1981 Wisconsin Badgers football team

The 1981 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season.

1981 Wisconsin Badgers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–5 (6–3 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Dudley (2nd as OC; 4th overall season)
Offensive schemeTriple option
Defensive coordinatorJim Hilles (4th season)
Base defense3–4
MVPDave Levenick
Captains
  • Dave Levenick
  • Dave Mohapp
  • Larry Spurlin
Home stadiumCamp Randall Stadium
1981 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 15 Ohio State + 6 –2 –09 –3 –0
No. 18 Iowa + 6 –2 –08 –4 –0
No. 12 Michigan 6 –3 –09 –3 –0
Illinois 6 –3 –07 –4 –0
Wisconsin 6 –3 –07 –5 –0
Minnesota 4 –5 –06 –5 –0
Michigan State 4 –5 –05 –6 –0
Purdue 3 –6 –05 –6 –0
Indiana 3 –6 –03 –8 –0
Northwestern 0 –9 –00 –11 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Several Wisconsin players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:

  • Quarterback Jess Cole ranked seventh in the conference with 12 passing touchdowns and ninth with 1,180 passing yards.[1]
  • Running back John Williams ranked second in the conference with 5.5 rushing yards per carry and seventh with 634 rushing yards.
  • David Greenwood led the conference with 156 interception return yards, and he and Matt Vanden Boom tied for second in the conference with six interceptions each.[1]

Wisconsin made its first bowl appearance since the 1963 Rose Bowl.

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12No. 1 Michigan
W 21–1468,733
September 19No. 9 UCLA*No. 20
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
L 13–3171,496
September 26Western Michigan*dagger
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
W 21–1067,196
October 3Purdue
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
W 20–1468,603
October 10No. 18 Ohio State
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
W 24–2178,973
October 17at Michigan StateNo. 14
L 14–3367,352
October 24at Illinois
L 21–2367,413
October 31Northwestern
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
W 52–070,035
November 7at Indiana
W 28–744,218
November 14Iowa
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI (rivalry)
L 7–1778,731
November 21at Minnesota
W 26–2147,125
December 13vs. Tennessee*
L 21–2853,220[2]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[3]

Personnel
1981 Wisconsin Badgers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 10 Jess Cole So
RB 23 Chucky Davis So
OT 70 Jerry Doerger Sr
FB 41 Gary Ellerson Fr
TE 37 Craig Fredrick Sr
FB 36 Gerald Green Jr
FB 8 Paul Hughes Sr
WR 82 Michael Jones Fr
G 71 Leo Joyce Sr
RB 35 Troy King Jr
WR 20 Thad McFadden So
WR 38 Kyle McKinnon Sr
FB 28 Dave Mohapp (C) Sr
TE 88 Jeff Nault Jr
WR 22 Marvin Neal Jr
TE 86 Bret Pearson So
TE 84 Greg Rabas Sr
RB 33 Curtis Richardson Sr
WR 34 Al Seamonson Sr
G 52 Pete Severson Jr
WR 42 Tim Stracka Injured Sr
G 53 Mark Subach Jr
OT 66 Scott Swan Sr
G 73 Melvin Terrell Injured So
WR 87 Al Toon Fr
C 58 Ron Versnik  Jr
OT 74 Carlton Walker So
RB 1 John Williams Jr
OT 79 Bob Winckler Jr
QB 12 Randy Wright So
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 26 Brett Armstrong Jr
LB 95 Guy Boliaux Sr
LB 32 Kyle Borland Jr
DT 72 Jeff Dellenbach Fr
S/P 31 David Greenwood Jr
NT 93 Jack Grundy Jr
NT 50 Tim Krumrie Jr
LB 47 Dave Levenick (C) Sr
LB 94 Jeff Luko  Jr
CB 45 Von Mansfield Sr
CB 15 Brian Marrow So
LB 33 James Melka  Fr
S 11 Dan Messenger  Jr
LB 44 Jody O'Donnell Jr
DT 71 Chris Osswald So
DT 76 Mark Shumate  Jr
CB 9 Clint Sims Jr
DT 60 Darryl Simms So
LB 49 Larry Spurlin (C) Sr
S 2 Ron Steverson Sr
S 27 Vaughn Thomas  Jr
CB 5 Jerry Vance So
S 39 Matt Vanden Boom Jr
S 7 John Westphal Sr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
S, P 31 David Greenwood Jr
K 24 Mark Doran So
K 6 Wendell Gladem So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Bill Dudley – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks and Receivers
  • Jim Hilles – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
  • Doug Graber – Defensive Backs
  • Arnold Jeter – Defensive Line
  • Cliff Knox – Running Backs
  • Mike Nelson – Defensive Ends
  • Bob Palcic – Tackles and Tight Ends
  • Mario Russo – Centers and Guards
  • Jerry Fishbain – Recruiting Coordinator
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Game summaries

Michigan
#1 Michigan at Wisconsin
1 234Total
Michigan 0 770 14
• Wisconsin 0 1470 21
Scoring summary
2MichiganS. Smith 4 yard run (Haji-Sheikh kick)Michigan 7-0
2WisconsinNeal 17 yard pass from Cole (Doran kick)Tie 7-7
2WisconsinDavis 1 yard run (Doran kick)Wisconsin 14-7
3MichiganWoolfolk 89 yard run (Haji-Sheikh kick)Tie 14-14
35:13WisconsinWilliams 71 yard pass from Cole (Doran kick)Wisconsin 21-14

Wisconsin safety Matt Vanden Boom had three interceptions, including the game-clincher with two seconds left at his own 17. It was the Badgers first win against Michigan since 1962 and the first time they scored points against the Wolverines since 1976.

At Minnesota
Wisconsin Badgers (6–4) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (6–4)
Period 1 2 Total
Wisconsin 0
Minnesota 0

at Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: November 21, 1981
  • Game attendance: 47,125
  • [4]

Head coach Dave McClain inserted backup Randy Wright in the fourth quarter after Minnesota took the lead for the first time, on the reason "because Cole was not having a good day throwing." Following the victory, Wisconsin accepted the bid from the Garden State Bowl to play Tennessee.[5]

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Wisconsin PassingJess Cole6/17, 84 Yds
Rushing
Receiving
Minnesota PassingMike Hohensee17/34, 254 Yds, TD
Rushing
ReceivingChester Cooper6 Rec, 123 Yds, TD

1982 NFL Draft
PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
Von MansfieldCornerback5122Atlanta Falcons
Jerry DoergerTackle8200Chicago Bears
Guy BoliauxLinebacker11283Chicago Bears
Dave LevenickLinebacker12315Atlanta Falcons

[6]

References
  1. "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  2. "Tennessee's speed burns Wisconsin". Clarion-Ledger. December 14, 1981. Retrieved August 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Wisconsin Badgers Index". sports-reference.com. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  4. "Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21". UPI Archives. November 22, 1981. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  5. "Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21". UPI Archives. November 22, 1981. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  6. "1982 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
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