Wisconsin football is getting in an entirely brand-new age this season under coach Luke Fickell. The Badgers shocked the nation in 2015 by shooting long time coach Paul Chryst simply 5 video games into the season.
To Dan “Big Cat” Katz, host of Barstool Sports‘ Pardon My Take podcast and a Wisconsin alumnus, that signified that the school is ready to take risks to compete on a higher level. He argued that while the Badgers have been consistent over the past two or three decades, they’re seldom thought about a real danger for a nationwide title. But with this relocation, they’re intending to alter that.
“The last Wisconsin coach — football or men’s basketball — that was fired midseason, do you know the answer to that? It was Stan Van Gundy,” Katz informed On3‘s Andy Staples. “That’s what Wisconsin sports have actually been. It’s consistency. It’s sticking with the man. It’s offering the man a long ramp. It’s like, ‘we know what we are. We are a consistent 8-10 win season.’ Then every 4 or 5 years they win 11 video games and lose by a goal to Ohio State. That’s type of where Wisconsin has actually been.
“I am a big believer in enjoying the little things. Like, I know that Wisconsin is probably not gonna win the national title, but I enjoy the steps and the wins along the way and that’s what college football is about. The minute that (athletic director Chris) McIntosh fired Paul Chryst, I was like ‘this is changing. This doesn’t happen.’”
Katz explained how Wisconsin established its identity as a program under coach Barry Alvarez in the 1990s and early 2000s. After going 1-10 in his inaugural season, Alvarez went on to end up being the Badgers’ all-time winningest coach with a 118-75-4 all-time record that consists of 3 Rose Bowl triumphes.
Alvarez ended up being Wisconsin’s athletic director in 2004 and stepped down from training in 2005. He stayed the advertisement up until 2021 when McIntosh — a gamer under Alvarez from 1996-99 — took control of. However, Alvarez still resides in Madison and continues to have a significant say in both the hirings and shootings of coaches.
Katz thinks with this most recent relocation, McIntosh put his foot to do what he believed was best for the program moving on into a brand-new age of college sports.
“I think McIntosh said, ‘I love you Barry. I played for you. I played in Rose Bowls for you. But we’ve gotta go a different direction,” Katz said. “‘I’m gonna reveal the Badger fans that this is a line in the sand where this is a brand-new age and we need to start contending in a various method. Not the old manner in which has actually gotten us 8-10 wins however has actually never ever actually gotten us to the next level.’
“I think Luke Fickell gives you a chance. He’s proven it at Cincinnati. …They’re changing in the transfer portal and all these things that Luke Fickell is instilling. I couldn’t be more excited about the direction of Wisconsin. It feels like, for the first time in 20 years, I don’t know what to expect from this season and that’s fun.”
Fickell wasn’t the only modification for Wisconsin this offseason. The Badgers likewise saw 18 gamers get in the transfer website and included 13 transfers of their own to rank No. 8 in On3’s Team Transfer Portal Rankings. That consists of previous SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai and 4 brand-new receivers, consisting of previous USC wideout CJ Williams.
The Badgers likewise generated offending planner Phil Longo from North Carolina, which has actually resulted in some speculation about an Air Raid system in 2023. That would be a huge modification from Wisconsin’s previous ground-n-pound attack that has actually greatly counted on its running backs.
Although Katz thinks the Badgers will pass more than in previous seasons, nevertheless, he still sees them running the ball plenty. With Braelon Allen back following a 1,000-yard season and Chez Mellusi to back him up, there’s no factor they shouldn’t.
“I do not think it’s gonna be the Air Raid,” Katz said. “Phil Longo has had 1,000-yard rushers. I think it’s gonna be something you look at maybe like a Baylor and the success they’ve had recently. Something like that where it’s like, ‘we will pass, but more than anything we’re gonna spread you out and give our running backs a chance to beat you like boxes.’ I think that’s gonna have insane success. Braelon Allen doesn’t get talked enough about how special he is as a player. I’m so happy he stayed and it’s gonna be awesome.”
Ultimately, time well inform how the Luke Fickell age exercises for Wisconsin. But there’s a lot of optimism heading into 2023 as they were selected to win the Big Ten East department and contend for a conference title. That’s a video game they haven’t been to considering that 2019 and haven’t won considering that 2012, so if they can arrive it’d be a huge success.
The Badgers will begin the 2023 season on Sept. 2 versus Buffalo.
