It began innocently enough, with a telephone call and a routine question.
University of Wisconsin men’s cross country coach Jerry Schumacher was on the other end of the line earlier this month, talking about the challenges his team faces as it prepares to defend the NCAA title it won in November.
Reminded there are three other coaches on campus who won national championships during the 2005-06 school year – a school record – Schumacher was asked if he had talked to any of them about the unique burden they share.