The Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Wisconsin–La Crosse competes at the NCAA Division III level and is a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Eagles play their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin–La Crosse has won three national titles: the NAIA Division II Football National Championship in 1985 and the NCAA Division III Football Championship in 1992 and 1995, all during the tenure of Roger Harring, who served as head coach from 1969 to 1999 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Wisconsin–La Crosse's teams were known as the Indians from 1937 to 1989. The name was changed because of concerns of racial insensitivity regarding Native Americans; see Native American mascot controversy.

Head coaching history Wisconsin–La Crosse has had 15 head coaches in their history. No teams were fielded in 1943 or 1944 due to World War II. Additionally, no team was fielded in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. + Coach Seasons Term Wins Losses Ties Win % Joel Moore11911330.50000N/AFred G. Carter31912–19146112.36800N/ACarl Sputh21915–1916940.69200N/ARay Keeler131917–1929432515.61803N/AHoward Johnson81930–1937321714.61902N/AClyde B. Smith71938–19421946–194729162.63804N/AGordon Bahr11945220.50000N/AClark Van Galder41948–19513151.85103N/A (1 bowl game)Bill Vickroy171952–196886616.58203N/A (1 bowl game)Roger Harring311969–1999261757.77131514Larry Terry112000–201065480.575034Joel Dettwiler52011–201516340.320000Mike Schmidt42016–201927130.675000Matt Janus52021–202545140.763025Michael Zweifel12026–present220.500000

Championships

National championship games Wisconsin–La Crosse has played in five national championship games and have won three national championships. The Eagles played in three NAIA Division II Football National Championship games, winning in 1985 and finishing as runners–up in 1988 and 1989. The Eagles have also played in two NCAA Division III Football National Championship games, winning in 1992 and 1995.

Year Coach Division Opponent Result 1985Roger HarringNAIA Division IIPacific LutheranW 24–711–1–21988Westminster (PA)L 14–2111–31989Westminster (PA)L 30–5112–21992Roger Harring/Roland Christensen*NCAA Division IIIWashington & JeffersonW 16–1212–0–1‡1995Roger HarringRowanW 36–714–0

Conference championships Wisconsin–La Crosse has won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship 35 times. + Year Coach 1917Ray Keeler4–13–019194–2–13–0–119275–0–24–0–11933†Howard Johnson3–4–12–2–11934†5–1–23–0–11939†Clyde B. Smith3–43–11940†6–04–01941†5–13–11942†6–0–14–01949†Clark Van Galder7–26–11950†10–06–019517–26–01952†Bill Vickroy8–15–01953†9–0–15–019546–2–14–0–11971†Roger Harring8–27–119739–27–11974†7–37–11975†8–37–11978†9–27–11980†8–26–219828–27–11986†10–27–1198912–27–1199110–27–11992Roger Harring/Roland Christensen*12–0–1‡6–0–1‡1993Roger Harring11–17–0199514–07–0199611–27–01999†7–46–12002Larry Terry7–46–1200310–26–120047–45–22022†Matt Janus9–26–1202311–27–0

† Co-champions

Undefeated regular seasons Wisconsin–La Crosse has finished the regular season undefeated ten times. Of the undefeated seasons, five (1918, 1927, 1932, 1940, 1942) were before playoffs existed. Two undefeated seasons (1950, 1953) resulted in invitations to the Cigar Bowl. In the playoff era, the Eagles finished the regular season undefeated three times (1992, 1993, 1995), winning the National Championship in 1992 and 1995, and losing in the quarterfinals in 1993.

+ Year Coach Final record1918Ray Keeler3–0–13–0–119275–0–25–0–21932Howard Johnson5–0–25–0–21940Clyde B. Smith6–06–019426–0–16–0–11950Clark Van Galder9–010–01953Bill Vickroy9–09–0–11992Roger Harring/Roland Christensen*8–0–1‡12–0–1‡1993Roger Harring10–011–1199510–014–0 ‡ The official record book does not reflect the game against the University of Wisconsin–Superior Yellowjackets scheduled for week 4 in 1992. After completing their non-conference schedule, Wisconsin–Superior suspended its season prior to conference play, before eventually dropping the football program altogether. The scheduled game officially went down in the record books as "cancelled" as opposed to a "forfeit". Superior hadn't beaten La Crosse since 1970. The Eagles were looking to extend their 21-game winning streak against the Yellowjackets prior to the cancellation.

* On October 7, 1992, Roger Harring suffered a heart attack that sidelined him for the remainder of the 1992 season. During Coach Harring's recovery, longtime Defensive Coordinator Roland Christensen took over as Interim Head Coach for the rest of the season, including the playoffs.

Postseason games Bowl games Before there were tournaments to crown a national champion, Wisconsin–La Crosse (then La Crosse State) played in the Cigar Bowl twice, winning once and tying once.

+ Date Bowl Coach Opponent Result RecordJanuary 1, 1951Cigar BowlClark Van GalderW 47–1410–0January 1, 1954Bill VickroyT 12–129–0–1

NCAA Division III playoffs The Eagles have found much of their post season success at the NCAA Division III level, making the tournament field 16 times, playing in the Stagg Bowl twice (winning both times) and compiling a 21–14 record.

+ Year Round Opponent Result Record1983QuarterfinalsOccidentalW 43–429–3–1SemifinalsAugustana (IL)L 15–211991RegionalsSimpsonW 28–1310–2QuarterfinalsSaint John's (MN)L 10–291992RegionalsRedlandsW 47–2612–0–1‡QuarterfinalsCentral (IA)W 34–9SemifinalsMount UnionW 29–24ChampionshipWashington & JeffersonW 16–121993RegionalsWartburgW 55–2611–1QuarterfinalsSaint John's (MN)L 25–471995RegionalsConcordia–MoorheadW 45–714–0QuarterfinalsWisconsin–River FallsW 28–14SemifinalsMount UnionW 20–17ChampionshipRowanW 36–71996RegionalsWisconsin–River FallsW 44–011–2QuarterfinalsSaint John's (MN)W 37–30SemifinalsMount UnionL 21–391999First RoundCentral (IA)L 17–387–42002First RoundCoeL 18–217–42003First RoundConcordia WisconsinW 52–1310–2Second RoundMount UnionL 14–392004First RoundSt. NorbertW 37–237–4Second RoundLinfieldL 14–522006First RoundBethel (MN)W 28–219–2Second RoundWisconsin–WhitewaterL 21–242021First RoundAlbionW 58–239–3Second RoundNorth Central (IL)L 20–342022First RoundWartburgL 6–149–22023First RoundMinnesota MorrisW 62–711–2Second RoundAuroraW 56–35QuarterfinalsNorth Central (IL)L 42–552024First RoundNorthwestern (MN)W 59–148–4Second RoundSaint John's (MN)L 13–242025Second Round HopeW 9–78–3Third RoundNorth Central (IL)L 27–35

NAIA Division I playoffs Wisconsin–La Crosse participated in the NAIA Division I playoffs on two occasions, finishing with an 0–2 record.

+ Year Round Opponent Result Record1973SemifinalsElonL 24–359–21978QuarterfinalsGrand Valley StateL 14–249–2

NAIA Division II playoffs Wisconsin–La Crosse was part of the NAIA Division II playoff field five times, reaching the championship game three times and winning the national championship once. In those five appearances they posted a 10–4 record.

+ Year Round Opponent Result Record1985QuarterfinalsCarroll (MT)W 24–011–1–2SemifinalsNorthwestern (IA)W 35–28 3OTChampionshipPacific LutheranW 24–71986QuarterfinalsHanoverW 35–3310–2SemifinalsBakerL 14–161988First RoundValley City StateW 31–611–3QuarterfinalsNorthwestern (IA)W 45–33SemifinalsOregon TechW 37–24ChampionshipWestminster (PA)L 14–211989First RoundWisconsin–Stevens PointW 30–2012–2QuarterfinalsNebraska WeslayanW 29–0SemifinalsBakerW 21–6ChampionshipWestminster (PA)L 30–511990First RoundPeru StateL 3–249–2

Ranked teams Starting in 1999 the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) began publishing rankings for Division III football. In 2003, D3football.com started publishing its own rankings for Division III football. Since the inception of both polls, Wisconsin–La Crosse has been ranked 11 times in the AFCA Coaches Poll and 9 times in the D3football.com poll to end the season. Additionally, while not being ranked in the Top 25 to end the season, Wisconsin–La Crosse has received votes (RV) in both polls two additional years.

+ Year Record1999N/A257–42002N/A227–420038710–2200413167–42006679–2201724258–22018RVRV7–32019RVRV7–3202111129–3202212119–220234411–2202421218–420258108–3

Border Battle From 1984 to 2000 the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, home to the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Golden Gophers, hosted games in November between WIAC team and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) team at the NCAA Division II level in what came to be known as the "Border Battle". The Eagles played at the Metrodome three times, and had a 2–1 record, beating Northern State in 2000 after splitting games with Minnesota Duluth in 1996 and 1999. +DateOpponentResultNovember 17, 1996L 3–17November 13, 1999W 22–21November 11, 2000W 20–14

Facilities From 1988 to 1999 the university hosted the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League for their preseason training camp. The Saints chose to use La Crosse to escape the extreme heat and humidity of Louisiana summers, as well as the great football facilities. Five other NFL teams used campuses across Wisconsin and Minnesota for training camp, in what was known as the Cheese League.

Notable former players Notable alumni include: Will Berzinski, NFL player Roman Brumm, NFL player George Dahlgren, NFL player Brian Gutekunst, NFL General Manager with the Green Bay Packers, Super Bowl champion (XLV) as a scout Roger Harring, high school and college football coach, 3× national champion (1985, 1992, 1995), inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (inducted in 2005) Don Kindt Jr., NFL player Craig Kusick, Major League Baseball player Craig Kusick Jr., Arena Football League player, Melberger Award winner (1995) Ace Loomis, NFL player Mike Maslowski, Arena Football League and NFL player Ric Mathias, NFL player Greg Mattison, high school, college, and NFL football coach, NCAA Division I national champion (2006) defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Tom Newberry, NFL player, 2× All-Pro (1988, 1989), 2× Pro Bowl (1989, 1990) Mike Schmidt, college football coach Bill Schroeder, NFL Europe and NFL player, Super Bowl champion (XXXI) Sam Siefkes, college and NFL football coach Cole Spieker, Canadian Football League player, Grey Cup champion (2023) Jeremy Unertl, Arena Football League, United Football League, Canadian Football League, and NFL Europe player, NFL Europe interceptions leader (2003) and World Bowl XI champion Joel Williams, NFL player, 1980 NFC sack leader Gary Zauner, college, United Football League and NFL football coach

References

External links