2023 Wisconsin Season Thread

[847badgerfan]

Very damning article. Rock bottom. The comments from team leaders say it all.

"We've Hit Rock Bottom:" Wisconsin Short On Answers After Northwestern Loss (247sports.com)
"We've Hit Rock Bottom:" Wisconsin Short On Answers After Northwestern Loss (247sports.com)


QB:

"I'm very embarrassed. It's very frustrating," said Mordecai. "I'm pretty emotional right now right after getting my ass handed to me. I'm frustrated. I don't know what to tell you."

"If you deem yourself a competitor, you better feel like this. Either play somewhere else or don't play the game at all."

Mordecai, who's only been in the program for 10 months, plans to stay on top of his teammates throughout the next two weeks of the regular season. When it comes to the little things such as being on time for practice, bringing energy, taking care of their bodies, etc., Mordecai took accountability for keeping his teammates "on task."

"I want to know who has a big give-a-shit factor in this program," he said. "I'll be paying attention to that."



SS:

"Our backs are up against the wall like they've never been before," Wohler said. "How many guys really do give a shit about this team, about this program, about this culture, about winning and losing, and about each other?

"There might be some weeding out we need to do. The things we have going on are not what Wisconsin football is. It's not what Wisconsin football represents. We have to find a way to get rid of some problems and come out with some solutions."

[Cincydawg]

If "being on time for practice" is even a consideration, this would be bad.

[847badgerfan]

Explains some of the benching we've see this season.

[Honestbuckeye]

Tough place to be.   Cliche, but it applies here.   Once you hit bottom, only way to go is up.  

[CatsbyAZ]

Pile on continues:

“The Badgers lost 24-10 to the Wildcats at home Saturday, and it was perhaps one of the worst performances of Wisconsin football that I’ve seen in decades.”

“The Badgers hired Fickell, and somehow got worse. The offense is a joke, the running game is nonexistent, star RB Braelon Allen doesn’t make any kind of impact, the passing game isn’t effective and the defense seems allergic to QB pressure for large chunks of time.”

“If this isn’t rock bottom as a Wisconsin fan, then I don’t know what is. I’m not just embarrassed for myself. I’m embarrassed for my dad and every other person who wears the red and white.”



https://twitter.com/Outkick/status/1723689601326596570

[FearlessF]

gonna be a helluva game Saturday

[Temp430]

Fickell is doing much better than Rich Rod did his first year at Michigan.

[Mdot21]

Fickell is doing much better than Rich Rod did his first year at Michigan.

yeah, it's way too early to make any judgement on Fickell. It's year 1 of a rebuild. I thought that Wisconsin would be better year 1 just because the West is so weak, but it's a complete rebuild with a new coach. It'll take some time. Can't make any real judgements until year 3 imo. 

RichRod would've been so much better off trying to keep Ryan Mallett around and running an Air Raid instead of trying to go full on read option spread. Or if he would've just landed Terrelle Pryor year 1 to run his system then maybe Michigan might not've sucked so hard year 1. 

[847badgerfan]

Coach Fickell (excerpts only - paywall):

Opening statement

“Don’t have much of a statement...That was embarrassing. I'll take the blame of it, for not having the guys ready in any phase of the game. There’s not a whole lot that can be said, or that I can say.

I’ll answer questions, but we need to figure out what we need to do to move forward.”


On how to find out who wants to be here

“We’ll find out this week.”

[847badgerfan]

I'm expecting 20-30 players hitting the portal when it opens.

[847badgerfan]

There is a good amount of credible chatter that Fickell will part ways with OC Phil Longo after the season.

[MrNubbz]

yeah, it's way too early to make any judgement on Fickell. It's year 1 of a rebuild. I thought that Wisconsin would be better year 1 just because the West is so weak, but it's a complete rebuild with a new coach. It'll take some time. Can't make any real judgements until year 3 imo.

THIS - NEED at least 3 full seasons to get a guage on things.They definitely don't need a revolving door up in Madison even in the era of the portal recruits want/need something solid to latch onto

[847badgerfan]

Not good.

[Honestbuckeye]

Not good.

No.  It’s not. Very unlike Wisconsin, very unlike a Fickel team.

Change in coaches, change in schemes, decimating injuries-  A lot to deal with at one time.  Give him time.