5 favorite Chris Farley stories from those in Madison who knew him best
CHRIS DOYLE
Updated
Before Chris Farley rose to comedy stardom on "Saturday Night Live" the Madison native played high school football for Madison Edgewood. He can be seen wearing No. 59 in game footage from the 1981 season provided by former Crusaders assistant coach and guidance counselor Nick Burrows.
While Chris Farley had a serious side that he revealed in rare instances, especially during his days playing football for strict coaches who helped shape his future in "motivational speaking," the foundation for his meteoric rise in comedy was in place during his childhood in Madison.
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Tom Farley Jr., the oldest of comedian Chris Farley's four siblings, looks back on their childhood and the time they spent attending University of Wisconsin football games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
Former Madison Edgewood football players Greg Meyer, Patrick Corcoran, Patrick Coughlin, Dan Healy and Dan Harrington look back fondly on their friendship with late comedian Chris Farley.
Nick Burrows, who arrived as a guidance counselor at Madison Edgewood High School ahead of Chris Farley's senior year in 1981, recalls how the future comedian could be a handful, even in the most serious situations.
Before Chris Farley fine tuned the character now known as "Matt Foley" during his time at Second City in Chicago, he was practicing his high school football coach impressions on the bus with the Madison Edgewood football team, according to older brother Tom Farley Jr.
Years before Chris Farley would crack up audiences as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" he was just a high school football player looking to impress whatever crowd was around, including fans at a Madison Edgewood football game.
