1989 Wisconsin Badgers football team

1989 Wisconsin Badgers football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	2–9 (1–7 Big Ten)
Head coach	Don Morton (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Pat Simmers (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Veer
Defensive coordinator	Mike Daly (3rd season)
Base defense	3–4
MVP	Tim Knoeck
Captains	Dan Kissling Tim Knoeck
Home stadium	Camp Randall Stadium

1989 Big Ten Conference football standings
	Conf.					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 7 Michigan $	8	–	0	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
No. 10 Illinois	7	–	1	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
No. 16 Michigan State	6	–	2	–	0	8	–	4	–	0
No. 24 Ohio State	6	–	2	–	0	8	–	4	–	0
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0	6	–	5	–	0
Indiana	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Iowa	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	2	–	6	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
Wisconsin	1	–	7	–	0	2	–	9	–	0
Northwestern	0	–	8	–	0	0	–	11	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Don Morton in his third and final season as head coach, the Badgers compiled an overall record of 2–9 with a mark of 1–7 in conference play, placing ninth in the Big Ten. Wisconsin played home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	No. 3 Miami (FL)*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 3–51	38,646	^[1]
September 16	Toledo*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 23–10	37,162	^[2]
September 23	at California*	California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA	L 14–20	36,000	^[3]
October 7	at No. 5 Michigan	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	L 0–24	104,097	^[4]
October 14	Iowa	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry)	L 24–31	62,402	^[5]
October 21	Northwestern	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 35–31	44,978	^[6]
October 28	at No. 8 Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	L 9–32	64,856	^[7]
November 4	at Minnesota	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)	L 22–24	39,325	^[8]
November 11	Indiana	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 17–45	37,442	^[9]
November 18	at No. 22 Ohio State	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	L 22–42	89,626	^[10]
November 25	No. 25 Michigan State	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 3–31	29,776	^[11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Miami (FL)

#3 Miami (FL) at Wisconsin

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Hurricanes	13	21	10	7	51
Badgers	3	0	0	0	3

Date: September 9
Location: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
Game attendance: 38,646
TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Bob Griese, Mike Adamle

Scoring summary

1		WIS	Thompson 38-yard field goal	WIS 3–0

1		MIA	Huerta 28-yard field goal	Tied 3–3

1		MIA	Huerta 43-yard field goal	MIA 6–3

1		MIA	Conley 1-yard run (Huerta kick)	MIA 13–3

2		MIA	Carroll 15-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 20–3

2		MIA	Carroll 10-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 27–3

2		MIA	Hill 3-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 34–3

3		MIA	Huerta 24-yard field goal	MIA 37–3

3		MIA	Aaron 3-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 44–3

4	7:57	MIA	Kevin Gibbs 6-yard run (Huerta kick)	MIA 51–3

^[12]

Toledo

At California

Michigan

Iowa

Northwestern

At Illinois

At Minnesota

Wisconsin Badgers (2–5) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (4–3)

Quarter	1	2	Total
Wisconsin	7	15	22
Minnesota	10	14	24

Date: November 4, 1989
Game time: 2:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Indoors (dome)
Game attendance: 39,325
^[13]

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Wisconsin	Passing
	Rushing	Robert Williams	21 Rush, 129 Yds, TD
	Receiving
Minnesota	Passing
	Rushing	Darrell Thompson	32 Rush, 143 Yds, TD
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	WISC	MINN
1	10:20	11	86		Minnesota	Darrell Thompson 1-yard touchdown run, Brent Berglund kick good	0	7
2	0:38				Wisconsin	Lionell Crawford 2-yard touchdown run, kick good	7	7
2	0:00				Minnesota	39-yard field goal by Bert Berglund	7	10
					Wisconsin	Touchdown	14	10
					Minnesota	Chris Gaiters 17-yard touchdown reception from Scott Schaffner, Bert Berglund kick good	14	17
					Minnesota	Interception returned 73 yards for touchdown by Ron Goetz, Bert Berglund kick good	14	24
			80		Wisconsin	Robert Williams 6-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good	22	24
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							22	24

Indiana

The Badgers allowed Indiana running back Anthony Thompson to rush for 377 yards in a game on November 11.^[14] This broke the NCAA Division I-A record and stood as a Big Ten Conference single-game rushing record for 25 years until it was broken by Melvin Gordon in 2014.^[15] The 377 yards still stands as an Indiana Hoosiers football school record.

At Ohio State

Wisconsin Badgers (2–7) at #22 Ohio State Buckeyes (7–2)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wisconsin	3	10	3	6	22
Ohio St	7	21	14	0	42

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Date: November 10
Game time: 1:30 p.m.
Game weather: Partly cloudy, 28 °F (−2 °C)
Game attendance: 89,626
Referee: Jim Kemmerling
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

WIS – Rich Thompson 40-yard field goal, 12:06. Wisconsin 3–0. Drive: 7 plays, 16 yards, 2:45.
OSU – Dante Lee 1-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 5:00. Ohio St 7–3. Drive: 15 plays, 66 yards, 7:01.

Second quarter

WIS – Rich Thompson 36-yard field goal, 10:35. Ohio St 7–6. Drive: 12 plays, 66 yards, 6:04.
WIS – Troy Vincent 71-yard punt return (Rich Thompson kick), 8:35. Wisconsin 13–7.
OSU – Jim Palmer 9-yard pass from Greg Frey (Pat O'Morrow kick), 6:25. Ohio St 14–13. Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 2:05.
OSU – Dante Lee 18-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 1:24. Ohio St 21–13. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:00.
OSU – David Brown 43-yard interception return (Pat O'Morrow kick), 1:07. Ohio St 28–13.

Third quarter

OSU – Scottie Graham 16-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 12:13. Ohio St 35–13. Drive: 6 plays, 61 yards, 2:38.
WIS – Rich Thompson 35-yard field goal, 9:34. Ohio St 35–18. Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 2:33.
OSU – Scottie Graham 1-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 3:10. Ohio St 42–18. Drive: 12 plays, 62 yards, 6:16.

Fourth quarter

WIS – Craig Hudson 5-yard run (run failed), 8:26. Ohio St 42–24. Drive: 8 plays, 30 yards, 3:54.

Top passers

WIS – Lionell Crawford – 0/8, 0 yards, INT
OSU – Greg Frey – 10/15, 151 yards, TD

Top rushers

WIS – Lionell Crawford – 16 rushes, 104 yards
OSU – Scottie Graham – 23 rushes, 152 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

WIS – None
OSU – Bobby Olive – 3 receptions, 44 yards

Michigan State

Personnel

1989 Wisconsin Badgers football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
C	`55`	Jim Basten	Jr
OT	`75`	Burt Ising	Sr
QB, P	`20`	Brad Brekke	Jr
WR	`19`	Aaron Brown	Fr
WR	`85`	Tom Browne, Jr	So
RB	`2`	Tywin Claypool	So
QB	`13`	Lionell Crawford	So
RB	`4`	Damone Freeman	So
C	`52`	Rick Godfrey	So
RB	`16`	Jimmy Henderson	Fr
TE	`81`	Craig Hudson	Sr
RB	`32`	Leon Hunt	Sr
TE	`19`	Tim Kowalski	Sr
G	`77`	Joe Magazzeni	Sr
G	`76`	Jeff Miller	Jr
TE	`89`	Kerry Miller	Jr
WR	`29`	Fred Owens	Jr
OT	`78`	Brady Pierce	Jr
G	`56`	Nick Polczinski	Jr
OT	`50`	David Rapps	Jr
WR	`23`	Tony Spaeth	Fr
WR	`43`	Mike Tams	Jr
WR	`15`	Tim Ware	Fr
WR	`28`	Tyrone Washington	Jr
RB	`3`	Robert Williams	So
QB	`12`	Sean Wilson	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
NG	`74`	John Banaszak	Sr
DE	`94`	Dan Batsch	Jr
LB	`57`	Gary Casper	Fr
DE	`91`	Don Davey	Jr
CB	`7`	Eddie Fletcher, Jr	So
DB	`26`	Chris Hiltgen	Sr
LB	`58`	Malvin Hunter	Jr
DT	`65`	Leon Johnson	Sr
LB	`44`	Dan Kissling (C)	Sr
LB	`93`	Tim Knoeck (C)	Sr
DT	`98`	Todd Kowalkowski	Jr
LB	`42`	Brendan Lynch	So
S	`6`	Tyrone Mahone	Jr
LB	`55`	Curt Maternowski	So
DB	`33`	Philip McConnell	Sr
NG	`90`	Pat McGettigan	Fr
S	`27`	Scott Nelson	Fr
LB	`46`	Robert Newell	Jr
LB	`48`	Aaron Norvell	Fr
LB	`25`	Rafael Robinson	So
LB	`36`	Duer Sharp	So
S	`39`	Todd Strop	Jr
S	`27`	Greg Thomas	Jr
CB	`22`	Troy Vincent	So
CB	`21`	LaMarr White	Jr
LB	`8`	John L Williams	So

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
QB, P	`20`	Brad Brekke	Jr
K	`9`	Robb Mehring	Jr
K	`18`	Rich Thompson	Fr

Head coach

Don Morton

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Pat Simmers – Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
Mike Daly – Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
Bob Babich – Offensive Line
Jacob Burney – Defensive Line
L. C. Cole – Outside Linebackers
Phil Engle – Inside Linebackers
Jimmy Gonzales – Defensive Line
Mark Mauer – Tight Ends/Wide Receivers
Scott Seeliger – Quarterbacks/Running Backs
Ken Ellett – Director of Football Operations/Recruiting Coordinator
Mario Russo – Administrative Assistant

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

1990 NFL draft

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
Craig Hudson	Tight End	10	263	Kansas City Chiefs

^[16]

References

"Miami goes to the air in 51–3 rout over UW". The Reporter. September 10, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Holy Toledo! Beleaguered Badgers earn rare victory". The Journal Times. September 17, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Badgers fall to California". Herald-Times-Reporter. September 24, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Bo knows disgust". The Duluth News Tribune. October 8, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Bell's 3 TDs lift Hawkeyes, 31–24". The Sioux City Journal. October 15, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Badger backs key win". Leader-Telegram. October 22, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Illinois remains on top". Star Tribune. October 29, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Gophers catch break, stop Wisconsin's comeback bid". Herald-Times-Reporter. November 5, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Thompson gains 377 yards vs. Wisconsin". Wausau Daily Herald. November 12, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Buckeyes steamroll Badgers". The Lima News. November 19, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"UW leis down for Spartans". The Post-Crescent. November 26, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Miami Overwhelms Wisconsin by 51-3". The New York Times. September 10, 1989. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
"Minnesota 24, Wisconsin 22". UPI. November 4, 1989. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
Woods, David (November 16, 2014). "Tevin Coleman's 307 rushing yards can't save IU in loss". IndyStar. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
Potrykus, Jeff (November 15, 2014). "Melvin Gordon breaks FBS single-game rushing record with 408 yards". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
"1990 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007.