outback Bowl loss against Georgia the next season, but bounced back the next two seasons with 246 yards and 200 yards, respectively, in the Badgers' 1999 and 2000 Rose Bowl wins. Dayne won MVP honors in both games, becoming only the third player in the history of the Rose Bowl to repeat as MVP — and the first and still only Big Ten player to do so.
Dayne won the Heisman Trophy in 1999 as well as other awards throughout college, including Big Ten Player of the Year for 1999 and All-American placement in 1996, 1998 and 1999. His name and number is one of six displayed on the Camp Randall Stadium façade. Dayne's #33 was officially retired during the November 10, 2007, game against Michigan.
Dayne was inducted into the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the 2009 class. For his contribution to the Rose Bowl game, he was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 31, 2011. In 2013, Dayne was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Dayne was selected in the first round with the 11th overall pick of the 2000 NFL draft by the New York Giants. In Dayne's first season he teamed up with Tiki Barber in the backfield to create the tandem known as "Thunder and Lightning," a combination of Dayne's power and Barber's speed. The Giants went on to play in Super Bowl XXXV.
Why are we telling you all this? It is because at the upcoming SPY’s Wild Game Dinner / Sportsman’s Night, to be held Saturday, February 8, 2025, we have been given a Ron Dayne autographed football that will be one of the many special prizes available that night. What a terrific addition to your man cave
Contributions
· Heide Kauffman made a large donation of glassware to the SPY’s Dime Pitch Booth activity.
Looking For A Little Help Here
The Lakewood Community Council has once again requested help with the annual Christmas Basket Project for the Lakewood School District. Drivers that are familiar with the Sunfield area are needed next Saturday, December 14th, at 9 AM. It will take just a couple hours of your time, at the most. Please mark that date and time on your calendar and make plans to help spread some holiday cheer.
The Christmas Basket project helps nearly 200 families in the Lakewood area. Volunteers are needed to deliver the baskets to the designated families in the Sunfield area.
Anyone that would like to help out, just show up on Saturday, December 14th. at the Central Methodist Church in downtown Lake Odessa. For Further information, please contact John Fisher at 517-648-0969. Thank You!
Last Call #1
Kate's Toy Box, which is located at the Sunfield District Library, is once again collecting toys for the Lakewood's Community Council’s Christmas Baskets. The box was started in Kate Mapes' memory and is a great way to give back to the area families. Unwrapped toys, clothes, and children's items will be collected until December 1st. They then will be picked up and distributed to local families.
Last Call #2
The Lakewood Lions Club has a collection spot at the Library for coats (for all ages), boots, hats, gloves/mittens, and scarfs is on-going, as well through the entire month of December. Check it out and make a donation today!
Parting Comments
· Deep Thought of the Week: If someone offers you the world on a silver platter---take the platter.
· Notable Quote: “It is OK to lend a helping hand. The challenge is getting people to let go of it.”
· That’s Puny Department: What do you call a bear standing in the rain?-----------A Drizzly Bear.
· Did You Know Section: George Louis Eyser was an American gymnast who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics, earning six medals in one day, including three gold; two silver; and one bronze medal. Eyser competed with a wooden prosthesis for a left leg, having lost his leg after being run over by a train. Despite his disability, he won gold in the vault, an event which then included a jump over a long horse without aid of a springboard.
Notices
1. If there is any organization or business out there that has something they would like to advertise or promote, please feel free to submit it to this Newsletter and we will help publicize it. There is no charge. We are glad to provide this means as a public service to help keep the community informed.
2. If you are looking for further information about the SPY’s events---Corporate or Platinum Sponsorship information---scholarship forms---youth sports reimbursement forms---past SPY newsletters---etc.---just go to the SPY website at www.sunfieldareaspys.com.
3. NOTE: If you know of anyone who would like to receive these SPY’s Newsletters, just send me an email at john.sandrafisher@gmail.com with their email address and we will add them to the distribution list.
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