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16 // VARSITY January 30, 2014 BY MIKE LUCAS // UWBADGERS.COM LUCAS AT LARGE Continued from Page 14 after contact and a 43-yard run, was still overshadowed by Moreno's tears during the playing of the na- tional anthem. Ball suggested that no one has more toughness or passion than Moreno and everybody feeds off his energy. Moreno led the Broncos in rushing but Ball had a better yards- per-carry average (4.7 to 4.3). "We have a good relationship ― it's good, man, it's really good," enthused Ball, who finished the sea- son with 120 rushes for 559 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 20 catches. "He has taught me a lot of things: what to look for (out of defenses), how the NFL works, how to react to certain things (on and off the field). He has been a leader for all of us and we're very close." Ball has started to flourish in his role as the change-of-pace back to Moreno. In the playoffs, he had 10 carries for 52 yards against San Diego and 12 for 43 in the AFC title game against New England. He had a keepsake carry, too. With 1:19 remaining, on fourth- and-2 from the Patriots 17, Ball bolted five yards for the first down. Manning took a knee on the follow- ing play. Game over. "One of my teammates told me that run will forever be in the record books," he said laughing. "People will remember that Montee Ball sealed the game with a first down. It was very special." So was his face-to-face meet- ing earlier in the season with his all-time NFL idol, Terrell Davis, the tailback that had so much to do with the Broncos winning back-to- back Super Bowls. "That was a moment that I will never forget," Ball said. "We talked mainly about pass protection ― blitz pickup ― and ball security. I got pictures with him, which I'll always keep close to me." The Broncos have only four players on their roster who have ever competed in a Super Bowl: Manning, wide receiver Wes Welker, tight end Jacob Tamme and cornerback Dominique Rodgers- Cromartie. Each has shared their remem- brances. So has John Elway, the executive vice president of football operations and the winning quar- terback in Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII. (He went 2 out of 5.) Elway also had Brian Dawkins address the team. Dawkins, an All-Pro defensive back, played 16 seasons in the NFL with the Phila- delphia Eagles and Broncos. But he made it to only one Super Bowl. "He's so intense," Ball said. "He had a great message about elimi- nating the distractions and staying on your routine (at the Super Bowl site). "You have to enjoy the experi- ence but you can't enjoy it too much because you're there for a reason, which is to win a Super Bowl." Ball has not texted Seattle quar- terback Russell Wilson since early in the season, maybe week one or two. Ball and Wilson, of course, led the Badgers to the 2012 Rose Bowl, a loss to Oregon. "Right now, he's the enemy, even though we played together in college," Ball said. "But we're still pretty close and we still have some memories that we can reflect on." Ball remembered Wilson for his "internal drive" and "determina- tion." One of the first things he shared with his UW teammates was, "I'm here to get you guys where you want to go," Ball said. His fate is now in the hands of P. Manning. All in all, it hasn't been a bad four-year run for Ball, what with three straight Rose Bowls and now a Super Bowl. "It's great, but it's surreal," he conceded.