1978 Wisconsin Badgers football team

The 1978 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1978 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by first-year head coach Dave McClain, the Badgers compiled an overall record of 5–4–2 with a mark of 3–4–2 in conference play, placing sixth in the Big Ten. Wisconsin played home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

1978 Wisconsin Badgers football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	5–4–2 (3–4–2 Big Ten)
Head coach	Dave McClain (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Triple option
Defensive coordinator	Jim Hilles (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
MVP	Mike Kalasmiki
Captains	David Charles Dave Crossen Dan Relich
Home stadium	Camp Randall Stadium
Seasons ← 1977 1979 →

1978 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 5 Michigan +	7	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 12 Michigan State +	7	–	1	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
No. 13 Purdue	6	–	1	–	1			9	–	2	–	1
Ohio State	6	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	1
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	4	–	2			5	–	4	–	2
Indiana	3	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Iowa	2	–	6	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Illinois	0	–	6	–	2			1	–	8	–	2
Northwestern	0	–	8	–	1			0	–	10	–	1
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Richmond*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 7–6	60,877	[1]
September 23	at Northwestern	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL	W 28–7	23,960	[2]
September 30	Oregon*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 22–19	63,988	[3]
October 7	Indiana	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 34–7	75,266	[4]
October 14	at Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	T 20–20	51,160	[5]
October 21	No. 9 Michigan	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 0–42	80,024	[6]
October 28	at Michigan State	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	L 2–55	70,144	[7]
November 4	Ohio State	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 14–49	79,940	[8]
November 11	Purdue	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	T 24–24	78,986	[9]
November 18	at Iowa	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA (rivalry)	L 24–38	44,444	[10]
November 25	Minnesota	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry)	W 48–10	61,021	[11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

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Roster

1978 Wisconsin Badgers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 19 Tom Braker Jr WR 10 David Charles (C) Sr RB 39 Kevin Cohee Sr TE 94 Jerry Doerger Fr QB, RB 11 Charles Green Sr G 56 Brad Jackomino Sr QB 13 John Josten Fr QB 18 Mike Kalasmiki Jr G 66 Pat Kelly Sr OT 68 Dave Krall Jr TE 88 Mike Krepfle So G 63 Jim Martine Jr RB 25 Ira Matthews Sr C 50 Jim McCoy Sr FB 28 Dave Mohapp Fr C 52 Jim Moore Sr RB 33 Curtis Richardson Fr C 59 Joe Rothbauer Jr TE 81 Joe Ruetz So OT 75 Ray Snell Jr FB 26 Tom Stauss Jr WR 42 Tim Stracka Fr TE 87 Ray Sydnor So WR 6 Wayne Souza Jr OT 79 Ralph Turturro Sr FB 84 Bob Wagner Sr OT 98 Paul Wasikowski Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DT 73 Henry Addy Sr LB 41 Dave Ahrens So CB 29 Ross Anderson So DE 85 Curt Blaskowski So LB 95 Guy Boliaux Fr DT 67 Kasey Cabral Jr CB 30 Mickey Casey Jr LB 48 Dennis Christenson Jr LB 14 Dave Crossen (C) Sr S 8 Greg Gordon Sr LB 15 Kurt Holm Sr DT 90 Thomas Houston So CB 37 Lawrence Johnson Sr LB 43 Don Lorenz Jr MG 20 Dan Relich (C) Sr DE 45 Mark Sawicki So S 9 Dan Schieble Sr DT 76 Tom Schremp Jr S 5 Terry Stroede Jr S 12 George Welch Jr DT 77 George Wojtowicz Fr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 2 Mike Brhely Sr P 39 John Kiltz So K 7 Steve Veith Jr	Head coach Dave McClain Coordinators/assistant coaches Jim Hilles – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Bill Dudley – Quarterbacks and Receivers Doug Graber – Defensive Backs Arnold Jeter – Defensive Line Cliff Knox – Running Backs Mike Nelson – Defensive Ends Bob Palcic – Tackles and Tight Ends Mario Russo – Centers and Guards George Chryst – Administrative Assistant Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Team players in the 1979 NFL draft

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
Lawrence Johnson	Defensive back	2	40	Cleveland Browns
Ira Matthews	Wide receiver	6	142	Oakland Raiders

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