Rant

[u/topofthebrown]

At the time I was all for the Chryst firing, I thought everything was headed in the wrong direction and we needed a different regime in the building. I held on hope Fickell would figure it out for a long time, but I think now I am so desperate to just get back to being an 8 win team that I forgot how good we had it. I was frustrated with Chryst at the time for sure, but I implore you to simply go back and watch some games from the Chryst era. Those teams were big and physical and sending guys to the NFL every year. Ask yourself who from these fickell teams is going to the NFL? We can’t run the ball, we can’t pass the ball, the defense is not causing havoc, we’re getting 0 sacks, 0 TFLs. We have a decent run D and good special teams and that’s it. Go back and watch the 2021 team. That defense was DESTROYING people. 3 and outs all day, multiple sacks every game, pressure on the qb. Even with how frustrating mertz was, we were still getting chunk runs. With the team now we are NEVER getting 2nd and 5, it’s always 2nd and 8, 2nd and 10. We aren’t breaking any big runs, Joseph is missing throws all day. It’s just bad man. 2022 was a bad year yeah, but Chryst was legit, and it felt like when we lost you could point to a few key plays, a bad turnover or two, a couple penalties stalling drives. But it was never this bad where we just couldn’t run the ball. I just hate this style of play, it feels like we’re a salty group of 5 team and not a big ten team.

[u/User-no-relation]

Is this not an 8 win team?

[u/topofthebrown → u/User-no-relation]

I don’t think so. We will lose usc and Iowa and probably 1 of the remaining

[u/Fear_Jaire]

The team was on a clear downward trajectory under Chryst and moved on before bottoming out. Fickell not panning out doesn't make moving on from Chryst a mistakr.

[u/vito_is_my_copilot]

The frustrating thing about the Fickell era (aside from not winning) is the lack of a clear identity. Not a running team, not a passing team, defense is generally okay but not dominant. We are known for absolutely nothing…and we switched mid season away from air raid to whatever we are now. Seems like you need an identity to recruit the right talent - we lack it. All of that said, this year’s team does seem improved, and looks of track to get to a bowl game, though it still feels like we are not nearly the same caliber as the Chryst era.

[u/Throwaway-7095]

Chryst is so legit that he hasn’t been in the game the last 3+ seasons. And don’t turn me into a Fickell apologist based on that comment. Chryst is clearly not the answer.

The problem is the game has changed significantly on an administrative and organizational level. The introduction of NIL and annual transfers into the fold has been incredibly disruptive. One need look no further than Indiana to see how much.

Look at the top 10 yesterday. The top 10 matchups aside, how many lost to unranked squads? Pining for Chryst and a type of football that no longer exists and is not coming back is a waste of energy.

[u/BrilliantLie2586]

JASON ECK

[u/Huge_Following_325]

The college football environment changed almost overnight and it coincided with the transition to Fickell. The whole NIL thing was bungled from AD to coach.

[u/Minimum-Border1672]

In defense of the no pressure thing i havemt seen such a horrendously erratic officiated game sinxe the replacement refs in the packers vs Seattle game.

The badgers defensive tackles were DOMINATING the guards for ucla.

I counted at least 4 -5 plays that should have been completely blown up if it wasnt for the guard wrapping their arm around the d tackles neck with no call.

There was a blatant hold inside the end zone that should have been a safety against ucla.

On the plays that weren't blatant neck wrapping they were sumo hugging the tackles.

It completely changed the outcome of the game.

Ie- that safety hold. Thats a complete game flipping play. 

[u/Beawake23]

You are also forgetting it’s not college sports anymore these are pro teams. You no longer have time to develop a kid. Once a player shows they have pro level skills we lose them.

[u/millerlit]

The issue with the Badgers is when they were winning with their dominant run offense they could never win a national championship because they were too one sided.  When they had so much success you want to see them get to the next level which is playing for national championship.

Fickell is obviously not the answer and Badgers need to move on.