CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Four => Big Ten => Topic started by: 847badgerfan on November 30, 2025, 09:26:45 AM
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I'm getting sick and tired of posting these threads in November.
So, we're stuck with Fickell apparently. Biggest booster likes him and the AD. For a rich guy, he's pretty dumb.
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Link to 2025 thread:
https://www.cfb51.com/big-ten/2025-wisconsin-offseason-thread/ (https://www.cfb51.com/big-ten/2025-wisconsin-offseason-thread/)
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You started last year's in December.
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No shit. 2 days in.
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(https://i.imgur.com/NNNSLtF.png)
Losing 4* players is not ideal.
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Looks like there are going to be a lot of big losses to the portal, and we're seeing 4* decommitments too.
Why keep the M'Fer?
Why trust him to rebuild the trainwreck he helped to create?
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(https://i.pinimg.com/474x/3f/cf/d1/3fcfd1f95505ce67049129595e4c3153--adam-sandler-denver-broncos.jpg)
(https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.1fxHi8XrTEi6FOmZ2-MUzAHaJ4?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain&o=7&rm=3)
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Someone really likes shitting in my yard.
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Truth.
(https://i.imgur.com/j790p19.png)
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Why trust him to rebuild the trainwreck he helped to create?
Helped create!?!
He should have been gone after Maryland. As I've said before, I'll wait until another major development before I invest in being a Badger football fan. For now, I'm just angry at what McIntosh and Fickell have done to this program.
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Helped create!?!
He should have been gone after Maryland. As I've said before, I'll wait until another major development before I invest in being a Badger football fan. For now, I'm just angry at what McIntosh and Fickell have done to this program.
Yes, the downfall started under Chryst, by a) not having a recruiting staff for a whole year and b) hiring a bunch of coaches who had no prior experience at the position they were hired for.
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It's also on Macintosh - he started as AD in 2021.
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D2 GVSU transfer DT Jibriel Conde committed to Wisconsin on 11/29.
He flipped to Kansas last night.
Kansas.
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they all know ickel won't make it through the 26 season
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He didn't get that clue 2 days ago?
Probably wouldn't have gained admission.
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I'm fascinated by what goes through the heads of these recruits. Probably better not to read too much into it--but I'm worried about how teams can recruit against Wisconsin. It's a struggle to find the obvious upside case for choosing that program right now.
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$ is all they can offer, I guess, and Madison? Great education (do they even care anymore)?
Can't point toward obvious development. Can't point toward wins. Can't point toward coaching stability.
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The culture in Madison is the best selling point. That's not nothing. But it's not everything, either.
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Just lost a highly rated edge "commit" to Iowa.
Awesome.
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Great education (do they even care anymore)?
did they ever care?
not most football players - yes, a handful
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Based on my experience, I'd say more like 75 percent.
Today?
Based on what their majors are, I'd say at least 50 percent.
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who needs a decent major/degree
come out of college w/o student debt and oh by the way, perhaps a $ million or 3 in the bank account
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who needs a decent major/degree
come out of college w/o student debt and oh by the way, perhaps a $ million or 3 in the bank account
Do you really think all 85 are gonna come out with $1-3M in the bank?
I hope not.
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hell no, but it's more than 5
and it better be more than 10 if you want to win 10 games
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Yesterday, Wisconsin lost its top-rated (and only remaining 4*) recruit (RB Amari Latimer) to West Virginia.
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it was a tough day for the Badgers
but i do feel with the portal things can be supplemented pretty well going that route
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It's their only choice at this point. They need bodies and I think they will have portal losses too.
The kid who flipped to WVU is a package deal with his brother - UW's starting nickel. He's gone too, when the portal opens.
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I think we're going to see a lot of portal losses. I'll be stunned if Edwards comes back; I think it's more likely, but still not likely, that O'Neill comes back. I'll be surprised if we don't lose Kekahuna and probably other WRs. None of those guys got any good work this year. They have to be worried about whether that will change next fall. God only knows what happens with the O-Line. That's the unit that needs the most work and the recruiting class ain't looking good.
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The Saluki scout team might contain a few players that already have a good rapport with the qb.
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As if on cue, 1st WR to enter the portal (not officially, because the window isn't open yet) has been announced, Kyan Berry-Johnson, three years of remaining eligibility.
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I thought he'd be a good one. I wish we could find out.
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S Remington Moss is gone.
Brent's cousin.
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UW just bought out of playing Pitt next season. EMU instead. WTF.
fND is still on the schedule, in Green Bay.
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Turns out Pitt canceled. The ACC is going to 9 games next year.
Not sure why they would cancel an easy win.
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Got a new OL coach today. Worked with the OC at BYU and Baylor. Most recently Arkansas, who had one of the best OL in the country this year. Really good hire here.
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I'm wait and see, prove it on assistant coaches like I am head coaches
Huskers hired new OL coach and D coordinator
looking for a new DL coach
I'm simply happy they've noticed the trenches needed work - FINALLY
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I'm wait and see, prove it on assistant coaches like I am head coaches
Huskers hired new OL coach and D coordinator
looking for a new DL coach
I'm simply happy they've noticed the trenches needed work - FINALLY
Yeah, I can't remember the last hire that I thought, "what are they thinking!?!" They always seem to brief pretty well. I want wins. And that includes a quality offensive line. So prove it.
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PFSN CFB Team OL Impact (https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb-team-ol-rankings-impact/)
Arkansas football not retaining offensive line coach Eric Mateos | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - Arkansas' Best News Source (https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/dec/07/arkansas-football-not-retaining-offensive-line-coach-eric-mateos/)
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so, what didn't coach Ryan Silverfield like about him?
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Probably bringing his own guys.
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being loyal to their own guys has doomed many a head coach
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From 247:
(https://i.imgur.com/3MNTxSU.png)
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BOR - ING!
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4-8 is boring.
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Tell Fickell to fail in a more fun way. Any press is good press
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so, what didn't coach Ryan Silverfield like about him?
That’s one of those key spots where a lot of guys aren’t necessarily going to retain someone.
usually, you wanna retain one of those recruiting centric assistance who can help you keep some of the class together.
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so, he didn't have a nice class of Oline recruits coming in this year
oh well, the Badgers get plenty of great Oline recruits
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They are supposed to, but right now that's a gaping hole.
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(https://i.imgflip.com/aesak5.jpg)
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They are supposed to, but right now that's a gaping hole.
I think they have the players. I just think they need tough coaching rather than a buddy. Think Bostad.
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The report that Fickell is moving towards emphasizing the transfer portal, instead of high school recruiting, bothers me, particularly as it relates to the O-Line. That's a unit that should be trained up from the beginning of their college years, that starts mostly juniors and seniors...juniors and seniors who have been playing and practicing together since they got there as 18-year olds, not a bunch that is relearning their teammates every season.
Call me old fashioned, but the O-Line is probably the most important position for continuity.
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yup, Huskers brought in a tackle that started for bama in 24 and a guard that started for ND in 24
still no Oline performance
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The report that Fickell is moving towards emphasizing the transfer portal, instead of high school recruiting, bothers me, particularly as it relates to the O-Line. That's a unit that should be trained up from the beginning of their college years, that starts mostly juniors and seniors...juniors and seniors who have been playing and practicing together since they got there as 18-year olds, not a bunch that is relearning their teammates every season.
Call me old fashioned, but the O-Line is probably the most important position for continuity.
The only reason he's looking so hard at the portal right now is because he completely whiffed on the 2026 class and lost a lot of commitments at the very end. Any reports otherwise are FoS.
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The report that Fickell is moving towards emphasizing the transfer portal, instead of high school recruiting, bothers me, particularly as it relates to the O-Line. That's a unit that should be trained up from the beginning of their college years, that starts mostly juniors and seniors...juniors and seniors who have been playing and practicing together since they got there as 18-year olds, not a bunch that is relearning their teammates every season.
Call me old fashioned, but the O-Line is probably the most important position for continuity.
I mean, he's emphasizing the thing that'll help him keep his job, and because of the job stuff, his class melted down, so they have the spots.
It's too bad he'll leave a bare cupboard for Eck, but what can you do?
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he'll spend a bunch of money in the portal too
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If he has it. I have my doubts.
Wisconsinites are a cheap lot.
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ya don't get much in the portal w/o the coin
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It has shown.
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Well then Eck will be the next Luke Fickell.
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Eck is a former Badger OL.
Nothing at all like the 3B buckeye reject.
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If he has it. I have my doubts.
Wisconsinites are a cheap lot.
they ain't cheap, they just have no money cause they spend all their money on alcohol.
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They certainly don't have a lot of money if they are spending it all on Pabst and E&J Brandy.
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don't forget the cheese curds, brats, and fish fries
New Glarus is way more expensive than PBR
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(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J93IkqHNvk8/sddefault.jpg)
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well, I absolutely love cheese on my burger - rarely have a burger w/o cheese but,..........
I don't want the cheese to be thicker than the burger - not even good Wisconsin cheese over poor Wisconsin dairy cow beef
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I wouldn't eat that. I do like Culver's. We have one nearby. I go a couple times a year.
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Eck is a former Badger OL.
Nothing at all like the 3B buckeye reject.
It would be career suicide for anyone to take a job in this conference that operates on a shoestring budget. That's why the AD tried to pass around the collection plate midseason.
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Supposedly that is changing.
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ya gonna hire Dollar Bill Byrne?
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Ted Kellner and others gonna step up with more cash.
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This is good. Lead writer for UW at Rivals/On3.
(https://i.imgur.com/0D7KydE.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/1Q6PP6g.jpeg)
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How do Badgers fans feel about player retention? The coaching staff, or perhaps the Badgers' NIL program, do not feel strongly about retaining their players:
Here is a list of Wisc. transfer portal transfers:
Wisconsin (https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/uw/2025/12/09/wisconsin-football-transfer-portal-tracker-whos-coming-whos-going/87692848007/)
- LB Christian Alliegro
- TE Tucker Ashcraft
- WR Kyan Berry-Johnson
- P Atticus Bertrams
- LB Tackett Curtis
- WR Joseph Griffin Jr.
- WR Eugene Hilton Jr. (https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/uw/2025/12/22/wisconsin-badgers-receiver-eugene-hilton-jr-will-enter-transfer-portal/87884893007/)
- RB Dilin Jones
- WR Trech Kekahuna
- CB Geimere Latimer
- S Remington Moss
- LB Cody Raymond
- OL Jake Renfro
- EDGE Angel Toombs
- LB Antarron Turner
- RB Cade Yacamelli
- Wisconsin football transfer portal tracker. Who's going, arriving (https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/uw/2025/12/09/wisconsin-football-transfer-portal-tracker-whos-coming-whos-going/87692848007/)
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2/3 real losses on that list IMO.
They were 4-8. Many have been asked to look elsewhere.
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2/3 real losses on that list IMO.
They were 4-8. Many have been asked to look elsewhere.
Billy Edwards, Jr. entered the transfer portal on 12/29/2025.
In 2024, Edwards ranked second in the Big Ten with 261.9 passing yards per game.
With a developmental program, my opinion is you recruit and develop players. That said, Curt Cignetti has taken the approach of hiring players later in their collegiate career, which is what Luke Fickell has been doing, without success. It has worked for Indiana; it has not worked for Wisconsin.
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ickell goes for STARZ.
Cignetti goes for production.
ickell just lost his RB coach, to Michigan State.
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Badgers got their top QB, top RB, top CB, top WR and top TE.
Donors really stepped up in Madison this time around.
Now... coaching. Gotta keep going on that.
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Badgers got their top QB, top RB, top CB, top WR and top TE.
Donors really stepped up in Madison this time around.
Now... coaching. Gotta keep going on that.
I see the QB. Who else did they get?
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RB from Iowa St.
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Well, if he fails, he lacks an excuse.
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Bryce West going from OSU to Wiscy. Didn't see that coming
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(https://i.imgur.com/1Q6PP6g.jpeg)
Hey-Hey-Hey, Factory of Sadness is our Title,come up with your own tag
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That’s a good pick up. Good player who was likely going to be starter at nickel next season.
Disappointing that both he and Aaron Scott left, as the both likely woul be starter in 26. I think they were mad because they were passed up this season for playing time by 5 Star true freshmen Devin Sanchez.
That plus more money. NIL is crazy.
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wisconsin payin more than Ohio St.????
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They are having to over pay...
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They are having to over pay...
The days of a team ( yes, even a Helmet team like Ohio State) building quality depth through HS recruiting and development- are over.
guys like this - who would start in most P4 teams in their sophomore year- are not going to wait around and can optimize their income on top of that.
I don’t blame them. It’s the game now. Not the player.
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OSU just signed Wisconsin's top LB?
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OSU just signed Wisconsin's top LB?
Kind of?
he got jumped on the depth chart by a couple of other guys. There were some rumblings he would be part of her rotation, or contribute some at a different position, but he didn’t seem to want that.
we might be wrong, but Wisconsin fans generally seem a little sad at the news, but not particularly busted up. (granted, a lot of players like that have left Madison the past few years and done pretty well at their next stop)
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We swapped players w Wisconsin. They got Bryce West- who almost certainly would have been the starter at nickel next year.
We got a tough, experienced LB from them who will almost certainly get snaps in every game he is healthy.
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win/win
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We swapped players w Wisconsin. They got Bryce West- who almost certainly would have been the starter at nickel next year.
We got a tough, experienced LB from them who will almost certainly get snaps in every game he is healthy.
Based on the current roster, I can live with this
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Too many missed assignments for my liking. Maybe he'll do better in CBus. Meanwhile...
(https://i.imgur.com/KBjsnpM.jpeg)
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"Roll Badgers"???? :smiley_confused1:
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It's "GO RED"
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It's "GO RED"
Is it now?
(https://i.imgur.com/IUmvKRk.png)
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always was when I was in Madison, but now????
maybe that's what Ickel has up his tattered sleeve
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Graphic designers don't know dick from rick.
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Roll badgers!
(https://i.imgur.com/ba6eCVq.png)
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UW reducing price of season tickets for 2026. Sure, there are only 6 (instead of 7) home games, but there's also a reduced demand thanks to the poor product on the field.
I've largely avoided any of the portal and recruiting news. I don't care. Prove to me that the team is better. That can only happen in the fall.
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31 players added, and counting. How do you build a culture doing this?
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ask Cignetti
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I would wager that Cignetti knows all of his players' names, unlike the clown in Madison.
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Cignetti's Hypesman QB knew all the players names and faces before he got to campus from Cal
Mendoza also memorized all the Hypesman winners names that were in NYC before he got there
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Chancellor Mnookin announced that she is leaving Wisconsin at the end of the semester to go to Columbia University. I suspect this will give McIntosh and Fickell even more rope because the new chancellor is unlikely to have much time in grade by the end of the next football season. Great.
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Chancellor Mnookin announced that she is leaving Wisconsin at the end of the semester to go to Columbia University. I suspect this will give McIntosh and Fickell even more rope because the new chancellor is unlikely to have much time in grade by the end of the next football season. Great.
The first question is obviously gonna be who this chancellor is and what their vision is.
Like, you can make Mac fire Fickell if it goes sideways. Which is the way you’ll probably have to do it.
Ironically, if the team does better, that potentially puts Mac in a worse spot.
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Donna Shalala.
Please?
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At 84, I think she's a little past her prime. But someone like her? Absolutely.
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All she has to do is show up and fix football. Hell, make her the AD.
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about the same age as Dr. Osborne
he seems to still have his wits about him
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Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell, at his request, was not among the coaches to receive a customary one-year extension from the school's athletic board Wednesday as he focuses on improved results in 2026.
The university awards the extensions to keep coaches' contracts at their original lengths.
Athletic director Chris McIntosh, in a statement to ESPN, said Fickell asked him not to put the extension on the table. Fickell received one-year extensions in 2023 and 2024, with his contract currently running through March 2032.
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He knows how hot his seat is.
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at his request
sure, sure
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Nobody believes this. PR stunt to appease the fan base. Fail.
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Or he doesn't want to stay one year longer.
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Doesn't matter what he wants. He's got one more year to improve. If not, he and the AD are gone. A new Chancellor is coming in.
Hopefully it's this guy:
President Announcement – UO’s 19th President (https://www.uoregon.edu/president-19)
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Wisconsin is trying to flip QB Jack Sorgi from Louisville.
No word on Rob Reynolds' kid going to OSU yet.
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Wisconsin is trying to flip QB Jack Sorgi from Louisville.
No word on Rob Reynolds' kid going to OSU yet.
OK, that made me laugh and I have some highlights to watch.
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Apparently Sorgi has some wheels. Old man was a statue!
Elite 11 Indianapolis intel: Top 2027 quarterbacks closing in on decisions (https://247sports.com/longformarticle/elite-11-indianapolis-recruiting-intel-on-eight-top-2027-quarterbacks--275958676/#2797422)
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Was his mother a track star?
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No idea.
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Spring ball started this morning. I'm happy.
https://twitter.com/BadgerFootball/status/2034642899292340728 (https://twitter.com/BadgerFootball/status/2034642899292340728)
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geez, we're a week from being done
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8 2027 commitments, all from in-state.
(https://i.imgur.com/K6lRPa7.png)
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Maybe they can get a guy who loves the Badgers.
Exclusive: Universities of Wisconsin leaders looking to oust system president who refuses to quit | AP News (https://apnews.com/article/university-wisconsin-president-jay-rothman-resign-22ace7c0254dcc6981727e003a9d0442)
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AD Chris McIntosh moving into a job with the Big Ten.
UW fans are feelin' real good about it.
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that sure doesn't sound lateral.
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AD Chris McIntosh moving into a job with the Big Ten.
UW fans are feelin' real good about it.
I'll take "Screwing up the Big Ten even more for $100", Alex.
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UW also needs a Chancellor as the current one is off to Columbia soon.
Not gonna be easy, but they need to pull a Donna Shalala, who hires a Pat Richter, who hires a Barry Alvarez.
I'm not asking for much.
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I'm not sad. The new person needs to fix football. Maybe that's already in process, but I'll believe it when I see it.
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I think the regents first need to start here:
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier Biography | Office of the Chancellor | Vanderbilt University (https://www.vanderbilt.edu/chancellor/biography-diermeier/)
Probably a long shot, but maybe he'd like the challenge of leading a large public with a huge research budget.
He cares about sports.
Might not be a "fit" in Madison, if you will.
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Who knew the Hawkeyes would become the neighborhood bully 5-years ago?
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It has more to do with the demise of Wisconsin under terrible leadership than it has anything to do with Iowa becoming a bully.
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I think we now might know why Mac was pushed out. This guy is very well connected to the hoops program and is a mod at 247.
(https://i.imgur.com/Kzxgz4i.png)
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It has more to do with the demise of Wisconsin under terrible leadership than it has anything to do with Iowa becoming a bully.
I understand the reason Iowa has become the neighborhood bully which includes Wisconsin flailing. Iowa is in the center of Iowa State, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin which we regard as rivalries. Now Iowa State has lost Matt Campbell. Will Iowa's regional dominance strengthen?
Is there evidence that Wisconsin will improve significantly in 2026?
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No evidence. Show me.
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The Badgers have landed 3 players in the portal thus far, and have lost 2 players.
This is guy @MaximumSam (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=2269) will like. I like him too - I hear he's a real glue guy.
https://twitter.com/BadgerMBB/status/2045639204017770753 (https://twitter.com/BadgerMBB/status/2045639204017770753)
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This is good.
Jack Sorgi, Tri-West, Quarterback (https://247sports.com/player/jack-sorgi-46159348/)
BREAKING: Wisconsin stays red hot on recruiting trail, adding QB legacy Jack Sorgi (https://247sports.com/college/wisconsin/board/23/contents/breaking-wisconsin-stays-red-hot-on-recruiting-trail-adding-qb-legacy-jack-sorgi-276766987/?page=1)
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Good neck length for Reynolds to work with.
https://twitter.com/SorgiFam/status/2047685447984251293 (https://twitter.com/SorgiFam/status/2047685447984251293)
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I do not live close to there, but I would be extremely fascinated to go to one of his high school games.
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No evidence. Show me.
100% this.
I'm paying less attention to Spring practice reports than I normally do, and I'm dreading the preseason write ups in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that glow over all the talent and potential the team has going into a much softer schedule than the last two years.
Don't care.
Win games.
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this is how husker fans feel after season 3 of Rhule
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this is how husker fans feel after season 3 of Rhule
Y'all have been in purgatory since 2001.
We're not used this shit.
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usually after season 3 for any of them since 2003 - honeymoon's over - show us with wins - at least 9
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100% this.
I'm paying less attention to Spring practice reports than I normally do, and I'm dreading the preseason write ups in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that glow over all the talent and potential the team has going into a much softer schedule than the last two years.
Don't care.
Win games.
I feel like spring and preseason practice are their own magic form of theater. But no one comes back from them and says “these guys are bums.”
I go in hoping for the best. And I’m happy they have a few early body bags and 3-4 weeks before the existential dread hits.
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I feel like spring and preseason practice are their own magic form of theater. But no one comes back from them and says “these guys are bums.”
I go in hoping for the best. And I’m happy they have a few early body bags and 3-4 weeks before the existential dread hits.
Week 1 is not a body bag, although it would be nice.
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Week 1 is not a body bag, although it would be nice.
Well, that’s a game that feels to me like it could be mostly upside.
if they are competitive, and the quarterback doesn’t get hurt, you don’t feel bad coming out of it.
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Been a LONG time since I've said
"I'll be happy with a bowl game."
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Been a LONG time since I've said
"I'll be happy with a bowl game."
Last year feels a long time ago to me.
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I was in my early 20's.
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Been a LONG time since I've said
"I'll be happy with a bowl game."
hah!
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Of course.
https://twitter.com/CBartWSJ/status/2047875285547196483 (https://twitter.com/CBartWSJ/status/2047875285547196483)
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Of course.
https://twitter.com/CBartWSJ/status/2047875285547196483 (https://twitter.com/CBartWSJ/status/2047875285547196483)
Yeah, but Fickell is a recruiter, so just you wait …
(But like, don’t hold your breath)
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That sounds like a Ruhl problem to me.
And the UNL thread is somewhere other than here!
:96:
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Wisconsin has a lot of billionaire donors who don't give a shit about athletics.
University Of Wisconsin Receives $100 Million For Its New AI College (https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2026/04/28/university-of-wisconsin-receives-100-million-for-its-new-ai-college/?fbclid=IwZnRzaARe3Y9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeZFYM4Topwv9xEYxF1Tkn4BWtISm1qm4-9Ia8lI6GotIER5_CFqmG_bW5Sp8_aem_XvQCuufuQPnCR6UhE6h7Yw)
And so many more.
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most colleges do
UNL might have a little bit higher percentage that give a shit, but the big guy that seems to care a little, (Buffet) doesn't care enuff to donate
at least publically
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This never gets old. One guy. 3 downs. 3 sacks.
https://twitter.com/B1Gfootball/status/2051682220448899541 (https://twitter.com/B1Gfootball/status/2051682220448899541)
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That game was fun.
Too bad it didn’t come together for him health-wise.
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That game was fun.
Too bad it didn’t come together for him health-wise.
All the games were a lot more fun back then.
:'(
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All the games were a lot more fun back then.
:'(
I mean, we just got a lot more of the Iowa and NW games from that year … but with worse defense and at a higher price.
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I'd rather see a new Chancellor in place before they hire a new AD. But things in Madison are always backwards, or at best, sideways.
https://twitter.com/ESPNRittenberg/status/2054204408926294084 (https://twitter.com/ESPNRittenberg/status/2054204408926294084)
UW-Madison launches search for next director of athletics – UW–Madison News (https://news.wisc.edu/uw-madison-launches-search-for-next-director-of-athletics/)
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good luck
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Wonder if that speaks to an expectation of a less powerful Chancellor an expected long chancellor search.
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In order to get an accurate assessment of teams heading into 2026, Athlon asked coaches in the Big Ten to talk anonymously about their opponents.
Note: These scouting reports come directly from coaching staffs, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Athlon’s editorial staff.
WISCONSIN
“They scored 81 points in nine conference games. I don’t care who your quarterback is. That speaks to a lot of bigger issues than just the quarterback position. There are teams in the conference who could not throw a single pass and score more than nine points per game. It also speaks to, defensively, your ability to make turnovers, and special teams, your ability to make kicks. I thought it was a whole package thing.”
“Truthfully, I was surprised that both Wisconsin and Maryland decided to run it back with their head coaches. I wasn’t really impressed with either one of those teams. It almost felt like they didn’t really know who the next guy was gonna be, so they decided they’d rather have a year to prepare a move like that.”
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There is a reason (and reasons) the AD is gone.
Is this the last year for ickell?
It amazes me that he managed to hire 5 new coaches into this shitshow.
Has he been told by someone other than the AD that he is safe?
It's hard to understand.
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WISCONSIN
There are teams in the conference who could not throw a single pass and score more than nine points per game...I thought it was a whole package thing.
“Truthfully, I was surprised that...Wisconsin...decided to run it back...It almost felt like they didn’t really know who the next guy was gonna be, so they decided they’d rather have a year to prepare a move like that.”
Those coaches were watching the same team that I was.
"Truthfully, I was surprised," too. I think McIntosh thought that his job was tied to Fickell's, so he needed to try to get Fickell to work out. There should be a lot more "investment" this year, and a much easier schedule. If there isn't significant improvement on the field, the new AD will have all the cover needed to move on.
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In order to get an accurate assessment of teams heading into 2026, Athlon asked coaches in the Big Ten to talk anonymously about their opponents.
Note: These scouting reports come directly from coaching staffs, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Athlon’s editorial staff.
WISCONSIN
“They scored 81 points in nine conference games. I don’t care who your quarterback is. That speaks to a lot of bigger issues than just the quarterback position. There are teams in the conference who could not throw a single pass and score more than nine points per game. It also speaks to, defensively, your ability to make turnovers, and special teams, your ability to make kicks. I thought it was a whole package thing.”
“Truthfully, I was surprised that both Wisconsin and Maryland decided to run it back with their head coaches. I wasn’t really impressed with either one of those teams. It almost felt like they didn’t really know who the next guy was gonna be, so they decided they’d rather have a year to prepare a move like that.”
Terrible QBs, bad O line, unimpressive RBs outside one who got hurt. That’s a bad recipe.
Tight ends were decent enough and receivers were talented, but hard to get a read on.
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Those coaches were watching the same team that I was.
"Truthfully, I was surprised," too. I think McIntosh thought that his job was tied to Fickell's, so he needed to try to get Fickell to work out. There should be a lot more "investment" this year, and a much easier schedule. If there isn't significant improvement on the field, the new AD will have all the cover needed to move on.
If he actually thought that was true, it would’ve been a real sign he was a lost case. Getting a restart could’ve given him more runway. But it sounded like he just wouldn’t give up the idea it could work.
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AXE Game on a Friday. I never thought that would happen.
(https://i.imgur.com/9x5GPzK.jpeg)
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black Friday after Thanksgiving is OK
Huskers/Hawks got the dreaded morning time slot
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I want the Badgers and Rodents back to October, at Noon (11), where it belongs.
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2nd Saturday before Texas/Oklahoma?
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I liked the third Saturday best.
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I’d forgotten how much the Minnesota game used to jump around. I rather like it this way, even if the current run of non-success makes for a shitty end of the regular season.
I wonder if Minnesota and Iowa fans miss their season finale history.
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I’d forgotten how much the Minnesota game used to jump around. I rather like it this way, even if the current run of non-success makes for a shitty end of the regular season.
I wonder if Minnesota and Iowa fans miss their season finale history.
I would be happy ending with either Iowa or Nebraska.
Ya know what else?
Wisconsin ain't losing to the Goophs if it were the last game in 1993. And we all know what that could have meant.
Damn rodents roached the season.
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Speaking as someone who has to travel to go to that game, but would really like to attend, Thanksgiving weekend is essentially the worst possible time for it.
But I understand that many alumni live pretty close to Madison and Minneapolis (although that's rapidly changing for the Badgers, who are now only about half from Wisconsin).
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I'm not sure if this belongs in the grumpy thread. Or death of CFB thread. It was only a matter of time.
https://twitter.com/UWBadgers/status/2071934376279933023 (https://twitter.com/UWBadgers/status/2071934376279933023)
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more than ever, it takes $$$ to win
it's a small patch -
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more than ever, it takes $$$ to win
it's a small patch -
The first of many, in my thinking.
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bigger patch - bigger money!
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:smiley_confused1:
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:smiley_confused1:
They F'ing did it. I can't believe this shit.
Next thing he'll do is hire Mike Riley.
Report: Wisconsin set to hire Shawn Eichorst as new athletic director
(https://247sports.com/college/wisconsin/board/23/contents/report-wisconsin-set-to-hire-shawn-eichorst-as-new-athletic-director--288064263/?page=1)We're screwed.
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Eichorst was a train wreck in Lincoln
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I like their milkshakes
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I like their milkshakes
Try the cheese curds.
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I'm not supporting the Badgers
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This is just super.
https://twitter.com/JacobABigelow/status/2071975824870543494 (https://twitter.com/JacobABigelow/status/2071975824870543494)
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(https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/14/142946/3981533-6503022817-39686.gif)
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Husker fans are loving this on social media
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F them.
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F Eichorst
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That too.
Has UNL gotten better in anything since he was fired? Hoops for sure, yes?
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pretty much everything
__________________________
The University of Nebraska Athletic Department continued its climb, earning a 17th place finish in the 2025-26 Division I Learfield Directors’ Cup standings released Thursday morning.
Nebraska finished the year with 929.00 total points, the most points Nebraska has scored in the Big Ten era dating back to 2011-12. The Huskers’ 17th place finish matches the program’s best showing since a 13th place finish in 2000-01.
Under Athletic Director Troy Dannen, Nebraska has posted top-25 finishes in the last three years, the first time that has happened in more than two decades (2000-01 to 2002-03). It also marks the fourth consecutive straight year where Nebraska has improved in the final rankings. In 2021-22, NU was 49th and has steadily improved to 29th, 22nd, 21st and now 17th.
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Yeah, but how many Big Ten West titles?
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I look at a Wisconsin AD as having to get football, basketball (M&W), hockey (M&W) and volleyball right.
Everything else is gravy.
Right now, it seems M basketball is stable. W basketball is improving. Volleyball and hockey (M&W) are doing great.
Now, and most important, football. That area sucks.
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Eichorst fired Bo and hired Mike Riley (2015–2017): He compiled a 19-19 overall record during his three seasons with the Cornhuskers. His tenure was highlighted by a 9-4 season in 2016, which included a 6-3 mark in Big Ten play and a victory in the Foster Farms Bowl. He was dismissed after a 4-8 campaign in 2017
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Eichorst was under a lot of delusional fan pressure to fire Bo Peep, correct?
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Bo and Shawn didn't get along
Bo didn't take any shit from his boss
probably told Shawn to F off every chance he got
plenty of fans didn't like Bo, but I feel like it was Eichorst's decision
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Don’t like this.
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Eichorst was under a lot of delusional fan pressure to fire Bo Peep, correct?
Wasn’t it because he was simultaneously a nightmare of an employee and seemingly a guy that plateaued? And having a defense fall apart when you’re the defensive guy?
(Like, I could agree it was delusional in a larger sense, but the coach went out and made it easier)
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I want the Badgers' football, basketball, volleyball, and hockey to win...but that has to include football. I don't care what the names are; I care about the results. And this fall when I go to Wisconsin, I'm going to watch the Packers, not the Badgers. That's a first in the 30 years I've been an alumnus. That suggests something about my opinion of the state of the football program.
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That's sad.
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Well, it's not that sad, unless you're a Bears or Vikings fan, in which case...that's sad.
:)
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I am a Bears fan, but it's sad to me that you are skipping Camp Randall.
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Our genius head coach gave media day talks in which he explained how very different the last nine months have been. PROVE IT. This is my least favorite preseason in a long time. I almost don't care at all what anyone says about the 2026 Badgers--just about everything anyone says (in the media) annoys me. I'm waiting to see results.
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30 new players from the transfer portal.
All we cheer for now is the jersey - minus the few homegrown kids who turn out.
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Read on the Rivals site that the Wisconsin payroll for this season is $32-33 Million, up from about $10 Million last season.
Very reliable writer there.
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every little bit helps
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Not surprising at all.
Football season tickets are at their lowest since before Barry Alvarez walked into Madison.
Only the student section sold out, and they don't show up until halftime, and they leave after the 3rd Quarter (after Jump Around).
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Haven’t been able to show much in years. Gotta fix that.
I was laughing a bit because a national writer said upon watching and early game with the current staff it was clear they didn’t have the prices base on the receiver talent.
Every one of the receivers eventually became a good to very good college pass-catcher.
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Not surprising at all.
Football season tickets are at their lowest since before Barry Alvarez walked into Madison.
Only the student section sold out, and they don't show up until halftime, and they leave after the 3rd Quarter (after Jump Around).
Season ticket sales down 20% over the last two years. Makes sense. And unacceptable.
And my prediction is the team goes 7-5, plays in a crappy bowl game, and the new AD tells everyone that this is a sign of progress, so the Fickell show will continue. Sigh. Could go 8-4 with a win over Minnesota, and Fickell could still deserve to be fired. With four Big Ten games at camp Randall, USC is the only team that is likely to be ranked (Michigan State, USC, Rutgers, Minnesota), and the Badgers should at least have a winning record in their conference home games. If they go 2-2, that would be a serious indictment.
At the 7-5 rate (or even 8-4), the season ticket sales probably don't drop any more, but also don't rebound much, if at all.
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I don't think 7-5 gets it done - especially if 2 out of those 7 aren't Iowa and Minnesota.
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Yeah, I think the Minnesota game in Madison could decide his fate. Honestly, if it's in question at that point of the season, his fate should have already been decided, but I doubt that will be the case. I think Badger fans need to get used to mediocre football for the next few years. We'll see how the season ticket sales go.
Made me relook the last few coaches' seasons because I know we had plenty of mediocre seasons under them, but...
Bielema had two rough seasons at the beginning (after a 12-1 season), but put Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship discussion for four of his seven seasons. Losses to Northwestern were his achilles heel. And I'm really curious to know more about what happened in 2012.
Chryst was a beast to start. His first five years may have been the best five-year stretch in Wisconsin history (but for not winning the Rose Bowl). And then he cratered with/after COVID. I'm curious to know what would have happened if he hadn't been fired. I was led to believe it was the right choice at the time, but man, we haven't gotten anything for it.
Going all the way back to Alvarez, he had some stinkers in there, but by and large, teams that came to Camp Randall knew they were in for a battle, even when the team's record wasn't that good. And the three Rose Bowl wins, as well as his final Capital One Bowl, are hard to argue with. Oh, and he rebuilt the program from the ashes into the beast that people looked up to for the better part of 25 years.
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Jeebus, I'm re-looking this, and Chyrst had one bad year: Covid. The 9-4 season the next year wasn't glorious, but it did include a 7-game win streak and a bowl win over Arizona State. The Penn State loss looked worse as the season when on, but the Badgers going 9-4 with losses to end-of-year #3 Michigan, #8 Notre Dame, and away to 9-4 Minnesota doesn't look that bad.
Revisiting his firing the next season...that was insane. Sure, he should not have lost at home to Washington State, and the Illinois game looked bad, but it's not hard to believe that without his firing, the team might have won, instead of losing, the double overtime game in East Lansing, which would have resulted in an 8-5 year, and a 5-4 season in the Big Ten. Great? No. End of the world? Absolutely not. Even if the year ended the same: 7-6, not end of the world. Certainly no worse than Barry's 2000-2003 stretch, or Bielema's 2007-08.
I know the thinking is that he was no longer recruiting, but could he have turned it around? Alvarez did during the stretch I mentioned.
Wild.
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I don't think 7-5 gets it done - especially if 2 out of those 7 aren't Iowa and Minnesota.
I want this to be true, but I’m a little skeptical is.
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Jeebus, I'm re-looking this, and Chyrst had one bad year: Covid. The 9-4 season the next year wasn't glorious, but it did include a 7-game win streak and a bowl win over Arizona State. The Penn State loss looked worse as the season when on, but the Badgers going 9-4 with losses to end-of-year #3 Michigan, #8 Notre Dame, and away to 9-4 Minnesota doesn't look that bad.
Revisiting his firing the next season...that was insane. Sure, he should not have lost at home to Washington State, and the Illinois game looked bad, but it's not hard to believe that without his firing, the team might have won, instead of losing, the double overtime game in East Lansing, which would have resulted in an 8-5 year, and a 5-4 season in the Big Ten. Great? No. End of the world? Absolutely not. Even if the year ended the same: 7-6, not end of the world. Certainly no worse than Barry's 2000-2003 stretch, or Bielema's 2007-08.
I know the thinking is that he was no longer recruiting, but could he have turned it around? Alvarez did during the stretch I mentioned.
Wild.
It seems like a “soft skills” firing, which made sense at the time. And the fact his teams had been relying on the side of the ball that wasn’t his specialty for those last two-plus years.
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Season ticket sales down 20% over the last two years. Makes sense. And unacceptable.
And my prediction is the team goes 7-5, plays in a crappy bowl game, and the new AD tells everyone that this is a sign of progress, so the Fickell show will continue. Sigh. Could go 8-4 with a win over Minnesota, and Fickell could still deserve to be fired. With four Big Ten games at camp Randall, USC is the only team that is likely to be ranked (Michigan State, USC, Rutgers, Minnesota), and the Badgers should at least have a winning record in their conference home games. If they go 2-2, that would be a serious indictment.
At the 7-5 rate (or even 8-4), the season ticket sales probably don't drop any more, but also don't rebound much, if at all.
How much does Fickell's buyout go down to after this season? Last time I looked it was still going to be bigger than their payroll this season.
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Coach Dad went a year without a recruiting department, was very lazy in his coaching searches, lost touch with the fanbase, and started losing games.
It was time.
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How much does Fickell's buyout go down to after this season? Last time I looked it was still going to be bigger than their payroll this season.
It drops by something like $6.2 million. So it’ll be about $19 million next year.
Buyout world is wild.
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Coach Dad went a year without a recruiting department, was very lazy in his coaching searches, lost touch with the fanbase, and started losing games.
It was time.
I wonder if a better A.D. could’ve found a way to build up infrastructure around him. But either way, he wouldn’t have been able to function in the current era.
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How much does Fickell's buyout go down to after this season? Last time I looked it was still going to be bigger than their payroll this season.
Doesn't matter.
Ticket revenue is down about $15-18 Million from where it was two years ago. Not to mention the donations.
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I wonder if a better A.D. could’ve found a way to build up infrastructure around him. But either way, he wouldn’t have been able to function in the current era.
His AD couldn't function in this era either. That's why he bailed.
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I'm really curious to know more about what happened in 2012.
Biggest thing? Bert lost his offensive staff and didn't get along with his new staff. Biggest mistake was hiring Mike Markuson at OL coach. 3 games in he was fired and replaced by graduate assistant Bart Miller. That move saved the season, so to speak.
Interestingly, Miller is now the OL coach for Bert, at Illinois.
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Yeah, I remember everything said about Chryst at the time, but I expected the team to improve following his firing. It did not. Under Leonhard, maybe, but honestly, maybe not. It's not as though it was a complete turnaround. They won games they would have been expected to win, and lost games they would have been expected to lose--except for the Michigan State game, which they lost. I wonder--which is purely hypothetical, of course--if Chryst would have been capable of righting the ship, because when he was on, he was really on. Those first five years were amazing.
And 2012...interesting. Was Brett's foot already out the door? I recall whispers about drinking too much and carousing with the coeds, which might well have been related to Mrs. Bielema not loving Madison. Backfield with Ball, White, and Gordon. Stave under center. Inexcusable loss to Oregon State at home, then lost to Nebraska, to start 3-2, but with the three wins over garbage teams. The loss to Michigan State at home, mid-season, was also an ugly one, even if in OT. The OT losses to Ohio State at home was excusable; and the OT loss on the road to Penn State wasn't terrible (it wasn't excusable, either; PSU wasn't that good that season). The domination of Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship game was fun, and they put up a pretty good fight in a Rose Bowl they had no business being in. Kind of a strange season, capped with the head coach leaving for Arkansas.
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I just think Bert really wanted to build a program and get out from under the Barry shadow.
That and losing his OC, who was really great at that time.
He was almost fired in 2008 for the off-field stuff. He's cleaned that up.
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Yeah, I remember everything said about Chryst at the time, but I expected the team to improve following his firing. It did not. Under Leonhard, maybe, but honestly, maybe not. It's not as though it was a complete turnaround. They won games they would have been expected to win, and lost games they would have been expected to lose--except for the Michigan State game, which they lost. I wonder--which is purely hypothetical, of course--if Chryst would have been capable of righting the ship, because when he was on, he was really on. Those first five years were amazing.
And 2012...interesting. Was Brett's foot already out the door? I recall whispers about drinking too much and carousing with the coeds, which might well have been related to Mrs. Bielema not loving Madison. Backfield with Ball, White, and Gordon. Stave under center. Inexcusable loss to Oregon State at home, then lost to Nebraska, to start 3-2, but with the three wins over garbage teams. The loss to Michigan State at home, mid-season, was also an ugly one, even if in OT. The OT losses to Ohio State at home was excusable; and the OT loss on the road to Penn State wasn't terrible (it wasn't excusable, either; PSU wasn't that good that season). The domination of Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship game was fun, and they put up a pretty good fight in a Rose Bowl they had no business being in. Kind of a strange season, capped with the head coach leaving for Arkansas.
In 2012, it was about the QB and seemingly some hangover from the year prior. Ball had gotten jumped while drunk in the offseason and later said he was a high functioning alcoholic. No QB was good. Line had that messy situation. The OC came in trying to fuse systems and was a tough coworker.
Just a blending of a bunch of issues. But mostly, bad QB, inconsistent line, messy workhorse RB, gonna be a tough road. (Six games under 5 yards per play, three in September, three with the third string QB, one the godawful MSU game)
Also, Stave, then a former walk-on RS freshman, was only seriously playing from the UTEP game through half the MSU game. So mostly handling the garbage.
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Saw this coming. The new AD is not gonna like this.
Wisconsin attendance in football home opener lowest since 1990s (https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2026/09/12/wisconsin-badgers-football-attendance-in-home-opener-lowest-since-1990s/91726666007/?taid=6aa618bf26606600019c39f3&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter)
(https://i.imgur.com/pOL1MXE.png)
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It's gonna be worse next year if they keep Fickell. Honestly, I think a bowl game this year is a toss-up.
E. Michigan: should be a win (2-1).
@ Penn State: L (2-2) (0-1)
MSU: toss up, but call it a win (3-2) (1-1)
@ UCLA: L (3-3) (1-2)
USC: L (3-4) (1-3)
@ Iowa: L (3-5) (1-4)
Rutgers: W (4-5) (2-4)
@ Maryland: toss-up
@ Purdue: W (5-5) (3-4)
Minnesota: toss-up
Those two games could very easily go against the Badgers--so could the MSU game. Right now Maryland looks decent, but it's September, so who knows. Also, How will this team react to being 3-5 with a three-game losing streak? If it's 2-6 because of a loss to MSU, they are cooked.
The good news is a 5-win season should guarantee a coaching change. Six and a bowl game? Should still get him canned. Seven and a bowl game, but uncompetitive against Penn State, USC, and Iowa? Should still get him canned, but probably will not. I'll be surprised if they win more than 7.
Oh, and the opener against Southern Illinois isn't exactly going to pack them in.
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E. Michigan going to pack them in?
MSU after a loss to PSU?
USC after a loss to UCLA?
Rutgers after a loss to Iowa?
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It doesn't look good.
If that means a change in the head coach, I think that's for the better.
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Give me a shortlist.
1. One of my leaders is actually on the staff right now. Would likely be the interim after Fickell gets fired for losing to Eastern Michigan.
He's probably the best recruiter, gets a lot out of his position, and he has head coaching experience.
117-31 record at Grand Valley State.
No prior loyalties to Fickell, which is good. He does have ties to the current DC from playing together in college. I don't think those are super-deep ties.
Need to get rid of all the former OSU guys/plants on the staff, except for Tuf Borland. Yeah, he played at OSU, but his dad was a Badger under Dave McClain. He is also a really good young coach and recruiter.
2. Mike Shanahan, IU OC - Young. Has worked under Cignetti since 2019. That's enough for me.
3. Jason Eck, former Badger OL player and GA under Alvarez, and is now a head coach. Will be interesting to watch the Lobos play at Oklahoma this weekend.
(https://i.imgur.com/xUjhc7j.png)
I'm out on Sean Lewis. Thanks, but no thanks.
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It's gonna be worse next year if they keep Fickell. Honestly, I think a bowl game this year is a toss-up.
E. Michigan: should be a win (2-1).
@ Penn State: L (2-2) (0-1)
MSU: toss up, but call it a win (3-2) (1-1)
@ UCLA: L (3-3) (1-2)
USC: L (3-4) (1-3)
@ Iowa: L (3-5) (1-4)
Rutgers: W (4-5) (2-4)
@ Maryland: toss-up
@ Purdue: W (5-5) (3-4)
Minnesota: toss-up
Those two games could very easily go against the Badgers--so could the MSU game. Right now Maryland looks decent, but it's September, so who knows. Also, How will this team react to being 3-5 with a three-game losing streak? If it's 2-6 because of a loss to MSU, they are cooked.
The good news is a 5-win season should guarantee a coaching change. Six and a bowl game? Should still get him canned. Seven and a bowl game, but uncompetitive against Penn State, USC, and Iowa? Should still get him canned, but probably will not. I'll be surprised if they win more than 7.
Oh, and the opener against Southern Illinois isn't exactly going to pack them in.
MSU and UCLA are so key (and PSU if they could somehow win).
If they lose all three, it feels like just a matter of time before they sent him packing. If he can win two of them, he’s in a good spot. If he just wins one, then he has to negotiate the soft backstretch.
The goal for us all is no 7-5. Better than that can build at least some goodwill, worse and he is obviously fired.
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Give me a shortlist.
1. One of my leaders is actually on the staff right now. Would likely be the interim after Fickell gets fired for losing to Eastern Michigan.
He's probably the best recruiter, gets a lot out of his position, and he has head coaching experience.
117-31 record at Grand Valley State.
No prior loyalties to Fickell, which is good. He does have ties to the current DC from playing together in college. I don't think those are super-deep ties.
Need to get rid of all the former OSU guys/plants on the staff, except for Tuf Borland. Yeah, he played at OSU, but his dad was a Badger under Dave McClain. He is also a really good young coach and recruiter.
2. Mike Shanahan, IU OC - Young. Has worked under Cignetti since 2019. That's enough for me.
3. Jason Eck, former Badger OL player and GA under Alvarez, and is now a head coach. Will be interesting to watch the Lobos play at Oklahoma this weekend.
(https://i.imgur.com/xUjhc7j.png)
I'm out on Sean Lewis. Thanks, but no thanks.
Would be fine with all those. I think I’m a little more gun shy on Shanahan, just because I have no idea what you can take from that alchemy (I mean, I think he’s a good coach)
I like Lewis as an idea and appreciate that he’s been somewhat flexible, but his offense hasn’t been firing and is spiritually not in line with UW.
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I see Badger ties as a plus, but not required, and not in and of themselves sufficient. I'm also fine with a promotion for a coordinator who has shown success--as long as that coordinator believes in hard-nosed, trench-focused teams. Obviously Barry is the gold standard, but I bet when Richter interviewed him, he knew right away that Barry was a leader of men and could get the most out of them. Barry was only the DC for two seasons at ND when Richter hired him, and I think we're probably at a place now that we should look for a little more of a resume than that, but...
this is all purely speculative until Fickell is out.
BAB, I appreciate your optimism, but I'll be shocked if we can win in Happy Valley or Los Angeles.