And this was likely the easiest game left on the schedule. I do think there is a very good chance Fickell gets fired if they don't win another game
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And this was likely the easiest game left on the schedule. I do think there is a very good chance Fickell gets fired if they don't win another game
I don't disagree. Today was embarrassing and certainly the closest I've come to jumping on the fire Fickell bandwagon. It's one thing to get crushed by Alabama on the road, its another to get crushed by Maryland at home
I'm not really pro or anti firing Fickell. In general I think college football requires more patience than other sports and coaches need time to show what they can do with their own guys. I don't wanna end up in a perpetual cycle of firing coaches before they have a chance to do that
I don't disagree, which is why I don't blame anyone who is on the fire Fickell bandwagon. But I do think for Wisconsin to be successful they need to be able recruit & develop. If we go with a new coach I'm hoping we give them patience regardless of results, so he can develop his own guys
That would be ideal
What do you mean? He hired Longo which was a disaster, and then hired Grimes this past offseason
We don't know how his high school recruits will do. He's only had 2 recruiting classes to this point and they've barely had a chance to play to this point.
All good teams still recruit and develop. They use the portal to fill holes, not build the whole plane
2026 & 2027 are our shots to be Indiana. Take advantage of easy schedules. Until Indiana beats a ranked team I'm not going to believe in them
I'm not even against firing Fickell. I just believe any coach Wisconsin hires will only succeed if they can recruit & develop which takes several years. This Maryland loss is inexcusable. But unless a new coach can manage to keep most of Fickell's recruits we are looking at doing this all over again
I mean Kansas & Iowa St are in a much easier conference? And I don't think Indiana is very good. They took advantage of a super easy schedule last year and got beat handidly the only two times they played an actual good team. Iowa & Illinois are good comparisons for Wisconsin's ceiling imo
Thats fair although I don't think we actually know that yet. He had a lot of success developing guys at Cincinnati and hasn't really had that chance yet here. If Wisconsin fires Fickell I think we're starting this whole process over and likely looking at a 3-4 year rebuild at minimum
I think Wisconsin might be screwed in modern college football. They don't have a massive NIL budget and they aren't in a recruiting hot bed. I think their ceiling is much lower than it used to be
Its not an excuse. The defense is awful, losing Lucas & Fourqurean plus Zachman being out killed the secondary. My only point is we haven't seen what Fickell's recruits can do since they are all really young still. None of that excuses their performance today
I'm not excusing today. This is unacceptable and embarrassing. I'm just saying I think the issues go beyond Fickell
I mean it's not rocket science. Its pretty easy to look at their results and realize they were fraudulent. Everyone knew it too which is why they added strength of schedule to mean more in CFP rankings this year
He was hired Nov of 2022, that class was predominantly Chryst recruits and a handful of Fickell guys(Alliegro & Ashcraft). He's only had 2 classes that are truly his. Most of his 1st class are redshirt freshman this year and most of his 2nd class is redshirting currently
Recruiting rankings have a very large correlation to success in college football.
And they lost by 23 to Ohio St and 10 to Notre Dame which was only that close because of a late TD showing those rankings were bull
He started 4 redshirt freshman on offense today, another sophomore had gotten a bunch of time. Those are from his first class. How many do you think should be playing and positively contributing as redshirt freshman?
That might be true but it's also likely the best Wisconsin will ever be. The state produces very little in terms of D1 Football players. Fickell might not be the answer but I think the problems go way beyond him
Its a comparison to Wisconsin historically. He's only had 2 classes and they are 2 of the best 3 recruiting classes Wisconsin has ever had. Wisconsin is a hard place to recruit too
No chance. They beat 1 team with a winning conference record(Michigan who went 5-4) and that was at home by 5 points. They just beat up a bunch of crappy teams
Indiana last year was a very rare exception. Illinois is a much more relevant comparison. The portal matters but you can't build the whole plane out of the portal. If Indiana had our schedule this year they wouldn't have sniffed the playoff
Cignetti brought all his own guys from James Madison and took advantage of an easy schedule. They lost pretty handidly to the only two ranked teams they faced, which is probably best case scenario if Wisconsin hired a new coach next year
Thats ideal but that takes times. Bielema struggled in the crappy Big Ten west his first few years before turning it around in his 4th year. That type of roster building takes patience
Maybe the best case scenario is Wisconsin hires a coach who is able to retain Fickell's good recruiting classes and maximize them during a couple years with easier schedules
I don't think that's true. From everything I understand they are very much middle of the pack in NIL money. Add in a big Fickell buyout that would be needed that likely goes down
Best case? 26&27 provide much easier schedules & as Fickell's recruits become upperclassmen that the overall roster improves, then they can use the portal to just fill holes rather than the whole roster. And fwiw I'm not pro or anti Fickell, I think the issues facing Wisconsin might go beyond him
He's only had 2 classes, they've barely had a chance to progress which is my point
Unless a team has a massive NIL budget, which Wisconsin doesn't, then they still have to be able to develop high school recruits and fill in holes with the portal
Very possible. But we haven't seen if he can develop guys yet which is my main point. We've proved he can't rely on 1 year guys. Can he develop them up though? That hasn't been answered
Fickell has only had 2 classes, 2024 & 2025, the vast majority of both of those classes are still here and several of the 2024 class are starting as freshman today
Tbh starting 3 freshman OL is my favorite thing Fickell has done today. Giving them a chance to learn and grow. The rest of the team is disappointing imo
I mean at some point they will have to give a coach the time to develop his own guys, whether or not Fickell is that guy. I don't believe Wisconsin can win relying on just the transfer portal
He's kept nearly all of his own recruits. Lucas and Mettauer are the only ones I think that have left
Losing 20-0 at half to Maryland at home is beyond embarrasing. I very much have long term concerns about Wisconsin's ability to compete in the modern version of college football beyond just the coach. But I can't blame anyone who is on the fire Fickell bandwagon after this performance
Nothing. If you're hanging your hat on Fickell it's because you believe in the job he's done in recruiting. Not on anything he's done on the field
I'm not necessarily saying he's done anything. Just that if we fire him we're likely looking at once again trying to build the whole plane out of the portal for 3 years or so which likely leads to more poor results until that coach could develop his guys
I agree. Although today is the 1st time I've truly considered joining the fire Fickell bandwagon
I mean he's starting 4 freshman on offense today, that's atleast giving them growing pains.
The current iteration of this team isn't good clearly. It's just a question of would Fickell do better if given a chance to develop up his own recruits rather than portal players and if Wisconsin will give him that chance
I mean they sort of have to? Fickell's only had 2 recruiting classes to this point so he hasn't had time to develop his guys so they've had to try and build the whole plane through the portal
He was hired in Nov of 2022, most of the recruits that cycle were guys Chryst recruited. 2023 class are currently either sophomores or redshirt freshman 2024 class are redshirting right now 2025 class will sign in December
The only junior that was Fickell's was Alliegro. Almost all of Fickell's recruits are redshirting or are redshirt freshman outside of a handful of sophomore's
I think the past 3 years are a good example. They've had to essentially build entire teams out of the portal and weren't able too. If we move on from coaches before they have time to develop up their high school recruits then I'm worried we'll just be in a perpetual cycle
Thats the thing. Wisconsin is like a middle of the pack NIL team in the Big Ten. Add in a Fickell buyout and I don't think they'd have nearly enough funds to build a good team out of just the portal
as the coach of Illinois before turning them around, & that was with a crappy Big Ten west schedule. Will fans accept a long term rebuild(3 years minimum)? Because ultimately for Wisconsin to be successful they are going to have to recruit and develop which takes several years
I am curious for those who want Fickell fired, which I totally get at this point. But how quickly do people think a new coach could rebuild Wisconsin. Cause I think the issues might be much deeper than Fickell in modern college football. Bielema won 5 games twice in his first 3 years
Oh this has been awful for sure. Probably the worst game of the Fickell era. But I think you can see atleast a couple small positives with the play of the freshman OL
If they lose this game I think there is a good case to be made that this is the worst loss in the Fickell era.
The snap was definitely bad but I think he's held up as a blocker. Honestly for a OL starting 3 freshman I think they've held up pretty well
Let me add on the special teams to that statement
Imo It feels like the Badgers as a team haven't been that bad today. Danny O'Neil is killing them though
I mean yes. UCLA lost by over 20 to New Mexico. Virginia Tech lost by 19 to Old Dominion and Oklahoma St lost to Tulsa
I hate this man
Danny O'Neil is bad
Badgers starting 3 freshman OL today. Good learning experience for them hopefully
Billy Edwards Jr starting today is a big boost imo. I'm much more confident with him than I am with Danny O'Neil
I mean I'm confident they could handle UCLA, Virginia Tech, or Oklahoma St by double digits. I don't think Wisconsin has fallen that far thankfully
It's one thing to want to curb illegal immigration, but to want to lower the number of legal immigrants coming into the US is beyond idiotic. We should want to bring more immigration to the US, not less
The visa decision is cruel on a personal level but it will also severely damage the US economy as well as US soft power by funneling talented people to Europe, China Russia, and India. But at least there is literally no benefit or upside.
Really curious to see who starts at QB for Wisconsin today. I'm sure Billy Edwards wants to go against his former team, but with a bye next week I'll be curious if they roll with him or just give Danny O'Neil another start
Yea I definitely feel better about the defense then the offense, especially if Bille Edwards isn't able to go again
Wisconsin is favored by 10 points today which seems aggressive. That said if they want to have a chance at bowl eligibility this season this game is likely a must win
That's just ridiculous
That's 19 in a row for the Brewers when Quinn Priester pitches. That's such an insane stat
Brewers win 5-2 to sweep the Angels! -Priester 5.2IP, 2ER, 10K -Koenig gets his 2nd Save -Ashby(1.1IP), Uribe, Koenig combine for 3.1IP shutout -Durbin 2/3, 2 RBI -Yelich 2/4, 2B, RBI -Turang 2/3, RBI -Vaughn 1/2, 2B, RBI -Chourio hit a 2B #ThisIsMyCrew #MILvsLAA
With Kraft likely out for at minimum this week, this is a huge opportunity for Luke Musgrave, who has fallen behind the other young targets
Brewers win 9-2! -Woodruff 5IP, 1 ER, 9K -Fedde(2IP) & Uribe combine for 3 shutout innings -Perkins 2/4, 3B, 5 RBI -Frelick hit a 3R HR -Contreras hit a 2B #ThisIsMyCrew #MILvsLAA
-The Packers knock off the Commanders -The Badgers fall in Alabama -The Brewers clinch a playoff spot Hope you enjoy! open.spotify.com/episode/3ywV...
Brewers win 9-2! -Peralta 6IP, 1 ER, 10K -Patrick & Payamps each with a shutout inning -Yelich 3/5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI -Contreras 2/4, 2 RBI -Vaughn 2/5, 2B, RBI -Durbin 2/4, RBI -Frelick 1/2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB -Chourio had a RBI #ThisIsMyCrew #MILvsLAA
The Badgers are favored by 9.5 this week? How bad is Maryland?
Just realized we are less than 3 weeks away from a Bucks preseason game #FeartheDeer
The Green Bay Packers are No. 1 in both offensive and defensive DVOA among teams that have played two games, and that's without opponent adjustments yet. (The Chargers are ahead of them in offense pending tonight's game.)
Real bummer here. I was really looking forward to seeing Joe Burrow in Lambeau
I'm going to go out on a limb and say JJ McCarthy will not be winning POTW for Week 2
The Packers are all alone in 1st place in the NFC North
Just south of Green Bay
The Northern Lights were out tonight!
Going to start my fantasy season 5-1 across 3 leagues. I'll take that
Chiefs are 0-2, that's interesting
Is Danny Dimes the Colts savior?
Wow the Colts are 2-0? Good for them
Andy Reid punting down 10 with 7 minutes to go?
What is Russ doing???
Shoutout to FOX for not switching over and letting us see the ending of the Cowboys/Giants game
Brandon Aubrey is insane
Lmao Cowboys
Guys, the Bears might be bad still
According to the 247 composite score Wisconsin has out recruited Texas Tech in each of Fickell's first 2 cycles? Using 2024 as an example, Wisconsin was 23rd in the country, Texas Tech 25th. Wisconsin was 7th in the Big Ten, Texas Tech was 1st in the Big 12
Bears fan must hate refs. 2 weeks in a row they've been screwed over
UCLA might be the worst job in the Big Ten and that's saying something when Rutgers, Northwestern, & Purdue exist
You know how bad of a coach you have to be to be fired after 15 games as a Head Coach in college? Really bad
You aren't a fan unless you enjoy the stress
I mean they had several freshman get PT yesterday(RB, TE, 3 OL, CB). That's a ton of young guys going against Bama and likely was never going to go well. I'm willing to give him another year to see if those guys can develop into studs. But I don't disagree that to this point he's been not good
Football Sundays when your team has already won are so stress free. Can kick back and just enjoy some football today
Exactly. Wisconsin probably is a tougher place to get wins at, but the $ is much better, and if you have a good season in the new BigTen you have a good shot at making the CFP
Yea, it's very likely its a guy whose seat is either getting warm, or he's at a school whose lower down the rung for a P4 school(Wilcox actually fits both of those criteria) Wisconsin is probably a better job than most Big 12 & ACC jobs and middle of the pack for Big Ten/SEC schools
I'm sure Eck would be interested but I'd be very wary of him until he does more. He's coached 3 games at New Mexico and people are crowning him already Wilcox at California would make sense as having interest since he's a former Wisconsin DC