Luke Fickell discusses his vision for Wisconsin football

For years, Wisconsin has played the same brand of football. The Badgers were going to be physical at the line of scrimmage and run the ball down your throat. However, with Luke Fickell coming to Madison as the program’s new head coach, there is going to be a change in approach.

Fickell joined On3’s Andy Staples at Big Ten Media Days, laying out his vision for Wisconsin. While change is coming, he made sure to emphasize it’s not about the system. Having the correct people in place will be why the Badgers are able to have an easier transition period during the 2023 season.

“It wasn’t really about how are we going to change,” Fickell said. “It was about who are we going to get to be the right people. And the right people will figure out what it needs to be. I’m always talking about those labels and labels and labels.”

One of the people Fickell talks about helping Wisconsin change is offensive coordinator Phil Longo. He does not run a traditional Wisconsin offense, enjoying throwing the ball more. It’s a “unique” part of the change occurring for Fickell, just playing another part in the process.

“Phil and I have had a relationship regardless of that,” Fickell said. “He is an air raid guy. He’s a football coach that is high intelligent that will find ways to be successful in what it is in what we want to do. But it will be different. I think that’s the uniqueness in when you do change — there’s a lot of other things that go along with it.”

Longo has spent the past few seasons in Chapel Hill with North Carolina, serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He recruited and worked with Drake Maye, somebody that is expected to be a high selection in next year’s NFL Draft. UNC wound up the nation’s No. 11 passing team last year based on total yards.

Compare that to Wisconsin and you will find them at No. 144. Quite the contrast in styles, even if the two sides had similar rushing statistics.

There will be options for Fickell and Longno at quarterback, bringing three in through the NCAA transfer portal. Another example of Fickell making sure the right people are in place for Wisconsin.

Now, we will have to wait and see if the offensive vision can come all together. If Fickell can pull it off, the Big Ten West is going to be put on notice.