The Luke Fickell era hasn't gone according to plan in Madison, but the Wisconsin Badgers football program isn't going anywhere.
Fickell's record looks extremely rough on paper, but the Badgers capped off a struggling 2025 season with a pair of ranked wins. Here in 2026, they have a roster that's set to be paid a lot more, and a schedule that's far more favorable.
In a recent interview with The Athletic's Justin Williams, former Badgers punter and local radio host Brad Nortman pinpointed where things went wrong when Fickell first came over from Cincinnati.
"I think coach Fickell thought he could do it his own way," he said. "Erase the Badger blueprint and a lot of the traditions... in-state recruiting, connecting with high school coaches, connecting with former
players. There was a level of disconnect.”
Nortman put former athletic director Chris McIntosh on blast for leaving, saying it was "like he was leaving right before accountability sets in."
When it comes to his thoughts on Fickell, the exact opposite is true: "If you’re in a marriage and realize it’s not working but you go to counseling and try to change, I give you a lot of credit. That’s what Fickell’s doing now. He’s taking steps to fix it.”
Nortman played at UW from 2008-2011. He was the No. 207 overall draft pick in 2012 by the Carolina Panthers, a team he spent four of his six NFL seasons with. After his rookie contract, he signed a four-year, $8.8 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but only played two of those years as he was released prior to the 2018 season.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Former Wisconsin star backs Luke Fickell, discusses early struggles
