The Wisconsin football team had not lost to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in more than 12 years prior to Saturday night. With a 44-25 victory over Wisconsin, Nebraska ended that run and the ‘Huskers’ seven-year bowl drought. The Badgers (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) are presently on the verge of completing a successful 22-year record during which Wisconsin qualified for the bowl in every
In a post-game interview, Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell stated, “We’re going to have to look real deep here in a short week and find out who’s with us and who’s willing to put it all on the line for these seniors coming up next week.” However, former Badgers players are dissatisfied with the work put out by their former squad under the direction of UW’s second-year head coach.
On Saturday, the most well-known former Badgers football player expressed his frustrations. Hearing “how much tougher” Wisconsin’s opponents are than his former mater made JJ Watt unhappy.
While they did not have as much to say, other alumni expressed their frustrations in a few words.
Braelon Allen, a running back for the New York Jets, witnessed the start of the Fickell era firsthand. Allen played for Fickell and now-former offensive coordinator Phil Longo during his final season with the Badgers. The Fond du Lac native has not impressed during his year apart from the program.
Jake Maxwell, a former offensive tackle for Wisconsin, might have been the most critical of Fickell. The native of Greendale, Wisconsin, likened Fickell to Matt Eberflus, the head coach of the Chicago Bears, who had a 14-30 record in his three seasons in Chicago.
Not yet done with his critique, Maxwell went on to liken the head coach of the Badgers to PJ Fleck, the football coach of the Minnesota Gophers, another coach with whom Wisconsin sports fans might not be very fond. The Gophers have “a significantly better” head coach than the Wisconsin football team, according to Maxwell.
Following Fickell’s dismissal of offensive coordinator Phil Longo, former Badger football players promptly joked or offered ideas for other coaching staff changes at Wisconsin.