UW's Wickesberg Lives Unlikely Dream

The unlikely college football career of Ryan Wickesberg ends on New Year's Day in the most unlikely of places.

The Town of Saukville native pulls on the red-and-white No. 90 for the final time when the University of Wisconsin Badgers face Texas Christian University in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. He'll hold for the kicks of Phillip Welch and serve as the backup punter in front of more than 100,000 fans at one of college football's most famous stadiums.

"It's funny," Wickesberg said, "me and (Badger punter) Brad Nortman were out at practice the other day and we thought, 'this is nuts, we're in a dream.'"

Wickesberg's dream was bigger than most following an unremarkable prep career. In his favor were a deep affection for the Badgers and boundless persistence.

"I've always wanted to be on the Badgers, ever since I was 5," Wickesberg said. "Sure, there were some chuckles from people early on."

'Never Give Up'

In high school he wasn't on the Badgers' recruiting radar. Wickesberg was second-team All-North Shore Conference as a linebacker and punter. His head coach at Cedarburg, Brian Leair, gave it to him straight when Wickesberg asked about the possiblity of walking on at Madison, like Rudy did at Notre Dame.

"I don't like stealing dreams from kids, but I told him it's going to be tough, a real challenge," Leair said. "He pursued it hard and he made that happen."

Wickesberg's credo is "Never Give Up," or as he and his father like to say, "NGU."  As a kid Wickesberg wrote the acronym on his hand as a daily reminder. His efforts to attract the attention of the Badgers coaches were an example of that code.

"I guess the old 'NGU' thing works," he laughed. "I called the coaches at Madison a slew of times a week. They finally called me and said, 'Don't call here anymore.'"

Undaunted, he continued to call.

"There were a lot of kids with more talent on my high school team, but I think my persistence has helped get me in as a walk-on at Madison," Wickesberg said. "I think they figured, 'If we put him on the team at least he'll stop calling.'"

After joining the team in 2007 and redshirting in 2008, Wickesberg finally hit the field for one game in 2009 on the field goal unit. This season he appeared in all 12 games as Welch's holder. Wickesberg also was named Academic All-Big Ten this season, and in a nod to his dogged nature, was serenaded with the theme from hia favorite movie — "Rudy" — during the Kohl Center ceremony to honor the selections.

Time for a new challenge

Though he has one year of eligibility remaining, Wickesberg will move on from college football after this game. He's set to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance and investment banking. He has a job lined up with Robert W. Baird after interning previously with Minnesota-based Piper Jaffray, a global investment firm. 

"The coaches kind of knew my future wasn't with the NFL and encouraged me with the internship," Wickesberg said. "I tend to go after pretty intimidating goals. Investment banking is extremely competitive and I find that rewarding. It will require a lot of hours, but at the same time I like being in the trenches."

Wickesberg's parents, Debbie and Dave Wickesberg, owned the restaurant in the historic building housing The Port Hotel from 1973 to 1997. They'll be traveling to Pasadena for the game, along with two other sons.

"It was always his dream," said David Wickesberg, Ryan's father. "Ever since pee-wee ball. From fifth to eighth grade his teams never won a game. But he kept at it."