Great analysis of a Badger football program that has never been this way since Don Morton was the head coach in 1989. Along came Donna Shalala and Pat Richter. Morton was gone along with his AD Ade Sponberg. There may be a new class of players & coaches, but how will that translate to success on the field. Barry Alvarez went 1-10, 5-6 twice, before winning the Rose 🌹 Bowl after the 1993 season. I see 5 wins as the ceiling, 4 at the bottom. 7 wins would be a success moving forward. If Fickell doesn't show significant improvement, either he's fired, or the fans will stop coming. It's that simple.
Appreciate you taking the time to share that perspective—especially the historical context. You’re spot on: this feels like the most uncertainty around the program since the late ’80s. And while the players and landscape have changed, the path forward still comes down to building an identity, competing with toughness, and proving it on the field. I agree—5 wins feel like the most honest projection and anything above that would be a step in the right direction.
Excellent analysis and recognition of reality. We forgot three decades of achievement and paid the price for it. McIntosh says that the program is improved; obviously that is not the case on the field. This set of coaches can recruit, but they have yet to show they can coach and develop recruits. Five is the floor; seven is the ceiling.
Really appreciate the comment. I think you nailed it—there’s been a disconnect between what’s being said and what we’ve actually seen on the field. The track record of development and execution just isn’t there yet, and in this league, that gap shows up pretty fast.
Recruiting has been promising, but now it’s about turning that into wins. Like you said, five is the floor… seven would be a genuine step forward. Thanks for reading and calling it like it is. We all want the same thing — let’s hope they turn a corner!
Great analysis of a Badger football program that has never been this way since Don Morton was the head coach in 1989. Along came Donna Shalala and Pat Richter. Morton was gone along with his AD Ade Sponberg. There may be a new class of players & coaches, but how will that translate to success on the field. Barry Alvarez went 1-10, 5-6 twice, before winning the Rose 🌹 Bowl after the 1993 season. I see 5 wins as the ceiling, 4 at the bottom. 7 wins would be a success moving forward. If Fickell doesn't show significant improvement, either he's fired, or the fans will stop coming. It's that simple.
Appreciate you taking the time to share that perspective—especially the historical context. You’re spot on: this feels like the most uncertainty around the program since the late ’80s. And while the players and landscape have changed, the path forward still comes down to building an identity, competing with toughness, and proving it on the field. I agree—5 wins feel like the most honest projection and anything above that would be a step in the right direction.
Thanks again for reading and weighing in.
Excellent analysis and recognition of reality. We forgot three decades of achievement and paid the price for it. McIntosh says that the program is improved; obviously that is not the case on the field. This set of coaches can recruit, but they have yet to show they can coach and develop recruits. Five is the floor; seven is the ceiling.
Really appreciate the comment. I think you nailed it—there’s been a disconnect between what’s being said and what we’ve actually seen on the field. The track record of development and execution just isn’t there yet, and in this league, that gap shows up pretty fast.
Recruiting has been promising, but now it’s about turning that into wins. Like you said, five is the floor… seven would be a genuine step forward. Thanks for reading and calling it like it is. We all want the same thing — let’s hope they turn a corner!