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1981 Wisconsin Badgers football team

American college football season

Field	Value
year	1981
team	Wisconsin Badgers
sport	football
conference	Big Ten Conference
short_conf	Big Ten
record	7–5
conf_record	6–3
head_coach	Dave McClain
hc_year	4th
off_coach	Bill Dudley
oc_year	2nd
off_scheme	Triple option
def_coach	Jim Hilles
dc_year	4th
def_scheme	[3–4](3-4-defense)
mvp	Dave Levenick
captain	Dave Levenick
captain2	Dave Mohapp
captain3	Larry Spurlin
stadium	Camp Randall Stadium
bowl	[Garden State Bowl](1981-garden-state-bowl)
bowl_result	L 21–28 vs. [Tennessee](1981-tennessee-volunteers-football-team)

The 1981 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Dave McClain, the Badgers compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 6–3 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for third in the Big Ten. Wisconsin was invited to the Garden State Bowl, where the Badgers lost to Tennessee. The team played home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

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.
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.

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

Schedule

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Game summaries

Michigan

Source: Gainesville Sun

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

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.

Personnel

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

1982 NFL draft

References

"1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". Sports Reference LLC.
Mike Mihanovic. (September 13, 1981). "Michigan jolted: Badger 'D' devours Wolverines". The Michigan Daily.
(September 20, 1981). "Bruins start quick; dump Badgers". Herald-Times-Reporter.
(September 27, 1981). "Badgers plod to 21–10 win". The Reporter.
(October 4, 1981). "Wisconsin storms past Purdue". The Macon Telegraph & News.
(October 11, 1981). "Wisconsin numbs Ohio State 24–21". News Journal.
(October 18, 1981). "Michigan State upsets Wisconsin". The South Bend Tribune.
(October 25, 1981). "Illini vault into title race". Quad-City Times.
(November 1, 1981). "Badgers roll, 52–0". The Post-Crescent.
(November 8, 1981). "Badgers beat Hoosiers, gain tie for Big Ten lead". Journal and Courier.
(November 15, 1981). "No roses for the Badgers". Green Bay Press-Gazette.
(November 22, 1981). "Wright's heroics save Badgers". The La Crosse Tribune.
(December 14, 1981). "Tennessee's speed burns Wisconsin". Clarion-Ledger.
"1981 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
. (November 22, 1981). ["Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/22/The-only-thing-quarterback-Jess-Cole-and-his-Wisconsin/1067375253200/).
. (November 22, 1981). ["Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/22/The-only-thing-quarterback-Jess-Cole-and-his-Wisconsin/1067375253200/).
"1982 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com".

Info: Wikipedia Source

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