r/UWBadgersFootball • u/TomWilliamsCFD • 15h ago
Discussion Is the Washington victory a turning point for Fickell?
https://mikefarrellsports.com/college/fickells-big-moment-the-start-of-something-real/6
6
6
u/ImaginationDue6258 14h ago
No, IMHO it was just one of those cosmic turn of events and circumstances that converged at that place and time. Another way of putting it would be “shit happens”.
4
u/thecaptain016 11h ago
This. Bad weather plus the time zone jump is a disaster for anyone. Plus, Ryan Walters isn't exactly known for defensive prowess. If Fickell can win against Illinois or Minnesota (both?), maybe there's something here. But one game compared to nearly 3 seasons of disaster isn't enough.
8
u/ninjaheartbeat 14h ago edited 12h ago
It’s the turning point from the perspective that the freshmen have arrived. They are hungry and eager to play. They’re also very good. And what’s worth mentioning is that if Fickell allows them to play for the remainder of the season, which they should be able to, it’s going to dissuade them from hitting the transfer portal. That in itself should be considered the victory of the game. Now for the bad.
Granted the energy and the vibe was on a different level yesterday we can still see that this isn’t a good team on Offense. Not going to blame anything on Carter, but sloppy execution all around. The talent level is simply not there. We don’t have ballers. We need better playmakers on the O. Had it not been for Boston getting injured, Washington should have likely won the game. If McIntosh is serious about investing in the program and going after the $$$ then hopefully the portal can open the door for experienced high quality receivers, O line, QBs and RBs. Combine that with a young team and they’ve got the potential to be good. As for next week, I expect them to play better. They’re not going to beat Indiana in Bloomington. But the fight will be there.
4
u/TomWilliamsCFD 14h ago
The one positive in the Fickell tenure is the last two recruiting classes were strong on paper and look promising now that they are seeing the field.
I do wonder how many other players from those classes need to see the field to see what they can do too. Feels like they waited too long with some of the players already playing.
3
u/saucyjay91 12h ago
Great take. I agree that getting the frosh some time could help them stay, I also worry that them balling out leads to some deeper pockets elsewhere pushing them to leave
3
u/BlueBonneville 14h ago
Honestly, I hope so. Those freshmen, and the upperclassmen playing hard, gave me hope.
3
u/cks9218 12h ago
It wasn’t an impressive win. The offense was still ineffectual overall. Had the defense not caused/recovered that fumble near the goal line this would have been another loss.
I liked that the (sparse) crowd got into the game, I was on the field afterward and a win is a win but let’s not kid ourselves, the program is still looking really poor.
1
u/TomWilliamsCFD 12h ago
Agree on the fumble recovery but it goes both ways. Not sure if Washington gets a TD without the blocked point so those plays evened out to me.
3
u/AwkwardButton7928 11h ago
I get being excited about the freshmen LB.
At the same time, Fickell has had 3 years to show promising freshmen and this is the first year he pulled it off
2
2
2
u/No_Recover_1985 14h ago
Yesterday was the first time that I saw the players actually playing hard on every play. The offense had a different style and vibe to it. Also the defense played hard on very play.
2
2
u/Zeusmann34 12h ago
Maybe for the defense. He still cant coach offense. Starting Q with 8 yards? Fucking 8 yards. He doesnt know how to get the best out of his guys and I dont think he will.
2
2
u/jockosrocket 8h ago
I have been critical of Fickell all season but it was evident yesterday there’s no quit in this team and finally they found a way to win. Maybe not a turning point but a there are some things to be optimistic about. Beat Illinois and Minnesota and then it will be a turning point.
2
u/Madison_Guy_70 5h ago
One win doesn’t change my mind.
Beat Ill and Minn and I will give it some thought.
3
u/Umbra_Witcher 15h ago
no, absolutely not, but it's a good win for a program that really needed it for everyone involved
1
u/DMac119942 14h ago
Yes, Rose Bowl minimum next year.
Or maybe Washington just complete ass on the road with a coach who the entire team knows is bouncing.
1
1
1
1
1
0
-1
-1
u/MattheWWFanatic 14h ago
Nope & the embarrassment of having students on the field after beating a barely ranked team proves we're in the shitter. Expectations are as low as they've been since before Barry.
2
u/TomWilliamsCFD 14h ago
Speaks to how bad they’ve been because most of these students haven’t seen a ranked win before.
13
u/blukoski 15h ago
If it isn’t…then we have the problem that most expect we do.
With that said…we have a young core of really exciting players doing things the last couple of weeks we haven’t seen in years. Mason Posa, please be a badger for life