Big Cat: Luke Fickell gives new-look Wisconsin a chance

Wisconsin football is entering a completely new era this season under coach Luke Fickell. The Badgers surprised the country last year by firing longtime coach Paul Chryst just five games into the season.

To Dan “Big Cat” Katz, host of Barstool Sports‘ Pardon My Take podcast and a Wisconsin alumnus, that signified that the school is ready to take risks to compete on a higher level. He argued that while the Badgers have been consistent over the past two or three decades, they’re rarely considered a true threat for a national title. But with this move, they’re aiming to change that.

“The last Wisconsin coach — football or men’s basketball — that was fired midseason, do you know the answer to that? It was Stan Van Gundy,” Katz told On3‘s Andy Staples. “That’s what Wisconsin athletics have been. It’s consistency. It’s sticking with the guy. It’s giving the guy a long ramp. It’s like, ‘we know what we are. We are a consistent 8-10 win season.’ Then every four or five years they win 11 games and lose by a touchdown to Ohio State. That’s kind of where Wisconsin has been.

“I am a big believer in enjoying the little things. Like, I know that Wisconsin is probably not gonna win the national title, but I enjoy the steps and the wins along the way and that’s what college football is about. The minute that (athletic director Chris) McIntosh fired Paul Chryst, I was like ‘this is changing. This doesn’t happen.'”

Katz explained how Wisconsin developed its identity as a program under coach Barry Alvarez in the 1990s and early 2000s. After going 1-10 in his inaugural season, Alvarez went on to become the Badgers’ all-time winningest coach with a 118-75-4 all-time record that includes three Rose Bowl victories.

Alvarez became Wisconsin’s athletic director in 2004 and stepped down from coaching in 2005. He remained the AD until 2021 when McIntosh — a player under Alvarez from 1996-99 — took over. However, Alvarez still lives in Madison and continues to have a major say in both the hirings and firings of coaches.

Katz believes with this most recent move, McIntosh put his foot down to do what he thought was best for the program moving forward into a new era of college sports.

“I think McIntosh said, ‘I love you Barry. I played for you. I played in Rose Bowls for you. But we’ve gotta go a different direction,” Katz said. “‘I’m gonna show the Badger fans that this is a line in the sand where this is a new era and we have to start competing in a different way. Not the old way that has gotten us 8-10 wins but has never really gotten us to the next level.’

“I think Luke Fickell gives you a chance. He’s proven it at Cincinnati. …They’re changing in the transfer portal and all these things that Luke Fickell is instilling. I couldn’t be more excited about the direction of Wisconsin. It feels like, for the first time in 20 years, I don’t know what to expect from this season and that’s fun.”

Fickell wasn’t the only change for Wisconsin this offseason. The Badgers also saw 18 players enter the transfer portal and added 13 transfers of their own to rank No. 8 in On3’s Team Transfer Portal Rankings. That includes former SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai and four new receivers, including former USC wideout CJ Williams.

The Badgers also brought in offensive coordinator Phil Longo from North Carolina, which has led to some speculation about an Air Raid system in 2023. That would be a big change from Wisconsin’s previous ground-n-pound attack that has heavily relied on its running backs.

Although Katz believes the Badgers will pass more than in previous seasons, however, he still sees them running the ball plenty. With Braelon Allen back following a 1,000-yard season and Chez Mellusi to back him up, there’s no reason they shouldn’t.

“I do not think it’s gonna be the Air Raid,” Katz said. “Phil Longo has had 1,000-yard rushers. I think it’s gonna be something you look at maybe like a Baylor and the success they’ve had recently. Something like that where it’s like, ‘we will pass, but more than anything we’re gonna spread you out and give our running backs a chance to beat you like boxes.’ I think that’s gonna have insane success. Braelon Allen doesn’t get talked enough about how special he is as a player. I’m so happy he stayed and it’s gonna be awesome.”

Ultimately, time well tell how the Luke Fickell era works out for Wisconsin. But there’s plenty of optimism heading into 2023 as they were picked to win the Big Ten East division and compete for a conference title. That’s a game they haven’t been to since 2019 and haven’t won since 2012, so if they can get there it’d be a massive success.

The Badgers will kick off the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Buffalo.