MADISON, Wis. (AP) - That Montee Ball was tough was never a question. This, after all, is a kid who rumbled his way to more than 1,900 yards last year. A kid who tied Barry Sanders' long-standing record with 39 touchdowns. A kid who will likely end this season with more career touchdowns than anyone in major college football history.

Being strong is another matter, however. After several men attacked the Wisconsin running back Aug. 1, leaving him unconscious and with a concussion, Ball wondered why he was being tested.

``Going through what I went through this past summer was very difficult,'' he said. ``To see that I'm still here and I'm still working really hard with my teammates, I guess looking back on it now, I'm glad it happened.''