Alvarez’s nickname for UW’s Seltzner has stuck
MADISON – Josh Seltzner has endeared himself to his Wisconsin teammates for two reasons:
The redshirt sophomore from Columbus High School has worked tirelessly to put himself in position to start at right guard this season and his head is, um, rather large.
“I don't wear (caps),” he said. “I can't.” The last time Seltzner wore a cap, either fitted or secured by snaps in the back, was in sixth or seventh grade.
“I went to Miller Park and I bought one,” he said.
His nickname in the UW locker room? Buffalo head. “Have you looked at his head?” senior linebacker Chris Orr responded incredulously when asked why the moniker fit the 6-foot-4, 327pound Seltzner. “He looks like a buffalo.
“It's a name that fits extremely well. It's a buffalo's head on a human body.”
According to Seltzner, he was given the name by UW athletic director Barry Alvarez. Alvarez was looking at the head shots – pun intended – of UW's 2017 freshman class. He saw Seltzner's picture and buffalo came to mind.
Seltzner, who wears a size XL helmet, explained the story.
“Barry Alvarez, Jake Ferguson's grandson…er, grandfather,” he said, laughing. “Fergie came up to me and said: ‘My grandpa has got the name for you – Buffalo Head – because your head is so big.'
“I've always had a big head growing up. It's no big deal. I ran with the nickname.
“If Barry Alvarez is going give me a nickname like that, I'm going to run with it. It's spread throughout the team.”
Alvarez chuckled when informed of that story Thursday during practice. Alvarez said he didn't mean to saddle Seltzner with the nickname but he remembers being startled when he saw his picture for the first time.
“I told my grandson: ‘Who is that kid with the big buffalo head?' “Alvarez said. “Just look at this picture. Look at this damn picture. His head is (huge).”