Smith unable to compete

Wisconsin leading rusher in 2003 diagnosed with heart condition

Dwayne Smith’s career with the Wisconsin football team is over due to a heart condition, Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez announced Thursday afternoon.

Smith, a junior and Wisconsin’s leading rusher last season, has been diagnosed with a medical condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that was discovered during a preseason physical exam earlier this month, according to the statement.

Smith and his family have chosen not to comment on that matter. Alvarez and Wisconsin team physician Dr. Greg Landry are expected to address the media following Thursday afternoon’s fall camp practice.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disorder of the heart muscle that is generally characterized by enlargement of the heart muscle and a thickening of the walls of the left ventricle.

Smith’s condition was originally diagnosed by cardiologists at UW Hospital and Clinics. A follow-up diagnosis by Dr. Barry Maron of the Minneapolis Heart Institute confirmed Smith’s condition.

“Our entire football program feels for Dwayne and will support and help him as much as possible,” Alvarez said. “This is difficult news to handle, but I know Dwayne and his family will persevere through this. The silver lining is that Dwayne’s condition was discovered now and can be treated appropriately.”

A native of Chicago, Smith, 20, participated in the Badgers’ first fall camp practice Aug. 11, but has attended practices in street clothes since. An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection a year ago, Smith was the Badgers’ leading rusher in 2003 with 857 yards and nine touchdowns. He finishes his two-year career at Wisconsin with 1,409 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns on 275 carries. He played in 26 games, including six starts.