Wisconsin Football S Hunter Wohler Delivers Honest Take on Season

Anyone who can perform the mental gymnastics it would take to paint this past season for the Wisconsin Badgers football team as a success under first-year head coach Luke Fickell is someone I could use in my life as a glass-half-full type of person to counterbalance my negativity. 

The Badgers entered the season as Big Ten West favorites but finished with a 7-6 record, scratching and clawing their way into bowl eligibility. 

Now, I’m not blaming anyone in particular. Taking over a program and rebuilding the offense and defense in an image different from what Wisconsin football has done for a long time is challenging. 

The reason I’m frustrated mostly is due to people backpedaling and saying that expectations were too high. Why? Athletic Director Chris McIntosh is the one who said the expectation is to compete for championships. Whether he meant national championships or Big Ten titles, it doesn’t matter. 

If that’s the expectation for the athletic department — why should ours be any lower? After the game, Wisconsin Badgers safety Hunter Wohler, who is the type of leader every good team needs, took accountability for the season they had and conveyed a message all fans might need to hear. 

Wisconsin Football Safety Hunter Wohler Says Expectations Weren’t Too High. 

Wisconsin Badgers safety Hunter Wohler (24) runs through a drill during fall training camp at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.

Wisconsin football star safety Hunter Wohler has already announced he’ll return to the team next season, citing unfinished business. Badgers fans everywhere rejoiced because he felt like one of two players on defense that looked like they belonged in the NFL.

More importantly, he’s been a leader for this team and served as a voice of reason for the Badgers when they hit rock bottom after the loss to Northwestern. Wohler questioned whether everyone in the program was bought in — and the team played its best ball shortly after.

When talking to reporters following the 35-31 loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl, Wohler again took accountability for the Wisconsin Badgers’ shortcomings in 2023.

“Expectations for this season weren’t too high,” Wohler said. We had the pieces. “We just underperformed.”

Hunter Wohler says the expectations for this season weren’t too high. Adds they had the pieces. “We just underperformed” #Badgers pic.twitter.com/Yk1ctINwbC

— Andrew Bandstra (@andrewbandstra) January 1, 2024

This is much closer to how I feel about this year’s rendition of the Wisconsin Badgers football team. I’m not saying they should have been world-beaters that won double-digit games. But there was enough talent to win several games they couldn’t finish. Expectations should always remain high; although it was a transition year, excuses are useless.

I have plenty of faith in what Luke Fickell can accomplish at Wisconsin. But anyone who felt the expectations were too high is coping with the vision that we, as Badgers fans, were sold. The Badgers came up short this season, but they have another offseason to acquire talent that fits their vision, and that’s an exciting prospect heading into 2024.

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