In a recent sit-down interview with ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Fickell described the new look presented by OC Jeff Grimes as one that identifies where physicality starts but also allows the team to be multiple in its attack:
“I feel like it’s the identity that we need, and it’s not completely all the way old-school back, but I think the idea of being more multiple and truly understanding what physicality-first looks like is where we kind of came to,” said Fickell. “Whether it was Coach Grimes’ philosophy or his scheme or really just his personality. I think we’re in a good place. Obviously, we’ve got a ways to continue to grow, but I really do feel like we’ve got the identity that fits us, that gives us a chance to lean on our guys up front, but still be multiple enough to say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to be able to create big plays and create space and get down the field just maybe in some different ways’.”
Within that interview, Fickell also said the program is not backing down from the mountain to climb while also acknowledging there are still expectations that the Badgers will be relevant year in and year out. However, how the program does that in the 18-team, division-less era of Big Ten football remains to be seen.
