MONROE - It wasn't a red-carpet appearance at the ESPYS. No, those will have to wait for Alex Erickson, Darlington's football darling who holds out aspirations for a pro career.
Instead it was a book reading at little old St. Victor school in Monroe on Friday, but it was important to Erickson nonetheless.
"Heck, this was my biggest gig," said Erickson with a laugh. "I'm just humbled to have the opportunity."
Humble, low profile and away from the spotlight is the way Erickson goes about his business. But that isn't so easy these days on the heels of a breakout junior season as the No. 1 wide receiver with the Wisconsin Badgers as he hauled in 55 catches for 772 yards and three TDs.
"Fortunately, I don't get recognized that much on campus, and that's really how I like it," he said. "I wear a helmet so people don't know my face and I'm a normal-sized guy (6-0, 196). I don't stand out."
But that's the case around here, as the folks at St. Victor can attest.
"I asked Alex if he'd visit and he said, "Absolutely,'" said third-grade teacher Elizabeth Hakes, a fellow Darlington resident. "It was supposed to be just for my class, but when the word got out the whole school wanted to come."
And there they were, all decked out in cardinal and white. After reading a book titled "Hello Bucky," Erickson fielded a dozen questions or so from the students that had the feeling of a post-game press conference.
He talked of his first touchdown, it coming in September vs. Western Illinois, and the excitement of running out of the Camp Randall tunnel for the first time amidst the smoke and cheers of 80,000-plus.
He also played the part of role model, describing his typical day during the season as one that went beyond football.
"We have class, just like you guys," Erickson said. "And we have to get our homework done, just like you guys."
And Erickson said he prayed before each game - "I just kick it back to God," he said - and even had some fun with the notion that cleanliness is next to Godliness when he passed around his game jersey.
"I wear the same one every time," he said. "But don't worry, I wash it each week."
When asked of his favorite Bible story, it was no surprise he chose David vs. Goliath.
"Believe me, I've been told I'm too small many times," he said.
That's what happens when you make the decision to become a wideout in the tall and mighty Big Ten. A standout quarterback and safety as a two-way player at Darlington, Erickson turned down the chance to be a signal caller at a small college.
"I knew as a quarterback I'd never get to the next level," he said. "So Wisconsin recruited me as "an athlete,' and I had to decide if I wanted to go on offense or defense. I wanted to score - that's what I've always enjoyed - so wide receiver it was."
And that took not only a huge commitment in the form of learning a new position, but that he'd be going to Wisconsin with no scholarship but rather as a walk-on,
"I learned a lot by working with Luke Swan (the former UW walk-on wide receiver who played at conference-rival Fennimore)," Erickson said. "He was a smaller player and former quarterback just like me and knew what it took to make the transition."
Swan, who is 5-11, would star at Wisconsin and join the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008 and later become an offensive graduate assistant coach for the Badgers.
Meanwhile, Erickson last year would have to endure chaos at the UW quartback position and also some criticism of what was perceived as a thin receiving corps.
"We heard some of that, right or wrong, I just looked at it as an opportunity more than anything else," he said.
He made the most of it, not only earning a scholarship but scoring a 49-yard touchdown on a bomb against Maryland.
"That was a confirmation that our passing game could work," he said. "We were taking some shots and it was important to hit on one."
Later, Erickson executed a 70-yard catch and run against Minnesota that set up another score.
Did he need oxygen after that one?
"No way, the adreneline took care of that," Erickson said. "Besides, I had a 99-yard touchdown run as quarterback at Darlingtom in a playoff game, so the 70-yarder was nothing. And I had to go right back into the game in high school because I played safety. Or maybe I took a few plays off, but not many."
Erickson's big year culminated with a thrilling Outback Bowl win against Auburn, ending a four-bowl losing streak.
"I hadn't won a bowl game before. In fact, neither had our seniors. So that took a huge monkey off our back," said Erickson.
A new coach in Paul Chryst awaits. Erickson knows him from his redshirt freshman year and said he likes his offensive philosophy.
But who will be Erickson's quarterback come fall?
"That's hard to say," he said. "New coach, new scheme, no predictions."
Wrapping up his talk with the kids at St. Victor, Erickson reminded them of how his story highlights the importance of hard work and also the importance of studying. After all, an NFL career is a longshot.
"I'm taking business management," he said. "Someday I'd like to be a boss."
And after he posed for pictures with each and every class, off he went to enjoy his precious, final weekend of winter break - a bit more famous whether he likes it or not.
"It means a great deal that he did this," Hakes said, whose school will also tap Erickson's services during a fundraiser next month at Turner Hall."It speaks to the kind of person Alex is. He is from a rock-solid family that knows the importance of community."
That growing fame is a hoot for all the Ericksons, including Alex's mother, Linda, who works in a Monroe hair salon.
"My clients are telling me how they're telling people that "My hairdresser is Alex Erickson's mom.' So that's now what I'm known as," said Linda Erickson with a chuckle. "It's been fun, but truth is he stays on an even keel and that's something we're proud of.
He's the same guy, and he's just playing the same game he loves in a bigger stadium. That's all."
Instead it was a book reading at little old St. Victor school in Monroe on Friday, but it was important to Erickson nonetheless.
"Heck, this was my biggest gig," said Erickson with a laugh. "I'm just humbled to have the opportunity."
Humble, low profile and away from the spotlight is the way Erickson goes about his business. But that isn't so easy these days on the heels of a breakout junior season as the No. 1 wide receiver with the Wisconsin Badgers as he hauled in 55 catches for 772 yards and three TDs.
"Fortunately, I don't get recognized that much on campus, and that's really how I like it," he said. "I wear a helmet so people don't know my face and I'm a normal-sized guy (6-0, 196). I don't stand out."
But that's the case around here, as the folks at St. Victor can attest.
"I asked Alex if he'd visit and he said, "Absolutely,'" said third-grade teacher Elizabeth Hakes, a fellow Darlington resident. "It was supposed to be just for my class, but when the word got out the whole school wanted to come."
And there they were, all decked out in cardinal and white. After reading a book titled "Hello Bucky," Erickson fielded a dozen questions or so from the students that had the feeling of a post-game press conference.
He talked of his first touchdown, it coming in September vs. Western Illinois, and the excitement of running out of the Camp Randall tunnel for the first time amidst the smoke and cheers of 80,000-plus.
He also played the part of role model, describing his typical day during the season as one that went beyond football.
"We have class, just like you guys," Erickson said. "And we have to get our homework done, just like you guys."
And Erickson said he prayed before each game - "I just kick it back to God," he said - and even had some fun with the notion that cleanliness is next to Godliness when he passed around his game jersey.
"I wear the same one every time," he said. "But don't worry, I wash it each week."
When asked of his favorite Bible story, it was no surprise he chose David vs. Goliath.
"Believe me, I've been told I'm too small many times," he said.
That's what happens when you make the decision to become a wideout in the tall and mighty Big Ten. A standout quarterback and safety as a two-way player at Darlington, Erickson turned down the chance to be a signal caller at a small college.
"I knew as a quarterback I'd never get to the next level," he said. "So Wisconsin recruited me as "an athlete,' and I had to decide if I wanted to go on offense or defense. I wanted to score - that's what I've always enjoyed - so wide receiver it was."
And that took not only a huge commitment in the form of learning a new position, but that he'd be going to Wisconsin with no scholarship but rather as a walk-on,
"I learned a lot by working with Luke Swan (the former UW walk-on wide receiver who played at conference-rival Fennimore)," Erickson said. "He was a smaller player and former quarterback just like me and knew what it took to make the transition."
Swan, who is 5-11, would star at Wisconsin and join the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008 and later become an offensive graduate assistant coach for the Badgers.
Meanwhile, Erickson last year would have to endure chaos at the UW quartback position and also some criticism of what was perceived as a thin receiving corps.
"We heard some of that, right or wrong, I just looked at it as an opportunity more than anything else," he said.
He made the most of it, not only earning a scholarship but scoring a 49-yard touchdown on a bomb against Maryland.
"That was a confirmation that our passing game could work," he said. "We were taking some shots and it was important to hit on one."
Later, Erickson executed a 70-yard catch and run against Minnesota that set up another score.
Did he need oxygen after that one?
"No way, the adreneline took care of that," Erickson said. "Besides, I had a 99-yard touchdown run as quarterback at Darlingtom in a playoff game, so the 70-yarder was nothing. And I had to go right back into the game in high school because I played safety. Or maybe I took a few plays off, but not many."
Erickson's big year culminated with a thrilling Outback Bowl win against Auburn, ending a four-bowl losing streak.
"I hadn't won a bowl game before. In fact, neither had our seniors. So that took a huge monkey off our back," said Erickson.
A new coach in Paul Chryst awaits. Erickson knows him from his redshirt freshman year and said he likes his offensive philosophy.
But who will be Erickson's quarterback come fall?
"That's hard to say," he said. "New coach, new scheme, no predictions."
Wrapping up his talk with the kids at St. Victor, Erickson reminded them of how his story highlights the importance of hard work and also the importance of studying. After all, an NFL career is a longshot.
"I'm taking business management," he said. "Someday I'd like to be a boss."
And after he posed for pictures with each and every class, off he went to enjoy his precious, final weekend of winter break - a bit more famous whether he likes it or not.
"It means a great deal that he did this," Hakes said, whose school will also tap Erickson's services during a fundraiser next month at Turner Hall."It speaks to the kind of person Alex is. He is from a rock-solid family that knows the importance of community."
That growing fame is a hoot for all the Ericksons, including Alex's mother, Linda, who works in a Monroe hair salon.
"My clients are telling me how they're telling people that "My hairdresser is Alex Erickson's mom.' So that's now what I'm known as," said Linda Erickson with a chuckle. "It's been fun, but truth is he stays on an even keel and that's something we're proud of.
He's the same guy, and he's just playing the same game he loves in a bigger stadium. That's all."
