Trust through a tough-and-rumble attitude
By JEFF POTRYKUS
jpotrykus@journalsentinel.com
Madison - Marcus Coleman joined the Tyler Donovan fan club on Nov. 11, 2006.
Donovan, making his first start for the University of Wisconsin, was drilled in the mouth by an Iowa defender on a screen pass and was sent sprawling to the Kinnick Stadium grass. Coleman was curious to see how his quarterback would respond.
"He got up pretty slow," Coleman, UW's starting center, said earlier this week. "He came back to the huddle and was a little out of it. He had blood in his mouth. It was pretty cool.
"He is a tough kid."
Tough and eager to open the season as UW's No. 1 quarterback for the first time when the seventh-ranked Badgers welcome Washington State to Camp Randall Stadium at 2:30 p.m. today.
"Going into my senior year," Donovan said, "obviously you want to end on a high note."
Donovan, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound fifth-year senior from Arrowhead High School, looks more GQ pretty than GI Joe tough. Even his teammates, who tease him about his meticulously styled hair, will tell you that.
Yet those same teammates haven't forgotten the grit and competitive fire Donovan displayed in the 24-21 victory at Iowa, his first of two starts last season.
"I looked into his eyes and I saw he wanted to win," said senior wide receiver Luke Swan, who had two critical catches, including a 42-yard touchdown, in the victory. "He wanted to lead the team."
Even after the Hawkeyes drew blood.
"He came back to the huddle and his lip and his teeth were all bloody," Swan said. "He just had the determination in his eyes. He wasn't going to let anything stop him.
"I don't even think he knew he (was bleeding). But all the guys saw that and knew this dude isn't backing down from anything.
"I thought it was really important to see that. He got knocked around pretty good a couple of times and just kept going."
Donovan has a history of playing through pain.
As a senior at Arrowhead High School, Donovan suffered a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament preparing for the 2002 WIAA Division 1 state semifinals.
He played in that game and led Arrowhead to a 48-31 victory over Oak Creek. Donovan didn't miss a snap in the state title game, a 20-14 loss to Marshfield.
"I'm a competitor," Donovan said.
Whether he has a torn ligament in his knee or blood streaming from his mouth.
"It's competing," he said of his play at Iowa, where he completed 17 of 24 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns. "I think they saw that in me, that I wasn't going to back down (from) anything. . . .
"That is the kind of thing I wanted to show to them and I've got to keep showing week in and week out."
Toughness alone won't allow Donovan to flourish in his new role or maintain his job as the starter...[read more]
The Badgers open up their season today at 230 central time at home against Washington State.