Head coach Luke Fickell responds to frustrated Wisconsin Badgers alumni

The Badgers coach addressed some of the outside noise on social media.

Being the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers football team comes with more than just expectations — it also comes with a deeply invested fanbase. Part of this devoted fanbase includes quite a few notable former players who helped build the foundation of the program and aren’t afraid to voice their opinions when things don’t go as planned.

During and even after Wisconsin’s 38-21 loss to USC, plenty of ex-Badgers standouts wasted no time taking to social media to express their frustrations, pinpointing specific issues like play-calling, execution, and, in some cases, the team’s overall direction under Luke Fickell.

J.J. Watt, for instance, made his feelings clear several weeks ago after the Alabama game, tweeting, “Do not line up in shotgun on 4th & 1. Ever.” Watt retweeted that post again after failing to convert it into a short-yardage situation against USC, hammering home his point. Wisconsin basketball legend Frank Kaminsky chimed in with, “I will never ever understand why you would go in the shotgun on 4th and 1.” Even former Badgers tight end Jake Ferguson is lobbying for change, tweeting, “#BringBackThePowerI.”