1948 Wisconsin Badgers football team

The 1948 Wisconsin Badgers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1948 Big Nine Conference football season. The team compiled a 2–7 record (1–5 against conference opponents) and finished in last place in the Big Nine Conference. Harry Stuhldreher was in his 13th and final year as Wisconsin's head coach.^[1][2] The team averaged 258.6 yards per game of total offense, 200.6 yards per game by rushing, and 58.0 yards by passing.^[3]

1948 Wisconsin Badgers football
Conference	Big Nine Conference
Record	2–7 (1–5 Big Nine)
Head coach	Harry Stuhldreher (13th season)
MVP	Red Wilson
Captain	Wally Dreyer
Home stadium	Camp Randall Stadium
Seasons ← 1947 1949 →

1948 Big Nine Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Michigan $	6	–	0	–	0			9	–	0	–	0
No. 7 Northwestern	5	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
No. 16 Minnesota	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Ohio State	3	–	3	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Iowa	2	–	4	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Purdue	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Indiana	2	–	4	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Illinois	2	–	5	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Wisconsin	1	–	5	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included Ben Bendrick with 327 rushing yards, Bob Petruska with 125 passing yards, Jim Embach with 92 receiving yards, and Wally Dreyer with 24 points scored.^[4] Center Red Wilson received the team's most valuable player award for the second consecutive year.^[5] Wilson also received second-team honors from the International News Service on the 1948 All-Big Nine Conference football team.^[6] Wally Dreyer was the team captain.^[7]

At the annual Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry game held on November 20, Paul Bunyan's Axe was introduced as a trophy to be awarded to the winner. Minnesota won the 1948 game, 16–0.^[8]

On December 11, four days before a student referendum on whether he should keep his job, and in the face of "Goodbye Harry" signs, Stuhldreher resigned as Wisconsin's head football coach, though he retained his job as athletic director.^[9]

Wisconsin was ranked at No. 52 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System ratings for 1948.^[10]

The team played its home games at Camp Randall Stadium. During the 1948 season, the average attendance at home games was 44,167.^[11]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 25	Indiana	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 7–35	40,000
October 2	Illinois	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 20–16	45,000
October 9	at No. 9 California*	California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA	L 14–40	66,000
October 16	Yale*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 7–17	44,000–45,000
October 23	at Ohio State	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	L 32–34	76,677
October 30	at Iowa	Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA (rivalry)	L 13–19	38,000
November 6	No. 10 Northwestern	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 7–16	45,000
November 13	Marquette*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 26–0	45,000
November 20	No. 15 Minnesota	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry)	L 0–16	45,000
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[1][2]

Game summaries

On September 25, Indiana defeated Wisconsin, 35–7, before a crowd of 40,000 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. The game was the first for Clyde B. Smith as Indiana's head coach. Indiana halfback George Taliaferro scored three touchdowns and played 51 minutes.^[12]

On October 2, Wisconsin defeated Illinois, 20–16, before a crowd of 45,000 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Wisconsin halfback Clarence Self scored two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown with less than three minutes left to play.^[13]

On October 9, Wisconsin lost to California, 40–14, before a crowd of 66,000 at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.^[14]

On October 16, Wisconsin lost to Yale, 17–7, before a crowd of 44,000 to 45,000 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.^[15][16]

On October 23, Ohio State defeated Wisconsin, 34–32, before a crowd of 77,205 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Ohio State rallied from behind twice, including deficits of 19-7 and 33–20, in a game that The Cincinnati Enquirer called "one of the most scintillating, hair-raising games ever staged in Buckeye Stadium". Each team scored five touchdowns, but Wisconsin was able to convert only two kicks for extra point. Wisconsin's line prevented Ohio State from advancing the ball on the ground, and the Buckeyes opened up a passing attack, led by Pandel Savic, that accounted for 211 yards and all five Ohio State touchdowns.^[17]

On October 30, Wisconsin lost to Iowa. After Wisconsin took a 13–0 lead, Iowa staged a comeback and won, 19–13, in Iowa City.^[18]

On November 6, Northwestern (ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll) defeated Wisconsin, 16–7, before a homecoming crowd of 45,000 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Northwestern led 2–0 at halftime, as the only points of the half came on a safety. Northwestern then added two touchdowns in the third quarter.^[19]

On November 13, Wisconsin shut out Marquette, 26–0, before a crowd of 43,000 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Wally Dreyer was the star for Wisconsin.^[20]

On November 20, in the annual Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry game, Minnesota (ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll) defeated Wisconsin, 16–0, before a crowd of 45,000 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Minnesota exceeded Wisconsin in total yards by a tally of 425 to 88.^[21]

References

1. "1948 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. March 13, 2017.
2. (PDF). University of Wisconsin. 2016. pp. 212, 220. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
3. Wisconsin Football 2016 Fact Book, p. 146.
4. Wisconsin Football 2016 Fact Book, pp. 134-136.
5. Wisconsin Football 2016 Fact Book, p. 181.
6. "INS Big Nine Honorees". Milwaukee Sentinel (INS story). November 21, 1948. p. B2.
7. Wisconsin Football 2016 Fact Book, p. 185.
8. Wisconsin Football 2016 Fact Book, p. 267.
9. "Decision Is His Own, Says Stuhldreher: Wisconsin Grid Boss Quits Job". The Akron Beacon Journal. December 12, 1948. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.  
10. "Michigan, Irish Finish 1-2 in Litkenhous Ratings". Wilmington Morning News. December 15, 1948. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Wisconsin Football 2016 Fact Book, p. 258.
12. Bob Stranahan (September 26, 1948). "Heads-Up Play Gives Indiana 35–7 Upset Over Wisconsin". The Indianapolis Star. p. 3-1 – via Newspapers.com.  
13. "Badgers Tally in Last 3 Minutes to Shade Illini: Self Climaxes Thriller With 2 Yard Plunge". The Pantagraph. October 3, 1948. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.  
14. Russ Newland (October 10, 1948). "Bears Bowl Over Badgers, 40 to 14". Los Angeles Times. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.  
15. Casserly, Hank (October 17, 1948). "Yale Rallies to Humble Weak Wisconsin, 17 to 7; Fans Jeer Stuhldreher". The Capital Times. Madison, Wis. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
16. Irving Vaughan (October 17, 1948). "Yale Beats Badgers, 17–7: 3d Quarter Rally Ends Badger Hope". Chicago Tribune. p. 2-1 – via Newspapers.com.  
17. "Bucks Score Five Times Through Air To Win, 34-32: Badgers Bow in Real Thriller". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 24, 1948. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.  
18. Bert McGrane (October 31, 1948). "Iowa Trails, 13-0 -- Wins, 19-13: Fryhauf Opens Late Attack On Wisconsin". The Des Moines Register. p. 1-S – via Newspapers.com.  
19. "Northwestern Whips Wisconsin, 16 to 7: Fumbles By Wildcats and Badgers; N.U. Leads Only 2-0 at Half Time". Chicago Tribune. November 7, 1948. p. 2-1 – via Newspapers.com.  
20. Irving Vaughan (November 14, 1948). "Badgers Defeat Marquette in State Feud, 26-0". Chicago Tribune. p. 2-1 – via Newspapers.com.  
21. Irving Vaughan (November 21, 1948). "Minnesota Wins, 16-0: Badgers No Match for Foes' Power". Chicago Tribune. p. 2-1 – via Newspapers.com.