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Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/202647
"IT WAS A PLACE THAT I WAS CONSIDERING, A PLACE THAT IS SORT OF SIMILAR TO WISCONSIN," WHITE SAID OF THE HAWKEYES' PROGRAM. "THEY PLAY PHYSICAL FOOTBALL AND THEY'RE GOING TO RUN THE BALL." Does he think that the Iowa defense will use his de-commitment for additional incentive? "Maybe, I really don't know their thinking," Gordon said. "I'm not really worried about them worrying about me committing and de-committing from there because it's over now. "That happened in the past and I'm just focused on winning this game." Asked if Iowa might try to use Gordon's recruitment for a psychological advantage, White said, "They may use it as motivation, but that's something we can't pay too much attention to. "Melvin needs to go out there and play football the way he has been playing all season." Iowa's first-year starting quarterback, Rudock, has probably gotten the same advice. White and Rudock were not only football teammates, but they played together on the Aquinas baseball team. "He's a great competitor; he's a tough guy," White said. "He's going to compete for four quarters and that will be fun to go out there and compete against him. "We've been friends for quite a long time." As a prep senior, Rudock led Aquinas to a 15-0 record and the No. 1 ranking in the nation. That was the same year that White rushing for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns as a UW freshman. The year was 2010 ― the last time Wisconsin played Iowa. White just watched some video of that memorable victory during which he was injured in the first half; a painful memory, at that. "It was on a swing screen and I had to kind of relive that a little bit," he said, almost wincing at the memory. "I kind of flipped in the air and a guy crunched my leg. "It was a weird landing and I'm glad nothing major happened from that. It looked way more serious than it was. I had never really had an injury prior to that so I didn't know what was going on." White had six carries for 10 yards before going to the sideline. He watched the second half in his sweats. "I remember it was very loud," he said, "and it came down to the wire." Wisconsin's starting tailback, John Clay, was nursing some injuries even though he still rushed 24 times for 91 yards and two scores. After White got hurt, the Badgers turned to Montee Ball. A week earlier, Ball had not played in the upset of No. 1-ranked Ohio State. But he was ready when called upon at Iowa and had five catches to go along with a game-winning touchdown run. A star was born in Kinnick Stadium. "That was the game where Montee definitely stepped up," White said. "He was ready for the opportunity and he set a great example for anyone that was in his position. "He could have pouted or he could have given up, but he just kept fighting through it all and he kept waiting for his opportunity and he made the most of it." • • • • 33