With Wisconsin football struggling, Luke Fickell approaches inflection point
4 months, 3 weeks ago

With Wisconsin football struggling, Luke Fickell approaches inflection point

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — Quick: Name the best win Luke Fickell has produced at Wisconsin since the start of last season. Here are some options: a 20-14 stinker against an Indiana team that had been 2-21 over its previous 23 conference games and fired its coach three weeks later; a 24-10 defeat to Northwestern in which the Badgers trailed by three touchdowns at halftime and were booed off the field by the home fans; a 42-10 loss to Alabama that served as the program’s worst home defeat in 16 years; or Iowa’s 42-10 thrashing of Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night — the Hawkeyes’ largest margin of victory in the series since 1968. Braedyn Locke has started six games since Tyler Van Dyke tore the ACL in his right knee against Alabama, and Locke’s limitations significantly contribute to Wisconsin’s struggle to beat quality competition. But Wisconsin also hasn’t started a true freshman at quarterback since 1991 and could use a player with at least some experience who is capable of helping the Badgers win games. The biggest question to emerge this season is whether Fickell will move on from Longo, who put up big numbers at previous schools but hasn’t done the same at Wisconsin.

Games Game Transfer Iowa Wisconsin Minnesota Oregon Season Badgers Fickell Longo This Season Last Season Locke Van Dyke Luke Fickell Mettauer Portal Quarterback  fickell  badgers  games  transfer  struggling  football  inflection  game  iowa  approaches  portal  quarterback  point  wisconsin  season  luke

History of this topic

What we know about Wisconsin football’s transfer portal approach with plenty of spots open
3 months, 2 weeks ago

What we know about Wisconsin football’s transfer portal approach with plenty of spots open

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s transfer portal needs were numerous when the portal window opened Monday. I think it’s just the way that they came in and the attitude that they had and the way they fit.” Wisconsin already has offered a handful of players from the FCS or Division II levels, including Elon defensive linemen Cazeem Moore and Chuck Nnaeto, …

Wisconsin high school football coaches on Badgers’ in-state recruiting, Luke Fickell
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Wisconsin high school football coaches on Badgers’ in-state recruiting, Luke Fickell

New York Times  

Luke Fickell sat in his office on a summer day last year and reflected on what he had learned about in-state recruiting as he built his first full high school class at Wisconsin. Luke Fickell’s 5-7 campaign at Wisconsin this season is his worst record as a head coach since 2017 at Cincinnati. Coach 1: Even though I didn’t think …

Where do Luke Fickell, Wisconsin football go after 5-game losing streak, loss to Minnesota?
3 months, 4 weeks ago

Where do Luke Fickell, Wisconsin football go after 5-game losing streak, loss to Minnesota?

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh stood side by side with Luke Fickell two years ago this week, both men all smiles as they posed for a photo-op in a room inside Camp Randall Stadium while holding a red Badgers jersey with the last name of the football program’s newest coach stitched into the back. It’s a hard …

As Wisconsin’s uninspiring results continue, does Luke Fickell have the answers?
4 months ago

As Wisconsin’s uninspiring results continue, does Luke Fickell have the answers?

New York Times  

— Luke Fickell gripped the sides of a lectern underneath Memorial Stadium, his fingers tapping as he spoke in a low voice while shaking his head and furrowing his brow. This one had to rank near the top considering Nebraska hadn’t beaten Wisconsin in 12 years and hadn’t qualified for a bowl game in seven years — both streaks that …

Wisconsin embarrassed by Iowa: Where is Badgers’ progress under Luke Fickell?
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Wisconsin embarrassed by Iowa: Where is Badgers’ progress under Luke Fickell?

New York Times  

When Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell met with reporters to preview his team’s matchup against Iowa, he tried to set the tone with his opening remarks by acknowledging that it would be a tough, hard-fought, physical football game. Wisconsin rushed for 48 first-half yards, the team’s lowest in the first half of a game this season. In the third quarter, Locke …

Unranked Wisconsin optimistic that Luke Fickell can produce another second-season surge
7 months, 1 week ago

Unranked Wisconsin optimistic that Luke Fickell can produce another second-season surge

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! I just think it’s going to be a lot better.” Fickell arrived at Wisconsin amid plenty of fanfare after winning big at Cincinnati, so his results last year were a bit of a letdown. “More than anything, we’re just trying to really establish what those standards …

Where is Wisconsin football entering Year 2 with Luke Fickell: AD Chris McIntosh on Badgers
8 months ago

Where is Wisconsin football entering Year 2 with Luke Fickell: AD Chris McIntosh on Badgers

New York Times  

INDIANAPOLIS — It was 30 years ago this month when Chris McIntosh, then entering his senior year of high school, committed to play football as an offensive lineman at Wisconsin. “I’ve got a perspective that for me personally has been valuable in that when I was recruited to play for Wisconsin, we were coming off the heels of tremendous success,” …

Wisconsin football recruiting: How Badgers topped Clemson, Michigan for 4-star O-lineman in latest win
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Wisconsin football recruiting: How Badgers topped Clemson, Michigan for 4-star O-lineman in latest win

New York Times  

The first few notes from House of Pain’s “Jump Around” began blaring from an off-camera speaker system Monday before Hardy Watts could divulge where he would be continuing his athletic and academic career. Day said it had a lot to do with the relationship Watts developed with first-year Badgers offensive line coach AJ Blazek, as well as Watts’ fit among …

Five theories behind Wisconsin football’s season gone wrong in Luke Fickell’s debut
1 year, 4 months ago

Five theories behind Wisconsin football’s season gone wrong in Luke Fickell’s debut

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — Luke Fickell was direct in his assessment of Wisconsin’s 24-10 loss to Northwestern on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. Fickell, clearly frustrated as his first season in charge of the program winds down, used words such as “embarrassing” and “awful” to describe his team’s performance. So we’ve got to do a better job of being able to …

Wisconsin loss to Indiana shows problem with Luke Fickell’s debut: Badgers haven’t improved
1 year, 4 months ago

Wisconsin loss to Indiana shows problem with Luke Fickell’s debut: Badgers haven’t improved

New York Times  

— Five days before Wisconsin’s season opener, back when soaring enthusiasm reflected sky-high expectations, Luke Fickell pondered a question: What does success for Badgers football look like in Year 1 of a new regime? They battled their butts off, they made some big plays, they did a really good job at creating energy and we didn’t.” Indiana hadn’t beaten Wisconsin …

Wisconsin coach Fickell says focus shouldn’t be on him as Badgers face his alma mater Ohio State
1 year, 5 months ago

Wisconsin coach Fickell says focus shouldn’t be on him as Badgers face his alma mater Ohio State

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell wants to keep the focus off himself as the former Ohio State nose guard and interim head coach leads the Badgers against his alma mater. He was Akron’s defensive line coach in 2001 when the Zips lost 28-14 at …

No. 19 Wisconsin beats Buffalo 38-17 to open coach Luke Fickell’s first season with Badgers
1 year, 6 months ago

No. 19 Wisconsin beats Buffalo 38-17 to open coach Luke Fickell’s first season with Badgers

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! 19 Wisconsin started the first season of Luke Fickell’s coaching tenure with a 38-17 victory over Buffalo on Saturday. ‘How can you have two really talented backs and they’re able to share the load?’ They’re a great example of what momentum and energy can do and …

New coach and offense have No. 19 Wisconsin eager to return to Big Ten title contention
1 year, 7 months ago

New coach and offense have No. 19 Wisconsin eager to return to Big Ten title contention

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! The Badgers have a new coach and offense as the team attempts to bounce back from a 7-6 season and win the Big Ten West in the conference’s last year of divisional competition. Wisconsin made a splash by landing new coach Luke Fickell, who led Cincinnati …

How Luke Fickell is changing Wisconsin football: Will Chris McIntosh’s bold move pay off?
1 year, 9 months ago

How Luke Fickell is changing Wisconsin football: Will Chris McIntosh’s bold move pay off?

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — Chris McIntosh sat in his office overlooking Camp Randall Stadium on an unseasonably warm April morning and flashed the easygoing smile of a man filled with optimism. Fickell spent his first month allowing the Badgers’ previous assistant coaches to handle the game-planning and coaching for Wisconsin’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl game against Oklahoma State out of respect for …

Wisconsin football practice observations: CJ Williams leads shakeup at receiver
1 year, 11 months ago

Wisconsin football practice observations: CJ Williams leads shakeup at receiver

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin is closing in on its final week of spring football practice, and the Badgers’ potential playing rotations for next season continue to take shape. Williams made two of the best offensive plays Saturday, one on a 45-yard touchdown catch in which he juked a safety in open space and another on a one-handed 20-yard touchdown reception …

Wisconsin football spring preview: What to watch from each position under Luke Fickell
2 years ago

Wisconsin football spring preview: What to watch from each position under Luke Fickell

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — After three months of coaching turnover, roster changes and speculation, Wisconsin football is finally set to take the field with a new staff and system in place. North Carolina’s tight ends combined to catch 79 passes for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns last season, fifth nationally in catches at the position and third in yards, per TruMedia. …

Fickell eager to build upon Wisconsin’s winning culture
2 years ago

Fickell eager to build upon Wisconsin’s winning culture

Associated Press  

New coaches often spend their first several months dwelling on the need to instill a different culture into their programs. Fickell says the Badgers already have what he calls a “really good footprint,” something backed up by Wisconsin’s 21 consecutive bowl appearances. “Sometimes the biggest mistake you can do is you go into a place thinking you’re just going to …

Ten Wisconsin football storylines that will define Luke Fickell’s first year
2 years, 2 months ago

Ten Wisconsin football storylines that will define Luke Fickell’s first year

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — Despite Wisconsin’s 7-6 finish and a third consecutive season without a Big Ten Championship Game appearance, optimism around the program this offseason is as high as it has been in years. It’s that in the span of two months, Luke Fickell has transformed what people believe could be possible at Wisconsin, given his assistant coaching hires and …

Luke Fickell’s relentless recruiting drive generating unique excitement at Wisconsin
2 years, 2 months ago

Luke Fickell’s relentless recruiting drive generating unique excitement at Wisconsin

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — During one of Luke Fickell’s first press conferences as Wisconsin’s new football coach last month, I asked him what I thought was a relatively innocuous question: What is your level of concern about fielding a competitive team for the bowl game knowing how many people, including the Badgers’ three captains, won’t be playing? There will be nothing …

A messy Wisconsin football season gives way to optimism as Luke Fickell era begins
2 years, 2 months ago

A messy Wisconsin football season gives way to optimism as Luke Fickell era begins

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — When Wisconsin players ran through the Camp Randall Stadium tunnel on Sept. 10 to play Washington State, the football program was considered to be as steady as any in the country. The Badgers did so with Fickell on the sideline in a figurehead role but with a staff — including Leonhard — otherwise coaching their final game …

SMU QB Tanner Mordecai says he’s transferring to Wisconsin
2 years, 2 months ago

SMU QB Tanner Mordecai says he’s transferring to Wisconsin

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Quarterback Tanner Mordecai announced on social media Friday that he is transferring from SMU to Wisconsin. Mordecai tweeted the news two weeks after playing in SMU’s 24-23 New Mexico Bowl loss to BYU. He said: “I have made relationships that I will cherish and carry for the rest of my life.” After spending 2018-20 as a reserve …

What Luke Fickell is saying about Wisconsin’s 2023 class: Signing day takeaways
2 years, 3 months ago

What Luke Fickell is saying about Wisconsin’s 2023 class: Signing day takeaways

New York Times  

MADISON, Wis. — Luke Fickell was deep into his first signing day news conference at Wisconsin on Wednesday, detailing the position groups his staff would need to address before the February signing period began when he slipped in a line about the possibility of adding a wide receiver “even today.” Hmm. There’s a special place in our heart for our …

Jim Leonhard says he won’t return to Wisconsin staff
2 years, 3 months ago

Jim Leonhard says he won’t return to Wisconsin staff

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! MADISON, Wis. — Jim Leonhard, who served as Wisconsin’s interim coach for the last seven games of the regular season, says he won’t be back with the Badgers next season. Leonhard tweeted Tuesday night that he would work as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator for its Dec. 27 …

Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz says he’s entering transfer portal
2 years, 3 months ago

Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz says he’s entering transfer portal

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! MADISON, Wis. — Graham Mertz is entering the transfer portal after spending the last three seasons as Wisconsin’s starting quarterback. Mertz announced Sunday on social media he was entering the portal “in pursuit of my next opportunity.” His move comes one week after Wisconsin hired former …

New Badgers coach Fickell begins by reaching out to players
2 years, 4 months ago

New Badgers coach Fickell begins by reaching out to players

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Yet his immediate challenge will be winning over a roster featuring many players who weren’t shy about saying they wanted this job to go to Jim Leonhard, the former Wisconsin defensive coordinator who went 4-3 as the Badgers’ interim head coach after the Oct. 2 firing …

Wisconsin AD says Luke Fickell ‘best positioned program for long-term success’
2 years, 4 months ago

Wisconsin AD says Luke Fickell ‘best positioned program for long-term success’

New York Times  

Wisconsin officially introduced Luke Fickell as its new head football coach Monday, with a welcome event followed by a news conference featuring the former Cincinnati coach and Badgers athletic director Chris McIntosh. GO DEEPER Wisconsin balances bold hire of Luke Fickell, appreciation for Jim Leonhard Why McIntosh picked Fickell over Leonhard McIntosh described Leonhard, a three-time All-American safety at Wisconsin, …

Discover Related