Alan "The Horse" Ameche [cont'd]

The exact origin of his nickname is unclear, although Wisconsin assistant George Lanphear insisted that he christened "The Horse" because he worked like a horse in practice. Each of the other reasons invoked, however, seems just as likely: his unflagging stamina, how he personified sheer brute strength, his signature high-stepping gait. Whatever its origin, the name stuck because it fit; by all accounts a reserved, polite man in his personal life, Ameche was a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron.

Wisconsin's 1951 team, a powerhouse dubbed the "Hard Rocks" by a local reporter, had the best defense in the country and finished the season at 7-1-1. Ameche was the first freshman to ever lead the conference in rushing, gaining 774 yards in 147 attempts—simultaneously breaking two Big Ten records. Including non-conference games, he rushed for 824 yards, a Wisconsin record. Despite the team's phenomenal statistics, the Badger's championship hopes had been dashed by an early, heartbreaking loss to Illinois.

The Badgers began the 1952 season with high hopes. The season was not without its struggles, but Wisconsin managed to finish strong, tied for the conference title with Purdue. Ameche led the Big Ten in rushing again that season, and his honors included being named to the UP and AP All-Midwest teams, as well as to the First-Team All-Big Ten—for the first of three consecutive years.

The Badgers were selected to play in the Rose Bowl that year against USC, the first postseason appearance in UW history. Within minutes of the announcement on Nov 24, 1952, an estimated 2,000 students left class to join a roving celebration around campus (complete with impromptu band); the crowd proceeded up State Street, bringing traffic to a standstill. When the revelers approached the Capitol building, Governor Walter Kohler appeared on a balcony to lead a chorus of "Varsity." Thousands of students traveled to California to support the team.

The Rose Bowl game was a hard-fought match that remained scoreless until the last few minutes. Although they lost 7-0, Wisconsin's stats were more than respectable, and The Horse rushed for 133 yards in 28 attempts.

1952 was also a big year for Ameche personally. He married his high school sweetheart, Yvonne Molinaro, on Thanksgiving. They had their first two children while Ameche was playing for Wisconsin.