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1973 Wisconsin Badgers football team

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1973 Wisconsin Badgers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record4–7 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorEllis Rainsberger (1st season)
Offensive schemeI formation
Defensive coordinatorLew Stueck (4th season)
Base defense5–2
MVPMike Webster
Captains
  • Chris Davis
  • Jim Schymanski
  • Mike Webster
Home stadiumCamp Randall Stadium
Seasons
← 1972
1974 →
1973 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Ohio State + 7 – 0 – 1 10 – 0 – 1
No. 6 Michigan + 7 – 0 – 1 10 – 0 – 1
Minnesota 6 – 2 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Illinois 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Michigan State 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Purdue 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Northwestern 4 – 4 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Indiana 0 – 8 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Iowa 0 – 8 – 0 0 – 11 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1973 Wisconsin Badgers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wisconsin as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1973 Big Ten season. In their fourth year under head coach John Jardine, the Badgers compiled a 4–7 record (3–5 in conference games), finished in eighth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 237 to 216.[1][2]

The Badgers gained an average of 111.2 passing yards and 238.7 rushing yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 114.3 passing yards and 244.3 rushing yards per game.[3] The team's individual statistical leaders included: quarterback Gregg Bohlig (1,211 passing yards); running back Billy Marek (1,207 rushing yards); and tight end Jack Novak (13 receptions for 282 yards).[3]

Chris Davis, Jim Schymanski, and Mike Webster were the team captains.[4] Webster was selected as the team's most valuable player.[5] Five Wisconsin players received first- or second-team All-Big Ten honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press International (UPI): Webster (AP-1, UPI-1); Marek at running back (AP-1, UPI-2); Dennis Lick at offensive tackle (AP-2, UPI-2); Jim Schymanski at defensive line (AP-2); and Jeff Mack at end/receiver (UPI-2).[6][7]

The Badgers played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 15Purdue
L 13–1458,265[8]
September 22No. 19 Colorado*
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
L 25–2858,237[9]
September 29at No. 2 Nebraska*
L 16–2076,279[10]
October 6Wyoming*
  • Camp Randal Stadium
  • Madison, WI
W 37–2860,715[11]
October 13No. 1 Ohio State
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
L 0–2477,413[12]
October 20at No. 4 Michigan
L 6–3587,273[13]
October 27Indianadagger
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
W 31–766,365[14]
November 4at Michigan State
L 0–2154,010[15]
November 10Iowa
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI (rivalry)
W 35–755,560[16]
November 17Northwestern
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
W 36–3446,248[17]
November 24at Minnesota
L 17–1934,412[18]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[19]

Game summaries

[edit]

Ohio State

[edit]
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (3–0) at Wisconsin Badgers (1–3)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Ohio State 7 0 71024
Wisconsin 0 0 000

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

  • Date: October 13
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 68 °F (20 °C)
  • Game attendance: 77,413
  • Referee: Glenn Fortin
Game information

Roster

[edit]
1973 Wisconsin Badgers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
OT 76 Greg Apkarian Sr
FB 33 Jim Bachuber Sr
G 66 Mike Becker Injured Sr
QB 14 Gregg Bohlig Jr
G 63 Bob Braun Sr
FB 30 Larry Canada Fr
QB 17 Larry Clawson Sr
OT 72 Chuck Deerwester Sr
WR 18 Mike Harrington Sr
OT 75 Bob Johnson Jr
RB 22 Duane Johnson So
G 64 Rick Koeck Jr
QB 9 Dan Kopina So
OT 70 Dennis Lick So
WR 39 Jeff Mack Jr
G 61 Dennis Manic Sr
RB 26 Billy Marek So
TE 88 Jack Novak Jr
RB 27 Ron Pollard Fr
WR 87 Rod Rhodes Jr
WR 42 Greg Salen Sr
WR 45 Art Sanger Jr
WR 42 Greg Salen Sr
G 67 Dan Schroeder Sr
FB 32 Ken Starch So
TE 91 Jon Stewart Sr
G 68 Terry Stieve So
RB 29 Selvie Washington Jr
C 51 Mike Webster (C) Sr
TE, P 41 Stan Williams Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 92 Mike Benninger Jr
DE 58 Ed Bosold Sr
S 10 Terry Buss So
CB 28 Pat Collins Fr
S 11 Mark Cullen Jr
DE 93 Carl Davis Fr
S 19 Chris Davis (C) Sr
DT 90 Gary Dickert Jr
LB 49 Jim Franz So
DT 99 Kevin Froelich Sr
LB 35 Bob Hanssen Sr
MG 54 Brian Harney Sr
LB 34 Rick Jakious Jr
MG 36 Mike Jenkins Jr
DT 57 Tom Jones Fr
DE 38 Mike Levenhagen Sr
CB 12 Greg Lewis So
CB 24 Alvin Peabody Jr
DT 76 John Rasmussen Fr
DT 97 Steve Riese Sr
DT 74 Jim Schymanski (C) Sr
DT 81 Mike Seifert Sr
CB, P 8 Ken Simmons So
DB 20 John Smith Sr
DE 65 Mike Vesperman Jr
S 6 Steve Wagner So
DE 47 Mark Zakula Jr
LB 50 John Zimmerman So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 7 Rich Barrios Sr
K 2 Vince Lamia Fr
CB, P 8 Ken Simmons So
TE, P 41 Stan Williams Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Ellis Rainsberger – Offensive Coordinator
  • Lew Stueck – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
  • George Chryst – Offensive Line
  • Jim Martin – Wide Receivers
  • Charlie McBride – Offensive Line
  • Dick Selcer – Defensive Backs
  • Bob Spoo – Quarterbacks
  • Dick Teteak – Defensive Line
  • LaVern Van Dyke – Administrative Assistant
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

1974 NFL draft

[edit]
Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Mike Webster Center 5 125 Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Seifert Defensive End 13 327 Cleveland Browns

[20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1973 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results". SR/College Footbal. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  2. ^ "Wisconsin Football 2020 Fact Book". University of Wisconsin. p. 184. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "1973 Wisconsin Badgers Stats". SR/College Footbal. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  4. ^ Wisconsin Football 2020 Fact Book, p. 145.
  5. ^ Wisconsin Football 2020 Fact Book, p. 140.
  6. ^ "1973 AP All Big Ten Football Team". Piqua Daily Call. November 27, 1973. p. 11.
  7. ^ "Bucks, Wolves Dominate: Buckeyes Place 10 On All-Big Ten Team". The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio). November 28, 1973. p. 11B.
  8. ^ "Purdue edges Wisconsin, 14–13". The Post-Crescent. September 16, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Badger rally falls short". The Duluth News Tribune. September 23, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Huskers all out to top Badgers, 20–16". The Arizona Republic. September 30, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "UW stops Wyoming 37–28". The La Crosse Tribune. October 7, 1973. Retrieved October 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Griffin, No. 1 Buckeyes stomp Badgers". The Des Moines Register. October 14, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Curt Sylvester (October 21, 1973). "M Shows Ol' Grads How It's Done". Detroit Free Press. p. 1E, 4E. Retrieved June 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ "Badgers win on Hoosier bobbles". Green Bay Press-Gazette. October 28, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Spartans whip Badgers, 21–0". The Grand Rapids Press. November 4, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Wisconsin whips Iowa". The La Crosse Tribune. November 11, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Bohlig strike sinks Wildcats". The Indianapolis Star. November 18, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Upchurch triggers Minnesota victory". The Palm Beach Post-Times. November 25, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Schedule/Results (1973 Wisconsin)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  20. ^ "1974 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
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