The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Western Michigan Broncos by the score of 28-14 on Friday night. The victory in their season opener, however, did little to quell the concerns that fans have had about the team for months. The passing offense, long promised to be similar to the one Phil Longo ran at North Carolina with Drake Maye as his quarterback, once again failed to look anything like the dynamic passing attack fans were expecting.
The defensive line, too, struggled against the run at times and did not create consistent pressure on Broncos quarterback Hayden Wolff.
Still, the Badgers running game, as per usual, handled its business and played a major role in their victory. That being said, with Alabama and USC coming up on the schedule soon, fans do not feel like there is much optimism going forward.
If they want one player to focus on as a feel-good story, and someone to root for all season long, they need look no further than linebacker Aaron Witt.
Wisconsin Badgers Linebacker Aaron Witt Made the Game-Sealing Tackle 5 Days After His Mom Passed Away
With 7:50 left in the fourth quarter, the Badgers were clinging to a 21-14 lead after retaking the lead just three minutes prior. On fourth-and-one at the 50-yard line, the Broncos handed the ball off to running back Jalen Buckley, who had already scored two touchdowns.
Before Buckley could gain any ground, though, Wisconsin linebacker Aaron Witt came from the outside to stop him in his tracks, forcing a turnover on downs.
The Badgers went on to score another touchdown, a Tyler Van Dyke scramble, and increased their lead to 28-14.
What was most astounding about Witt’s play in the fourth quarter was not just the fact that he made a crucial play when it mattered the most in the game, but that he just lost his mom to cancer five days ago.
“Just push through it because that’s how I was raised. That’s how she raised me,” Witt told Fox 47 in Madison, Wisconsin. ”
“I’m just trying to follow in her footsteps and do what she’d do.”
If you need someone to root for this season, root for #59.
Sunday night Aaron Witt lost his mom. 5 days later his 4th down stop helped the #Badgers close out their win over Western Michigan. pic.twitter.com/e5jdYtsucV
— Zach Hanley (@ZachHanley2) August 31, 2024
“She did a great job setting the standard, showing me how to fight when things are at their worst. You know, put a smile on your face even when you don’t many days left and you know that. And so, I’m just trying to follow in her footsteps and do what she would do.”
Witt’s mother, Jodi Witt, had been battling cancer for over two years.
Wisconsin Badgers Linebacker Aaron Witt Has Overcome a Great Deal to Return to the Field
The loss of his mother is, undoubtedly, one of the hardest things Witt has had to go through in his long life. Unfortunately, it is not the only challenge he has had to overcome in his return to the gridiron.
Witt is a fifth-year senior at Wisconsin, though fans may not be too familiar with his name. That is because there was a span of 1,061 days in which he was unable to play.
After recording two tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble in the 2021 Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Wake Forest as a freshman, Witt broke his foot during spring practice. After having surgery, Witt endured multiple stress fractures and several more surgeries.
During the time that he was dealing with his injuries, his mother received her cancer diagnosis.
Fortunately, Witt was able to return to the field for Wisconsin’s 2023 regular season finale against the Minnesota Gophers. As his family resides in Winona, his mom was able to come and watch him play, even if it was for just four snaps on special teams.
Witt told The Athletic earlier this spring, “She was going through that battle and for her to see me play, it meant a lot. When you’re stuck in the thick of it, you don’t really see the light at the end of the tunnel. So it was huge for me to be able to play because football has kind of always been an escape.”
Knowing what Witt has gone through, and who he lost so recently, makes his play in the fourth quarter all the more incredible.
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