After a few days focusing on the team in front of us for 2013 we return to the retired number section of our countdown to the kickoff of Wisconsin football in 2013. Last we met we were talking about Brock DeCicco, but today we honor a player that could've fit a tight end role, one Dave Schreiner.
Most folks today know him only because his number is up inside Camp Randall, but don't know the story behind why he is up there. So, let us give you a small history lesson about a man who was part of one of the most interesting teams in Badger history, the 1942 team, who's story was made into a book called Third Down and a War to Go.
Schreiner played end (or what most would think of as a wide receiver today) on the '42 team that included both Pat Harder and Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch on the offensive side of the ball. That team went 8-1-1 and took down No. 1 Ohio State 17-7 that season and were named national champions by the Helms Athletic Foundation (although not officially recognized by the program).
Schreiner was so good he would win the Silver Ball (given to the Big Ten MVP) by the Chicago Tribune and became the program's first two time All-American, earning that honor in 1941 and 1942. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1943.
However, his life would be cut short as he served in the military during WWII – being killed in action during the battle of Okinawa in 1945. Upon his death Wisconsin honored him by retiring his number and now has a scholarship named in his honor as well.
Schreiner was elected to the National College Football Hall of Fame in 1955 and to the All-Time team at Wisconsin as well.
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