Out here in Hawaii. They flew in on one of our B757-300s (Madison to San Fran to Honolulu). They brought everybody they could think of, including the mascot. About 220 people, plus 13,000lbs. of bags, team equipment and assorted other stuff, including 2 big flight cases loaded with what was labeled “sports medicines” (very, very suspicious ;-))
I don’t know about any other Big 10 team, but these boys were BIG. I feel sorry for our Rainbow Warriors this week, 'cuz it’s gonna hurt. I took some photos with my Treo. I’ll see about the quality and if I can get them posted.
I don’t know about any other Big 10 team, but these boys were BIG. I feel sorry for our Rainbow Warriors this week, 'cuz it’s gonna hurt.
I remember that being the popular consensus when they showed up here a few years ago to show SDSU what smashmouth football is all about. The Badgers were huge compared to the Aztecs. ( But I did some growing up in Madcity, and I was there to cheer for them, anyway, so that was a Good Thing™ )
Yes, lots goes into a College football away game. I played for Oregon back in the day, and there are a lot of support people involved. All work their butts off. The equipment guys and sports med guys are the best!
Not many teams carry a crowd like the Badgers. We went to the Rose Bowl back in '99 and rumor has it that the fans actually drank some of the bars dry in Santa Monica. Maybe urban legend, but I wouldn’t bet against them.
I also remember when Ron Dayne was still playing there, I think he went about 265 then and the largest Hawaii Defensive Lineman was not much more than that. The Wisconsin O-line usually averages over 300#. Dem some big boys!
On a lesser note, as I sit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it is 29 degrees. While we may grow big farm boys, our weather stinks. Want to set up a homestay exchange?
Yeah, but once they see the sweet wahine and beaches in Hawaii, they’ll be history. Many other big teams have been distracted by the sights in Hawaii and been flat for their games.
As a freshman in Ann Arbor 20 years ago I was stunned to learn just how large some 18 y.o. American boys can grow. Biggest guy on the team then was Jumbo Elliott (OT) who probably played at 310 with the average being about 280. I would bet that 20 years later guys Elliott-sized are now the rule in D1 football, not the exception.
More of a hockey fan, and the difference there is even more pronounced now: average D1 hockey player is probably 30 lbs (205 v. 175) larger than his counterpart from the 1980’s.
The current football players look so big that it is unhealthy. ESPN did a story about this - all the problems with heart disease, diabetes, etc. that these guys are going to have from being so artificially big. Plus, you never see a lineman anymore without giant knee braces. The joints were just not designed to hold up this much weight. The sad thing is that I think these guys have to be this big to have any chance to play. Its almost like doping and probably close to as unhealthy.
The current football players look so big that it is unhealthy. ESPN did a story about this - all the problems with heart disease, diabetes, etc. that these guys are going to have from being so artificially big. Plus, you never see a lineman anymore without giant knee braces. The joints were just not designed to hold up this much weight. The sad thing is that I think these guys have to be this big to have any chance to play. Its almost like doping and probably close to as unhealthy.
A quick check of last year’s U of Michigan roster shows 17 players listed as offensive linemen with an AVERAGE weight of 294. Strangely, 7 of 17 players have their weight listed as exactly 299. Two players are given weights over 300. I am only picking on UM because that’s where I went to school. I cannot believe it is significantly different at the 60 or so other big time football schools.
I really, really hope the value of the athletic scholarship is worth the health problems these men will face for the rest of their (shortened) adult lives.
Plus, you never see a lineman anymore without giant knee braces. The joints were just not designed to hold up this much weight.
Actually, when I worked with the Wisconsin football team as a student athletic trainer, all down lineman were required to wear knee braces. Don’t know if it was a Big10 reg or NCAA reg, but it was a requirement. There is lots of controversey as to whether those braces are helpful or hurtful. When you have a 300 lb Offensive lineman hitting a 270 lb defensive lineman at full force, that little brace is not going to stop any injuries. The degenerative injuries that these guys incur after their football days are more likely as a result of the activity than their girth.
What does it cost to charter a 757 from Madison to HA round trip? I’d guess ~$200K.
I grew up there, one of my dogs is named “Bucky”. Back then they were fairly sad though, winning maybe 2 games a year. Barry really turned it around, but anyone who thinks those boys get that big on corn and pizza is enjoying a pleasant fantasy…by the way the cheerleaders are all virgins and you could have dated them all. Actually, while the linemen at UW may average 310 or so, you have to also remember that the female student body averages about 195.
**What does it cost to charter a 757 from Madison to HA round trip? I’d guess ~$200K. **
Good guess. Going rate is about 250k, but that includes those little bags of trail mix that we usually sell for a buck apiece. And they get 'em for free!
The team stopped in 'Frisco and picked up the women’s basketball team and brought them out, too. Talk about some TALL women!
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