1983 Wisconsin Badgers football team

1983 Wisconsin Badgers football
1983 Wisconsin Badgers football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	7–4 (5–4 Big Ten)
Head coach	Dave McClain (6th season);
Offensive coordinator	Bill Dudley (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Jim Hilles (6th season)
Base defense	3–4
MVP	Al Toon
Captains	Mike Herrington; Brian Marrow; Randy Wright;
Home stadium	Camp Randall Stadium
	Seasons ← 1982 1984 →

1983 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e	Conf.					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 10 Illinois $	9	–	0	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
No. 8 Michigan	8	–	1	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
No. 14 Iowa	7	–	2	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
No. 9 Ohio State	6	–	3	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
Wisconsin	5	–	4	–	0	7	–	4	–	0
Purdue	3	–	5	–	1	3	–	7	–	1
Michigan State	2	–	6	–	1	4	–	6	–	1
Indiana	2	–	7	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
Northwestern	2	–	7	–	0	2	–	9	–	0
Minnesota	0	–	9	–	0	1	–	10	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

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

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 10	Northern Illinois*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 37–9	56,941	^[1]
September 17	Missouri*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 21–20	65,044	^[2]
September 24	No. 17 Michigan	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 21–38	77,708	^[3]
October 1	at Northwestern	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL	W 49–0	32,180	^[4]
October 8	No. 19 Illinois	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 15–27	78,307	^[5]
October 15	at Minnesota	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)	W 56–17	62,689	^[6]
October 22	Indiana	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 45–14	78,199	^[7]
October 29	at No. 16 Ohio State	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	L 27–45	89,203	^[8]
November 5	No. 15 Iowa	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry)	L 14–34	78,105	^[9]
November 12	at Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	W 42–38	58,342	^[10]
November 19	Michigan State	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 32–0	54,204	^[11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Michigan

Week 3: Michigan at Wisconsin

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Michigan	7	15	10	6	38
Wisconsin	7	0	0	14	21

Date: September 24
Location: Madison, WI
Game attendance: 77,708

On September 24, 1983, Wisconsin lost to Michigan, 38–21, before a crowd of 77,708 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.^[12]

At Northwestern

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Wisconsin	7	14	14	14	49
Northwestern	0	0	0	0	0

Date: October 1
Location: Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL

Source: [1]

At Ohio State

Wisconsin Badgers (5–2) at #16 Ohio State Buckeyes (5–2)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wisconsin	14	7	6	0	27
Ohio St	7	21	10	7	45

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Date: October 29, 1983
Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Clear, 55 °F (13 °C)
Game attendance: 89,203
Referee: Jim Kemerling
Box Score

Game information

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

^[13]

External videos
Game highlights

At Purdue

Wisconsin Badgers (5–4) at Purdue Boilermakers (2–6–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wisconsin	7	14	7	14	42
Purdue	3	20	0	15	38

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

Date: November 12, 1983
Game attendance: 58,342
^[14]

Game information

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

External videos
Game film (no sound)

Personnel

1983 Wisconsin Badgers football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
FB	`23`	Joe Armentrout	Fr
TE	`85`	Dave Arneson	Jr
OT	`75`	Kevin Belcher	Jr
FB	`31`	Brian Bonner	Fr
FB	`32`	Kemal Carr	Jr
OT	`72`	Jeff Dellenbach	Jr
RB	`41`	Gary Ellerson	Jr
RB	`24`	Larry Emery	Fr
WR	`47`	Steve Fritz	Sr
C	`54`	David Gaatz	Jr
FB	`34`	Marck Harrison	Jr
QB	`7`	Mike Howard	Fr
WR	`4`	Michael Jones	Jr
QB	`10`	Bob Kobza	Sr
G	`66`	Bob Landsee	So
C	`69`	Jim Lick	Sr
WR	`20`	Thad McFadden	Jr
OT	`67`	David Mielke	Jr
TE	`88`	Jeff Nault	Jr
WR	`22`	Marvin Neal	Sr
G	`78`	Chris Osswald	Jr
TE	`86`	Bret Pearson	Jr
G	`57`	Bill Schick	So
RB	`44`	Bobby Taylor	Fr
WR	`87`	Al Toon	Jr
C	`51`	Dan Turk	Jr
QB	`12`	Randy Wright (C)	Sr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
S	`17`	Richard Baxter	So
S	`37`	Russ Bellford	Sr
DT	`92`	Scott Bergold	Jr
DT	`63`	Michael Boykins	Fr
NT	`68`	Lance Branaman	Fr
LB	`55`	Russ Fields	Jr
LB	`96`	Brad Grabow	Jr
LB	`99`	Rick Graf	Fr
LB	`64`	Mike Herrington (C)	Sr
CB	`29`	Richard Johnson	Jr
LB	`95`	Tim Jordan	So
LB	`39`	Joe Kelich	Sr
DT	`54`	Jim Kmet	Fr
CB	`15`	Brian Marrow (C)	Sr
LB	`33`	James Melka	Jr
NT	`89`	Brad Pierce	Jr
LB	`28`	Art Price	Jr
LB	`53`	Craig Raddatz	Fr
LB	`52`	Michael Reid	Fr
DT	`62`	Kurt Schlicht	Fr
DT	`60`	Darryl Sims (I)	Jr
S	`3`	Ken Stills	Jr
S	`2`	Averick Walker	Jr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`6`	Wendell Gladem	Sr
K	`11`	Kevin Rohde	Sr
P	`5`	George Winslow	So

Head coach

Dave McClain

Coordinators/assistant coaches

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

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

1984 NFL draft

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
Randy Wright	Quarterback	6	153	Green Bay Packers

^[15]

References

^ "Badgers trample Northern Illinois". The Marion Star. September 11, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Wisconsin wins as Missouri try after TD fails". Star Tribune. September 18, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "U-M blasts past Badgers". Detroit Free Press. September 25, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Badgers romp, 49–0". The Reporter. October 2, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Mistakes critical for Wisconsin". The La Crosse Tribune. October 9, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Badgers pummel Gophers". Wisconsin State Journal. October 16, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Badgers make believers of Indiana". The La Crosse Tribune. October 23, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Buckeyes, Byars bounce Badgers". The Duluth News Tribune. October 30, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Badgers fail to impress". Sunday News. November 6, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Wright leads UW in wild finish over Purdue". The Oshkosh Northwestern. November 13, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Badgers close season topping Spartans 32–0". Herald-Times-Reporter. November 20, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Joe Lapointe (September 25, 1983). "U-M outlasts Badger rally". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 9H – via Newspapers.com.
^ Gainesville Sun. 1983 Oct 30.
^ Gainesville Sun. 1983 Nov 13. Retrieved 2022-Nov-25.
^ "1984 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.

[1] "Badgers trample Northern Illinois". The Marion Star. September 11, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[2] "Wisconsin wins as Missouri try after TD fails". Star Tribune. September 18, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "U-M blasts past Badgers". Detroit Free Press. September 25, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Badgers romp, 49–0". The Reporter. October 2, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] "Mistakes critical for Wisconsin". The La Crosse Tribune. October 9, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] "Badgers pummel Gophers". Wisconsin State Journal. October 16, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] "Badgers make believers of Indiana". The La Crosse Tribune. October 23, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] "Buckeyes, Byars bounce Badgers". The Duluth News Tribune. October 30, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] "Badgers fail to impress". Sunday News. November 6, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[10] "Wright leads UW in wild finish over Purdue". The Oshkosh Northwestern. November 13, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[11] "Badgers close season topping Spartans 32–0". Herald-Times-Reporter. November 20, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] Joe Lapointe (September 25, 1983). "U-M outlasts Badger rally". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 9H – via Newspapers.com.

[13] Gainesville Sun. 1983 Oct 30.

[14] Gainesville Sun. 1983 Nov 13. Retrieved 2022-Nov-25.

[15] "1984 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.

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v t e Wisconsin Badgers football
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