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 71 days until college football is back, is Dave Suminski.
Wisconsin Badgers
Dave Suminski was a two-way player for the Badgers from 1950 to 1952. The Ashland, Wisconsin, native played both offensive and defensive tackle for the Badgers in the early ’50s.
On offense, Suminski helped pave the way for legendary Wisconsin running back Alan Ameche. He helped the Badgers win a Big Ten Championship in 1952.
He was a first team Associated Press All-American in 1952, as well as a first team All-Big Ten selection the same year. He was also voted the Jimmy Demetral Team MVP in 1952.
Following his collegiate career, Suminski was a 15th round pick (No. 171 overall) in the 1953 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He played for the Redskins and the Chicago Cardinals in 1953, and spent four years in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1957 to 1960. He was a two-time CFL All-Star.
Who wore No. 71 first?
• End Eugene Goodman first wore the No. 71 for the Wisconsin Badgers back in 1927.
Who wears No. 71 now?
• Offensive lineman Ray Ball currently wears No. 71 for the Badgers. Ball is a redshirt senior with 31 games of experience under his belt. He figures to be heavily used in 2015.
Stay tuned to Badger of Honor as we continue our daily countdown in preparation of the season opener against Alabama.
Next: Wisconsin Football Experience