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

[homer]

Badgers getting another recruit/transfer any minute now. My guess is it's a transfer since all the other transfer guys are tweeting about it. CJ Williams would be nice 

[homer]

And there ya go

 

 

[patrickgpe]

nice pickup, 4 star recruit. 

[Oxy]

I am a bit numb.

I had really enjoyed the Chryst years when they were winning Orange Bowls and Cotton Bowls...and shoulda won a Rose Bowl...

I enjoyed not giving a crap about what things "look" like or recruiting stars or style...even to the point of genuinely embracing the anti-style of UW.

Then they started losing...then they started getting blown out....then they got blown out by a former UW coach at a no-tradition program. At that point, and in the subsequent months, I now realize that I just like winning,

Luke Fickell has yet to win a game for UW.

That said, this is fun.

[Brewcrew82]

2 hours ago, Oxy said:

I am a bit numb.

I had really enjoyed the Chryst years when they were winning Orange Bowls and Cotton Bowls...and shoulda won a Rose Bowl...

I enjoyed not giving a crap about what things "look" like or recruiting stars or style...even to the point of genuinely embracing the anti-style of UW.

Then they started losing...then they started getting blown out....then they got blown out by a former UW coach at a no-tradition program. At that point, and in the subsequent months, I now realize that I just like winning,

Luke Fickell has yet to win a game for UW.

That said, this is fun.

Losing to Minnesota three out of the last four years was how I personally came to the same realization. We should not be losing games to that poser of a coach and program.

Looking forward to reasserting our dominance over the BIG West (for this coming season at least) and upending Ohio State/Michigan/Penn State on a more frequent basis. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

17 hours ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Losing to Minnesota three out of the last four years was how I personally came to the same realization. We should not be losing games to that poser of a coach and program.

 

I don't remember the exact quote, but apparently after the bowl game there was an opportunity for Fickell to be in some sort of photo op--I think it may have had something to do with the trophy--and he was like no, this isn't about me, this is about the kids.

Try to imagine Fleck ducking out of something like that.

[RedStickBrew]

8 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

I don't remember the exact quote, but apparently after the bowl game there was an opportunity for Fickell to be in some sort of photo op--I think it may have had something to do with the trophy--and he was like no, this isn't about me, this was about the kids.

Try to imagine Fleck ducking out of something like that.

I think it was that Luke Fickell wanted to give the spotlight to Jim Leonhard and the players IIRC.  Great point though as CLF is not only breathing new life into the program he also seems like an authentically good guy.

[nate82]

I believe Fickell is going to go down as the correct choice between him and Leonhard in the long and short run.  Even if Fickell doesn't stay past 5-years this was still the right call.  Hopefully the recruiting of the non transfers also improves.  PC looked completely uninterested in recruiting and was just content with getting whoever would come to UW without putting in much of an effort to get them to come.

Hopefully the skill positions start to improve it would be nice to get a Nick Toon or Chris Chambers or Lee Evans type of players again.  UW can get those type of prospects but if felt as though PC just gave up and didn't even try to get recruits like those players. 

[LouisEly]

There's a lot of hype about the transfers so far.  The two WRs from Cincinnati were rated lower than the two UW WR recruits from that same class.  Yes, Williams and the QBs were rated highly but the QBs didn't see the field this past year; we don't know if they are going to be the next Joe Burrow or the next Ryan Hillinski.  UW got good transfers in last year too - Shaw, Latu, Dort, Lewis & Clark all were starters or 2nd string. 

[Brewcrew82]

22 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

Yes, Williams and the QBs were rated highly but the QBs didn't see the field this past year; we don't know if they are going to be the next Joe Burrow or the next Ryan Hillinski.  UW got good transfers in last year too - Shaw, Latu, Dort, Lewis & Clark all were starters or 2nd string.

Mordecai has thrown for 72 TDs and 22 INTs the last two seasons as the QB for SMU…

[Brewcrew82]

Another big transfer commit coming…

[wallus]

WR Bryson Green coming too. This is getting pretty nutty. 

[SomewhereInTime]

Another day, more incredible news for this program!  They could win the Big Ten in a year or two.

[Oxy]

I never thought I'd be wishing UW could trade a few WRs for a RB or two...

[Jim French Stepstool]

6 hours ago, wallus said:

WR Bryson Green coming too. This is getting pretty nutty. 

The thing about Green compared to the other transfer wideouts is an extensive track record at the college level. He caught 36 balls for 5 TDs last season. Not that the other guys aren't talented...........

[Jim French Stepstool]

9 hours ago, LouisEly said:

There's a lot of hype about the transfers so far.  The two WRs from Cincinnati were rated lower than the two UW WR recruits from that same class.  Yes, Williams and the QBs were rated highly but the QBs didn't see the field this past year; we don't know if they are going to be the next Joe Burrow or the next Ryan Hillinski.  UW got good transfers in last year too - Shaw, Latu, Dort, Lewis & Clark all were starters or 2nd string. 

For college fans, a kid deciding to transfer in to "your" school is always a point of interest. When it's the orgy we've seen in the last few weeks it's understandable folks will get carried away. But I agree, at least w/regards to the WR transfers. With the possible exception of Green I think everyone else has their work cut out for them when competing with Bell & especially Dike. But the depth is very, very welcome.

[homer]

CJ Williams was a top 10 WR recruit in the country. He had a better recruiting profile than any WR in UWs history and I think would have been something like 12th highest rated recruit of all time (depending on the site you use).

They have had two 4 star QBs recruits - Mertz and Houston - in their history and  just got three of them via transfer or recruit. (people are forgetting Mettauer) plus a bona fide college starter. 

Then toss in the WR from OK State who was very productive last year. He has a pretty high floor.

I think people are excited to see skill positions other than RB or TE gain significant depth 

[Jim French Stepstool]

The scuttlebutt is that Burkett is thinking about entering the portal. Not sure what the timeline is exactly, but I think he only has a couple more days to do so.

[nate82]

2 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

The scuttlebutt is that Burkett is thinking about entering the portal. Not sure what the timeline is exactly, but I think he only has a couple more days to do so.

Kind of obvious that he would enter.  Right now he would be the last QB on the depth chart and it would be smart for him to transfer if playing is what he wants to do otherwise take the free ride at UW. 

[areacodes]

21 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

The scuttlebutt is that Burkett is thinking about entering the portal. Not sure what the timeline is exactly, but I think he only has a couple more days to do so.

Isn’t there another transfer window after Spring practice?

[homer]

35 minutes ago, areacodes said:

Isn’t there another transfer window after Spring practice?

The college football transfer portal window opened on December 5th, 2022 and closes 45 days later on January 18, 2023. There is also a 15-day period during the Spring, from May 1-15.

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, homer said:

The college football transfer portal window opened on December 5th, 2022 and closes 45 days later on January 18, 2023. There is also a 15-day period during the Spring, from May 1-15.

Thanks. I guess the NCAA, in its' infinite wisdom, feels the need to give student-athletes one more opportunity to be wishy-washy before summer hits.

[homer]

10 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Thanks. I guess the NCAA, in its' infinite wisdom, feels the need to give student-athletes one more opportunity to be wishy-washy before summer hits.

I think it's that they are allowing them to go through spring ball so they can see where they are on the depth chart.

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 hours ago, homer said:

I think it's that they are allowing them to go through spring ball so they can see where they are on the depth chart.

It is, I'm sure. I just like the idea of working ones' way up through the depth chart, especially when you're only a year or two into your college career. IMO that builds a lot more character than being given multiple opportunities to bail.

Admittedly I feel a little uncomfortable taking this stance, as I don't have a front lawn to kick kids off of.😄

[LouisEly]

1 hour ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

It is, I'm sure. I just like the idea of working ones' way up through the depth chart, especially when you're only a year or two into your college career. IMO that builds a lot more character than being given multiple opportunities to bail.

Admittedly I feel a little uncomfortable taking this stance, as I don't have a front lawn to kick kids off of.😄

There are plenty of clouds for you to yell at, though.

The NCAA is re-evaluating the policies for undergraduate transfers.  Saw a tweet about that on another forum a couple of weeks ago.