The Camp: That Luke Fickell press conference, Overreaction, er No?

[@MitchCraft12]

Fickel gets it. He hired the man. He’s just not about over dramatizing it like the media tends to do.

[@markkovatch6180]

It’s annoying that fans expect this program to be challenging for Big 10 titles in two seasons under Fick. Chryst had terrible recruiting classes the two years before Fick arrived. The cupboard was thin at best. Fick has drastically improved recruiting. The transfer portal takes $$$$ and Wisconsin doesn’t have a fat wallet to get top guys. Fick should get a few more years to put his full team on the field.

[@petepiranio]

I’ve been all in on Fickell because I believe it takes time (recruiting cycles) to get the program where you want and I like what he’s done with recruiting dept & assistant changes.. Especially as empty of a cupboard Chryst left behind. However, this press conference gave me pause. It was an abysmal display of leadership and I coach business owners in leadership. Yes, I understand how he addresses the team is different than a press conference, but a press conference can impact your brand (recruiting, NIL$). I played college football. The idea the play caller doesn't matter is THE dumbest thing I’ve heard out of a coaches mouth. If you don’t know who it is yet, just say a final decision hasn't been made yet or that will be released on game day b/c I don't want the focus to be on who’s calling plays. The focus right now is a collaborative effort in putting together a great game plan for Nebraska. Questions about OC replacement: we have a process for making sure we make the best decision for the program & we’ll keep it moving without it taking away our primary focus, which is Nebraska. Not hard 🤷‍♂️ You can be clear & concise without giving away anything you don’t want to. His behavior gives me the impression the pressure is mounting…i don’t want that out of a leader.

[@badgerbill336]

The most telling thing to me is he said “Who said there was an OC search?” I think he’s got his guy.

[@badgerbill336]

Good show some fight, the team has not played good and he is pissed. I’d rather see that than the lethargic and not giving a shit

[@guy8848]

I have heard the point of view, the Wisconsin requirement to post job for two weeks, may have something to do with it. So they can hire their guy the second the season is over. Before the signing day

[@craighenrichs6174]

This is right!!!

[@BrianLiberante1]

So lame. They need to make it exempt for football & basketball.

[@badgerbill336]

It’s a thing for all state employees

[@dimitri1515]

Correct. I don't think Zach & Jesse are aware of this.

[@danielgill7379]

Tom Herman was fired as FAU's coach Friday. Fickell and he have been talking. That's my theory.

[@JHam4758]

Cannot imagine the added dynamics involved for a head coach in today’s portal and NIL world. My fear and sense is trepidation from Fickell about a slowly evolving athletic department with no firm strategy on managing the portal and NIL. Fickell will not stay at UW if this is the case.

[@jimijames95]

I keep hearing Fickell better get this hire right? James Franklin PSU has had 6 OC's since 2014 and maybe he has the right guy now, maybe not. As a head coach putting a number on the amount of OC's you can have is dumb.

[@allensaunders449]

I don't fickell will have that much time. plus Franklin wins 10 plus game's a year

[@badgerbill336]

@@allensaunders449 not his first 2 years at Penn state

[@allensaunders449]

@@jimijames95 that was long ago coaches don't have as much time anymore

[@davidmiller1534]

This was Luke Fickell as Captain Queeg.

[@billybob8228]

Do you remember when Fickell was asked what does Mabry gain or learn from getting those four snaps at the end of the game? Coaches response was something like "I don't know not much probably". So maybe we've got this all wrong. Maybe Longo wanted Mabry as QB and Fickell wanted Locke.

[@alexpratt5010]

I think it’s the other way around. Fickell probably could tell Locke was struggling and wanted to give someone else a shot but Longo has been attached to Locke

[@billybob8228]

​@@alexpratt5010 and I thought the same thing until Fickle said Locke is the starting QB Saturday

[@guy8848]

Ok, You guys say your not mad, then your all mad. From his point of view its non of your business. From your point of view you should know everything.

[@chrisrydberg1814]

He fired him with two weeks left in the season for a reason if you look at how the state of Wisconsin set up, you have to be able to post the job for two weeks before you can hire somebody to guess what it’s posted and now the second, you can legally go hire somebody they can write them a check, sign the deal on the spot instead of waiting For too long and lose them to other programsL

[@RobertSorenson4991]

The University has a rule that a job has to be posted for 2 weeks. So in order for the program to hire a new OC before early signing day they needed to fire him.

[@RedArrow2007]

Longo has been under fire from fans and even indirect pressure from the likes of Barry Alverez. This is not to say Barry was pressuring Fickell to make changes but in his opinion change was needed. I believe Fickell was trying to protect Longo's departure and keep the criticism behind closed doors. His approach to be defensive about it was surprising. Maybe not one of his finest moments, but they must stay focused on preparing for the next game and then the game after that. After the season then talk about OC replacement.

[@liammccarthy9388]

There's a lot more that goes into being an OC than play calling, that's honestly a small part of the job. I think Fickell sees us not able to control the line of scrimmage and knows that this is a much bigger issue than simply play calling. I think this is why he seemed frustrated. They haven't been able to do the key fundamental stuff so why does the play caller matter at the moment?

[@ryan23791]

For Luke to be taking an adversarial posture against the media is a little rich. So far things have not worked out with him here and he just fired the OC less than two years after he hired to tranform the offense and instead it has regressed and kept UW from winning a couple of games at least this season.

[@yabadabado1]

I think you are naive if you think MacIntosh had no roll in this decision, he's AD, he's got to dish out money to Longo, of course he's involved, maybe Luke was fiesty because he was forced to let him go now.

[@DownstreamV]

Ill give this to fickel. We have not really been blown out by any big team like always happened under Chryst. Alabama was a bit of a fluke due to QB going down first drive and iowa was just a hangover.

[@williamwojcieszek4320]

Blown out in two games plus the 2nd half of USC. Meh

[@davidmiller1534]

I would have described Luke Fickell's demeanor as 'oafish' rather than 'feisty'. If I'm the AD, I would have been on the phone to Luke buddy afterward and told him you have to be better prepared for a press conference of this magnitude and for God's sake stop letting your emotions get the best of you in front of the press corp.

[@leeherlache4356]

I believe that things peaked and Longo had to move on. Also vs waiting until the end of the year he can I.D. his next Oc in advance. If u wait until the end of thyear more teams will be competing for an O.C. he may want.

[@markf1290]

The Fickell i saw in that press conference is not a man I would want to follow. He looked defeated. Adversity either refines you or reveals you. His previous interviews and T.E.A.M. vest seemed fake to me. Unfortunately, that last press conference seemed real.

[@markadsit]

Sorry guys but I simply do not understand the timing of this move and remain dismayed by the Monday press conference. Very bad look.

[@leeherlache4356]

DOES VAN DYKE COME BACK NEXT YEAR, OR WILL MABRY BE READY TO COMPETE FOR THE STARTING JOB? SHOULD BE!

[@badgerbill336]

Mabrey is gone

[@williamwojcieszek4320]

TVD post surgery likely not ready to play until June. You can’t have a new OC trying to install a new offense in the Spring with a QB that isn’t going to start

[@timolson6506]

Why do you guys feel the need to know every detail? Fickell owes you or anyone nothing. His job is to coach this team and make decisions in the best interest of the team.