Alvarez Making Last Stand

Coach Barry Alvarez, who is trying to become the first Big Ten coach to win the Rose Bowl game in successive years, will decide today whether his right knee is strong enough for him to stand on the sideline during the game.

Alvarez had knee replacement surgery Nov. 16 and coached seven of the team’s last eight games from the press box. He had hoped to be on the field today, but on Friday he sounded doubtful. He has previously said he would not use a golf cart to get around during the game, although he has used one during practice all week.

“I really felt two days ago, there was no doubt I was going to be on the field,” he said. “I was getting around without a crutch, and an hour later, the knee doubled in size. It’s very fickle. I’m just going to wait until [Saturday] morning.”

Alvarez has maintained that his absence from the sideline is not important, because his assistant coaches have done their jobs so well. He said he has even found some advantages to being removed from the field.

“The thing I’ve noticed upstairs is, I’ve been able to communicate a little better and stay maybe one play ahead,” he said. “On the lines, with a lot of people talking, you can get jumbled. Upstairs, it’s more sterile, and you can visit a little more with your coordinators.”

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After 10 seasons at Wisconsin, Alvarez is among the senior coaches in the Big Ten. However, as much as he has enjoyed turning Wisconsin from a bottom-feeder into a perennial bowl team, he can’t envision himself matching the 20-year term of former Iowa coach Hayden Fry, his mentor when Alvarez was an assistant with the Hawkeyes.

“I don’t know how much longer I’ll coach,” said Alvarez, who turned 53 Thursday. “I’m not going to coach into my 60s. I’m going to enjoy life. Nineteen coaches took jobs in 1990 [the year he took over at Wisconsin] . . . and the only ones left [besides him] are Steve Spurrier [at Florida] and Ron McBride [at Utah].

“I came in with high hopes and dreams. I wanted to take the program and make it competitive and sustain it. I sit back and look where we started. . . . We started from scratch. I haven’t had a chance to really sit back and appreciate it now, but someday I will.”

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Today’s game will end the college career of Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, although it won’t be Alvarez’s last game coaching the powerful tailback. Both are going to the Hula Bowl, and Alvarez joked that he’d agreed to coach in that game only if Dayne were picked for the team.

Alvarez and Dayne had a close relationship, and Alvarez said he will be sorry to see it change, if not end.

“I feel fortunate I had him for four years,” Alvarez said. “After his freshman year, everyone was saying he was going to [turn pro], and after his sophomore year too. And after his junior year, there was no way he was coming back.

“To have him for four years, and see him develop and mature as he has, has been great. I feel fortunate to have been able to coach a Heisman Trophy winner. It’s been a great four years. He’s somebody who will always be close to my heart. He’s been special. But I’m going to get him for one more game.”

Although some NFL scouts have expressed doubts about Dayne’s ability to thrive in the NFL, Alvarez has no such uncertainty.

“I think he’ll be a great pro,” Alvarez said. “But let’s get him through this one first.”