1952 Wisconsin Badgers football team

1952 Wisconsin Badgers football
Big Ten co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 0–7 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 10
APNo. 11
Record6–3–1 (4–1–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPDave Suminski
CaptainGeorge O'Brien
Home stadiumCamp Randall Stadium
1952 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 11 + 4 – 1 – 1 6 – 3 – 1
No. 18 Purdue + 4 – 1 – 1 4 – 3 – 2
No. 17 Ohio State 5 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Michigan 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Minnesota 3 – 1 – 2 4 – 3 – 2
Illinois 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Northwestern 2 – 5 – 0 2 – 6 – 1
Iowa 2 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
Indiana 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

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.[1]

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

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 27Marquette*No. 7
W 42–1951,303[2]
October 4No. 2 IllinoisNo. 8
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
W 20–652,071[3]
October 11at Ohio StateNo. 1
L 14–2380,345[4]
October 18at IowaNo. 12
W 42–1345,050[5]
October 25No. 8 UCLA*No. 10
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
L 7–2052,131[6]
November 1at Rice*No. 18
W 21–736,000[7]
November 8NorthwesterndaggerNo. 18
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
W 24–2052,131[8]
November 15at IndianaNo. 15
W 37–1422,000[9]
November 22MinnesotaNo. 13
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI (rivalry)
T 21–2152,131[10]
January 1, 1953vs. No. 5 USC*No. 11
L 0–7101,500[11]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Marquette

Marquette at Wisconsin
Team 1 234Total
Marquette 6 076 19
• Wisconsin 7 21140 42

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.[2]

Illinois

Illinois at Wisconsin
Team 1 234Total
Illinois 0 006 6
• Wisconsin 6 077 20

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.[3]

Ohio State

Wisconsin at Ohio State
Team 1 234Total
Wisconsin 0 707 14
• Ohio State 6 0710 23

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."[4]

Iowa

Wisconsin at Iowa
Team 1 234Total
• Wisconsin 7 101312 42
Iowa 7 006 13

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.[5]

UCLA

UCLA at Wisconsin
Team 1 234Total
• UCLA 0 7013 20
Wisconsin 0 070 7

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.[6]

Rice

Wisconsin at Rice
Team 1 234Total
• Wisconsin 0 1470 21
Rice 0 007 7

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.[7]

Northwestern

Northwestern at Wisconsin
Team 1 234Total
Northwestern 7 076 20
• Wisconsin 7 1403 24

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.[8]

Indiana

Wisconsin at Indiana
Team 1 234Total
• Wisconsin 13 3714 37
Indiana 0 0140 14

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.[9]

Minnesota

Minnesota at Wisconsin
Team 1 234Total
Minnesota 7 707 21
Wisconsin 7 770 21

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.[12]

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.[13]

USC—Rose Bowl

Main article: 1953 Rose Bowl
Wisconsin at USC
Team 1 234Total
Wisconsin 0 000 0
• USC 0 070 7

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.[11]

Personnel

Players

[14]

Coaching staff and administration

1952 Wisconsin coaching staff. Kneeling: Fred E. Marsh, Ivy Williamson, Bob Odell. Standing: George Lamphear, Paul R. Shaw, Milt Bruhn

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.[17]

Quarterback Jim Haluska completed 112 of 199 passes (56.3%) for 1,410 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions.[17] 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.[18]

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).[19][20] O'Brien was the team captain.[21]

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.[22] Back Alan Ameche received first-team All-America honors from the Central Press.[23]

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).[24][25] O'Brien was the team captain.[26]

Wisconsin players in the NFL draft

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

  1. ^ a b "1952 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Henry J. McCormick (September 28, 1952). "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. pp. 1 (main), 1 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Henry J. McCormic (October 5, 1942). "Badgers' 20-6 Win Justifies Most Ardent Hopes: Many Share Honors in Defeat of Illinois". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 1, 4 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b John Dietrich (October 12, 1952). "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. pp. 1A, 8C – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b Bert McGrane (October 19, 1952). "As Usual, Iowa State, Iowa Bow: Worst Jolt of Year for Hawks, 42-13; Lose Ball to Badgers Eight Times". The Des Moines Register. p. 1, 5 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Henry J. McCormick (October 26, 1952). "Passes Boomerang, Lead to 20-7 Badger Loss: UCLA Cashes in on Errors". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 1, 4 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Wisconsin, led by Jim Haluska, beats Rice, 21–7". Chicago Tribune. November 2, 1952. Retrieved March 20, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b Henry J. McCormick (November 9, 1952). "Wisconsin Stays in Title Race on 24-20 Victory: Wildcats Keep Close on Fumbles, Penalties". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 1, 5 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b Dale Burgess (November 16, 1952). "Indiana Routed By Wisconsin: Alan Amehe Runs Wild Over Hoosier Tacklers In 37-14 Badger Win". The Terre Haute Tribune. pp. 49, 54 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ George Rodgerson (November 23, 1952). "Badgers, Purdue Share Big 10 Title; Both 'Sweating Out' Rose Bowl Bid; Wisconsin, Gophers Battle to 21-21 Tie". Wisconsin State Journal. pp. 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b Braven Dyer (January 2, 1953). "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. pp. 1, 2 (part 4) – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Henry J. McCormick (November 23, 1952). "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. pp. 1, 2 (Section 3) – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Harry M. Golden (November 24, 1952). "Wisconsin Gets Rose Bowl Bid". The Capital Times. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ 1953 Wisconsin Badger (yearbook), pp. 192-200.
  15. ^ a b c d e 1953 Wisconsin Badger, p. 191.
  16. ^ 1953 Wisconsin Badger, p. 190.
  17. ^ a b "Ameche Fourth In Lugging Ball". Wausau Daily Record. November 26, 1952. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "11 Records By Badgers This Season". Wausau Daily Record. November 26, 1952. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "3 Badgers on AP All Big Ten Team". The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin. November 24, 1952. p. 19.
  20. ^ Ed Sainsbury (November 26, 1952). "Michigan, Badgers Each Land Trio On All-Big Ten Squad". Nevada State Journal. p. 11.
  21. ^ "Wisconsin Football Fact Book" (PDF). Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. pp. 138, 143. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  22. ^ Ted Smits, "Michigan State and Tech Pace All=American," Florence Times-Daily, p. 8 (December 5, 1952). Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  23. ^ Walter L. Johns (December 2, 1952). "All Sections of US Represented on C-P All-American". Herald-Journal. p. 11.
  24. ^ "3 Badgers on AP All Big Ten Team". The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin. November 24, 1952. p. 19.
  25. ^ Ed Sainsbury (November 26, 1952). "Michigan, Badgers Each Land Trio On All-Big Ten Squad". Nevada State Journal. p. 11.
  26. ^ "Wisconsin Football Fact Book" (PDF). Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. pp. 138, 143. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
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