LUCAS AT LARGE
BY MIKE LUCAS // UWBADGERS.COM
Continued from p. 20
"One group of people whose
work never goes unappreciated but
often can go unnoticed is Wisconsin
football managers," Budmayr told
the audience of mostly UW players
and their families.
"These guys have an endless list
of jobs. They show up early and
leave late every day. Many have key
roles every Saturday. They're determined to go above and beyond what
is expected of them.
"Their passion and love for
Badger football is contagious ―
often rubbing off on young athletes
(recruits), making them want to be
a part of something special as well.
"They have a special bond that is
unbreakable. They have a passion
for what they do and the brotherhood they share is so real and so
genuine."
He then talked about how "Otis
had a passion for football that
was so obvious in the way he approached work each and every day.
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VARSITY December 19, 2013
He loved being a part of the Wisconsin football family.
"He took pride in his quality of
work," Budmayr went on, "and he
was determined to do everything
that was asked of him and so much
more."
Before leaving the stage, he said,
"I challenge all of you here tonight
to embrace every opportunity that
comes your way to be passionate
about what you do.
"Put value in all of your relationships and don't ever shy away from
greatness," commanded Budmayr,
who briefly paused before concluding, "To keep it simple ― just be like
Otis was."
Having earlier assured everyone
that "Otis Green will be forever
missed but never forgotten in the
Badger football family," there was
another message that Budmayr
delivered with sincerity.
Seated outside the banquet
room in Gordon Commons some 45
minutes before dinner was served,
Budmayr extolled the virtues of
Andersen and "how guys will run
through a brick wall for him."
Budmayr said it would have been
easy to assume that Andersen had
been around Green for years ― instead of months ― by the way he
"reached out" to everyone, especially the Green family.
"It speaks volumes to the type of
guy he is and the character that he
has," Budmayr said. "I can't think of
a better guy to be (coaching) here
and a better guy for his players."
At the end of this night, like every
other night since June 14, Budmayr
was thinking of his friend. "The neat
thing about Otis that I will carry
with me the rest of my life," he said,
"is just how much value that he put
into every relationship that he had."
A warm thought on a frigid December night.
