The 1996 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season

1996 NCAA Division I-A football season

The 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Florida Gators crowned National Champions, but not as unanimously as the Bowl Alliance would have hoped....

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Schedule and results

Season Summary

Wisconsin started off quickly in 1996, winning their first three games against Eastern Michigan, UNLV, and Stanford. However, the Badgers then encountered far stiffer opposition against Penn State, Ohio State, Northwestern, and Penn State. In the Northwestern game, Wisconsin RB Ron Dayne

Ron Dayne

Ron Dayne is a former American football running back who is currently a free agent. He holds the NCAA record for career rushing yards, and he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy.-Early life:...

 stunningly fumbled with just under a minute remaining. Northwestern recovered and scored the winning touchdown, sealing Wisconsin's third consecutive loss. The Badgers lost their fourth straight game the next week, falling 30-13 to Michigan State.

The Badgers snapped their four-game losing streak with consecutive wins against Purdue and rival Minnesota, before suffering a humiliating 31-0 loss at the hands of Hayden Fry

Hayden Fry

John Hayden Fry is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Southern Methodist University , North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas , and the University of Iowa , compiling a career college football record of 232–178–10...

's Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa Hawkeyes

The Iowa Hawkeyes are the athletics teams that represent the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. The Hawkeyes have varsity teams in 24 sports, 11 for men and 13 for women. The teams participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and are members of the...

. After falling to 5-5, the Badgers would win the final games on their regular season slate by beating Illinois and Hawaii, earning a bid to the Copper Bowl. The Badgers defeated the Utah Utes 38-10 in the 1996 Copper Bowl

1996 Copper Bowl

The 1996 edition to the Copper bowl was the 8th edition to the bowl game. It featured the Wisconsin Badgers, and the Utah Utes.-Game summary:Wisconsin scored first on a 38 yard touchdown run from Mike Samuel to open a 7–0 lead. Utah's Daniel Pulsipher answered with a 24 yard field goal to make it...

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Wisconsin RB Ron Dayne

Ron Dayne

Ron Dayne is a former American football running back who is currently a free agent. He holds the NCAA record for career rushing yards, and he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy.-Early life:...

 ran for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in the 1996 season, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Honors in the process.

Regular starters

Position	Player
Quarterback	Mike Samuel
Running Back	Ron Dayne Ron Dayne Ron Dayne is a former American football running back who is currently a free agent. He holds the NCAA record for career rushing yards, and he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy.-Early life:...
Fullback	Cecil Martin Cecil Martin Danyel Cecil Martin is a former American football Full back in the National Football League. He attended Evanston Township High School and played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles... /Aaron Gibson Aaron Gibson Aaron Gibson is a professional American football offensive tackle. He holds the record for heaviest NFL player ever, at 410 lbs, weighing over 440 lbs in high school.-High school career:...
Wide Receiver	Donald Hayes Donald Hayes Donald Ross Hayes, Jr. is a former American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots of the National Football League...
Wide Receiver	Tony Simmons
Tight End	Kevin Lyles
Left Tackle	Chris McIntosh Chris McIntosh Chris McIntosh is a former offensive tackle in the NFL. McIntosh was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.-College:...
Left Guard	Jamie Vanderveldt
Center	Derek Engler Derek Engler Derek Engler is a former center in the National Football League. He played four seasons with the New York Giants.-References:...
Right Guard	Cayetano Castro
Right Tackle	Jerry Wunsch Jerry Wunsch Gerald Wunsch is a former offensive tackle and offensive guard in the NFL. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks. He played college ball at Wisconsin. Jerry played high school football at Wausau West High School....

Position	Player
Defensive End	Tarek Saleh Tarek Saleh Tarek Muhammad Saleh is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played for the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns . He was born in Woodbridge, Connecticut; he attended Notre Dame High School , and the University of Wisconsin.- External links :*...
Defensive Tackle	Neil Miklusak
Defensive Tackle	Rod Spiller
Defensive End	Bryan Jurewicz Bryan Jurewicz Bryan Jurewicz is a former professional National Football League player who was briefly a member of both the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts....
Outside Linebacker	Daryl Carter Daryl Carter Daryl Carter is a former linebacker in the National Football League. He was a member of the Chicago Bears during the 1997 NFL season.-References:...
Inside Linebacker	Pete Monty Pete Monty Peter Charles Monty is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin where his team won the 1994 Rose Bowl, and was then drafted in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL...
Outside Linebacker	David Lysek
Cornerback	Cyrill Weems
Free Safety	Kevin Huntley
Strong Safety	Bob Adamov
Cornerback	Jason Suttle Jason Suttle Jason Suttle is a former defensive back in the National Football League. He played two seasons with the Denver Broncos before being a member of the San Francisco 49ers during his final season.-References:...

Team players selected in the 1997 NFL Draft

Player	Position	Round	Overall Selection	NFL Team
Jerry Wunsch Jerry Wunsch Gerald Wunsch is a former offensive tackle and offensive guard in the NFL. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks. He played college ball at Wisconsin. Jerry played high school football at Wausau West High School....	Guard	2	37	Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season The 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 6-10 season from 1996. The 1997 season was notable for several reasons...
Pete Monty Pete Monty Peter Charles Monty is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin where his team won the 1994 Rose Bowl, and was then drafted in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL...	Linebacker	4	103	New York Giants 1997 New York Giants season The 1997 New York Giants season was the team's 73rd season in the National Football League. On January 15, Jim Fassel was named as the fifteenth coach in club history. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 6–10, winning ten games and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time...
Tarek Saleh Tarek Saleh Tarek Muhammad Saleh is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played for the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns . He was born in Woodbridge, Connecticut; he attended Notre Dame High School , and the University of Wisconsin.- External links :*...	Linebacker	4	122	Carolina Panthers 1997 Carolina Panthers season -Schedule:-References:...