1928 Big Ten Conference football season

August 2023 1928 Big Ten Conference football season Football 10 Illinois Champion Wisconsin Chuck Bennett Football 1927 1929 The 1928 Big Ten Conference football season was the 33rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference (also known as the Western Conference) and was a part of the 1928 college football season. The 1928 Illinois Fighting Illini football team, under head coach Robert Zuppke, compiled a 7–1 record, won the Big Ten championship, led the conference in scoring defense (2.0 points allowed per game), and was ranked No. 7 in the Dickinson System rankings. Tackles Albert J. Nowack and Russell Crane and guard Leroy Wietz were selected as first-team All-Americans. The 1928 Wisconsin Badgers football team, under head coach Glenn Thistlethwaite, compiled a 7–1–1 record and was ranked No. 4 in the Dickinson System rankings. Guard Rube Wagner was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player. The 1928 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team, under head coach Clarence Spears, compiled a 6–2 record, finished third in the Big Ten, and led the conference in scoring offense (23.9 points per game). Guard George Gibson and end Ken Haycraft were named All-Americans by the Associated Press and Look Magazine. Gibson, Haycraft and quarterback Frederick L. Hovde received first-team All-Big Ten honors. The 1928 Iowa Hawkeyes football team, under head coach Burt Ingwersen, compiled a 6–2 record and was ranked No. 6 in the Dickinson System rankings. Halfback Willis Glassgow received first-team All-Big Ten honors. Indiana halfback Chuck Bennett received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the most valuable player in the conference. Northwestern's triple threat star Walt Holmer finished second in close voting for the trophy; Bennett received eight of 22 first place votes, and Holmer received seven. Season overview Results and team statistics Conf. RankTeamHead coachOverall recordConf. recordDSrankPPGPAGMVP 1IllinoisRobert Zuppke7–14–1#718.12.0Douglas R. Mills2WisconsinGlenn Thistlethwaite7–1–13–1–1#418.14.2Francis "Bo" Cuisiner3MinnesotaClarence Spears6–24–2NR23.94.5Fred Holvde, Bronko Nagurski4 (tie)IowaBurt Ingwersen6–23–2#618.45.3Willis Glassgow4 (tie)Ohio StateJohn Wilce5–2–13–2NR16.94.4Alan M. Holman6PurdueJimmy Phelan5–2–12–2–1NR17.95.1Ralph Welch7 (tie)NorthwesternDick Hanley5–32–3NR8.15.4Walt Holmer7 (tie)MichiganTad Wieman3–4–12–3NR4.57.8Otto Pommerening9IndianaHarlan Page4–42–4NR6.98.5Chuck Bennett10ChicagoAmos Alonzo Stagg2–70–5NR7.819.7 Key DS = Rankings from Dickinson System. See 1928 college football season PPG = Average of points scored per game PAG = Average of points allowed per game1928 Big Ten Conference Year Summary Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football February 9, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/western/1928.html MVP = Most valuable player as voted by players on each team as part of the voting process to determine the winner of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophyBennett Awarded Tribune's Grid Trophy: Named Big Ten Player of Most Value to Team Chicago Tribune Harvey Woodruff January 6, 1929 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8869690/bennett_awarded_tribunes_grid_trophy/ Regular season Bowl games No Big Ten teams participated in any bowl games during the 1928 season. All-Big Ten players the complete All-Big Ten selections 1928 All-Big Ten Conference football team The following players were picked by the Associated Press (AP), the United Press (UP), and/or Walter Eckersall (WE) as first-team players on the 1928 All-Big Ten Conference football team. PositionNameTeamSelectorsQuarterbackFrederick L. HovdeMinnesotaAP, UP, WEHalfbackChuck BennettIndianaAP, UP, WEHalfbackWillis GlassgowIowaAP, UPHalfbackRalph WelchPurdueWEFullbackWalt HolmerNorthwesternAP, UP, WEEndWes FeslerOhio StateAP, UP, WEEndKen HaycraftMinnesotaAP, UP, WETackleOtto PommereningMichiganAP, UP, WE [guard]TackleAlbert J. NowackIllinoisAP, UP, WEGuardRube WagnerWisconsinAP, UP, WE [tackle]GuardGeorge GibsonMinnesotaAP, UP, WECenterClare RandolphIndianaAP, UPCenterRichard BrownIowaWE All-Americans the complete All-America selections 1928 College Football All-America Team Two Big Ten players were selected as consensus first-team players on the 1928 College Football All-America Team. They were: PositionNameTeamSelectorsEndWes FeslerOhio StateAAB, CO, INS, NEA, UPTackleOtto PommereningMichiganAP, CO, INS, UP Other Big Ten players received first-team honors from at least one selector. They were: PositionNameTeamSelectorsEndKen HaycraftMinnesotaCO, NANATackleAlbert J. NowackIllinoisWCFF, AAB, NANATackleRussell CraneIllinoisCPGuardGeorge GibsonMinnesotaUP, WCFF, AABGuardLeroy WietzIllinoisNANA References