O'Brien Schofield waited until the time was right.

Matt Shaughnessy, a senior defensive end on the University of Wisconsin football team, was trying to deal with the death of his older brother, Jamie, during fall camp.

Shaughnessy spent a week back home in Norwich, Conn., with his family, before returning to the team.

"Every day, I was checking on him," said Schofield, a junior defensive end. "A lot of times, you want to have that alone time. A lot of times, you want somebody to talk to. I made sure I was there for him."

Some of Shaughnessy's teammates struggled with what to say or how to act around him. They couldn't imagine what he was going through. But Schofield knew all too well.

"Actually, last year, I lost my brother," Schofield said. "I knew exactly how he was feeling."

Joshua Simpson, Schofield's stepbrother, died a hero. He was 19 years old.

"He drowned in Lake Michigan," said Schofield, a starting left end from Zion, Ill., north of Chicago. "Illinois Beach, he was out there with some friends and he saved their lives, basically, went to rescue them and was coming back, the currents were real strong and kind of (pulled) him out."

It happened last July, as Schofield was getting ready to report to fall camp.

"It was hard," Schofield said. "I knew he would want to see me out here working my butt off to get to this point, where I'm at right now.

"I think about that every time I step out on that field, because any moment, it could be over for you, either your playing career or just your life. So, I cherish every moment I have to live and play football."

With that perspective, Schofield was able to find just the right words to help Shaughnessy.

"The best thing is to talk about the good (times)," Schofield said. "When you keep that good memory, you'll never forget (him). It's bad when you get lonely and you think, 'My brother's not there.' ''

And then, Schofield added quietly, "I told him, 'I'll be your brother.' ''

Partners in injury

They are a band of brothers, really, those 20 members of the UW defensive line. That includes sophomore defensive end Kirk DeCremer, who won't be playing against Marshall Saturday, or any time again.

A week ago Wednesday, DeCremer suffered a career-ending injury, when he herniated two disks in his back while doing one-on-one pass-rush drills in practice. They were the same disks he ruptured last season, requiring surgery in January.

DeCremer is the second UW defensive lineman forced to give up the game since fall camp started. The same thing happened to Brandon Hoey early in fall camp, also due to a persistent back problem.

Along with the death of Shaughnessy's brother, they are part of a seemingly never-ending series of calamaties that have befallen the group in the past year.

At least four of them have undergone significant surgeries in the last year: Mike Newkirk (shoulder), Jason Chapman (knee), DeCremer (back) and Hoey (back).

Shaughnessy suffered a broken fibula at the end of a disastrous spring for the group. As many as 10 defensive linemen suffered injuries, or were recovering from previous injuries, in the spring. Dan Moore also suffered a significant knee injury that did not require surgery.