NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players: No. 80 - Bill McNamara, East

The East E-Rabs went just 3-11 in Bill McNamara's two seasons on the varsity, but the 80th-ranked player on our list was so impressive it earned him a scholarship to Wisconsin.

East went 2-5 in conference play in 1950 with McNamara playing center and defensive line, still McNamara was named second team All-Big Eight. In 1951, the E-Rabs were even worse, going 1-6, but McNamara was even better, repeating as All-Big Eight choice and also being named All-State by the Champaign News-Gazette.

At Wisconsin, McNamara was a key reserve in both 1953 and 1954. In 1954, McNamara had an interception against Northwestern and then recorded the game-ending tackle against Rice. Finally, in 1955, McNamara moved into the starting lineup and got a chance to show more fully what he could do. McNamara was named honorable mention All-Big Ten. The Badgers were 17-9 in McNamara's three years on varsity.

After college, McNamara served in the U.S. Air Force before returning to Rockford and becoming one of Rockford's better amateur golfers. 

No. 80 - Bill McNamara, East
Year	Level	School	Accomplishments	Points
1950	High School	East	Second Team All-Big Eight	1
1951	High School	East	First Team All-Big Eight	2
			All-State Selection	1
1952	College	Wisconsin	Freshman in Power 5 Conference	2
1953	College	Wisconsin	Letter Winner in Power 5 Conference	4
			Winning Team	1
1954	College	Wisconsin	Letter Winner in Power 5 Conference	4
			Winning Team	1
1955	College	Wisconsin	Letter Winner in Power 5 Conference	4
			Starter	1
			Honorable Mention All-Big 10	0.5
Total				21.5

NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players

Check out this old-timey Wisconsin Badgers football!