Wisconsin Badgers football

The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football. As of January 2, 2012, the Badgers have an all-time record of 636–470–51.

Team name origin
The team's nickname originates in the early history of Wisconsin. In the 1820s and 1830s, prospectors came to the state looking for minerals, primarily lead. Without shelter in the winter, the miners had to "live like badgers" in tunnels burrowed into hillsides. As a result, the territory was dubbed the "Badger State," and the team took its name from that.

Team history
The history of Wisconsin football is one of highs and lows.

The first Badger football team took the field in 1889, losing the only two games it played that season. In 1890, Wisconsin earned its first victory with a 106–0 drubbing of Whitewater Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater), still the most lopsided win in school history. However, the very next week the Badgers suffered what remains their most lopsided defeat, a humiliating 63–0 loss at the hands of the University of Minnesota. Since then, the Badgers and Gophers have met 121 times, making Wisconsin vs Minnesota the most-played rivalry in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Over the course of the 1890s, the Badgers dramatically improved. Upon the formation of the Big Ten conference in 1896, Wisconsin became the first-ever conference champion with a 7–1–1 record. Over the next ten years, the Badgers won or shared the conference title three more times (1897, 1901, and 1906), and recorded their first undefeated season, going 9–0–0 (1901). With the exception of their second undefeated season in 1912, in which they won their fifth Big Ten title, the next 35 years were a period of general mediocrity for the Badgers.

1942 was an important year for Wisconsin football. On October 24, the #6 ranked Badgers defeated the #1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall, catapulting Wisconsin to the #2 spot in the AP poll. Unfortunately for the Badgers, their national championship hopes were dashed by a 6–0 defeat by the Iowa Hawkeyes the following week. Nevertheless, Wisconsin won the remainder of its games, finishing the season 8–1–1, and #3 in the Associated Press poll, while garnering the Helms Athletic Foundation vote for National Champion.

The Badgers experienced great success during the 1950s, finishing in the AP Top 25 eight times that decade. In 1952, the team received its first #1 ranking by the Associated Press. That season, the Badgers again claimed the Big Ten title and earned their first trip to the Rose Bowl. There they were defeated 7–0 by the University of Southern California, and would finish the season a disappointing #11 in the AP Poll. Wisconsin returned to the Rose Bowl as Big Ten champs again in 1959, but fell to the Washington Huskies in a lopsided affair.

1962 represents another high point in the history of Wisconsin football. That season, the Badgers earned their eighth Big Ten title and faced the top-ranked USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl. Despite a narrow 42–37 defeat, the Badgers still ended the season ranked #2 in both the AP and Coaches polls (post-bowl rankings were not introduced until later in the decade).

The next decade saw Wisconsin descend to gloomy depths. The nadir occurred in the back-to-back winless seasons of 1967 and 1968. After languishing through the early 1970s, a string of seven-win seasons from 1981–84 under Dave McClain placed the Badgers in the Garden State (1981), Independence (1982), and Hall of Fame Bowls (1984). McClain's death during 1986 spring practice sent the Badgers into free fall. From 1986 to 1990, the Badgers won a total of nine games.

In 1990, Barry Alvarez became the head coach of the Badgers and, following three losing seasons (including a 1–10 campaign in his first year), Alvarez led the Badgers to their first Big Ten championship and first Rose Bowl appearance in over 30 years. On January 1, 1994 Wisconsin defeated UCLA 21–16 to claim its first Rose Bowl victory. Over his 16-year tenure as head coach, Alvarez led the Badgers to two more conference championships, eleven bowl games (going 8–3), and two more Rose Bowl victories in 1999 and 2000, finishing #4 in the AP Poll after the Rose Bowl victory on January 1, 2000.

Following the 2005 season, Alvarez stepped down as head coach of the Wisconsin football team and assumed the duties of athletic director. Former defensive coordinator, Bret Bielema, took over as head coach and has since led the Badgers to five consecutive bowl appearances (going 2–3). In 2010, the Badgers won a share of the Big Ten Championship and returned to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 2000, where they were defeated 21–19 by the #3 ranked Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University (TCU).

In 2011, the Badgers won the first-ever Big Ten Championship game against Michigan State, as they returned to the Rose Bowl where they faced the Pac-12 champion Oregon Ducks. However, they lost the game 38-45, marking the second straight year that the team had lost the Rose Bowl.

Victories over #1 ranked teams
Source: Wisconsin State Journal, 10/16/2010

Bowl history
The Badgers have appeared in 23 bowl games and have a record of 11 wins and 12 losses (11–12). Their most recent bowl game was in the 2012 Rose Bowl.

All-time Big Ten records
This chart includes both the overall record the University of Wisconsin Badgers have with the all-time Big Ten members, as well as the matchups that counted in the Big Ten standings. Wisconsin has been a member of the Big Ten since its creation in 1896. Michigan rejoined the league in 1917 after leaving in 1906. Chicago withdrew after 1939, and then Michigan State (1953), Penn State (1993), and Nebraska (2011) joined afterwards. (As of December 3, 2011)

All Data from The Wisconsin Football Fact Book

Coaching history
Updated on: January 2, 2012

Minnesota
The UW-UM series is the nation’s most-played rivalry in Division I football and has been played continuously for since 1890 (except for 1906). Much prestige was always associated with the game, and the significance was emphasized with its place on the schedule. Between 1933 and 1982, the Wisconsin-Minnesota game was always the final regular-season contest for each school. The series took an added twist in 1948 when more than state bragging rights were on the line. After a 16-0 setback that season, the Wisconsin lettermen's group, the National 'W' Club, presented Minnesota with an axe wielded by Paul Bunyan. He was the mythical giant of Midwestern lumber camps. Each year since, the winner of the annual battle between the Big Ten rivals is presented with the axe, complete with scores inscribed on the handle, for display on its campus.

Iowa
The Iowa-Wisconsin rivalry, which dates back to 1894, is Wisconsin's other arch rival. Although the series is over 100 years old the Heartland Trophy was inaugurated in 2004 and goes each year to the winner. The trophy was designed and crafted by artist and former Iowa football player Frank Strub. The trophy, which is a bull mounted on a walnut base (native to both Wisconsin and Iowa), has been inscribed with the scores of all games in the long-time series. With Big Ten expansion, the Wisconsin and Iowa football teams were placed in separate divisions, thus ending their annual rivalry. The teams now play each other four out of every ten years. The all-time series between the two schools is tied at 42-42-2.

Marquette
From 1904 to 1960 Wisconsin forged an intense rivalry with the Marquette Golden Avalanche. During this time these two schools were the only two Division I football in the state of Wisconsin (Marquette being located in Milwaukee). These two schools played every year from 1932 to 1960 until Marquette terminated their football program. The Badgers won the series record 32-4. Marquette no longer has a Division I football program.

Rushing records

 * Most rushing attempts, career: 1220, Ron Dayne (1996–99)
 * Most rushing attempts, season: 348, Brian Calhoun (2005)
 * Most rushing attempts, game: 50, Ron Dayne (November 9, 1996 vs Minnesota Golden Gophers)
 * Most rushing yards, career: 7,125, Ron Dayne (1996–99)
 * Most rushing yards, season: 2,109, Ron Dayne (1996)
 * Most rushing yards, game: 339, Ron Dayne (November 30, 1996 vs. Hawaiʻi Warriors)
 * Highest average yard per carry, career (min 300 att.): 5.84, Ron Dayne (1996-99)
 * Highest average yard per carry, season (min 100 att.): 6.75, Troy King (1982)
 * Highest average yard per carry, game (min 10 att.): 14.9, Ken Starch (September 28, 1974 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers)
 * Most rushing touchdowns, career: 71, Ron Dayne (1996–99)
 * Most rushing touchdowns, season: 33, Montee Ball (2011)
 * Most rushing touchdowns, game: 5, Billy Marek (November 23, 1974 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers), Anthony Davis (November 23, 2002 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers), and Brian Calhoun (October 29, 2005 vs. Illinois Fighting Illini)
 * Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, career: 33, Ron Dayne (1996–99)
 * Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, season: 11, Brent Moss (1993)
 * Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, career: 14, Ron Dayne (1996–99)
 * Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, season: 5, Ron Dayne (1996)

Passing records

 * Most passing attempts, career: 1,052, Darrell Bevell (1992-95)
 * Most passing attempts, season: 333, Tyler Donovan (2007)
 * Most passing attempts, game: 54, Randy Wright (November 5, 1983 vs Iowa)
 * Most passing completions, career: 646, Darrell Bevell (1992-95)
 * Most passing completions, season: 225, Russell Wilson (2011)
 * Most passing completions, game: 35, Darrell Bevell (November 18, 1995 vs. Iowa)
 * Most passing yards, career: 7,686, Darrell Bevell (1992-95)
 * Most passing yards, season: 3,175, Russell Wilson (2011)
 * Most passing yards, game: 423, Darrell Bevell (October 23, 1993 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers)
 * Highest completion percentage, career: 68.1 (410-602), Scott Tolzien (2008-10)
 * Highest completion percentage, season: 72.9 (194-266), Scott Tolzien (2010)
 * Highest completion percentage, game (min 10 att.): 94.4 (17-18), Darrell Bevell (October 9, 1993 vs. Northwestern Wildcats)
 * Most passing touchdowns, career: 59, Darrell Bevell (1992-95)
 * Most passing touchdowns, season: 33, Russell Wilson (2011)
 * Most passing touchdowns, game: 5, Darrell Bevell (September 4, 1993 vs. Nevada Wolf Pack), and Jim Sorgi (November 15, 2003 vs Michigan State Spartans)
 * Highest pass efficiency rating, career: 153.2, Scott Tolzien (2008-10)
 * Highest pass efficiency rating, season: 191.8, Russell Wilson (2011)
 * Highest pass efficiency rating, game (min 15 att.): 296.68, John Stocco (September 30, 2006 vs. Indiana Hoosiers)
 * Most games with at least 200 passing yards, career: 17, John Stocco (2003-06)
 * Most games with at least 200 passing yards, season: 8, John Stocco (2005), Russell Wilson (2011)

Receiving records

 * Most receptions, career: 202, Brandon Williams (2002–05)
 * Most receptions, season: 75, Lee Evans (2001)
 * Most receptions, game: 13, Matt Nyquist (November 18, 1995 vs Iowa)
 * Most receiving yards, career: 3,468, Lee Evans (1999–03)
 * Most receiving yards, season: 1,545, Lee Evans (2001)
 * Most receiving yards, game: 258, Lee Evans (November 15, 2003 vs. Michigan State)
 * Highest average yards per reception, career (min 50 rec.): 20.1, Tony Simmons (1994–97)
 * Highest average yards per reception, season (min 30 rec.): 21.3, Larry Mialik (1970)
 * Highest average yards per reception, game (min 3 rec.): 47.3, Larry Mialik (October 3, 1970 vs. Penn State Nittany Lions)
 * Most touchdown receptions, career: 27, Lee Evans (1999–03)
 * Most touchdown receptions, season: 13, Lee Evans (2003)
 * Most touchdown receptions, game: 5, Lee Evans (November 15, 2003 vs. Michigan State Spartans)
 * Most consecutive games with a reception, career: 38, Lee Evans (1999-2003)

Scoring records

 * Most points scored, career: 426, Ron Dayne (1996-99)
 * Most points scored, season: 236, Montee Ball (2011)
 * Most points scored, game: 30, Billy Marek (November 23, 1974 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers), Anthony Davis (November 23, 2002 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers), Lee Evans (November 15, 2003 vs. Michigan State Spartans), Brian Calhoun (September 3, 2005 vs. Bowling Green Falcons and October 29, 2005 vs. Illinois Fighting Illini), and P.J. Hill (September 15, 2007 vs. The Citadel Bulldogs)
 * Most touchdowns scored, career: 71, Ron Dayne (1996-99)
 * Most touchdowns scored, season: 39, Montee Ball (2011)
 * Most touchdowns scored, game: 5, Billy Marek (November 23, 1974 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers), Anthony Davis (November 23, 2002 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers), Lee Evans (November 15, 2003 vs. Michigan State Spartans), Brian Calhoun (September 3, 2005 vs. Bowling Green Falcons and October 29, 2005 vs. Illinois Fighting Illini), and P.J. Hill (September 15, 2007 vs. The Citadel Bulldogs)
 * Most extra points, career: 207, Philip Welch (2008-2011)
 * Most extra points, season: 67, Philip Welch (2010)
 * Most extra points, game: 11, Philip Welch (November, 13 2010 vs. Indiana Hoosiers)
 * Most field goals made, career: 65, Todd Gregoire (1984-87)
 * Most field goals made, season: 22, Rich Thompson (1992)
 * Most field goals made, game: 4, Vince Lamia (November 20, 1976 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers), Todd Gregoire (December 29, 1984 vs. Kentucky Wildcats and November 7, 1987 vs. Ohio State Buckeyes), Rich Thompson (September 19, 1992 vs. Bowling Green Falcons and October 17, 1992 vs. Purdue Boilermakers), Matt Davenport (November 7, 1998 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers), Vitaly Pisetsky (October 23, 1999 vs. Michigan State Spartans) and Philip Welch (September 27, 2008 vs. Michigan Wolverines)

Kickoff/Punt return records

 * Most kickoff return yards, career: 3,025, David Gilreath (2007-10)
 * Most kickoff return yards, season: 967, David Gilreath (2007)
 * Most kickoff return yards, game: 201, Jared Abbrederis (January 2, 2012 vs. Oregon Ducks)
 * Most kickoff return touchdowns, career: 2, Danny Crooks (1969-71), Ira Matthews (1975-78), and Nick Davis (1998-2001)
 * Most kickoff return touchdowns, season: 2, Ira Matthews (1976) and Nick Davis (1999)
 * Most kickoff return touchdowns, game: 1, many times, most recent - David Gilreath (October 16, 2010 vs. Ohio State Buckeyes)
 * Highest average per kickoff return, career (min 30 ret.): 24.6, Greg Johnson (1968, 1971)
 * Highest average per kickoff return, season (min 10 ret.): 29.6, Ira Matthews (1976)
 * Highest average per kickoff return, game (min 3 ret.): 42.7, Selvie Washington (September 21, 1974 vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers)
 * Most punt return yards, career: 1,347, Jim Leonhard (2001-04)
 * Most punt return yards, season: 470, Jim Leonhard (2003)
 * Most punt return yards, game: 158, Earl Girard (November 8, 1947 vs. Iowa Hawkeyes)
 * Most punt return touchdowns, career: 4, Ira Matthews (1975-78)
 * Most punt return touchdowns, season: 3, Ira Matthews (1978)
 * Most punt return touchdowns, game: 2, Earl Girard (November 8, 1947 vs. Iowa Hawkeyes)
 * Highest average per punt return, career (min 105 ret.): 12.8, Jim Leonhard (2001-04)
 * Highest average per punt return, season (min 15 ret.): 16.9, Ira Matthews (1978)
 * Highest average per punt return, game (min 3 ret.): 52.7, Earl Girard (November 8, 1947 vs. Iowa Hawkeyes)

Defensive records

 * Most interceptions, career: 21, Jamar Fletcher (1998-2000) and Jim Leonhard (2001-04)
 * Most interceptions, season: 11, Jim Leonhard (2002)
 * Most interceptions, game: 4, Clarence Bratt (November 20, 1964 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers)
 * Most interceptions returned for a touchdown, career: 5, Jamar Fletcher (1998-2000)
 * Most interceptions returned for a touchdown, season: 3, Jamar Fletcher (1998)
 * Most interceptions returned for a touchdown, game: 2, Bob Radcliffe (October 15, 1949 vs. Navy Midshipmen)
 * Most tackles, career: 451, Pete Monty (1993-96)
 * Most tackles, season: 181, Dave Lokanc (1972)
 * Most tackles, game: 28, Dave Crossen (November 5, 1977 vs. Purdue Boilermakers)
 * Most tackles for loss, career: 58, Tarek Saleh (1993-96)
 * Most tackles for loss, season: 31, Tom Burke (1998)
 * Most tackles for loss, game: 6.5, Alex Lewis (October 18, 2003 vs. Purdue Boilermakers)
 * Most quarterback sacks, career: 33, Tarek Saleh (1993-96)
 * Most quarterback sacks, season: 22, Tom Burke (1998)
 * Most quarterback sacks, game: 6, Tim Jordan (October 19, 1985 vs. Northwestern Wildcats)
 * Most fumbles recovered, career: 7, Dan Batsch (1987-90) and Scott Nelson (1990-93)
 * Most fumbles recovered, season: 5, Ed Bosold (1972)
 * Most fumbles recovered, game: 3, Michael Reid (November 16, 1985 vs. Ohio State Buckeyes)
 * Most passes defended, career: 62, Mike Echols (1998-2001)
 * Most passes defended, season: 25, Mike Echols (2000) and Jim Leonhard (2002)
 * Most passes defended, game: 6, Mike Echols (November 6, 1999 vs. Purdue Boilermakers)
 * Most blocked kicks, career: 8, Richard Johnson (1982-84)
 * Most blocked kicks, season: 6, Richard Johnson (1984)
 * Most blocked kicks, game: 3, Richard Johnson (September 15, 1984 vs. Missouri Tigers)

Individual award winners and finalists
The following players have been nominated for national awards. Players highlighted in yellow indicate winners:


 * Heisman Trophy
 * Maxwell Award
 * Walter Camp Award
 * Doak Walker Award
 * Davey O'Brien Award
 * Dave Rimington Trophy
 * Outland Trophy
 * Lombardi Award
 * Wuerffel Trophy
 * Draddy Trophy
 * Paul "Bear" Bryant Award


 * Chuck Bednarik Award
 * Bronko Nagurski Trophy
 * Ted Hendricks Award
 * Fred Biletnikoff Award
 * Ray Guy Award
 * Lou Groza Award
 * Jim Thorpe Award
 * Mosi Tatupu Award
 * Ronnie Lott Award
 * John Mackey Award
 * Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
 * Joseph V. Paterno Award
 * Frank Broyles Award

National Jewish Sports Hall of Famers

 * Matt Bernstein
 * Marty Glickman Award as Jewish Athlete of the Year – Gabe Carimi

Current Arena Football League players

 * Anttaj Hawthorne – Arizona Rattlers
 * Mike Newkirk – Chicago Rush

Honored numbers

 * 33 Ron Dayne
 * 35 Alan Ameche
 * 40 Elroy Hirsch
 * 80 Dave Schreiner
 * 83 Allan Shafer
 * 88 Pat Richter