38 // VARSITY May 15, 2014
years or if I'd go a full four years. I wasn't sure then.
"Depending on how successful I was (on the ice), I
just knew that I wanted to get it started and I wanted
a good experience in college and I knew Madison
would bring that to me.
"School was definitely important in my decision,"
said Kerdiles, who could have gone the Major Junior
route. "Getting my degree was huge. That was my
whole reason for going to Wisconsin."
At UW's team awards dinner in early May, Kerdil-
es, a personal finance major, was honored with the
Ivan B. Williamson Scholastic Award for academic
and athletic excellence.
"I'm pretty happy about that," said Kerdiles, who
was already in Norfolk and found out via Twitter
that he had been so recognized. "It's not like an MVP
award. But, in a sense, it kind of is.
"You're looking at it as being able to do well aca-
demically while competing for a great D-I school and
you're able to balance both things. It was a pretty big
honor for me."
Among the previous recipients of the Williamson
award was …
Mike Eaves.
• • • •
"
H
aving lived through it, going through
college, then pro, having to retire early
(from concussions)," Eaves said, "you ap-
preciate the ability of that piece of paper (diploma)
to open doors.
"My brother, Murray, left Michigan after two years
and didn't go back and finish. A lot happened. He got
married, kids, all those kinds of things and it became
too far away for him to go back."
It's one of the reasons why the UW coach is such a
believer in three-and-done, at a minimum. He would
like to see players ideally complete three years of
college before turning pro.
"That third year is absolutely critical," Eaves said.
"Ninety percent of kids who go three years come
back and finish. Only 50 percent of those young men
who go two years finish."
To this thinking, there can be exceptions; Kerdiles,
for one.
"If they're going to present that kind of money,"
Eaves said of Kerdiles' contract, "your window of
opportunity to make a living at that kind of salary
doesn't come around very often.
"HAVING LIVED THROUGH IT, GOING
THROUGH COLLEGE, THEN PRO, HAVING
TO RETIRE EARLY (FROM CONCUSSIONS),"
EAVES SAID, "YOU APPRECIATE THE
ABILITY OF THAT PIECE OF PAPER
(DIPLOMA) TO OPEN DOORS."
