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MADISON, Wisc. — Family. It’s not the official motto of the 2008 University of Wisconsin football team, but it certainly could fit for the three Naples-area players on the Badgers roster.

So how did three players from rival area high schools all end up almost 1,500 miles away from home to play their college football in the frigid Midwest?

“It’s a family orientated team,” freshman defensive lineman Anthony Mains said. “That was the biggest thing they sold me on.”

Mains — a former Golden Gate High standout and the newest Naples import to Madison — said the transition has gone well, but has also benefited from the guidance of junior linebacker Culmer St. Jean (Lely) and sophomore cornerback Aaron Henry (Immokalee).

“Aaron and Culmer pretty much took me under their wing when I came to camp,” Mains said.

Much like St. Jean did for Henry as a freshman in 2007, the two have done the same for Mains: provide a familiar face and someone to share tales from home.

“When you see somebody from your area, you just want to help them,” Henry said. “We just see people come from down there, especially trying to better themselves, and you come way up here, where they’re far away from home and try and do something positive. All you want to do is help.”

Given the events of Henry’s personal life in the previous nine months, it would be easy for him to sulk and ignore any and all incoming freshmen. But that just isn’t Aaron Henry.

‘Just stay positive’

It all started for Henry during the Badgers’ preparation for the Outback Bowl in December. After injuring his right knee in bowl practices, Henry underwent surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 21.

After a promising start to his Badgers career — he started two games in 2007 and set a school record for most sacks by a defensive back in a season with 3½ — there was hope Henry would be ready for the season opener Saturday against Akron.

But just over two weeks ago — after admitting he was practicing though pain — doctors took another MRI and concluded that Henry needed additional surgery. He had a procedure on Aug. 15 to remove lingering scar tissue, and the doctor also “shaved up my meniscus.”

“The second surgery went great,” Henry said. “It was real easy and when I woke up, I wasn’t in pain at all. I was actually walking the same day.”

But the surgeries paled in comparison to Henry losing two childhood friends in the span of a few months while he was rehabbing the first surgery. Henry’s faith and positive outlook on life have kept him going through all the trials and tribulations.

“You have to stay positive. I could cry and be upset and be mad about a whole lot of things, but you have to stay positive,” Henry said. “I’ve been faced with trials and tribulations before in my life and this is just another obstacle that I have to overcome.

“I heard (gospel singer) Shirley Caesar say the other night, ‘I’m not going to live my life in hell then die and go to hell.’ In other words, I’m going to enjoy my time here on earth and get ready for heaven. (The injury)’s big, if you make it big. I’m just going to take it day by day and progress from there on. I’m just thankful because it really could have been something a whole lot worse.”

Henry was not the only Naples native affected by personal tragedy during spring camp.

Giving 100 percent

St. Jean dealt with a painful loss early in camp — former Lely High teammate and Central Florida wide receiver Ereck Plancher died following a workout on March 18. St. Jean said he used football as a way to keep his mind off the loss, but he also used Plancher’s sacrifice as motivation.

“A lot of times, it’s hard for people to say they gave 100 percent during football and everybody says they do,” St. Jean said. “But seeing what happened with Ereck, he actually did give 100 (percent).”

After St. Jean returned to Madison for spring camp, he entered a more familiar battle: the one for his position, middle linebacker. He entered camp as the backup, but after injuries slowed incumbent Elijah Hodge, St. Jean began taking reps with the No. 1 unit. He played well enough to earn praise from Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema.

Summer camp began with St. Jean and junior Jaevery McFadden in a battle for the starting job — a job McFadden ultimately won. But St. Jean was not discouraged.

“I view every day as competition. We’re going to compete every day,” St. Jean said. “I’m not going to take a play off, (McFadden)’s not going to take a play off. We really don’t know how it’s going to turn out during the season. Every day, I look at it as a (new) competition.”

A whole new season

With Saturday’s kickoff, a new season begins for St. Jean, Henry and Mains, although each will have slightly different vantage points come Saturday morning.

Prior to the second surgery, Henry said his knee felt about “90 percent”. While the second surgery did nothing to affect the rehab of the ACL, Henry said he will need a little more time and has targeted the Big Ten opener at Michigan on Sept. 27 as his new return date.

He is confident he’ll be suiting up for the Badgers this season.

“It’s just going to be a feel thing,” Henry said. “I definitely plan on being out there and contributing and playing (this season).”

St. Jean will definitely see the field, but Mains redshirted this season in an effort to build some bulk (he’s listed at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds) and improve his fundamentals.

“Pretty much just learn the playbook, learn the system, get bigger,” Mains said. “There’s nothing else I really can do. The biggest thing is just to work on the fundamentals.”

Mains admitted he misses the beach most, but said the biggest thing that awed him was the University of Wisconsin Football Family Fun Day, held on Aug. 16.

“It was just amazing to see how many people were just awed by Wisconsin football players,” Mains said.

But Mains, Henry said, hasn’t seen anything yet.

“He’s been to a game last year, but this Saturday is going to change his whole mindset of Camp Randall (Stadium),” Henry said. “He’s going to enjoy it.”

E-mail Clint Robus at crobus@madison.com