Memories: P.J. Hill And Familiar Convenience Stores

P.J. Hill was supposed to be the next big Wisconsin running back. 2006 saw Hill’s introduction to the Badger world, and it was fantastic: the freshman racked up a whopping 1,569 rushing yards, a pace which if maintained over four seasons would have placed Hill a mere 121 yards behind Ron Dayne’s NCAA career record mark of 6,397 and a mere three yards behind Ricky Williams’s 6,279 yards compiled during his time at the University of Texas.

But it was all downhill from there, as Hill would lose carries to Lance Smith and Zach Brown before John Clay burst on to the scene in 2008, prompting Hill to cut his losses at UW and enter the NFL draft. Things weren’t all sunshines and lollipops between his declaration and draft day, either. The Associated Press lays it all out on the table in a way only the Associated Press can:

"MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Former Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and leading police on a chase.The Wisconsin State Journal reports Hill, 22, was arrested around 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning.The newspaper, citing court documents, says police were called to a campus-area gas station (bold mine) after a vehicle hit a guard rail and left. Police spotted the car at a traffic light.The driver fled. Police gave chase until the car crashed into a retaining wall and stopped. Hill was arrested at gunpoint.Hill was released from jail Monday on a signature bond. His attorney didn’t immediately return messages Monday evening.Hill is the third-leading rusher in Wisconsin history. He planned to enter this year’s NFL draft."

This incident was kind of a fitting end to Hill’s Wisconsin career, which had been so promising but was derailed by Hill’s poor shape and lack of improvement in his sophomore and junior years. I can’t help but feel it’s a bit similar to the incident which eventually ended Lance Smith’s career as a Badger. Although Smith’s came while he was still a member of the team, the handling of the incident eventually marked the end of a potential-laden but largely disappointing career as a Badger.

Also, a certain landmark reappears. Note, from the EDSBS story on Smith’s incident:

"Smith then told the woman to go to a nearby convenience store (bold mine) to get change for a $20 bill, but allegedly followed her, still arguing, and pushed her down in the store, the woman told police."

It turns out the “campus-area gas station” and “nearby convenience store” in both these stories is the Open Pantry store on the corner of Regent Street and Randall Street, only a few blocks away from Camp Randall Stadium, best known for having the most ridiculously high prices on any non-milk item this side of Whole Foods Market. The scene of infamy, in all its glory:

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Please, Badger fans, let’s do all we can to keep James White and Montee Ball away from this building.