The 1975 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 1975 Big Ten season. In their sixth year under head coach John Jardine, the Badgers compiled a 4–6–1 record (3–4–1 in conference games), finished in sixth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 269 to 174.[1][2]
The Badgers gained an average of 86.4 passing yards and 223.6 rushing yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 65.2 passing yards and 317.3 rushing yards per game.[3] The team's individual statistical leaders included: quarterback Mike Carroll (708 passing yards); running back Billy Marek (1,281 rushing yards); and wide receiver Ray Bailey (18 receptions for 223 yards).[3]
Bohlig and Mark Zakula were the team captains.[4] Bohlig was selected as the team's most valuable player.[5] Five Wisconsin players received first- or second-team All-Big Ten honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press International (UPI): Marek at running back (AP-1, UPI-1); Dennis Lick at offensive tackle (AP-1, UPI-1); Jack Novak at end/receiver (AP-2, UPI-1); Terry Stieve at offensive guard (AP-2, UPI-2); and Rick Jakious at linebacker (AP-2).[6][7][8]
The Badgers played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 13 | No. 2 Michigan | | L 6–23 | 79,022 | [9] |
| September 20 | South Dakota* | - Camp Randall Stadium
- Madison, WI
| W 48–7 | 65,566 | [10][11] |
| September 27 | at No. 5 Missouri* | | L 21–27 | 62,222 | |
| October 4 | Kansas* | - Camp Randall Stadium
- Madison, WI
| L 7–41 | 76,097 | |
| October 11 | at Purdue | | W 17–14 | 62,406 | |
| October 18 | at No. 1 Ohio State | | L 0–56 | 87,820 | |
| October 25 | Northwestern | - Camp Randall Stadium
- Madison, WI
| W 17–14 | 78,902 | |
| November 1 | Illinois | - Camp Randall Stadium
- Madison, WI
| W 18–9 | 78,868 | |
| November 8 | at Iowa | | L 28–45 | 54,650 | |
| November 15 | Indiana | - Camp Randall Stadium
- Madison, WI
| T 9–9 | 65,317 | |
| November 22 | at Minnesota | | L 3–24 | 37,578 | |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
Game summaries
Northwestern
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern |
7 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
14 |
| • Wisconsin |
3 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
17 |
Scoring summary |
| 1 | | NW | Boykin 1 yard run (Mirkopulos kick) | NW 7-0 |
|
| 1 | | WIS | La Bun 50 yard field goal | NW 7-3 |
|
| 2 | | WIS | Billy Marek 1 yard run (Lamla kick) | WIS 10-7 |
|
| 2 | | NW | Yelvington 5 yard pass from Dean (Mirkopulos kick) | NW 14-10 |
|
| 3 | | WIS | Billy Marek 54 yard run (Lamla kick) | WIS 17-14 |
Billy Marek became the 30th player in NCAA history to rush for over 3,000 yards in a career.[12]
Roster
| 1975 Wisconsin Badgers football team roster
|
| Players
|
Coaches
|
| Offense
|
Defense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| DT
|
75
|
Dave Anderson
|
Sr
|
| DT
|
79
|
Bill Brandt
|
Sr
|
| DE
|
82
|
Mike Burt
|
Fr
|
| S
|
41
|
Rick Christian
|
Jr
|
| DE
|
7
|
Pat Collins
|
Jr
|
| DT
|
55
|
Dave Cotteau
|
Jr
|
| LB
|
14
|
Dave Crossen
|
Fr
|
| S
|
22
|
Terry Cunningham
|
Jr
|
| DT
|
57
|
Bob Czechowicz
|
So
|
| MG
|
94
|
Tom Czechowicz
|
Jr
|
| DB
|
23
|
Ken Dixon
|
Fr
|
| DB
|
4
|
Bill Drummond
|
Sr
|
| S
|
21
|
Scott Erdmann
|
Fr
|
| LB
|
49
|
Jim Franz
|
Sr
|
| CB
|
8
|
Greg Gordon
|
Fr
|
| MG
|
54
|
Mike Grice
|
So
|
| CB
|
37
|
Lawrence Johnson
|
Fr
|
| DB
|
28
|
Rex Jones
|
Sr
|
| LB
|
43
|
Mike Kelly
|
Jr
|
| LB
|
37
|
Gary Little
|
So
|
| S
|
25
|
Rich Lucas
|
Sr
|
| CB
|
12
|
Greg Lewis
|
Sr
|
| CB
|
5
|
Tim McConnell
|
Jr
|
| DT
|
62
|
Andy Michuda
|
Jr
|
| DT
|
76
|
John Rasmussen
|
Jr
|
| CB
|
8
|
Ken Simmons
|
Sr
|
| LB
|
47
|
Scott Sklare
|
Jr
|
| DE
|
35
|
Dennis Stejskal
|
So
|
| CB
|
6
|
Steve Wagner (C)
|
Sr
|
| LB
|
50
|
John Zimmerman
|
Sr
|
|
Special teams
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| K
|
1
|
Vladimir LaBun
|
Sr
|
| K
|
2
|
Vince Lamia
|
Jr
|
| P
|
3
|
Dick Milaeger
|
So
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Lew Stueck – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
- Gary Blackney – Defensive Backs
- George Chryst – Offensive Line
- Bob Lee – Wide Receivers
- Charlie McBride – Offensive Line
- Bob Spoo – Quarterbacks
- Mike Stock – Running Backs
- Dick Teteak – Defensive Line
- LaVern Van Dyke – Administrative Assistant
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
|
1976 NFL draft
[13]
References
- ^ "1975 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results". SR/College Footbal. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ "Wisconsin Football 2020 Fact Book". University of Wisconsin. p. 184. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ a b "1975 Wisconsin Badgers Stats". SR/College Footbal. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ Wisconsin Football 2020 Fact Book, p. 145.
- ^ Wisconsin Football 2020 Fact Book, p. 140.
- ^ "All-Big Ten selections". The Daily Northwestern. November 26, 1974. p. 13.
- ^ "Buckeyes Dominate All-Big Ten Team". Ludington Daily News (UPI story). November 27, 1974. p. 6.
- ^ Ed Sainsbury (November 27, 1974). "Many Buckeyes on all Big Ten". The Bryan Times (UPI story). p. 9.
- ^ Curt Sylvester (September 15, 1975). "U-M Chills Badgers, 23-6". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1E, 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Butler, Tom (September 21, 1975). "UW pours it on Coyotes". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 25. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Butler, Tom (September 21, 1975). "Marek gets three in UW spree (continued)". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 27. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1975 Oct 26.
- ^ "1976 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
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