Dave Vitale, director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Watertown Unified School District, points out one of his most prized Badger memorabilia, a letter the famous "Kangaroo Kicker" Pat O'Dea wrote to a fan in 1962. Vitale has a room in his basement dedicated to Badger memorablia dating back to the pre-World War II era. (Teresa Schmitt/Daily Times)

Since his childhood he has collected the items on personal display in his basement at state auctions, garage sales and through friends. Before he and his wife, Jill, moved to the house in Watertown, they lived in a small apartment where his Badger collection grew in boxes.

Walking into the room red and white lights are turned on and every single inch of the room including the ceiling is filled with some sort of Wisconsin Badger memorabilia.

Vitale heads straight to a corner of the room and points out what he finds as one of his most interesting pieces.

He points to a 1899 black and white photograph of Australian-born Pat O'Dea, also known as the "Kangaroo Kicker," who was a kicker for the Badgers from 1896 to 1899.

"Pat O'Dea was arguably the first greatest football player of all time," Vitale said. "This photo is just amazing, look at the type of uniform and clothing they wore."

Vitale not only has the original photo of O'Dea, he also has letters O'Dea wrote to fans. One letter in particular was written by O'Dea in 1962. Vitale has it framed and said it is possibly the last piece of correspondence to his fans before dying a few month later.

"See this letter," Vitale points above the photograph, "This letter is from Pat O'Dea describing his games against Minnesota, one in which he kicked a 110-yard punt, an interesting accomplishment considering a football field is only 100 yards long."

Walking three steps to a little shelf on the wall Vitale picks up a can of peas from the 1930s made in Columbus. The picture of the peas seen on the label is shared with a drawing of the Badger crew team on the back side.

"The artistic quality behind these items always amazes me," he said. "To put a drawing of the crew team on the back of a can of peas really conveys a celebration for the school."

Turning around, Vitale heads straight to a glass shelf containing a football, not just any football but one from a game played in Chicago Nov. 25, 1922. The ball is stuffed with grass, has no airholes, is round shaped and was hand stitched.

Vitale said he easily remembers the date of the game the ball was used, because it was the day after his father was born.

"I love telling my dad when he comes over, 'see that football, even though it's ancient your still older than it,'" Vitale chuckles.

Although football may seem to be a special point of interest with Vitale, it's just a small portion of the items he has. Other items on display include an old band uniform, a 1941 basketball national championship photograph and a number of books with Badger sheet music, each of which has a story Vitale would tell.

As Vitale walks through the room pointing out and telling the stories behind his antiques his two daughters Ellen, 6, and Claire, 3, run in and play with the Badger puppets, try on the antique hats and cuddle with Becky Badger, Bucky's girlfriend, another very rare item only made for a few years in the late '60s.

"When it gets to the point that I'm telling my girls they can enjoy all of this but can't touch it or play with it, its gone too far," Vitale said. "We actually come down to the room and practice numbers and letters and play I-Spy with my youngest daughter."

As the girls run back out of the room Vitale returns each item to its special spot in the room.

"I'm not sure if the girls will collect Badger items as I do, but they'll have a good head start with the items I'll give them some day," Vitale said. "If they don't that's all right, maybe they'll even have a garage sale, who knows."

Vitale's enjoyment of collecting could at first be thought of as a hobby, but his work with Badger history has caught the attention of many wanting Vitale's help on different projects.

Recently a professional sculptor visited the basement room looking for an academic image of Bucky for a seven-foot bronze statue of Bucky Badger. The sculptor was commissioned to create the statue for the Wisconsin Alumni Association. The statue, scheduled to be finished in 2006, will grace the shores of Lake Mendota.

Vitale was also recently asked by Terry Frei, a "Denver Post" columnist, to review his book, "Third Down and a War To Go. The 1942 All-American Wisconsin Badgers," before it went to be published to give input or suggest changes if needed.

In another project, Vitale is working on the research team of a production company in Madison that's creating a documentary on the history of Camp Randall Stadium and recently had a images of his Badger items from his basement videotaped.

"Having these opportunities goes far beyond anything I ever imagined," Vitale said. "To do something that you like to do and that others are interested in adds meaning and purpose to a collection. If someone collects something, they should learn about and know what they have."

Vitale said he is always looking for interesting items but it has to be something very hard to find or with a historical flare.

And still with all of Vitale's work and love for Badger history not one of his treasured items has made it to his walls of his office at the Educational Service Center.

"I don't think anyone from work knows about my collection," Vitale said. "If I displayed some Badger stuff at work it'd just distract me, so I leave that part of me at home."

To learn more about Badger history or to get a closer look at some of Vitale's research and antiques, visit his Web site www.randallcamp.com.