College
Stocco began his career in 2003 as a backup to Jim Sorgi, with limited action in only three games with 17 attempts and 10 completions. Stocco was promoted to the starting position at the beginning of the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. Stocco was a steady leader, guiding the Badgers to a 9-0 start and as high as #4 in the national rankings. Stocco was limited as a passer, with the Badgers rushing game providing most of the offense behind running back Anthony Davis and a strong defense led by All-American defensive end Erasmus James. With hopes of a Rose Bowl invitation, the Badgers collapsed down the stretch, ending the season with two losses to fall out of BCS contention. The Badgers accepted a bid to the Outback Bowl, where they were defeated by Georgia, 24-21. Stocco completed 52.6% of his passes.
In 2005, Barry Alvarez's final season, the Badgers' offense was considerably more potent, with All-American candidates Brian Calhoun, Brandon Williams, and Joe Thomas leading the way. Stocco continued his steady play and saw an increase in his numbers, completing over 60% of his passes for nearly 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Badgers reached as high as #12 in the rankings after an 8-1 start, but consecutive losses to Penn State and Iowa ended their Big Ten title hopes. The Badgers finished the season 9-3 and accepted an invitation to the Capital One Bowl against Auburn. The Badgers were 11-point underdogs, but Stocco guided the Badgers to a commanding 24-10 victory to send Alvarez out a winner in his final game.
Stocco was the most experienced quarterback in the Big Ten entering his senior year in 2006, which was the rookie season for Bret Bielema. Stocco struggled with a new core of receivers, culminating in a loss to Michigan in Week 5. The Badgers got back on track and in sync as the season progressed, behind the legs of freshman sensation P. J. Hill, Jr., as the Badgers won their final eight games. During this time, Stocco's consecutive starts streak ended when he was injured in a home game against Penn state; however, the Badgers reached the top ten in the rankings and again accepted a bid to the Capital One Bowl, where they defeated Darren McFadden and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Stocco threw for 206 yards and two crucial touchdowns in the gritty 17-14 win, and was named the game's Most Valuable Player in his final collegiate game. The Badgers ended the season 12-1 and with a #7 ranking.
Stocco was 29-7 as a starter at Wisconsin. He completed 57.4% of his passes for 7,227 yards, 47 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
Read more about this topic: John Stocco
Famous quotes containing the word college:
“I never went near the Wellesley College chapel in my four years there, but I am still amazed at the amount of Christian charity that school stuck us all with, a kind of glazed politeness in the face of boredom and stupidity. Tolerance, in the worst sense of the word.... How marvelous it would have been to go to a women’s college that encouraged impoliteness, that rewarded aggression, that encouraged argument.”
—Nora Ephron (b. 1941)
“Generally young men are regarded as radicals. This is a popular misconception. The most conservative persons I ever met are college undergraduates. The radicals are the men past middle life.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that intervene between a man and his fellows. The really diligent student in one of the crowded hives of Cambridge College is as solitary as a dervis in the desert.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)