Wisconsin Football Countdown: No. 49, Harold Rebholz
By Jim Oxley
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 49 days until college football is back, is fullback Harold Rebholz.
Wisconsin Badgers
A Portage, Wisconsin, native, Rebholz dates back to the 1920s, back to the times when jersey numbers were first used.
Nicknamed “Big Reb,” the fullback weighed in at just 166 pounds, but was an effective rusher, amassing 900 rushing yards over his three-year career. His production despite his size may make more sense when you learn he played hockey as well as football during his time at UW.
Rebholz also played defense for the Badgers.
In 1929 he was named the Jimmy Demetral Team MVP and was an honorable mention All-American.
Who wore No. 49 first?
• While Rebholz was one of the first Badgers players to wear No. 49, he wasn’t the first. Two players — Guard Charles Horwitz in 1927 and end Edgar Zeise in 1929 — wore No. 49 before Rebholz, who only wore the number in 1929.
Who wears No. 49 now?
• Incoming freshman tight end Kyle Penniston will wear No. 49 for the Badgers this season.
Who wore No. 49 last?
• Tight end Sam Arneson last wore No. 49 for the Wisconsin Badgers in 2014.
Stay tuned to Badger of Honor as we continue our daily countdown in preparation of the season opener against Alabama.
Next: Wisconsin Football Experience