The famous football season of 1942 was a thrilling final fling—the Badger players, their opponents, and indeed most young men their age would soon be in other uniforms,
serving during World War II. Wisconsin had a host of star players, including Pat "Hit ’Em Again" Harder, Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, and two-time All-American Dave Schreiner, and they were
coached by Harry Stuhldreher (one of Notre Dame’s legendary "Four Horsemen"). They won one version of the national championship, awarded by the Helms Foundation. Author Terry Frei captures the
excitement of that 1942 season but also tells the story of how these young men then served their country in Okinawa, at the Battle of the Bulge, in aerial dogfights, and in POW camps. Not all
of them came home.
Frei is the son of 1942 Badger guard Jerry Frei, who became a P-38 fighter pilot and later a college and NFL coach. Through extensive research and interviews, Terry Frei
tells the stories of the 1942 Badgers with insight, humor, and respect.
Distributed for the Wisconsin Historical Society Press
