Wisconsin Badgers Football History
The University of Wisconsin at Madison first fielded a team in 1889, and since then, it's won 14 Big Ten titles (including the first, in 1896) and five division titles. The University of Wisconsin Badgers had periods of success throughout the 20th century, but the program fully took off when Barry Alvarez became head coach in 1990. Under Alvarez, who coached until 2005 and served as Wisconsin's athletic director until 2021, the school won Big Ten championships in 1993, 1998 and 1999, followed by Rose Bowl wins after each of those seasons. Running back Ron Dayne won the Heisman Trophy as a junior in 1999, becoming the second Badger to win the honor after Alan Ameche in 1954. Other notable players in Wisconsin history include Pro Football Hall of Fame members Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch and Joe Thomas as well as Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson.
Wisconsin's rivals in the Big Ten include Iowa, who both contend for the Heartland Trophy, and Minnesota, who once competed for a wooden "Slab of Bacon" but have played for Paul Bunyan's Axe since 1948. Following Nebraska's entry into the Big Ten in 2011, the Badgers and the Cornhuskers have developed a new rivalry and the two teams vie for the Freedom Trophy annually.
Wisconsin Badgers Football Team Info
Conference: Big Ten?
Team Colors: Cardinal, White
Team Rivals: Minnesota Golden Gophers, Iowa Hawkeyes, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Wisconsin Badgers Football at Camp Randall Stadium
The Badgers play at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, which was originally built in 1917 and houses a current capacity of 80,321. The Camp Randall game-day experience is second to none in college football, with the marching band performing "Fifth Quarter" to entertain fans in the post-game spectacular since 1969. Since 1998, the crowd gets pumped between the third and fourth quarters as "Jump Around" by House of Pain is blared from the public address system.?
