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Crazylegs Classic: Iconic race returns to UW for 42nd year

Yearly race brings all of UW together as one for weekend in April

Jacob Duran

The yearly tradition started with the work of three students at UW who were looking to raise money for the Badgers’ athletic teams at the time. In 1982, Tom Grantham, Ken Sparks and Rich Backus approached Elroy Hirsch, who was the current Athletic Director, the website home page said.

Hirsch, also known as “Crazylegs,” was the star of the football team in the early 1940s. He led the Badgers to numerous successful seasons as a multi-threat athlete — taking his talents to the NFL.