JosephC

It was a fun day at work today. I work with several season ticket holders who were fully expecting that, when they got up on Sunday, the word would have already leaked out that Fickell was fired. When that didn't happen, they thought for sure an official announcement would have been made this morning. People just don't understand politics and the way the world works. McIntosh thinks firing Fickell makes McIntosh look bad, because that makes him the dope that hired a complete flop. So he will do everything to avoid that and only pull the trigger when he feels he absolutely has to (in other words, when it gets so bad that it's his AD job on the line). Just three weeks ago I would have still put the odds at 90+% that Fickell would be back in 2026. But that Iowa loss now has me thinking 2-10, and under those circumstances I just don't think McIntosh can keep him. 2024 = Purdue = 1-11 (Ryan Walters fired at end of season) 2022 = Northwestern = 1-11 (Pat Fitzgerald fired at end of season) 2021 = Indiana = 2-10 (Tom Allen survived, fired after the 2023 season) 2019 = Rutgers = 2-10 (Chris Ash fired 4 games into season) 2018 = Rutgers = 1-11 (Chris Ash survived) 2017 = Illinois = 2-10 (Lovie Smith survived, fired during 2020 season) 2016 = Rutgers = 2-10 (Chris Ash survived) 2015 = Purdue = 2-10 (Darrell Hazell survived, fired 6 games into the 2016 season) This year isn't completed yet, and then throw out the COVID year when full schedules weren't played, and the last 10 full seasons take us back to 2014. 2014 and 2023 aren't listed because all Big 10 teams won at least 3 games in those seasons. But in the last 10 full seasons, only 8 teams couldn't win at least 3 games. I was going to stop the research there, but wondered how many of those coaches survived. I was pretty surprised to see that 5 out of the 8 actually made it to the next season. Not good news for those who are desperate to get Fickell out of Madison.

Two NFL starters on that line in Joe Tippmann and Tanor Bortolini. Jack Nelson is a backup on a NFL 53 man roster. Other guys in that group included Riley Mahlman and Joe Brunner was coming in as a recruit. Tyler Beach was a pretty decent player when healthy, but unfortunately he seemed to be hobbled a lot. Trey Widig and Dylan Barrett went on to start at other then-Power Five programs (Indiana and Iowa State). That's not even mentioning Nolan Rucci, who turned out to be a bust. There was still plenty in the cupboard.

Chryst derangement syndrome is back. Bostad was the inside linebacker coach for 5 years, 2017-2021. In those 5 years, the Badgers were 44-17 (.721), 30-12 in the Big 10 (.714) and 4-1 in bowl games (.800). Hope you enjoy this 2-10 season.

Their last two first round picks were offensive tackles, and both of those guys were picked in the top 11.

I can't stand Franklin, but that's a totally low-class move by Penn State. That program was still reeling from the scandal and then he followed Bill O'Brien's less than stellar performance. .698 winning percentage at school and 6-6 record in bowl games (and most of those games were in high-profile bowls). Firing guys like this mid-season, no class. Wouldn't be a bit upset to see them go down the same road Wisconsin has following McIntosh's colossal blunder

I still don't think McIntosh will fire Fickell. But now a 2-10 finish is looking more and more likely, and the pressure that McIntosh will be under will be pretty immense if that happens. I think it's much more likely that McIntosh forces Fickell to scapegoat Grimes and Tressel, and the Badgers end up with a severe lack of talent plus a patched together coaching staff that will all be trying to get on the same page. In other words, McIntosh will somehow make a bigger mess of the big mess he's already made. Yes, the athletic department makes big money. But they operate just like a government bureaucracy, every penny is spent as soon as it comes in the door. Any projected increase in revenue is immediately appropriated and spent. A 25 million buyout is still a really significant amount of money for the athletic department, even if it is spread out over a number of years. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/04/16/univ-of-wisconsin-expecting-significant-expenses-increase-ahead-of-revenue-sharing/

James Franklin = 0-3 in Big 10

What an embarrassment. Any positive they gained from last week is down the toilet.

Indiana's athletic department better find a way to come up with 10 million per year to keep Cignetti, because it's only a matter of time until one of those big SEC powerhouses come calling.

Considering how bad a matchup Wisconsin's offense seemed to be against Iowa's defense, I figured the max number of points we'd see today would top out at 17. This game might already be over.

As I type this, Iowa is a 3 1/2 point favorite and the over/under is 37. Iowa's defensive front four appears to be their strength. That group is considered to be much better than the average Iowa front four, and Iowa has a pretty good history of having quality defensive linemen. The offensive line returns three starters, the first-time starters playing LT and RG. The new RG, Kade Pieper, has reportedly been playing very well. This looks like a game where Wisconsin could be dominated in the trenches. Iowa's offensive skill positions are generally a weak point, and this year is no different. Starting QB Mark Gronowski is battling injury, and will be a game-time decision. They've had injuries at the running back position, causing them to start 4 different running backs in their 5 games. The top receiver in terms of yards has totaled 10 catches and 179 yards in 5 games. Tight end is historically a very strong position for Iowa. Through 5 games, the top two tight ends on the roster have combined for 8 catches and 67 yards. If Iowa had any offensive firepower at all, they would be an easy pick to win the game. Wisconsin is at home, and just maybe can eek out a very low scoring game. Still have to think Iowa will win though, with what appears to be a significant advantage in the trenches.

Deion Sanders is maybe the best teacher in the history of football. He taught an entire generation, and perhaps every future generation, that tackling for cornerbacks is a completely optional activity.

Sounds like Shemar Stewart is going to play. He's missed the last few games with an ankle injury. Their second round pick, LB-Demetrius Knight, has gotten some pretty good reviews.

In 2023, Browning started 7 games and ended up with a better QB rating than Burrow (98.4 versus 91.0). The Bengals were 4-3 in games that Browning started, and 5-5 in games that Burrow started. It's surprising that Browning has been so bad. He's just a turnover machine now. But if I were a Bengals fan, I would still rather see him play than Flacco. At least Browning would have a chance to turn it around and be pretty competent.

Off the Deion Sanders bandwagon so soon?

Emeka Egbuka with a 7 catch, 163 yard, 1 TD day for the Buccaneers today. I can't help but wonder if the Packers would have picked him instead of Golden if he would have made it to their pick. Through the first 5 games, Egbuka is averaging 89 yards and 1 touchdown. Another "hit" Ohio State wide receiver. Broncos 0-2 on the road heading into today, and then walk into Philadelphia and win. That choke job by Arizona leaves the New York Jets as the only winless team in the NFL.

Make me feel a little better to see Wisconsin has the same record in the Big 10 as Penn State, both 0-2. Can't say I'm a big fan of James Franklin.

I watched the first half and that is enough for me. Just a good reminder on why I don't watch games anymore. Not much going on, it felt like I watched a bunch of commercials with a couple football plays mixed in. Completely boring experience. Each team gets any early score, then both defenses just load up the box and despite the spread offenses, no offense after that. Michigan hits one 32 yard pass down the sidelines and that's pretty much all the offense after the first drive for each team. Maybe Underwood will be something a in a couple years, but he doesn't deserve any hype based on what he did in the first half of this game. Good performance by the Badgers. They may be behind by three but Michigan is a top 20 team and didn't look any better than Wisconsin.

Michigan is a 17.5 point favorite this morning. Have to think with the beatdown that this team has received from the fans and media these last two weeks, that if they have any pride and guts at all, that we are going to see the best they have. I'll predict the Badgers lose, but it will be a closer game (and in general, pretty ugly). Maybe something like Michigan 22, Wisconsin 17.

The thought was the Packers had a big problem with nose tackle depth. It looks more like they have a major problem with interior defensive line depth. Stackhouse got terrible reviews for his pre-season play, and by all accounts was well beyond awful in the Cowboys game. And I appreciate that Stackhouse is a nose tackle and Brinson is not a nose tackle, but being a BAD nose tackle shouldn't make one active ahead of a player that might be able to at least hold their own. If Stackhouse is so bad, but is still active and Brinson is not, that just tells us where Brinson is now (also terrible). If those two are as bad as they appear to be, that leaves the Packers with only Wyatt, Wooden and Brooks as interior defensive linemen, and there really isn't a nose tackle in the group. Maybe including Kenny Clark in that Parsons trade was not such a no-brainer move after all.

Anybody buying the latest media hype that Romeo Doubs is next in line for an extension. I am pretty skeptical of these reports. There is the behavioral issues, along with the concussion issues. And after Doubs big 3 touchdown game, he still has a grand total of 179 receiving yards over 4 games which pro-rates to 760 yards over a 17 game season. That would be his best seasonal output by a notable margin, and would put his 2023-2025 average at 678 yards. Add in the fact that the Packers have Reed, Watson, Golden, Williams, Wicks all under contract for 2026, a lack of draft picks and cap space is starting to become limited. Seems to me like Doubs would be bottom of the list.

I'm not hearing Leonhard's name at all. Not a peep. There appears to be two favorites among the boosters/donors/grads, and by a pretty wide margin. Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Went to school at River Falls and then coached there for 6 years. Was hired by Leipold and coached under him at Whitewater, Buffalo and Kansas. This has been his second year at Penn State. Never has been a head coach, but has about 20 years of offensive coordinator experience and is only 45 years old. And the other is Lance Leipold. Kind of surprised his name is in the mix but apparently there were some "powerful" people that wanted him the last go-around and those people are still here. Doesn't seem like a favorite of McIntosh, as he was given an interview the last time but it was heavily rumored that it was a courtesy interview and he wasn't under serious consideration. Other names are Jason Eck (New Mexico) and Matt Campbell (Iowa State). Local media is talking about Tulane coach Jon Sumrall, but I haven't heard any talk from the donors/grads about him. Personally, I'd be surprised if Fickell is let go after this season. McIntosh won't want to do it, and the buyout is prohibitive. I just don't see Mnookin telling McIntosh, you must fire him AND we must pay him 25 million dollars. So IMO, this is all pretty good chatter, but it's likely all meaningless.

Already fired 3 assistants. Will be interesting to see who is hired. The new mistress must have a brother and a couple cousins that are looking for work.

They have the look of a team that is unbeatable at home but will struggle on the road. Those week 7 and week 8 games at Arizona and at Pittsburgh will go a long way in letting us know how good they are.

Kind of a followup to LouisEly's post... The negativity here in Madison is now at a ridiculous level. Ever since Alvarez got this program back to being good, this is still a program that occasionally, loses and looks really bad in a game that they had no business losing. Sure, that doesn't happen to Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia, but Wisconsin will never be one of those programs because the recruiting area just isn't as fertile. Outside of maybe 10 programs, it happens to everyone else. Even in an up year they were always likely to lose against Alabama at Alabama. Maybe the Badgers really are a 3 wins team, but just maybe they are a lot better and just dropped a hard turd against Maryland? Don't think Alvarez had these types of losses, go back and look at the history and you will find many of them. Yeah, I'm not backing off my previous statement that I would put their win cap at just four this year. But all this crap in Madison like Fickell must be fired now (firing him in September is going to accomplish exactly what?), the Badgers are by far the worst team in the Big 10, Michigan will win by at least four touchdowns...give it a rest.