1956 Wisconsin Badgers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1956 Wisconsin Badgers football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 1–5–3 0–4–3 Milt Bruhn 1st Dave Howard Pat Levenhagen Camp Randall Stadium The 1956 Wisconsin Badgers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1956 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first season under head coach Milt Bruhn, the Badgers compiled an overall record of 1–5–3 record with a mark of 0–4–3 in conference play, placing ninth in the Big Ten. The team's statistical leaders included Richard Simonson with 219 passing yards, Danny Lewis with 554 rushing yards, and Dave Howard with 247 receiving yards.1956 Wisconsin Badgers Stats Sports Reference LLC January 13, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/1956.html Dave Howard was selected as the team's most valuable player. thumb|250px|According to the UW yearbook, 1956 was the first year for female cheerleaders at a football game ("Dad's Day", versus Purdue) Schedule 1956 AP September 29 w y Marquette Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 41–0 52,700 October 6 l y USC 10 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 6–13 52,979 October 13 l y Iowa Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA rivalry 7–13 53,273 October 20 t Purdue 17 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 6–6 53,044 October 27 l y Ohio State 9 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 0–21 82,661 November 3 l y Michigan State 4 Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI 0–33 53,647 November 10 l y Northwestern Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 7–17 54,645 November 17 t y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 13–13 52,858 November 24 t Minnesota 7 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 13–13 54,149 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin Wisconsin Badgers Index sports-reference.com 2011-07-28 Preseason In December 1955, Wisconsin head coach Ivy Williamson was promoted to athletic director. He appointed Milt Bruhn as the school's new head football coach. Bruhn had been a lineman on Minnesota's undefeated 1934 and 1935 national championship teams and had been Wisconsin's line coach since 1949.Bruhn Takes Over Badger Reins On First Day Of '56 The Sheboygan (Wis.) Press December 29, 1955 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8298513/bruhn_takes_over_badger_reins_on_first/ Newspapers.com Game summaries On September 29, 1956, Wisconsin defeated Marquette, 41–0, before a crowd of 52,700 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin totaled 441 rushing yards to 43 for Marquette.Badgers Romp To 41–0 Victory Chicago Tribune Charles Bartlett September 30, 1956 2–1, 2–5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8295206/badgers_romp_to_410_victory/ Newspapers.com On October 6, USC defeated Wisconsin, 13–6, before a crowd of 52,979 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. USC's All-American halfback Jon Arnett rushed for 182 yards on 25 carries.Trojans Defeat Badgers; Jon Arnett Paces So. California 13–6 Triumph Chicago Tribune Robert Cromie October 7, 1956 2–1, 2–8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8296428/trojans_defeat_badgers_jon_arnett/ Newspapers.com On October 13, Iowa defeated Wisconsin, 13–7, before a crowd of 53,273 at Iowa Stadium. With only a minute remaining in the first half, Iowa drove 84 yards, running eight plays in 59 seconds and scoring on a pitchout from Ken Ploen to Mike Hagler. Iowa scored again on the first drive of the second half on a short run by Ploen, taking a 13–0 lead.Iowa Wins Again in 13–7 Thriller The Des Moines Register Bert McGrane October 14, 1956 1S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8308861/iowa_wins_again_in_137_thriller/ Newspapers.com On October 20, Purdue and Wisconsin played to a 6–6 tie before a Dad's Day crowd of 53,094 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Danny Lewis ran 30 yards for a Wisconsin touchdown in the first quarter, and Len Dawson threw a touchdown pass to Lamar Lundy in the second quarter. Neither team converted its extra point.Badgers, Purdue Miss Kick, Tie, 6–6: 8 Fumbles Mar Peculiar Game Chicago Tribune Charles Bartlett October 21, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8322889/badgers_purdue_miss_kick_tie_66_8/ On October 27, Ohio State defeated Wisconsin, 21–0, before a crowd of 82,661 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. The victory was Ohio State's 16th in a row against a Big Ten opponent, tying a conference opponent.Buckeyes Beat Badgers, 21–0 Chicago Tribune David Condon October 28, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8305977/buckeyes_beat_badgers_210/ Newspapers.com On November 3, Michigan State (ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll) defeated Wisconsin, 33–0, before a crowd of 53,647 at Macklin Stadium in East Lansing. Michigan State totaled 352 rushing yards and 168 passing yards. The result was Wisconsin's worst defeat since 1949.MSU Gets Back in Swing By Blasting Badgers, 33–0 Detroit Free Press Hal Middlesworth November 4, 1956 1D, 6D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8307585/msu_gets_back_in_swing_by_blasting/ Newspapers.com On November 10, Northwestern defeated Wisconsin, 17–7, before a homecoming crowd of 54,645 spectators at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. The attendance was the highest in the history of Camp Randall Stadium to that point. Northwestern's first touchdown of the game was scored by center Ted Ringer when he recovered a loose ball in the end zone following a fumble by teammate Wilmer Fowler. The outcome was Northwestern's first conference victory under Ara Parseghian.N.U. Wins, 17–7! Record 54,645 See Wildcats Claw Badgers Chicago Tribune Howard Barry November 11, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8301285/nu_wins_177_record_54645_see/ Newspapers.com On November 17, Illinois and Wisconsin played to a 13–13 tie before a crowd of 52,858 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Illinois led 13–6 at halftime. With slightly more than three minutes left in the game, Wisconsin end Sidney Williams threw a 34-yard pass to Danny Lewis on the nine-yard line, setting up a touchdown run on the next play. Williams' pass was his first of the season.Williams' First Pass of Season Sparks Wisconsin to 13 to 13 Tie with Illinois Chicago Tribune Maurice Shevlin November 18, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8297841/williams_first_pass_of_season_sparks/ Newspapers.com On November 24, in the annual battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe, Minnesota (ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll) and Wisconsin played to a 13–13 tie before a crowd of 54,149 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. On the final play of the game, Wisconsin's Jon Hobbs missed his third field goal attempt of the game. Wisconsin finished the season without a conference win for the first time since 1939.Badgers Gain Late 13–13 Tie with Gophers Chicago Tribune Edward Prell November 25, 1956 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8297134/badgers_gain_late_1313_tie_with_gophers/ Newspapers.com 1957 NFL draft The following Wisconsin players were selected in the 1957 NFL draft:1957 NFL Draft: Full Draft National Football League NFL.com January 4, 2017 http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1957 Wisconsin Badgers Player Position Round Pick NFL club Glenn Bestor Back 12 145 Green Bay Packers Marty Booher Tackle 27 316 Green Bay Packers References Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin Badgers football seasons Wisconsin Badgers football