MADISON, Wis. — Greg Russo plans to cherish this holiday season: Spend Christmas Eve in Lake Mills with his parents. Drive to Green Bay on Christmas Day to watch the Packers host the Chicago Bears. Fly to Los Angeles today with his University of Wisconsin teammates to continue preparations for the Jan. 2 Rose Bowl.
“What better way to end the year than to be in the Granddaddy of them all?” said Russo, a senior reserve defensive end.
You won’t find a Wisconsin player who isn’t excited about UW’s second consecutive trip to the Rose Bowl. Yet you might not find a player on the roster whose excitement level surpasses that of Russo, who does not expect to play in the game.
When you’ve twice spent Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s in a war zone as a member of the Wisconsin National Guard, your appreciation of freedom and football changes.
Russo served two tours in Iraq, for nearly 21 months. His assignment was to provide security for the base and convoys.
He returned home from duty in January 2010, began working out, enrolled at UW last winter and joined the team as a walk-on for spring ball. Originally ruled ineligible to play by the NCAA, Russo won an appeal and was able to play in the closing minutes of the regular-season finale against Penn State.
Russo spent Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day in Iraq in 2005-06 and 2009-10.
He will be on the sideline when ninth-ranked UW (11-2) meets No. 6 Oregon (11-2).
“If it’s anything like being on the sideline here at Camp Randall, I’m going to be on edge,” he said.
