Wisconsin Football 2022- The Jim Leonhard Show ends, the Luke Fickell era begins

[Jim French Stepstool]

13 minutes ago, DuWayne Steurer said:

Just a thought....

Anyone think that the absolute cluster meltdown turd-show in the last 45 seconds made this decision happen?

I'm not saying it did (or didn't), but I'm asking the question. I've never seen a more disorganized football team in organized sport, and that includes an entire season of watching my little brother's middle-school football team.

It might've (if Fickell is the guy), but it shouldn't. But I will say, if they had won it would be that much tougher to move away from Leonhard if that's what Mac wants to do.

 

[yourout]

So Mertz and the offense got 2 coaches canned in one year.

[LouisEly]

22 minutes ago, DuWayne Steurer said:

Just a thought....

Anyone think that the absolute cluster meltdown turd-show in the last 45 seconds made this decision happen?

I'm not saying it did (or didn't), but I'm asking the question. I've never seen a more disorganized football team in organized sport, and that includes an entire season of watching my little brother's middle-school football team.

No.  That may have been a few of the sprinkles on the turd cupcake, but the entirety of the Iowa and Minnesota games and the first three quarters of the Nebraska game were what likely caused it.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Fickel can obviously coach. But it's a hell-and-gone difference in admissions/academic standards btwn UW & Cincy. 

I'd have given it to JL, but let's just let it unfold. Hold on tight.

[homer]

Fickell is a B1G guy and a midwest guy and probably recruited against UW more than once. I think he knows about the UW admissions standards. Anderspin was a total outsider. 

[DuWayne Steurer]

14 minutes ago, homer said:

I am really sad for Leonard but part of me is excited to get some new blood in there.  This won't go over well with ex-players I'm sure.

This is exactly where I'm at. This program needs to turn a corner if it EVER wants to get a crack at a Natty once a decade or so. I don't expect them to ever be in the convo, but if they want their turn at being a TCU or Washington or whoever, getting a spot at the table once in a while, the program needs someone with a different perspective, and the guys we have had for (30 years!) weren't it. 

[UpandIn]

Wow...Fickell.

I like this because...I think Fickell is about as good of a coach as the Badgers could hire. A proven winner, a stud. Also a little crazy it sounds like, but in a good way. He was one of the best Wrestlers EVER from Ohio...which not that anyone cares, but Pennsylvania and Ohio are like Texas and Florida of Wrestling. 

He recruits, he motivates his team.

Downside...he's gonna be the next Ohio State Head Coach after Day Moves on...which, whatever. I'm find with that. With Leonhard, we're a destination, not a stepping stone, but...what the hell, I guess we're taking a big swing.

 

ANOTHER positive...I really think Leonhard is the best DC the Packers could hire and he fits our scheme nearly perfectly, so that's a big benefit. 

 

Also....just remembered, Braelon Allen was talking about Michigan and said he'd be at UW "as long as Jim Leonhard is here, I'll be here." Wonder if that had anything to do with him not playing? Doubt it, but maybe he's already planning on leaving for Michigan? 

 

Damn...this is a HUGE shakeup and I couldn't think of another coach they could hire that'd be a better fit, but Fickell just might be that dude. 

 

[yourout]

Will be interesting to see if fickell is able to keep our better players.

[MT88]

This is MadThinker88 (sorry I don’t keep my mobile logged into the site)..

maybe Luke Fickle is interested in UW, maybe he isn’t. 
i want to remind people that he turned down Michigan St a few years back & he still has strong ties to tOSU.. There was no hard feelings with him leaving the DC role under Meyer to get more HC experience. 
 

if the seat gets too warm for Ryan Day (or Day departs for the NFL) in the next couple of years, Luke is on the very short list for the HC job in Columbus. 
just something to keep in mind.

[UpandIn]

35 minutes ago, homer said:

I'm shocked it's not Leonhard but also....this means maybe Leonard can be Packers D Coord? If so...nice.

YES! My first thought as well. 

Leonhard's scheme is perfect for the Packers personnel. He hasn't had the CBs at UW and still made it work. 

 

Quote

I am really sad for Leonhard but part of me is excited to get some new blood in there.  This won't go over well with ex-players I'm sure.

Yeah...and in 5 years when Luke Fickell has had a couple of HUGE seasons in Wisconsin and....I don't know, ND comes calling, or Day gets caught up in a controversy with hookers that OSU can't cover up quickly enough, Fickell will move on and people will talk about how we should have kept Leonhard, but this really does give the University a real shot in the rear. 

Fickell has been a GREAT coach and is a legit tough guy. Now give him the coordinators to coach around him(if not GB, I'd hope Leonhard would stay at Wisconsin, though I know this is WILDLY unrealistic). 

 

I think Leonhard deserved this job, but...they went for a big swing and it's hard to blame them for that. 

[LouisEly]

2 minutes ago, UpandIn said:

Yeah...and in 5 years when Luke Fickell has had a couple of HUGE seasons in Wisconsin and....I don't know, ND comes calling,

Fickell turned down ND a year ago.

Pure speculation, but he coached at OSU, left OSU to go to Cincinnati (probably could have gotten bigger jobs had he waited a little), and then turned down ND a year ago... I wonder if he saw the poop-show that being a HC at a high-pressure school like OSU or ND can be (remember, Meyer stepped down for health reasons) and doesn't want to be at one of those high-pressure schools. 

[owbc]

I don’t really care where Fickell goes in 5 years. Wisconsin was in danger of falling back into the pack of perennial mediocrity that describes most of the B10 West. 
 

They are now immediately relevant on the national stage and should pick up enough transfers to be relevant next year. They should be winning the B10 West every year starting next year. 
 

 

[UpandIn]

6 minutes ago, yourout said:

Will be interesting to see if fickell is able to keep our better players.

Sure, but even if you make this hire KNOWING Braelon Allen is gone if you do...and I don't think that's the case, but hypothetically he leaves the Million a year in NIL money...that's 1 year you're really losing. Seems obvious to me that Allen is going to leave school after next season so he can get to the NFL by the time he's 19(can't believe that kid is STILL just 18 right now).

I think it'll be more interesting to see how many kids come with him from Cincy as he's really loved by his players.

It's also going to be SOOO interesting to me to see is there's any shot Leonhard stays. I can't see it. He's gotta feel like this is a stab in the back and I understand that, but I also give the Badgers credit for being so...ballsy. 

[BruisedCrew]

1 hour ago, DuWayne Steurer said:

I feel like UW is doing any incoming coach a massive disservice if they don't make this well known up front.

Also, Fickell is a Big10 guy. He has to be at least peripherally aware of UW's admission situation. 

As long as he doesn’t think Wisconsin’s standards are the same as O$U’s. 

[DuWayne Steurer]

I have to wonder who'll wear the headset for the bowl game. I can't imagine it'll be Engram. He's only been with the program for a year. Do they let Leonhard finish out the season? JL has to be out tossing his resume around I'd imagine, seeing where he might be able to land a HC/DC job in the next several days, and that's going to take a lot of his bowl prep time away, IMO. 

[young guns]

I've only read about this here, so articles may answer this, but is it possible Leonhard got the taste and didn't like actually being the top guy??

 

Is he for sure gone, cause I wouldn't mind him being the Packers d coordinator.

[JosephC]

Fickell was Ohio State's interim head coach and then they passed on him.  Fickell was 4-8 in year one at Cincinnati and then went 11-2 in year two and Ohio State passed on him again.  Day is 43 years old and Fickell is 49 years old.  I don't see Fickell as a likely candidate to replace Day.  Only way that happens is if Fickell goes on a 33-6 run over 3 season with a couple of those wins against Ohio State.  If Fickell comes here and does something like 29-8 with a 1-2 record against Ohio State and Michigan, neither the Ohio State powers-that-be nor the Ohio State fanbase will want anything to do with him.

After all, Day has a 45-5 record so far at Ohio State and a big chunk of their fanbase don't think that's good enough.

By no means do I think Fickell is forever married to the Badgers.  But if he leaves, I think it's much more likely a Bielema type situation where an SEC school comes with way more money for him and his staff.  

[bjkrautk]

Still getting over the shock that Jim Leonard won’t be shedding the interim tag.  Will be curious to see where he goes next (and I’m aware Fickell went back to DC when he didn’t get the OSU job).  
 

Job #1 is improving the talent on the roster, either with his recruits or via the portal.  #2 is figuring out the QB position, either by giving Mertz a QB coach, or pointing him to the portal.  (Talent is there, but the INTs can’t be tolerated.)

 

I’ll say this much: Chris McIntosh isn’t afraid to make his own moves.

[yourout]

5 minutes ago, bjkrautk said:

Still getting over the shock that Jim Leonard won’t be shedding the interim tag.  Will be curious to see where he goes next (and I’m aware Fickell went back to DC when he didn’t get the OSU job).  
 

Job #1 is improving the talent on the roster, either with his recruits or via the portal.  #2 is figuring out the QB position, either by giving Mertz a QB coach, or pointing him to the portal.  (Talent is there, but the INTs can’t be tolerated.)

 

I’ll say this much: Chris McIntosh isn’t afraid to make his own moves.

He has one more to do this school year.

Mens Hockey needs a new head coach.

[nate82]

I think the biggest reason the UW went with Fickell over JL is because they are moving away from the Wisconsin way or at least trying something different.

I believe Allen, Mertz, Herbig, Dike and others will all be gone either through the transfer portal or declaring for the draft (Herbig).  That is a lot of holes to fill.  If JL is not back as the DC then there could be a exodus of players on the defensive and probably on the offensive side.

I think the Badgers are going to be the worst team in the B10 in 2023 and they will be lucky to win 4 games.  Even with all of the players coming back this team is probably still just a 5 or 6 win team at best.  

[Samurai Bucky]

While I'm surprised, I'm not fully disappointed.  What I know about Leonhard is that he is the epitome of what it means to be a Badger.  Work your ass off and be loyal to your team.  Unfortunately, that doesn't always equate to being a good head coach.  We don't know what he would have done.  Was Wisconsin football ready to roll the dice with him?  I guess not.

With that said, Fickell is 49.  I think this is going to be his destination unless there is something HUGE that comes to pass.  Is OSU going to fire Ryan Day?  No.  If they do, then Ryan Day can come coach at Wisconsin.  

Some random points:

• Barry Alvarez was from outside the program.  He was a product of Nebraska, Iowa, and Notre Dame.  He also had the opportunity to leave for Miami, Fla. and didn't (although he was playing Donna Shalala for more money).
• I believe that Fickell will stay true to the Badger culture.  It probably isn't much different than that at Ohio State -- except the booster and NIL money at OSU is much, much different.
• Sorry, but when people say that Wisconsin has always been a second-tier program, I have to disagree.  They have been to 20-straight bowl games.  They were one or two spots away from a BCS bid.  Are they at the level of OSU, Alabama, Clemson?  No way.  Up until this year... and last year, they were very competitive.
• Remember, Paul Chryst didn't set things ablaze when he coached at Pitt.  He was a very good offensive coordinator and I think he was not able to be as successful fulfilling the responsibilities of being a head coach.  I have a feeling the same might be said for Jim Leonhard -- good defensive coordinator, but not as good of a head coach.  We don't know, and it would probably be better if he got his feet wet somewhere else.
• How is Dave Aranda doing?  He even left for LSU and is the head coach at Baylor.  Being a good DC or OC doesn't necessarily mean that person will be a good HC.
• I saw either Tom Oates or Jeff Potrykus mention that the Badgers had two of their best recruiting classes ever and that recruiting wasn't a problem.  Really?  No evidence for that.  Those journalists are too close to the program to think objectively.
• Fickell stayed on at OSU after he was the interim head coach and Urban Meyer was hired.  Are we sure that Leonhard is going to leave?  Everyone thinks he is gone.  Of course, they all thought he was going to be the HC.  Leonhard might just stay on board.
• Brad Soderberg all over again?

Some have already decommitted.  It seems like the ledge is getting very crowded and people are already jumping off.  The next few weeks will be interesting for sure.

[LouisEly]

Most of the guys who decommitted did so because they got offers from better destinations (Michigan, Notre Dame).

That being said, Kekahuna was at the Badgers game yesterday.  Hiring Fickell might bring some of the WR decommits back in the fold.

[UpandIn]

3 hours ago, bjkrautk said:

Still getting over the shock that Jim Leonard won’t be shedding the interim tag.  Will be curious to see where he goes next (and I’m aware Fickell went back to DC when he didn’t get the OSU job).  
 

Job #1 is improving the talent on the roster, either with his recruits or via the portal.  #2 is figuring out the QB position, either by giving Mertz a QB coach, or pointing him to the portal.  (Talent is there, but the INTs can’t be tolerated.)

 

I’ll say this much: Chris McIntosh isn’t afraid to make his own moves.

Yeah, I really didn't think we'd fire Chryst. I thought the Badgers would be fine with Bostad, get their OL fixed and then get back to being a team that averages about 10 wins a year over a 5 year period, but not one that really challenges for more. And I was good with that. 

Then...in a bit of a bombshell, they fire Chryst...whom they owe a substantial amount of money to. A proven HC(though not an elite one). One who's at least brought in some good recruiting classes and was the best OC we'd had his last time here and you ASSUME they're going to give the job to the DC who's coveted by NFL teams, by other big Colleges...

 

But apparently all the talk about not being satisfied with winning the B1G West and getting blown out. Building the 300M+ indoor practice facility, going after one of the top coaches in FBS, expanding the assistant pool salary. Hope it pays off. Nebraska got caught chasing more than 9-10 win teams and it bit them in the ass, but this feels like a pretty good fit. 

[UpandIn]

2 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

While I'm surprised, I'm not fully disappointed.  What I know about Leonhard is that he is the epitome of what it means to be a Badger.  Work your ass off and be loyal to your team.  Unfortunately, that doesn't always equate to being a good head coach.  We don't know what he would have done.  Was Wisconsin football ready to roll the dice with him?  I guess not.

With that said, Fickell is 49.  I think this is going to be his destination unless there is something HUGE that comes to pass.  Is OSU going to fire Ryan Day?  No.  If they do, then Ryan Day can come coach at Wisconsin.  

Some random points:

• Barry Alvarez was from outside the program.  He was a product of Nebraska, Iowa, and Notre Dame.  He also had the opportunity to leave for Miami, Fla. and didn't (although he was playing Donna Shalala for more money).
• I believe that Fickell will stay true to the Badger culture.  It probably isn't much different than that at Ohio State -- except the booster and NIL money at OSU is much, much different.
• Sorry, but when people say that Wisconsin has always been a second-tier program, I have to disagree.  They have been to 20-straight bowl games.  They were one or two spots away from a BCS bid.  Are they at the level of OSU, Alabama, Clemson?  No way.  Up until this year... and last year, they were very competitive.
• Remember, Paul Chryst didn't set things ablaze when he coached at Pitt.  He was a very good offensive coordinator and I think he was not able to be as successful fulfilling the responsibilities of being a head coach.  I have a feeling the same might be said for Jim Leonhard -- good defensive coordinator, but not as good of a head coach.  We don't know, and it would probably be better if he got his feet wet somewhere else.
• How is Dave Aranda doing?  He even left for LSU and is the head coach at Baylor.  Being a good DC or OC doesn't necessarily mean that person will be a good HC.
• I saw either Tom Oates or Jeff Potrykus mention that the Badgers had two of their best recruiting classes ever and that recruiting wasn't a problem.  Really?  No evidence for that.  Those journalists are too close to the program to think objectively.
• Fickell stayed on at OSU after he was the interim head coach and Urban Meyer was hired.  Are we sure that Leonhard is going to leave?  Everyone thinks he is gone.  Of course, they all thought he was going to be the HC.  Leonhard might just stay on board.
• Brad Soderberg all over again?

Some have already decommitted.  It seems like the ledge is getting very crowded and people are already jumping off.  The next few weeks will be interesting for sure.

Well...a few points. 

1-No, it's not a given that Leonhard will leave...but he's in a VERY different situation than Fickell was in at OSU. 

2-How is Dave Aranda doing? Feels like he's doing pretty well...though 2 years(and a Covid year) is not nearly enough to judged a HC;

Quote

In 2021, Aranda led the Bears to their best season in school history. The Bears were ranked in the top 25 for the majority of the 2021 football season and finished with a 12-2 record (7-2 in Big 12 play), the most wins in program history. In the 2021 Big 12 Championship Game, Aranda and the Bears beat Oklahoma State 21-16 on an iconic goal line stand to win Baylor's 3rd Big 12 football championship.^[35] The season ended with a historic Sugar Bowl win where they beat Ole Miss 21-7.^[36][37] Aranda won the AP Big 12 Coach of the Year (2021),^[38] the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards program's Big 12 Coach of the Year,^[39] and was the first Baylor football coach to win the George Munger Award. ^[40] Aranda was also a finalist for many other national awards, including the 2021 Eddie Robinson Award,^[41] Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award,^[42] Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award,^[43] and Paul "Bear" Bryant Award for National Coach of the Year.^[44]

 

-I'd argue that he's had a pretty good run since leaving. A National Title, a 12 win season his 2nd year at Baylor, National Coach of the year...seems pretty successful. It'll be interesting to see if the Badgers bump in pay for assistants will come close to what LSU's was when they poached Aranda. 

-When people say a "second tier" program, I don't think it's an insult, but there are blue bloods(Alabama, ND, Texas, USC, GA, Oklahoma, Mich, OSU....etc...) and as you say, we're not in that tier. You can be a pretty damn good program and be below that top tier. 

-The Alvarez comp is a good one. He did turn down Miami...which was at ELITE job at that time. I thought he also turned down the opportunity to meet with other schools about coaching opportunities. So it's possible Fickell will do the same...and it's also possible Day outlasts Fickell at their respective schools. 

-The Badgers really DID recruit pretty damn well under Chryst. I wouldn't say that was the problem. Or at least they they had their best recruiting classes since they'd ranked classes in the last...what, 25 or so years. So I don't think that's a crazy observation. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 hours ago, Samurai Bucky said:

While I'm surprised, I'm not fully disappointed.  What I know about Leonhard is that he is the epitome of what it means to be a Badger.  Work your ass off and be loyal to your team.  Unfortunately, that doesn't always equate to being a good head coach.  We don't know what he would have done.  Was Wisconsin football ready to roll the dice with him?  I guess not.

With that said, Fickell is 49.  I think this is going to be his destination unless there is something HUGE that comes to pass.  Is OSU going to fire Ryan Day?  No.  If they do, then Ryan Day can come coach at Wisconsin.  

Some random points:

• Barry Alvarez was from outside the program.  He was a product of Nebraska, Iowa, and Notre Dame.  He also had the opportunity to leave for Miami, Fla. and didn't (although he was playing Donna Shalala for more money).
• I believe that Fickell will stay true to the Badger culture.  It probably isn't much different than that at Ohio State -- except the booster and NIL money at OSU is much, much different.
• Sorry, but when people say that Wisconsin has always been a second-tier program, I have to disagree.  They have been to 20-straight bowl games.  They were one or two spots away from a BCS bid.  Are they at the level of OSU, Alabama, Clemson?  No way.  Up until this year... and last year, they were very competitive.
• Remember, Paul Chryst didn't set things ablaze when he coached at Pitt.  He was a very good offensive coordinator and I think he was not able to be as successful fulfilling the responsibilities of being a head coach.  I have a feeling the same might be said for Jim Leonhard -- good defensive coordinator, but not as good of a head coach.  We don't know, and it would probably be better if he got his feet wet somewhere else.
• How is Dave Aranda doing?  He even left for LSU and is the head coach at Baylor.  Being a good DC or OC doesn't necessarily mean that person will be a good HC.
• I saw either Tom Oates or Jeff Potrykus mention that the Badgers had two of their best recruiting classes ever and that recruiting wasn't a problem.  Really?  No evidence for that.  Those journalists are too close to the program to think objectively.
• Fickell stayed on at OSU after he was the interim head coach and Urban Meyer was hired.  Are we sure that Leonhard is going to leave?  Everyone thinks he is gone.  Of course, they all thought he was going to be the HC.  Leonhard might just stay on board.
• Brad Soderberg all over again?

Some have already decommitted.  It seems like the ledge is getting very crowded and people are already jumping off.  The next few weeks will be interesting for sure.

I think a large part of Alvarez staying at UW was a desire to get into the administrative end of things, and he appeared very close to Pat Richter who was getting ready to pull the pin.

Don't know if anyone remembers Bob Schnelker. He was an OC for many teams in the NFL, Including Green Bay. Had a rep as a terrific offensive mind. Never once was a head coach, don't know if he even applied anywhere. I think that was Chryst. He probably never realized it, but the man would've been much happier as a career assistant. So I think your point regarding him is valid. But my gut tells me Leonhard isn't cut from that cloth.

Is it the recruiting, or the development? Or both? Some of their best classes were guys who played "above" their recruiting stars. Flip side, everyone wanted Graham Mertz, and we got him. If he, or Guerendo, or Tyler Beach underachieve did we recruit well, but underdevelop? Either way, a new staff of assistants will be refreshing to me (although Bostad being retained would be just fine IMO)

I would love for Leonhard to stay. I would be absolutely shocked if he did.