Two Badgers have won Heisman Trophies: Alan Ameche ’56 in 1954 and Ron Dayne ’17 in 1999. Fullback Ameche, a.k.a. “The Horse,” was born in Italy and grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he excelled in football and track and field. His talent was so great that Wisconsin fans threatened to boycott Miller Brewing Co. when its owner, Fred Miller, pushed for Ameche to attend Notre Dame rather than the UW. (Miller even bribed Ameche’s mother.) The threat paid off for Wisconsinites — Miller backed down, and Ameche’s four years at Wisconsin resulted in the program’s first Heisman and a new NCAA rushing record at 3,345 yards. The “Dayne Train” grew up in New Jersey, where he also excelled in football and track and field in high school. He faced heavy recruitment efforts, but Wisconsin won out because the coaches meant to keep him as a primary ball carrier — an unusual role for a 270-pound athlete. Dayne went on to break the NCAA’s rushing record with 6,397 yards (a record that should still be his), helped Wisconsin win two back-to-back Rose Bowls, and, of course, earned the Heisman Trophy 25 years ago on December 11, 1999.