The Wisconsin Badgers were not moving the football. And so, with 5 minutes to play, coach Barry Alvarez sent in his 22-year-old freshman quarterback, Darrell Bevell.
Bevell trotted in, eyed the No. 2-ranked (now No. 1) Washington Huskies and did what he was supposed to do - move the football. After three plays the Huskies put their first team defense back in. It didn't matter. Bevell and Wisconsin continued going toward the goal line.And though the Badgers lost, 27-10, they found someone to direct their offense. The next Monday Bevell was told he'd be the starting quarterback. With Bevell as the QB the Badgers have won three straight games including their stunning 20-16 victory over 12th-ranked and then unbeaten Ohio State - a win termed the biggest by the Badgers in years.
Bevell's story is an intriguing one. Before the Washington game, he hadn't thrown a football in competition in five years.
A little over a year ago, he didn't even know where he was going to school. He had, as he said in a phone conversation, "more important things" to be concerned about than football. His goal then was to take the gospel message to the people of Girard, Ohio, where he was serving a mission (Cleveland, Ohio Mission) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Like a lot of LDS athletes, he dreamed of going to Brigham Young University. "That's where I always wanted to go," he said. "I watched all their games." After a successful junior year at Chapparal High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he passed for 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing just 4 interceptions, he was recruited by most of the Pac-10 and WAC schools, including BYU.
Through the first two games of his senior year in 1987 he had thrown for 500 yards and five touchdowns. In the third game, however, he broke a finger, which can cause serious problems if you're a quarterback and it's on your throwing hand. End of season and end of the line for a number of schools that were recruiting him. BYU still showed some interest, but it never worked out. About that time there was another QB who had committed to the Cougars, a scrawny kid who liked to hunt by the name of Detmer.
Bevell enrolled at Northern Arizona University, where he redshirted as a freshman. In between his freshman and sophomore years he decided to go on a mission. "I'm really glad I did. I really enjoyed it," he said, adding that he was confident matters would be taken care of at the proper time.
While he was knocking on doors in Ohio, his quarterback coach at NAU, Brad Childress, was transferring to the University of Utah. He was interested in having Bevell come to the U. after completing his mission. But before Bevell's mission was over Childress had gone to another school, the University of Wisconsin, where he was named offensive coordinator. In addition, another assistant coach at Northern Arizona, offensive line coach Bill Callahan, joined the Badger staff. Childress and Callahan sold the rest of the coaches on Bevell.
Bevell decided he'd either return to NAU or go to Arizona State, Utah or Wisconsin. A visit to Madison, Wis., convinced him to go to Badger Land.
Being a returned missionary at BYU is one thing. What's it like being a returned missionary who's the starting quarterback for a Big 10 team?
"My teammates don't understand how I'm 22-years-old and only a freshman . . . and then I tell them and then they all want to know what my mission was all about. They all respect me for what I've done and for the way I live. I don't think they understand how I can do it (live the standards of the church)."
While on his mission, Bevell got to see the ESPN game between BYU and Miami. He became an instant Ty Detmer fan. He arranged to visit with Detmer following an exhibition game between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets in August. The game was played on the Badgers' home field, Camp Randall Stadium.
"He's a great guy. We talked for about 5 or 10 minutes."
Bevell does maintain a rather close Utah tie - he's engaged to Tammy Barlow, daughter of BYU professor Brent A. Barlow. Tammy also served in the Cleveland, Ohio Mission.
She was in Madison, Wis., Saturday, cheering Bevell and the rest of the Badgers on against the Buckeyes. The fans, who were somewhat cool to Bevell during preseason practices, have been won over, she reports. "They were saying, `That's our Mormon boy.' ".
Bevell considered marrying Tammy during the season and asked his coaches what they thought he should do (there are no married players on the Wisconsin team). They told him he was involved in something vitally important and really didn't need a midseason distraction to interrupt that. They politely yet firmly suggested he wait until after the football season.
Were this a Walt Disney movie, that would mean the wedding would have to wait until after the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in Pasadena.
I don't think Darrell would mind that. Tammy probably wouldn't either.
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(Additional story)
Bevell's highlights
-Throws 3 touchdown passes in 39-18 win over Bowling Green on Sept. 19.
-Rallies team from 17-3 deficit with 8 minutes remaining against Northern Illinois, scoring a 2-point conversion on a bootleg around right end with 1:30 to play to give Badgers 18-17 victory on Sept. 26.
-Completes 14 to 16 passes in 2nd half to lead team to 20-16 upset win over 12th-ranked Ohio State.
-Marries Tammy Barlow Dec. 29 in Salt Lake Temple (if Badgers don't go to a bowl).
-Marries Tammy Barlow Jan. 5. in Jordan River Temple (if Badgers go to a bowl).