As the countdown to the first Wisconsin football game of the season continues, Badger of Honor is taking a look at Badgers by the numbers, checking in on a different Badger or Badgers players who wore the number corresponding with the remaining days until the Badgers head to Texas to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday, Sept. 5.
Next up in our countdown, signifying 56 days until college football is back, is Frank “Moon” Molinaro.
Wisconsin Badgers
From Kenosha, Wisconsin, Frank Molinaro played on the offensive and defensive lines for the Badgers from 1930 to 1932.
Since he played defense as well as offense, often playing entire games, he earned the nickname “60-minute Moon” while at Wisconsin.
He was a second team All-Big Ten tackle in 1932 when the Badgers went 6-1-1, and helped the 1930 Wisconsin squad go 6-2-1.
It’s rumored that “Moon” served the first beers at The Plaza in Madison during Prohibition.
Later in life, Molinaro was the president of the National “W” Club from 1961-62 and was president of the Mendota Gridiron Club in 1963-64.
In 1980 “Moon” was inducted into the Madison Sports Hall of Fame Club.
Who wore No. 56 first?
• End Ebert Warren first wore No. 60 in 1927.
Who wears No. 56 now?
• Incoming freshman linebacker Zach Baun will wear No. 56 this season.
Who wore No. 56 last?
• Baun takes over No. 56 after long snapper James McGuire wore it in the 2014 season.
Stay tuned to Badger of Honor as we continue our daily countdown in preparation of the season opener against Alabama.
Next: Wisconsin Football Experience