Rose Bowl 2012: Wisconsin's Iraq War Vet Hopes To Play

Read More: Greg Russo (LB - Wisconsin), Wisconsin Badgers, Oregon Ducks

The chance to play in the 2012 Rose Bowl against the Oregon Ducks is a big deal for every one of the Wisconsin Badgers.

However, it could be an extra-special experience for one player in particular, even if he won't play (via the Sacramento Bee).

Greg Russo originally attended UW-Whitewater ('03 - '04) before joining the National Guard and deploying to Iraq for two tours. He enrolled at Wisconsin last year and joined the Badgers as a walk-on in the spring. He was deemed ineligible by the NCAA but won an appeal and the linebacker got his first chance to play against Penn State in the season finale.

Russo doesn't expect to play in the Rose Bowl but expects the atmosphere to be pretty memorable on the sidelines.

"If it is anything like standing on the sideline here at Camp Randall, I'm going to be on edge," he said. "I'll be the one on the sideline, right up to the line, just about falling onto the field."

For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on the Wisconsin Badgers head to Bucky's 5th Quarter, and for more on the Oregon Ducks visit Addicted To Quack.