A pair of Badgers were recognized with postseason Big Ten Conference honors on March 7, as Connor Essegian was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and Chucky Hepburn earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors.
In his first season with the Badgers, Essegian ranks second for UW averaging 11.9 points per game shooting 38.8% from 3-point range.
Former Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Thomas was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as announced during the NFL Honors on Feb. 9 in Phoenix.
Thomas, who will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in early August, is the seventh offensive tackle to become a first-ballot hall of famer, and first since Walter Jones (Seattle) in 2014.
It’s an exciting time to be a fan of the Wisconsin Badgers football team.
During my lifetime, Wisconsin football has spent many weeks ranked in the top 25. They’ve made bowl games just about every season and have won double-digit games on many occasions.
The 14th-ranked Badgers seem poised to outperform preseason expectations dramatically for a second straight year. This time, they’re doing it without the benefit of having an NBA lottery pick on their roster.
Wisconsin (11-2, 3-0 Big Ten) has won six straight and is tied for first place in the Big Ten standings with Michigan (9-5, 3-0). The Badgers can earn their first 4-0 start in Big Ten competition since 2012-13 with a victory Saturday at Illinois (9-5, 0-3).
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell announced the hiring of Mike Brown, Jack Bicknell Jr., and Gino Guidugli on Jan. 6, adding to his offensive staff.
Brown arrives in Madison as the associate head coach and wide receivers coach, Bicknell will coach the offensive line, and Guidugli will serve as the passing game coordinator and lead the tight ends unit.
Phil Longo and Mike Tressel, two experienced and accomplished collegiate coaches, have been hired to lead Wisconsin’s offensive and defensive units, respectively, UW head coach Luke Fickell announced Jan. 3.
“I’m extremely excited for our players and our program to add Phil and Mike,” Fickell said. “I’ve built a relationship with Phil over the past six years and am happy to finally be able to work side-by-side with him. He’s a very innovative and well-rounded football coach. He’s a tremendous person and family man and truly cares about his players.
Wisconsin had a new coach on the sideline, with the interim coach still calling the shots. The Badgers had several new players in key positions, including quarterback.
A long, sometimes-difficult season came to a conclusion with more adversity – and, eventually, a win.
A 17-point lead nearly erased, Wisconsin dug down for one last defensive play to beat Oklahoma State 24-17 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Dec. 27.
“It ended exactly the way we wanted it to — we got the win,” said Braelon Allen, who ran for 116 yards and scored on a 20-yard touchdown.
Jim Leonhard, who served as Wisconsin’s interim coach for the last seven games of the regular season, says he won’t be back with the Badgers next year.
Leonhard tweeted Dec. 6 that he would work as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator for its Dec. 27 Guaranteed Rate Bowl matchup with Oklahoma State but wouldn’t be part of new coach Luke Fickell’s staff next season.
“It has been an honor to coach these young men, and thank you to all the fans who supported us along the way,” Leonhard tweeted. “On Wisconsin!”
Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell spent much of his first day on the job speaking to his new players, knowing many of them had hoped this search would have a different outcome.
His message to them was sympathetic but direct.
“Change is inevitable,” Fickell said Nov. 28 during a welcome event before his introductory news conference. “The growth is what’s optional. I’m willing to grow.”
Wisconsin is bringing Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell back to the Big Ten.
Athletic director Chris McIntosh announced Nov. 27 that the Badgers had hired Fickell to take over their football program after his successful run with the Bearcats.
Fickell posted a 57-18 record in six seasons at Cincy and helped the Bearcats earn a College Football Playoff berth last year. The former Ohio State defensive lineman and longtime assistant went 6-7 as the Buckeyes’ interim coach in 2011 after Jim Tressel’s resignation.
During my lifetime, Wisconsin football has spent many weeks ranked in the top 25. They’ve made bowl games just about every season and have won double-digit games on many occasions.
