It was not long after Ryan Connelly shared the team lead with eight tackles in Wisconsin’s 31-17 victory over Rutgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 3. His parents — who, as always, made the four-hour ride to see him in action — sat their son and his girlfriend down and broke the news.
Christi Connelly wanted to do this in person, and the group after dinner sipped some hot chocolate as Christi offered up a sobering medical report: A tumor was found on her lung.