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.
Wisconsin Badgers
Next up in our countdown, signifying 81 days until college football is back, is Hal Faverty.
Faverty’s time at UW dates back to 1945-1951 (with a break to serve his country in the armed forces), when he played linebacker and defensive end for the Badgers.
In 1951, as a senior, Faverty was an International News Service first team All-American, and a Grantland Rice and All-Players second team All-American. In 1951 he was also named the Jimmy Demetral team MVP.
A part of the “Hard Rocks” defense along with guys like Don Voss, Faverty and Co. were the best defense in the nation in 1951, actually outscoring their own offense 58-53.
He’s described this way in the UW record book:
"“Starred on the top defensive unit in the country in 1951 … was a defensive specialist and one of the top linebackers in the nation … twice was named United Press Lineman of the Week … earned all-conference honors as a senior in 1951 … played in the 1951 East-West Shrine Game … played professionally for the Green Bay Packers in 1952.”"
While Faverty played for the Packers in 1952, he was actually drafted in the 15th round of the 1949 draft by the Chicago Bears. He obviously continued his collegiate career, and went to the NFL in 1952.
In 2002 he was inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department Hall of Fame.
Here’s how UWBadgers.com described Haverty’s time at UW upon his induction into the Hall of Fame:
"“Hal Faverty was a four-year letterwinner in football from 1945 to 1951 with an interruption to serve in the armed forces. He earned All-Big Ten honorable mention in his freshman season, and in 1951, earned All-Big Ten, All-American Offensive End, and played linebacker as well for the Badgers which had the No. 1 defensive team in the nation. After appearances in the 1952 senior bowl and all-star game, he played for the Green Bay Packers one year, and later the Toronto Argonauts.”"
Who wore No. 81 first?
• Quarterback Stephen Rondone was the first Badger to wear No. 81 back in 1934.
Who wears No. 81 now?
• No one on roster currently wears No. 81.
Who wore No. 81 last?
• Tight end Brock DeCicco last wore No. 81 for the Badgers in 2013.
Stay tuned to Badger of Honor as we continue our daily countdown in preparation of the season opener against Alabama.
Next: Wisconsin Football Experience