1983 Wisconsin Badgers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1983 Wisconsin Badgers football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 7–4 5–4 Dave McClain 6th Bill Dudley 4th Pro-style Jim Hilles 6th 3–4 Al Toon Mike Herrington Brian Marrow Randy Wright Camp Randall Stadium The 1983 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1983 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Dave McClain, the Badgers compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 5–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the Big Ten. Wisconsin played home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Schedule 1983 AP September 10 w y Northern Illinois Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 37–9 56,941 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marion-star-badgers-trample-northern/166616011/ The Marion Star Badgers trample Northern Illinois September 11, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com September 17 w y Missouri Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 21–20 65,044 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-wisconsin-wins-as-missouri/166545477/ Star Tribune Wisconsin wins as Missouri try after TD fails September 18, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com September 24 l Michigan 17 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 21–38 77,708 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-u-m-blasts-past-badge/166616141/ Detroit Free Press U-M blasts past Badgers September 25, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 1 w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 49–0 32,180 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-badgers-romp-490/166616227/ The Reporter Badgers romp, 49–0 October 2, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 8 l Illinois 19 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 15–27 78,307 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-mistakes-critical/166612929/ The La Crosse Tribune Mistakes critical for Wisconsin October 9, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 15 w y Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN rivalry 56–17 62,689 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-badgers-pummel-g/166616407/ Wisconsin State Journal Badgers pummel Gophers October 16, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 w y Indiana Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 45–14 78,199 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-badgers-make-belie/166616535/ The La Crosse Tribune Badgers make believers of Indiana October 23, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 29 l y Ohio State 16 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 27–45 89,203 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-buckeyes-byars/166615444/ The Duluth News Tribune Buckeyes, Byars bounce Badgers October 30, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 5 l Iowa 15 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 14–34 78,105 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-badgers-fail-to-impress/166614578/ Sunday News Badgers fail to impress November 6, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 12 w y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 42–38 58,342 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oshkosh-northwestern-wright-leads-uw/166616667/ The Oshkosh Northwestern Wright leads UW in wild finish over Purdue November 13, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 19 w Michigan State Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 32–0 54,204 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-times-reporter-badgers-close-seas/166616759/ Herald-Times-Reporter Badgers close season topping Spartans 32–0 November 20, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries Michigan Week 3: Michigan at Wisconsin Michigan 7 15 10 6 Wisconsin 7 0 0 14 September 24 Madison, WI 77,708 yes 1 11:41 WIS Gary Ellerson 9-yard run (Rohde kick) WIS 7–0 1 1:50 MICH Rick Rogers 2-yard run (Todd Schlopy kick) TIE 7–7 2 MICH Rogers 9-yard run (kick failed) MICH 13–7 2 MICH Bob Bergeron 41-yard field goal MICH 16–7 2 1:13 MICH Sim Nelson 7-yard pass from Steve Smith (Smith run failed) MICH 22–7 3 6:53 MICH Bergeron 37-yard field goal MICH 25–7 3 MICH Dan Rice 5-yard run (Bergeron kick) MICH 32–7 4 12:17 WIS Marck Harrison 2-yard pass from Randy Wright (Rohde kick) MICH 32–14 4 7:35 WIS Mike Jones 32-yard pass from Wright (Rohde kick) MICH 32–21 4 MICH Brian Mercer 11-yard run (kick by Bergeron blocked) MICH 38–21 yes On September 24, 1983, Wisconsin lost to Michigan, 38–21, before a crowd of 77,708 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.U-M outlasts Badger rally Detroit Free Press Joe Lapointe September 25, 1983 1H, 9H https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42470302/um_outlasts_badger_rally/ Newspapers.com At Northwestern Wisconsin 7 14 14 14 Northwestern 0 0 0 0 October 1 Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL Source: yes 1 WIS Harrison 1-yard run (Rohde kick) WIS 7-0 2 WIS Ellerson 8-yard run (Rohde kick) WIS 14-0 2 WIS McFadden 22-yard pass from Wright (Rohde kick) WIS 21-0 3 WIS Armentrout 58-yard run (Rohde kick) WIS 28-0 3 WIS Toon 7-yard pass from Wright (Rohde kick) WIS 35-0 4 WIS Armentrout 7-yard run (Rohde kick) WIS 42-0 4 WIS Emery 15-yard run (Rohde kick) WIS 49-0 yes At Ohio State Wisconsin Badgers white 2; text-align:center collapsed Wisconsin Badgers (5–2) at #16 Ohio State Buckeyes (5–2) October 29, 1983 1:30 p.m. EDT Wisconsin 14 7 6 0 Ohio St 7 21 10 7 Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio 89,203 Clear, 55 F C Jim Kemerling Box Score First quarter WIS – Gary Ellerson 2-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick), 11:34. Wisconsin 7–0. OSU – Thad Jemison 19-yard pass from Mike Tomczak (Rich Spangler kick), 5:25. Tie 7–7. WIS – Thad McFadden 20-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 2:50. Wisconsin 14–7. Second quarter OSU – Mike Tomczak 28-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 13:19. Tie 14–14. OSU – Keith Byars 13-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 7:16. Ohio St 21–14. OSU – Vaughn Broadnax 1-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 2:07. Ohio St 28–14. WIS – Nick Toon 22-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 0:57. Ohio St 28–21. Third quarter WIS – Brett Pearson 7-yard pass from Randy Wright (kick failed), 11:36. Ohio St 28–27. OSU – Rich Spangler 36-yard field goal, 4:41. Ohio St 31–27. OSU – Keith Byars 3-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 1:36. Ohio St 38–27. Fourth quarter OSU – Roman Bates 14-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 12:48. Ohio St 45–27. Top passers WIS – Randy Wright – 23/39, 319 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT OSU – Mike Tomczak – 12/14, 162 yards, TD Top rushers WIS – Joe Armentrout – 10 rushes, 40 yards OSU – Keith Byars – 29 rushes, 174 yards, 2 TD Top receivers WIS – Thad McFadden – 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD OSU – Cedric Anderson – 4 receptions, 70 yards Gainesville Sun. 1983 Oct 30. right Game highlights At Purdue Wisconsin Badgers white 2; text-align:center collapsed Wisconsin Badgers (5–4) at Purdue Boilermakers (2–6–1) November 12, 1983 Wisconsin 7 14 7 14 Purdue 3 20 0 15 Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana 58,342 Gainesville Sun. 1983 Nov 13. Retrieved 2022-Nov-25. First quarter WIS – Gary Ellerson 2-yard run (Kevin Rodhe kick). Wisconsin 7–0. PUR – Tim Clark 20-yard field goal. Wisconsin 7–3. Second quarter WIS – Randy Wright 1-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 14–3. PUR – Cliff Benson 18-yard pass from Scott Campbell (Tim Clark kick). Wisconsin 14–10. PUR – Cliff Benson 1-yard pass from Scott Campbell (Tim Clark kick). Purdue 17–14. WIS – Al Toon 73-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 21–17. PUR – Lloyd Hawthorne 1-yard run (kick failed). Purdue 23–21. Third quarter WIS – Randy Wright 2-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 28–23. Fourth quarter PUR – Bruce King 17-yard run (pass good). Purdue 31–28. WIS – Randy Wright 8-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 35–31. PUR – Lloyd Hawthorne 3-yard run (Tim Clark kick), 2:35. Purdue 38–35. WIS – Brett Pearson 13-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 0:32. Wisconsin 42–35. Top passers WIS – Randy Wright – 16/33, 317 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT PUR – Scott Campbell – 17/30, 181 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Top rushers WIS – Gary Ellerson – 21 rushes, 93 yards, TD PUR – Mel Gray – 24 rushes, 106 yards Top receivers WIS – Al Toon – 8 receptions, 252 yards, TD PUR – Jeff Price – 3 receptions, 66 yards right Game film (no sound) Personnel 1983 Wisconsin Badgers y 23 Fr Joe Armentrout FB y 85 Jr Dave Arneson TE y 75 Jr Kevin Belcher T y 31 Fr Brian Bonner FB Brian Bonner (linebacker) y 32 Jr Kemal Carr FB 72 Jr Jeff Dellenbach OT y 41 Jr Gary Ellerson RB y 24 Fr Larry Emery RB y y 47 Sr Steve Fritz WR 54 Jr David Gaatz C 34 Jr Marck Harrison FB y 7 Fr Mike Howard QB y 4 Jr Michael Jones WR 10 Sr Bob Kobza QB 66 So Bob Landsee G 69 Sr Jim Lick C 20 Jr Thad McFadden Thad McFadden (American football) WR y y 67 Jr David Mielke T 88 Jr Jeff Nault TE y 22 Sr Marvin Neal WR 78 Jr Chris Osswald G y 86 Jr Bret Pearson TE 57 So Bill Schick G y 44 Fr Bobby Taylor RB 87 Jr Al Toon WR y 51 Jr Dan Turk C 12 Sr Randy Wright QB y C 17 So Richard Baxter S y 37 Sr Russ Bellford S 92 Jr Scott Bergold DT y 63 Fr Michael Boykins DT 68 Fr Lance Branaman NT y 55 Jr Russ Fields LB 96 Jr Brad Grabow LB 99 fr Rick Graf LB y 64 Sr Mike Herrington LB C 29 Jr Richard Johnson CB 95 So Tim Jordan LB y 39 Sr Joe Kelich LB 54 Fr Jim Kmet DT y 15 Sr Brian Marrow CB C 33 Jr James Melka LB y y 89 Jr Brad Pierce NT y 28 Jr Art Price LB y 53 Fr Craig Raddatz LB y 52 Fr Michael Reid LB y 62 Fr Kurt Schlicht DT y 60 Jr Darryl Sims DT y I 3 Jr Ken Stills S y 2 Jr Averick Walker S 6 Sr Wendell Gladem K 11 Sr Kevin Rohde K 5 So George Winslow P y *Dave McClain Bill Dudley – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks and Running Backs Jim Hilles – Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Dave Anderson – Outside Linebackers Chuck Heater – Defensive Backs Fred Jackson – Wide Receivers Arnold Jeter – Defensive Line Ron McBride – Offensive Line Tight Side/Tight Ends Mario Russo – Offensive Line Split Side/Special Teams Jerry Fishbain – Recruiting Coordinator 1984 NFL draft Wisconsin Badgers Player Position Round Pick NFL club Randy Wright Quarterback 6 153 Green Bay Packers https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1984.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071221193408/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1984.htm 2007-12-21 1984 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com Pro-Football-Reference.com References Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin Badgers football seasons Wisconsin Badgers football