University of Wisconsin linebacker DeAndre Levy hasn't given much thought to playing his final football game in Camp Randall Stadium. But he has taken mental notes on how others have handled the senior introductions before the opening kickoff.

"You see the guys on the sidelines tearing up because it's so emotional for them," said Levy, a 21-year-old senior from Milwaukee. "And you think to yourself, 'That won't be me. That won't be me.' We'll see Saturday."

UW defensive tackle Mike Newkirk, a fifth-year senior from Ladysmith, has resisted the urge to get nostalgic, too. "There's still a game to be played," he said, eyeing the regular-season finale against Cal Poly. "There's still business to take care of."

But he knows the senior drill. After being introduced, he will jog to midfield, where he will embrace his mom and dad, Christine and Chris. "That will probably be emotional seeing them," Mike Newkirk said. "And that will be the hardest thing to fight."

What about the parents? What kind of emotion will they be fighting when they greet their son? "It will be sad and joyous at the same time," Christine Newkirk ventured. "And it's going to be bittersweet in a lot of ways."

The rallying point for the Newkirks throughout the season has been a Dr. Seuss quote that Christine's sister, Lisa Sproul, shared with Chris, or "Big Newk."

Don't cry because it's over.

Smile because it happened.

"That's one of the things that we've tried to keep as a focus for this year, his senior year," said Christine, or Chrissy -- who, along with Big Newk, has attended every Badger game, home and away, for the last five seasons.

Her sister and brother-in-law, Jeff, have usually joined them. "It's not about the expense or what the trips cost," Christine explained. "It's about supporting our son and his dreams. That's what's important to us. There's nothing we'd rather be doing."

The Newkirks have always been easy to pick out of a crowd in Iowa City or Ann Arbor. Just look for the red Wisconsin football jerseys bearing the No. 54. Christine also proudly wears a button: "Momma wants a sack!"

She not only got her wish, but she doubled her pleasure during last Saturday's 35-32 victory over Minnesota. Mike Newkirk had a career-high seven tackles, including two quarterback sacks, one of which resulted in a safety. In turn, he was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week.

Parents learn right away how to take the good with the bad. Especially at this level of competition, where everything is scrutinized and little things are magnified. No one escapes the criticism when expectations aren't met.

Christine and Chris Newkirk have tried to stay away from the Internet chat rooms or forums.

"Sometimes you can't help it as a parent, and you read things," she said. "We never respond. But there are times where I would like to say, 'Hey, that's my kid you're talking about. He's trying hard. He's giving his blood, sweat and tears every weekend so you can enjoy your Saturdays. He doesn't go out there trying to lose.' "