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The Power Four => Big Ten => Topic started by: 847badgerfan on September 23, 2026, 02:18:47 PM

Title: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on September 23, 2026, 02:18:47 PM
I'd love to think there is a chance but the last time Wisconsin won there was 2003. I was there with Gatorama.

Penn State hasn't played anyone yet, so this could get sneaky. Wisconsin has only played ND, and if they can put in the kind of performance they did in the first half of that game, things could get interesting.

I'm still picking Penn State.

This is a huge deal. One of the best WR in the country is out for Penn State.

https://twitter.com/Ben_Jones88/status/2102792512133882083 (https://twitter.com/Ben_Jones88/status/2102792512133882083)
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0)
Post by: FearlessF on September 23, 2026, 02:34:02 PM
I'll be pulling for the RED team
tough place to play on the road
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: bayareabadger on September 23, 2026, 03:02:38 PM
There’s that hope that maybe UW will have its shit together. Like, it could happen. 

But when the coach is who he is, you assume it won’t happen until it does. 
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: Honestbuckeye on September 23, 2026, 03:42:47 PM
There’s that hope that maybe UW will have its shit together. Like, it could happen.

But when the coach is who he is, you assume it won’t happen until it does.
He was an excellent coach before he got there.  Hmmm???
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: Wildcat4E on September 23, 2026, 03:53:29 PM
I'm interested to see if Penn State really is good, with that giant turnover in the roster.  And my Cats losing close games to Rocco and Campbell the last several years would seem less painful if they are.
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on September 23, 2026, 04:04:06 PM
He was an excellent coach before he got there.  Hmmm???
Not proven at the P4 level, unless you want to count his 6-7 season at Ohio State.

Let's face it. Cincy got into the playoffs because of one win - Notre Dame. 

After that 2021 season, ND took his DC and LSU took his OC (now both at ND as HC and OC, respectively). ND also has several of his former assistants on staff now.

Fickell had a great staff at Cincy. He hasn't been the same since - including 2022 at Cincy with 4 losses after he lost his key guys.

That 2022 falloff and 2011 were red flags, but I was optimistic. Oh well.
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: SFBadger96 on September 23, 2026, 04:34:22 PM
I thought Fickell was a great hire. I do not think that he is an adequate coach.

I suspect Wisconsin will get steamrolled this week. It won't be by a million points, just Wisconsin's offense won't go very far. Wisconsin's D will hold up for a half, as it often has against real opponents. I suspect PSU will beat the point spread. 23-10 or so. I'll actually be a little surprised if Wisconsin gets to 10. So maybe 23-9?
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on September 23, 2026, 04:38:54 PM
It all depends on the OL play. They must establish the run game and so far, they have been unable to do so. 

**************************************

Did I just type that about Wisconsin football?

Where am I?
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on September 23, 2026, 05:51:41 PM
I'm interested to see if Penn State really is good, with that giant turnover in the roster.  And my Cats losing close games to Rocco and Campbell the last several years would seem less painful if they are.
I don't think Wisconsin is a great measuring stick to see if anyone's any good at this point.

They'll probably play tight for a half, and fold like a Hallmark card in the second when things get tough.

They are soft.
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: bayareabadger on September 23, 2026, 06:48:08 PM
He was an excellent coach before he got there.  Hmmm???
He was good at building talented rosters. I don’t know that he had a great rep as a gameday coach. 

And now that he’s not building as talented of rosters (due to a range of factors), the game days stuff is looking much worse. 
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: SFBadger96 on September 23, 2026, 07:08:59 PM
His routine failures in the second half indicate Xs and Os issues.

But there is still (a little) time to prove me wrong.

One thing that did not impress me was beating up on Eastern Michigan. Do. Not. Care. Win a real game.
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: MrNubbz on September 24, 2026, 07:16:27 AM
Not proven at the P4 level, unless you want to count his 6-7 season at Ohio State.

Let's face it. Cincy got into the playoffs because of one win - Notre Dame.

After that 2021 season, ND took his DC and LSU took his OC (now both at ND as HC and OC, respectively). ND also has several of his former assistants on staff now.

Fickell had a great staff at Cincy. He hasn't been the same since - including 2022 at Cincy with 4 losses after he lost his key guys.

That 2022 falloff and 2011 were red flags, but I was optimistic. Oh well.
This is a great point Fickell's weight of will/personality wasn't able to carry over w/o them. Say like a Jimmy Johnson/Nick Saban/URBZ or an a Alverez could have musterd. Chit you want to see a guy who could pick assistants look no further than Earle Bruce. He assembled some jaw dropping staffs in C-Bus

Nick Saban
Urban Meyer
Pete Carroll
Jim Tressel
Mark Dantonio
Dom Capers
Glenn Mason

Amongst others at one time or another pitched a tent at ole 8-3 Camp Earle
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on September 24, 2026, 07:26:23 AM
Hayden Fry is the best assistant hiring coach ever and that will never change.
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on September 24, 2026, 07:50:37 AM
https://twitter.com/PSU_Dylan/status/2102789369337721178 (https://twitter.com/PSU_Dylan/status/2102789369337721178)

(https://i.imgur.com/cjdIYDT.png)

Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on September 24, 2026, 07:50:52 AM
https://twitter.com/PSU_Dylan/status/2098854750305329303 (https://twitter.com/PSU_Dylan/status/2098854750305329303)
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: MrNubbz on September 24, 2026, 02:04:27 PM
Hayden Fry is the best assistant hiring coach ever and that will never change.
I dunno Schnellenberger had only been a head coach one season when he took over the 'Canes. They had 13 previous seasons before that.  Jim Tressel was an asst. before taking over Youngstown St. and winning 4 National Titles in 6 appearances in Div I-AA
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on September 24, 2026, 02:06:45 PM
THE BASE OF THE TREE: HAYDEN FRY’S 1983 COACHING STAFF | Black Heart Gold Pants (https://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2014/6/20/5823870/the-base-of-the-tree-hayden-frys-1983-coaching-staff)
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: ELA on September 24, 2026, 02:38:06 PM
Penn State 34, Wisconsin 17
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: ELA on September 24, 2026, 02:38:47 PM
I dunno Schnellenberger had only been a head coach one season when he took over the 'Canes. They had 13 previous seasons before that.  Jim Tressel was an asst. before taking over Youngstown St. and winning 4 National Titles in 6 appearances in Div I-AA
I think he means he hired the best assistants, aka had the best coaching tree.

It's tough to argue against it
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: MrNubbz on September 24, 2026, 04:26:11 PM
Impressive list no doubt but thru the years Earle consistently could pick 'em,they're never there for long then you gotta find a replacement. As Lombardi said "winning isn't everything it's the only thing" go count those NC's :dance:
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: FearlessF on September 24, 2026, 05:15:34 PM
geezzz, have AI count up the head coaching wins for all Fry's assistants and compare to Earle's and/or Smellenburger's assistants - throw in conference championships and MNC if y'all like
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on September 24, 2026, 05:21:58 PM
Or take it to the OSU thread.
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: FearlessF on September 24, 2026, 05:50:22 PM
or the Iowa/Michigan thread ;)
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: ELA on September 24, 2026, 06:00:35 PM
It's not just the wins, I'd put the Wisconsin, Kansas State and Oklahoma 90s turnarounds up against anything this side of Oregon
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: FearlessF on September 24, 2026, 06:20:51 PM
or Iowa in the early 80s
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on September 24, 2026, 06:37:21 PM
or the Iowa/Michigan thread ;)
That's for Penn State talk
Title: Re: Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) at #13 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) Game Week
Post by: ELA on September 24, 2026, 08:25:28 PM
or Iowa in the early 80s
I meant among 90s turnarounds