The 1896 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1896 Western Conference football season. In their first season under head coach Philip King, the Badgers compiled a 7–1–1 record (2–0–1 against Western Conference opponents), shut out six of nine opponents, outscored all opponents by a combined total of 206 to 30, and won the first Western Conference championship.[1][2]
| 1896 Wisconsin Badgers football | |
|---|---|
 Head coach Philip King | |
Western Conference champion | |
| Conference | Western Conference |
| Record | 7–1–1 (2–0–1 Western) |
| Head coach |
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| Captain | John R. Richards |
| Home stadium | Randall Field |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin $ | 2 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan | 2 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 15 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 0 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 0 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wisconsin played three conference games: a victory over Chicago (24–0) on November 7;[3] a victory over Minnesota (6–0) on November 21;[4][5] and a tie with Northwestern (6–6) on November 26.[6] Wisconsin's sole loss was to the Carlisle Indians (18–8) in a night game played indoors and under the lights at the Chicago Coliseum before a crowd of 16,000 persons.[7] Wisconsin did not play another night game until 1953.[8]
Four Wisconsin players were selected to the 1896 All-Western football team published in the Chicago Inter Ocean: end Chester Brown, tackle J. F. A. "Sunny" Pyre, guard John E. Ryan, and halfback John "Ikey" Karel.[9] John R. Richards was the team captain.[10]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 10 | Lake Forest* | W 34–0 | |||
| October 14 | Madison High School* |
| W 18–0 | ||
| October 17 | Rush Medical* |
| W 50–0 | ||
| October 24 | Grinnell* |
| W 54–6 | ||
| October 31 | at Beloit* | Beloit, WI | W 6–0 | ||
| November 7 | Chicago |
| W 24–0 | ||
| November 21 | Minnesota |
| W 6–0 | ||
| November 26 | 11:00 a.m. | at Northwestern |
| T 6–6 | 5,000 |
| December 19 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. Carlisle* | L 8–18 | 16,000 | |
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