University of Wisconsin La Crosse Athletics

1950 Football
In 1950, UW-La Crosse, then known as the La Crosse State Indians, were in its third season under head coach Clark Van Galder. The team tied for the regular season Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference (WSTCC) title with Whitewater State, both having 6-0 conference records. UW-La Crosse ended the season with a perfect 10-0 record, outscoring it opponents, 388-76. In the playoffs, the team defeated Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.), 20-13, to advance to the Cigar Bowl in Tampa, Florida. UW-La Crosse defeated Valparaiso College (Ind.), 47-14, to claim the university’s first championship.

Running back Tom Curray and offensive/defensive lineman John Knispel were both named to the Associated Press (AP) Little All-America Honorable Mention Team.

1953 Football
UW-La Crosse, known as La Crosse State, finished in a 12-12 tie with Missouri Valley College in the 1953 Cigar Bowl played in Tampa, Florida. UW-La Crosse finished 9-0 in the regular season, recording six shutouts. The team outscored its opponents, 261-32, under head coach Bill Vickory. UW-La Crosse and UW-Platteville tied for the Wisconsin State University Athletic Conference title.

Tackle Glenn Wildt, wide receiver Jack Eifert and running back Willie Berzinski earned Associated Press (AP) Little All-America honors with Wildt being named to the second team while Eifert and Berzinski were selected honorable mention.


1985 Football
The 1985 UW-La Crosse football team won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II championship in head coach Roger Harring’s 17th season. This was his first national championship at UW-La Crosse.  The Indians had a successful regular season as they accrued a 11-1-2 record with a 5-1-2 conference record, winning the Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC).
  The team advanced into the NAIA Division II playoffs where it defeated Carroll College (Mont.) in the quarterfinals and Northwestern College (Iowa) in the semifinals to advance to the championship game. In the championship game, UW-La Crosse defeated Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.), 24-7.

Six players earned first-team All-WSUC honors. Guard Tom Newberry and running back/punter Dan Lowney were a part of the All-WSUC Offense. End Jay Wolowicz, linebackers Dale Gottschalk and Phil Ertl and back Pat Bushman earned All-WSUC Defense recognition.

Newberry and Gottschalk were both named to the NAIA Division II All-America First Team with Lowney, Ertl, Bushman and kicker Joe Mirasola earning All-America Honorable Mention.
 
1992 Football
UW-La Crosse achieved a historic undefeated season, finishing 12–0–1 and winning the NCAA Division III championship. Under head coach Roger Harring, who was temporarily sidelined by a heart attack mid-season, the Eagles overcame adversity with assistant coach Roland Christensen stepping in to maintain their momentum. The Eagles dominated the Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC) with a 6–0–1 record and finished their season with a 16–12 victory over Washington & Jefferson College (Pa.) in the Stagg Bowl. Their playoff run included wins over the University of Redlands (Calif.), Central College (Iowa), and a semifinal victory over Mount Union College (Ohio). 

The championship team featured several All-WSUC honorees. Quarterback Jason Gonnion led the offense with 1,904 passing yards, while running back John Janke and wide receiver Jason Janke provided consistent scoring threats. The offensive line included All-WSUC players in center Dave Bauer and guard Knute Brye. The defense was bolstered by tackle Rick Schaaf, linebacker Mike Breit, and defensive back Norris Thomas with being All-WSUC selections.

Gonnion, Brye, Janke, Schaaf, Breit, Thomas and cornerback Scott Almond earned All-America honors.

1995 Football
The 1995 season was a historic run for UW-La Crosse, led by head coach Roger Harring in his 27th year. The team swept through the Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC) with a perfect 7–0 record, earning a spot in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Its postseason campaign led to the Stagg Bowl XXIII, where UW-La Crosse defeated Rowan University (N.J.), 36–7. The turning point came just before halftime when quarterback Craig Kusick launched an 85-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Earp.

Kusick threw four touchdown passes in the championship game. The Eagles’ defense forced six turnovers and shutting Rowan (N.J.) out after the first quarter. Other key contributors included wide-receiver Dave Nagel, who caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter, and Erick Jenkins, who added another receiving touchdown.  Safety Mike Ivey tackled Rowan’s (N.J.) quarterback in the endzone for safety. The victory was UW-La Crosse’s second national title in four years.

Kusick, offensive lineman Erik Halverson and linebacker Mike Maslowski earned All-America honors.