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T LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS // UWBADGERS.COM Budmayr, Badgers carrying on Otis' legacy 10 here isn't a day that passes that Jon Budmayr doesn't think about his best friend, Kevin "Otis" Green, a former Wisconsin football manager who was killed last June in a car accident. He was 22. "The hard moments come in waves," said Budmayr, whose career as a UW quarterback was shortened because of neurological issues with his throwing arm and shoulder. "I'll be sitting there and it will really hit me. But every day, I'll think about him; I'll pray to him and I'll just talk to him. It's no different than when he was here. "The one difference is that I can't goof around with him, I can't see him smile, I can't do all of those things if he was still sitting right here next to me." The Badgers have honored Green's memory by wearing an "Otis" decal on their helmets. At Saturday's team banquet, Joe Spiegelhoff was the first recipient of the Otis Green Manager Award. "This award means more to me than anyone can imagine," said Spiegelhoff, who struggled to hold back tears. "There isn't a day that goes by I don't miss him. I know he's watching over all of us." Budmayr is commited to establishing an Otis Green scholarship fund. "It will basically put one manager through school for a year," he said. "It will keep Otis' name around here, it will be special." Raising funds for the scholarship is a focus of the Otis Green Foundation, a newly-formed nonprofit that is being run by Green's father, // VARSITY December 19, 2013 Clancy. Info on how to contribute to the scholarship fund can found at OtisGreenFoundation.org. Green served as a UW manager from January of 2012 through his graduation in May of 2013. During that span, he roomed with Budmayr, a long-time friend. "I met him when I was 4 years old," Budmayr said. Both attended Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, Ill. Budmayr was the star quarterback, a heavily-recruited prospect. Green was an undersized, hardnosed offensive guard. "OTIS HAD A PASSION FOR FOOTBALL THAT WAS SO OBVIOUS IN THE WAY HE APPROACHED WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY," BUDMAYR SAID. "HE LOVED BEING A PART OF THE WISCONSIN FOOTBALL FAMILY." "He was a big-hearted kid," Clancy Green said of his son. "I smile all the time (when he thinks about him). He made me very proud and I couldn't have been prouder of his accomplishments here." Green has been touched by the backing that the family has received from the UW support staff, headed by equipment manager Mark Peeler; and the coaching staff, namely head coach Gary Andersen. "They've embraced us and welcomed our family into their program, it has been wonderful," Green said. "The things that they've done to recognize Kevin have been off the charts." Peeler felt like he lost a family member, a point that didn't fully register until after the accident when he began to think about how much he was going to miss Green and all that he meant to people. "He loved life," Peeler said. "If he came into a room and he didn't know you, he'd know you by the time he left the room and you would know him. And you'd remember him. He was that kind of person." Spiegelhoff was the first awardwinner recognized Saturday night. Budmayr, a student coach, was the presenter and he needed a little extra time to get up to the podium because of his crutches. Budmayr recently had knee surgery. "Another nerve issue, different body part," he said. "It was causing numbness in my foot and knee and eventually my foot quit working and I had foot drop." Few have had their resolve tested to the degree that Budmayr has since coming to Wisconsin with so much promise as a QB. Yet, he takes everything in stride and says, "I'm on the road to recovery." Budmayr's character in making the best out of every situation may speak to why Otis Green was his best friend; one in the same. "He (Jon) is like a son," Clancy Green said, "and always will be." There were many heartfelt moments during Budmayr's presentation and it all served to illuminate the close bond that can develop between good people who are very good at what they do. Continued on p. 22