By Peter Jackel
Journal Times | Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 12:00 am
Journal Times sports reporter Peter Jackel offers glove-like coverage of Racine County sports. Today he draws upon his years of experience to answer some of the toughest and most obscure questions about Tony Romo.
Question: Several features written about Tony Romo claim that he never had a winning record in high school? Is that true?
Answer: No it is not. While Burlington went 3-6 during Romo's senior season in 1997, the Demons went 9-3 despite an 0-2 start in 1996 and advanced to the third round of the WIAA Division 2 playoffs. After never having played quarterback in high school prior to his junior season, Romo completed 126 of 193 passes (65.2 percent) for 1,863 yards, with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Question: What were the reasons for Burlington going 3-6 during Romo's senior season?
Answer: Start with the fact that Steve Tenhagen, Romo's favorite receive during the 1996 season, graduated. The 6-foot-5 Tenhagen earned first-team All-State honors after catching 56 passes for 934 yards and 14 of Romo's 22 touchdown passes.
But by far the biggest reason was Burlington being moved from the Southern Lakes Conference following the 1996 season and being moved to the much more competitive Southeast Conference in 1997. After defeating Kenosha Bradford 28-20 in its 1997 season-opening game, Burlington lost its next six games before defeating Franklin (at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison) and South Milwaukee to close out the season.
"I would say it was more the league change," said Tenhagen, who watched Burlington regularly during the 1997 season because his brother, Jeff, was a running back on that team. "The speed of the game is something that's tough to adjust to."
Despite a dip in production as a senior - Romo completed 138 of 272 passes for 1,869 yards, with 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions - Romo was named the All-Racine County Player of the Year.
Question: Since the All-Racine County Player of the Year originated in 1977, how many of those honored came from a team with a losing record?
Answer: Just three. Romo, running back Scott Friegien, who played on a Racine Lutheran team that went 4-5 in 1985, and running back Deon Harris, who played on a Case team that went 3-6 in 1994.
Question: Is it true that Romo broke a finger on Kevin Barry's helmet during a scrimmage against Park in Burlington in 1996?
Answer: Yes it is. Barry, who went on to be the Associated Press' Player of the Year in Wisconsin that season, recalls the incident, though Barry and Romo were obviously not aware of the players both would become at the time.
Question: How did Burlington do without Romo at quarterback in the 1996 season opener?
Answer: Not too well. Two quarterbacks shared time at quarterback for Burlington and combined to complete two of nine passes for 12 yards, with two interceptions, in the Demons' 15-0 nonconference loss to Hartford.
Question: When Romo made his first-ever appearance at quarterback at any level the following week, how did he do?
Answer: Romo played at a level that almost defies comprehension, especially considering he started high high school career playing soccer. While Burlington lost 34-14 to Elkhorn, Romo completed 26 of 33 passes for 308 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Question: How many times did Romo actually play in Racine's city limits?
Answer: Only twice, and not until Burlington made the switch to the Southeast Conference Romo's senior season in 1997. In a 32-6 loss to Horlick at Horlick Field Sept. 5, he had a so-s0 game, completing 11 of 23 passes for 135 yards and Burlington's only touchdown. He fared much better in a 51-34 loss to Case at Pershing Park Sept. 26, completing 26 of 50 passes for a career-high 396 yards, with four touchdowns and four interceptions.
Question: What was Romo's greatest performance in high school?
Answer: That's a matter of opinion, of course, but a case could be made for that Case game, especially considering the superior overall talent of the Southeast Conference. Or his first-ever high school game, when he passed for 308 yards against Elkhorn.
Question: Was Romo a first- or second-team All-State quarterback while at Burlington?
Answer: No, he was not. He was honorable mention Associated Press All-State as a senior.
Question: Did Romo ever earn All-State recognition in basketball?
Answer: Yes he did. As a senior at Burlington following the 1997-98 season, he earned third-team AP All-State honors after averaging 24.3 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Question: Who were the first-team players who joined Romo on the All-Racine County boys' basketball team in 1998?
Answer: Park's Caron Butler, now an All-Star forward for the Washington Wizards, Horlick's Shane Krause, St. Catherine's Dominic DaPra and Case's Taron Barker.
Question: Did Romo win Racine's Tri-Course Golf Tournament?
Answer: Yes he did. In July 2004, Romo shot a 4-under-par 32 on the front nine en route to a final-round 70 and a six-stroke victory with a three-round total of 222.