How the Badgers Develop 'Attitude and Mentality' at Squat Fest
Luke Fickell spoke about the importance of Squat Fest.
For the University of Wisconsin football program, the end of June marks more than just the beginning of summer — it denotes the return of a new Badgers tradition under head coach Luke Fickell and his staff.
The Badgers participated in the 2024 edition of “Squat Fest,” which is essentially a coordinated leg day featuring a ton of theatrics in which players push themselves and max out with members of the media in attendance.
Introduced last year by Brady Collins, Squat Fest has quickly evolved into a cornerstone event for the Badgers’ strength and conditioning program.
The event transforms the weight room into a vibrant arena, complete with blaring music, strobe lights, and teammates' boisterous cheers. This upbeat atmosphere isn't just about lifting weights; it's a test of mental fortitude, facilitates competition in unique ways, and promotes team unity.
Fickell described the deeper significance of Squat Fest in cultivating the team’s ethos: “They work so hard. The weight room for us is a lot. And I mean it just in the way you develop the environment, the culture, the attitude, the mentality,” Fickell explained. “That’s what that room is about. It’s not about the numbers that they lift. It’s more about how you back yourself into a corner and how do you continue to battle to fight to get out, and this is one of those days where you do that, but it’s a lot of fun.
“You get to challenge guys in different ways. But you really get to see how guys kind of come together. ..." So, to me, it’s a great day, but it’s a great day for those guys because they love to work."