| 1946Wisconsin Badgers football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big Nine Conference |
| Record | 4–5 (2–5 Big Nine) |
| Head coach |
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| MVP | Fred Negus |
| Captain | Clarence Esser |
| Home stadium | Camp Randall Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5Illinois $ | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6Michigan | 5 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20Indiana | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 0 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1946 Wisconsin Badgers football team was anAmerican football team that represented theUniversity of Wisconsin in the1946 Big Nine Conference football season. The team compiled a 4–5 record (2–5 against conference opponents) and finished in eighth place in theBig Nine Conference.Harry Stuhldreher was in his 11th year as Wisconsin's head coach.[1][2] The team averaged 253.1 yards per game of total offense, 179.8 by rushing, and 73.3 by passing.[3]
The team's statistical leaders includedEarl Maves with 538rushing yards, Lisle Blackbourn, Jr., with 175passing yards, Tom Bennett with 124receiving yards, and Ben Bendrick with 30 points scored.[4] CenterFred Negus received the team's most valuable player award.[5] T. A. Cox led the Big Nine with an average of 43.0 yards per punt.[6]Clarence Esser was the teamcaptain.[7]
Earl Maves rushed for 155 yards against Marquette on September 21, 1946.[8] In the same game, he set a Wisconsin school record with an 86-yard touchdown run. That record stood until 1957.[9] Also in the Marquette game, Gene Evans set a school record with three interceptions, a record that stood until 1954.[10] The defense held Marquette to five rushing yards in the game.[11]
On September 28, 1946, Wisconsin set a school record by holding California to 71 yards (24 rushing, 47 passing). That record stood until 2005.[11]
Wisconsin was ranked at No. 29 in the finalLitkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.[12]
The team played its home games atCamp Randall Stadium. During the 1946 season, the average attendance at home games was 45,000.[13]
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 21 | Marquette* | W 34–0 | 45,000 | [14] | ||
| September 28 | atCalifornia* | W 28–7 | 50,000 | [15] | ||
| October 5 | atNorthwestern | L 0–28 | 45,000 | [16] | ||
| October 12 | No. 14Ohio State |
| W 20–7 | 45,000 | [17] | |
| October 19 | atIllinois | No. 20 | L 21–27 | 62,597 | [18] | |
| November 2 | atPurdue | No. 18 | W 24–20 | 32,000 | [19] | |
| November 9 | Iowa | No. 15 |
| L 7–21 | 45,000 | [20] |
| November 16 | at No. 10Michigan | L 6–28 | 63,415 | [21] | ||
| November 23 | Minnesota |
| L 0–6 | 45,000 | [22] | |
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| Week | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Final |
| AP | — | 20т | — | 18 | 15 | — | — | — | — |
The1947 NFL draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Badgers were selected.[23]
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Don Kindt | Defensive back | Chicago Bears |
| 15 | 133 | George Fuchs | Back | Los Angeles Rams |
| 20 | 180 | Clarence Esser | End | Chicago Cardinals |
| 26 | 236 | Earl Maves | Wingback | Detroit Lions |