1952 Wisconsin Badgers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1952 Wisconsin Badgers football 1952 Wisconsin Badgers football team.png 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 10 11 6–3–1 4–1–1 Ivy Williamson 4th Dave Suminski George O'Brien Camp Randall Stadium Big Ten co-champion Rose Bowl L 0–7 vs. USC The 1952 Wisconsin Badgers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wisconsin as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1952 Big Ten season. In their fourth year under head coach Ivy Williamson, the Badgers compiled a 6–3–1 record (4–1–1 in conference games), tied with Purdue for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 228 to 150. It was Wisconsin's first Big Ten championship since 1912. Against ranked opponents during the regular season, the Badgers defeated No. 2 Illinois and lost to No. 8 UCLA. During the week of October 6, after defeating Illinois, Wisconsin was ranked at No. 1 in the AP poll for the first and only time in program history. The Badgers concluded the season with a 7–0 loss to USC in the Rose Bowl. It was the Badgers' first bowl game. They were ranked No. 11 in the final AP poll.1952 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 15, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/1952-schedule.html Tackle Dave Suminski was selected as the team's most valuable player. Suminski and fullback Alan Ameche received first-team honors on the 1952 All-America team. Ameche ranked fourth in the nation with 936 rushing yards. Sophomore quarterback Jim Haluska ranked among the country's leading passers with 1,410 passing yards and a 56.3% completion percentage. Wisconsin played its home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Schedule 1952 AP September 27 w y 7 Marquette Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 42–19 51,303 51,000 See Wisconsin Win: Defense Play May Give Ivy Cause for Worry; Opponents' Ground Game Rolls Up 169 Yards on Badgers Wisconsin State Journal Henry J. McCormick September 28, 1952 1 (main), 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-51000-see-wisco/179008858/ Newspapers.com October 4 w 8 Illinois 2 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 20–6 52,071 Badgers' 20-6 Win Justifies Most Ardent Hopes: Many Share Honors in Defeat of Illinois Wisconsin State Journal Henry J. McCormic October 5, 1942 1, 4 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-badgers-20-6-wi/179009134/ Newspapers.com October 11 l y 1 Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 14–23 80,345 Ohio Beats Favored Wisconsin, 23-14: Bucks Ruin Bowl Hopes of Badgers; Cassady and Bruney Spark Victory Before 80,345 in Columbus The Plain Dealer John Dietrich October 12, 1952 1A, 8C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-ohio-beats-favored-wisc/179015964/ Newspapers.com October 18 w y 12 Iowa Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA rivalry 42–13 45,050 As Usual, Iowa State, Iowa Bow: Worst Jolt of Year for Hawks, 42-13; Lose Ball to Badgers Eight Times The Des Moines Register Bert McGrane October 19, 1952 1, 5 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-as-usual-iowa-s/179011019/ Newspapers.com October 25 l y 10 UCLA 8 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 7–20 52,131 Passes Boomerang, Lead to 20-7 Badger Loss: UCLA Cashes in on Errors Wisconsin State Journal Henry J. McCormick October 26, 1952 1, 4 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-passes-boomerang/179018042/ Newspapers.com November 1 w y y 18 Rice Rice Stadium Houston, TX 21–7 36,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-wisconsin-led-by-jim-ha/168450798/ Chicago Tribune Wisconsin, led by Jim Haluska, beats Rice, 21–7 November 2, 1952 March 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 w y 18 Northwestern Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 24–20 52,131 Wisconsin Stays in Title Race on 24-20 Victory: Wildcats Keep Close on Fumbles, Penalties Wisconsin State Journal Henry J. McCormick November 9, 1952 1, 5 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-wisconsin-stays/179018683/ Newspapers.com November 15 w y 15 Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN 37–14 22,000 Indiana Routed By Wisconsin: Alan Amehe Runs Wild Over Hoosier Tacklers In 37-14 Badger Win The Terre Haute Tribune Dale Burgess November 16, 1952 49, 54 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-terre-haute-tribune-indiana-routed-b/179011763/ Newspapers.com November 22 t 13 Minnesota Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 21–21 52,131 Badgers, Purdue Share Big 10 Title; Both 'Sweating Out' Rose Bowl Bid; Wisconsin, Gophers Battle to 21-21 Tie Wisconsin State Journal George Rodgerson November 23, 1952 1, 2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-badgers-purdue/179010704/ Newspapers.com January 1, 1953 l y y 11 USC 5 Rose Bowl Stadium Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl 0–7 101,500 Trojan Horse in Winner's Circle, 7-0: SC Finally Halts Big 10 Win Streak; Jubilant Troy Rooters Tear Down Goal Posts After Rugged Victory Los Angeles Times Braven Dyer January 2, 1953 1, 2 (part 4) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-trojan-horse-in-wi/179010154/ Newspapers.com Game summaries Marquette Marquette at Wisconsin Marquette 6 0 7 6 Wisconsin 7 21 14 0 September 27 Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI 51,303 On September 27, Wisconsin opened its season with a 42–19 victory over Marquette before a crowd of 51,303 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Sophomore Jim Haluska, in his first college game, completed 14 of 21 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns to set a new Wisconsin single-game record.On defense, the Badgers gave up 169 rushing yards and 109 passing yards. Illinois Illinois at Wisconsin Illinois 0 0 0 6 Wisconsin 6 0 7 7 October 4 Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI 52,071 ON October 4, Wisconsin updet No. 2 Illinois, the defending Big Ten champion, 20–6, before a crowd of 52,071, the largest ever to attend a football game up to that point at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin dominated that game, tallying 334 rushing yards while holding the Illini to only 60 rushing yards. The Badgers also had a 100-67 edge in passing yardage. Alan Ameche was the game's leading rusher with 116 yards on 32 carries. Harland "The Jet" Carl added 113 rushing yards on 13 carries, an average of 7.2 yards per carry. Quarterback Jim Haluska completed only six of 14 passes for 100 yards with two interceptions. Ohio State Wisconsin at Ohio State Wisconsin 0 7 0 7 Ohio State 6 0 7 10 October 11 Ohio Stadium, Columbus, WI 80,345 On October 11, the Badgers lost to Ohio State, 23–14, before a crowd of 80,345 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Buckeye freshman Howard "Hopalong" Cassady "sped for sensational long gains that shredded the vaunted Badger defense." Wisconsin had been a heavy favorite, and after the game, fans swarmed the field and carried second-year Ohio coach Woody Hayes on their shoulders to the locker room.John Dietrich of The Plain Dealer wrote that the game established Hayes as "one of the great coaches of the nation" and called it "the greatest football game ever played by an Ohio team." Iowa Wisconsin at Iowa Wisconsin 7 10 13 12 Iowa 7 0 0 6 October 18 Iowa Stadium, Iowa City, IA 45,050 On October 18, Wisconsin defeated rival Iowa, 42–13, before a crowd of 45,050 at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Early in the game, Iowa's Bernie Bennett returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown. Iowa then tallied six touchdowns, aided by eight turnovers – six interceptions and two fumbles. Iowa was held to 23 rushing yards. On the first punt of his college career, Wisconsin captain George O'Brien set a Big Ten record with a 96-yard kick that rolled dead on Iowa's three-yard line. UCLA UCLA at Wisconsin UCLA 0 7 0 13 Wisconsin 0 0 7 0 October 25 Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI 52,131 October 25, Wisconsin, ranked No. 10 in the AP poll, lost, to No. 8 UCLA, 20–7, before a crowd of 52,131 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. It was Wisconsin's first home loss since 1949. Wisconsin's offense was stymied throughout the game by a tough UCLA defense. The Badgers tallied only 48 net rushing yards and were forced to rely on passing. Jim Haluska threw a school record 38 passes, completing 18 with five interceptions. Two fourth-quarter interceptions turned the game in UCLA's favor. Pete Dailey's interception of Haluska gave the Bruins the ball at the Wisconsin 25-yard line, and the Bruins scored the go-ahead touchdown on a five-yard pass from Paul Cameron to Bill Stits. UCLA sealed the game when Stits intercepted Haluska and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. Rice Wisconsin at Rice Wisconsin 0 14 7 0 Rice 0 0 0 7 November 1 Rice Stadium, Houston, TX 36,000 On November 1, Wisconsin defeated Rice, 21–7, before a crowd of 36,000 at Rice Stadium in Houston. Quarterback Jim Haluska threw for 139 yards and was responsible for all three touchdowns, passing for two and running a quarterback sneak for the third. Alan Ameche rushed for 116 yards on 23 carries. Northwestern Northwestern at Wisconsin Northwestern 7 0 7 6 Wisconsin 7 14 0 3 November 8 Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI 52,131 On November 8, Wisconsin defeated Northwestern, 24–20, before a homecoming crowd of 52,131 at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin held a 21–7 lead at halftime. Northwestern added a touchdown in the third quarter, and the Badgers extended their lead with a field goal early in the fourth quarter. Northwestern scored its final touchdown with 3:15 remaining. With less than a minute remaining, Alan Ameche fumbled, and Northwestern recovered, but the Badger defense held. Wisconsin tallied 419 yards (293 rushing, 126 passing) and held Northwetern to 244 yards (114 rushing, 130 passing). Ameche finished the game with 159 rushing yards on 21 carries. Indiana Wisconsin at Indiana Wisconsin 13 3 7 14 Indiana 0 0 14 0 November 15 Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN 22,000 On November 15, Wisconsin defeated Indiana, 37–14, before a crowd of 25,000 on a warm "Indian summer" afternoon in Bloomington, Indiana. The Badgers gained 279 rushing yards, including 162 yards and three touchdowns by Alan Ameche on 20 carries. Jim Haluska completed 11 of 18 passes for 166 yards. Minnesota Minnesota at Wisconsin Minnesota 7 7 0 7 Wisconsin 7 7 7 0 November 22 Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI 52,131 On November 22, Wisconsin and rival Minnesota played to a 21–21 tie before a crowd of 52,131 at Camp Randall Stadium. In the last 65 seconds, the ball changed hands four times (including two interceptions thrown by Jim Haluska and one thrown by Paul Giel) as each team tried to break the tie. Giel starred for the Gophers, scoring one rushing touchdown and passing for two. Giel had 252 combined rushing and passing yards. For the Badgers, Alan Ameche rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns.Wild Finish Steals Show -- Badgers Tie Gophers, 21-21, to Share Big 10 Title; Ball Traded Four Times in Last 65 Seconds of Play Wisconsin State Journal Henry J. McCormick November 23, 1952 1, 2 (Section 3) https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-wild-finish-stea/179118365/ Newspapers.com The outcome left Wisconsin in a tie with Purdue for the Big Ten title, the Badgers' first conference football championship since 1912. One day after the game, the Big Ten athletic directors voted to send Wisconsin, rather than Purdue, to the Rose Bowl game as the conference's representative.Wisconsin Gets Rose Bowl Bid The Capital Times Harry M. Golden November 24, 1952 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-wisconsin-gets-rose-bo/179118703/ Newspapers.com USC—Rose Bowl 1953 Rose Bowl Wisconsin at USC Wisconsin 0 0 0 0 USC 0 0 7 0 January 1, 1953 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA 101,500 On January 1, 1953, Wisconsin lost to USC, 7–0, before a crowd of 101,500 in the 1953 Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California. Wisconsin's loss broke a six-year Big Ten winning streak in the Rose Bowl dating back to the 1947 Rose Bowl. USC scored the game's only points in the third quarter on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Rudy Bukich to Al Carmichael. For the Badgers, Alan Ameche tallied 133 rushing yards on 28 carries, and Jim Haluska completed 11 of 26 passes for 142 yards. The Badgers out-gained the Trojans by a total of 353 yards to 233 yards. Personnel Players 35em Alan Ameche, fullback, Kenosha, WI Erv Andrykoski, offensive end, Milwaukee Charlie Berndt, offensive tackle, Wausau, WI Roy Burks, defensive halfback, Louisville, KY Tom Canny, halfback, junior, Chicago Harland Carl, left halfback, Greenwood, WI Jim Craine, center, senior, Watertown, WI Mike Cwayna, center, junior John Dixon, linebacker, junior, Wisconsin Dells, WI Roger Dornburg, back, Naperville, IL Terry Durkin, guard, senior, Madison, WI Norb Esser, offensive end Windy Gulseth, linebacker, Madison, WI Burt Hable, safety, Bloomer, WI Jim Haluska, quarterback, Racine, WI Mark Hoegh, tackle, junior, Kaukauna, WI Bill Hutchinson, left halfback, Chicago Bob Kennedy, guard, Rhinelander, WI Carl Martin, defensive tackle, Highland Park, IL George O'Brien, captain and guard, Park Ridge, IL Kent Peters, end, senior, Ellyn, IL Art Prchlik, offensive tackle, Cleveland, OH Paul Shwaiko, defensive halfback, Kenosha, WI George Simkowski, center, senior, Chicago George Steinmetz, offensive guard, Madison, WI Clarence Stensby, guard, sophomore, Chicago Dave Suminski, tackle, senior, 198 pounds, Ashland, WI Jim Temp, end, sophomore, LaCrosse, WI Don Ursin, tackle, sophomore, Chicago Gust Vergetis, quarterback, Milwaukee Don Voss, defensive end, Milwaukee Hugo Wimmer, defensive end, senior, Sheboygan, WI Jerry Witt, right halfback, Marshfield, WI Jerry Wuhrman, Milwaukee 1953 Wisconsin Badger (yearbook), pp. 192-200. Coaching staff and administration thumb|right|225px|1952 Wisconsin coaching staff. Kneeling: Fred E. Marsh, Ivy Williamson, Bob Odell. Standing: George Lamphear, Paul R. Shaw, Milt Bruhn Head coach: Ivy Williamson Assistant coaches Bob Odell, backfield coach1953 Wisconsin Badger, p. 191. Milt Bruhn, line coach Paul R. Shaw, end coach Fred E. Marsh, junior varsity coach and head scout George Lamphear, freshman football coach Athletic director: Guy Sundt1953 Wisconsin Badger, p. 190. Statistics In nine regular-season games, Wisconsin's statistical leaders included: Alan Ameche gained 946 rushing yard on 205 carries. He ranked fourth nationally in rushing yardage.Ameche Fourth In Lugging Ball Wausau Daily Record November 26, 1952 20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-ameche-fourth/178992766/ Newspapers.com Quarterback Jim Haluska completed 112 of 199 passes (56.3%) for 1,410 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. Haluska set Wisconsin single-season records for pass completions, pass attempts, touchdown passes, and passing yardage. He also set a Wisconsin single-game record with 237 yards against Marquette.11 Records By Badgers This Season Wausau Daily Record November 26, 1952 20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-11-records/178993083/ Newspapers.com Four Wisconsin players received first-team honors from the AP or United Press (UP) on the 1952 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Suminski (AP); Ameche (AP/UP); offensive guard George O'Brien (UP); and defensive guard Bob Kennedy (AP/UP).3 Badgers on AP All Big Ten Team The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin November 24, 1952 19 https://www.newspapers.com/image/44342417/?terms=%22all-big%2B10%22Michigan, Badgers Each Land Trio On All-Big Ten Squad Ed Sainsbury Nevada State Journal November 26, 1952 11 https://www.newspapers.com/image/79197125/?terms=%22all-big%2B10%22 O'Brien was the team captain. Wisconsin Football Fact Book https://uwbadgers.com/documents/2021/9/4/2021_FB_FactBook.pdf Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System 138, 143 December 29, 2021 Awards and honors Tackle Dave Suminski was selected as the team's most valuable player and was selected by the Associated Press (AP) as a first-team player on the 1952 All-America team.Ted Smits, " Michigan State and Tech Pace All=American," Florence Times-Daily, p. 8 (December 5, 1952). Retrieved March 21, 2010. Back Alan Ameche received first-team All-America honors from the Central Press.All Sections of US Represented on C-P All-American Walter L. Johns Herald-Journal December 2, 1952 11 https://books.google.com/books?id=5mUsAAAAIBAJ&dq=All-Southwest+football+team&pg=PA6&article_id=7192,3773125 Four Wisconsin players received first-team honors from the AP or United Press (UP) on the 1952 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Suminski (AP); Ameche (AP/UP); offensive guard George O'Brien (UP); and defensive guard Bob Kennedy (AP/UP).3 Badgers on AP All Big Ten Team The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin November 24, 1952 19 https://www.newspapers.com/image/44342417/?terms=%22all-big%2B10%22Michigan, Badgers Each Land Trio On All-Big Ten Squad Ed Sainsbury Nevada State Journal November 26, 1952 11 https://www.newspapers.com/image/79197125/?terms=%22all-big%2B10%22 O'Brien was the team captain. Wisconsin Football Fact Book https://uwbadgers.com/documents/2021/9/4/2021_FB_FactBook.pdf Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System 138, 143 December 29, 2021 Wisconsin players in the NFL draft Wisconsin Badgers Player Position Draft Year Round Pick NFL club Bob Kennedy Back 1953 6 67 Green Bay Packers Charley Berndt Tackle 1953 10 111 Chicago Cardinals Harland Carl Back 1953 14 161 Chicago Bears Dave Suminski Tackle 1953 15 171 Washington Redskins Jim Haluska Back 1954 30 354 Chicago Bears Alan Ameche Back 1955 1 3 Baltimore Colts References Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin Badgers football seasons Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Wisconsin Badgers football