Wisconsin Has ‘Enough Talent’ to Win, Must Trust the Process
Wisconsin's pursuit of greatness might be more of a journey than a destination for the Badgers.
MADISON, Wis. – In the wake of a frustrating 31-22 loss to Washington State, Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin football program (1-1, 0-0 B1G) had no choice but to take a long, hard look in the mirror.
Wisconsin invested heavily in the off-season, securing Fickell as their head coach, retaining an experienced roster, and making significant additions through the transfer portal.
Why? Because the University of Wisconsin and its athletic department wanted to break through the threshold and become a top-tier program.
But Saturday's loss served as a reminder that the road to greatness might be more of a journey than a destination for the Badgers.
Like It or Not ... Wisconsin Football Is a Program in Transition
First-year head coaches are often granted a grace period, a honeymoon of sorts, to establish their systems, culture, and identity within a program.
That luxury, however, is a fleeting concept when you have a resume as accomplished as Luke Fickell. The pressure to win now is palpable, a sentiment shared by the coaching staff and the players.
"I won't blame it on being the first year of our new offense or defense," Fickell said after the loss to Washington State. "We have the talent to win, and nothing should hold us back. We need to put our players in positions to succeed, and that responsibility falls on me."