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.[ 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 game appearance since the 1963 Rose Bowl .
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 12 No. 1 Michigan W 21–1468,733 [ 2] September 19 No. 9 UCLA * No. 20 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI L 13–3171,496 [ 3] September 26 Western Michigan * Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI W 21–1067,196 [ 4] October 3 Purdue Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI W 20–1468,603 [ 5] October 10 No. 18 Ohio State Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI W 24–2178,973 [ 6] October 17 at Michigan State No. 14 L 14–3367,352 [ 7] October 24 at Illinois L 21–2367,413 [ 8] October 31 Northwestern Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI W 52–070,035 [ 9] November 7 at Indiana W 28–744,218 [ 10] November 14 Iowa Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry ) L 7–1778,731 [ 11] November 21 at Minnesota W 26–2147,125 [ 12] December 13 vs. Tennessee * L 21–2853,220 [ 13] *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 14]
#1 Michigan at Wisconsin
1
2 3 4 Total
Michigan
0
7 7 0
14
• Wisconsin
0
14 7 0
21
Scoring summary 2 Michigan S. Smith 4 yard run (Haji-Sheikh kick) Michigan 7-0 2 Wisconsin Neal 17 yard pass from Cole (Doran kick) Tie 7-7 2 Wisconsin Davis 1 yard run (Doran kick) Wisconsin 14-7 3 Michigan Woolfolk 89 yard run (Haji-Sheikh kick) Tie 14-14 3 5:13 Wisconsin Williams 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.
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 .[ 16]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wisconsin
Passing
Jess Cole
6/17, 84 Yds
Rushing
Receiving
Minnesota
Passing
Mike Hohensee 17/34, 254 Yds, TD
Rushing
Receiving
Chester Cooper
6 Rec, 123 Yds, TD
1981 Wisconsin Badgers football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
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
^ a b "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016 .^ Mike Mihanovic (September 13, 1981). "Michigan jolted: Badger 'D' devours Wolverines" . The Michigan Daily . pp. 1, 11 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Bruins start quick; dump Badgers" . Herald-Times-Reporter . September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Badgers plod to 21–10 win" . The Reporter . September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Wisconsin storms past Purdue" . The Macon Telegraph & News . October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Wisconsin numbs Ohio State 24–21" . News Journal . October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Michigan State upsets Wisconsin" . The South Bend Tribune . October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Illini vault into title race" . Quad-City Times . October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Badgers roll, 52–0" . The Post-Crescent . November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Badgers beat Hoosiers, gain tie for Big Ten lead" . Journal and Courier . November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "No roses for the Badgers" . Green Bay Press-Gazette . November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Wright's heroics save Badgers" . The La Crosse Tribune . November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Tennessee's speed burns Wisconsin" . Clarion-Ledger . December 14, 1981. Retrieved August 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .^ "1981 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2024 .^ "Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21" . UPI Archives . November 22, 1981. Retrieved December 18, 2022 .^ "Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 21" . UPI Archives . November 22, 1981. Retrieved December 18, 2022 .^ "1982 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com" . Pro-Football-Reference.com the original on December 21, 2007.
