Wisconsin Football Fans React to LSU Loss in ReliaQuest Bowl

Luke Fickell and the University of Wisconsin football program couldn’t fend off the No. 13 LSU Tigers offense late in the fourth quarter. The Wisconsin Badgers floundered and lost 35-31 in the ReliaQuest Bowl. 

With the loss in the finale, the Wisconsin Badgers finished the first season of Coach Fickell’s tenure 7-6 and 5-4 in Big Ten play. 

Following the game, I asked for fellow Badgers fans’ opinions on the loss to LSU, and the results, as you might expect, varied significantly. 

Some Wisconsin Football Fans Saw Positive Signs

Whenever Wisconsin football wins or loses, it’s never as good or bad as we seem to think. The reality often lies somewhere in between. 

Great game. The offense looked dynamic. It’s been fun to watch the transformation. The program is in good hands and headed in the right direction. I’m excited for next season.

— Minneapolis Fighting Royce Lewises (@MWallners) January 1, 2024

A valiant effort. Bright times ahead for Badger football.

— David Roelke (@droelke) January 1, 2024

Heartbreaker, but saw a lot to love for next season.

— Matthew Anderson (@24marinematt) January 1, 2024

These are some of the more level-headed and rational responses that I received from fans. As much as I don’t care for morale victories, this was a Badgers team who entered as double-digit underdogs and punched above their weight against a much more talented team.

Phil Longo’s offense, in general, was the most positive takeaway. Wisconsin fans got their first glimpse at what the air raid offense could look like moving forward after hanging 502 yards against the Tigers.

There’s reason to walk away from this one feeling alright about some of what transpired in the bowl game. But losing sucks, and that’s what people, myself included, will remember.

Other Wisconsin Badgers Fans Wanted to Fire Everyone to the Moon

Since the day Luke Fickell took over the Wisconsin football program, he’s preached about the ability to finish. This Badgers team couldn’t do that whatsoever in 2023, and that’s probably putting it mildly.

Understandably, plenty of Badgers fans came out of the woodwork and were less than pleased with the latest collapse.

#firefickell

— uno (@Davidbasche1) January 1, 2024

1. Mordecai sucks
2. O-line sucks
3. Defense is HORRIBLE
4. Mordecai is really, really bad

— Pete (@wiscopete13) January 1, 2024

Fire the entire coaching staff immediately- what a pathetic performance. Had more than a month to prepare and this is the product they put on the field! Complete garbage! They embarrassed themselves & this team! Irrefutable proof!

— TDGB (@TDGB13) January 1, 2024

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the people calling for coach Fickell to be fired are a wee bit dramatic for my taste. The defense was terrible; there’s no way around it. They didn’t have many strengths you could point to this past season and need to be a lot better next year.

It’s also totally fair to question the coaching staff’s decision-making during the game. Several instances that don’t need re-hashing were painfully conservative and head-scratching, to say the least.

The Wisconsin football team fell short of expectations this season—period. Here’s to a better 2024.

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