Head Coach Luke Fickell on Wisconsin Badgers’ Offense and Upcoming Challenges

How Close Are the Wisconsin Badgers to Success? Luke Fickell Weighs In.

In the wake of Wisconsin's frustrating Week 2 loss against Washington State, Badgers' Head Coach Luke Fickell spoke to the media at his weekly press conference this past Monday. Fickell fielded questions about the Wisconsin Badgers' offense and its proximity to the standards he and Offensive Coordinator Phil Longo aspire to. 

The Week 2 loss may have dampened spirits, but Fickell’s tone was anything but defeatist. “I do think we're close,” he proclaimed, setting the stage for a broader discussion on team balance and forthcoming hurdles.

Sep 9, 2023; Pullman, Washington, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) throws a pass against Washington State Cougars defensive end Ron Stone Jr. (10) in the second half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Washington State won 31-22. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports / © James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Balancing Act: The Game of Belief and Opportunity

Fickell underscored the need for balance, specifically around what the team needs to improve. "Belief" was a keyword in his narrative. According to Fickell, it's more challenging to maintain collective faith when the visual cues—like a win-loss column—are unfavorable. Yet, he argued that if you can eke out a victory even when not playing well, it can instill the belief that serves as fuel for future successes.

"I do think we're close," he started. "I do think we're close. I think that there's, ... balance of some things that we've got to do a better job with. ... I think what it comes down to is the belief ... and that's where you're getting everybody to say, making sure it's harder to believe when you don't see as much, right?"

Fickell spoke about the necessity for the team to operate in unison, reiterating that they "didn't play complementary football." For Fickell, the key lies in the team's ability to unite both facets of the game – offense and defense – to create more opportunities for wins.

"If you win, find a way to win, even though you don't play well, it's a little bit easier,' Fickell said. " And I think for us, this is going to be a big, big step, ... being able to be humbled enough to recognize there's some really good things, but not be like selfish enough to think, well, if it would have been different ... This is done together and ultimately we didn't play complementary football ... we got to find a way to, ... on both sides of the ball ... to get us another opportunity ... to win a football game."

Turnovers Don't "Just Happen": The Conscious Act of Winning

Fickell emphasized that positive outcomes like turnovers or victories don't "just happen" on the football field. Teams have to consciously act to make them occur.

"So I believe we're close. But it's not just going to happen. I think that's probably the biggest thing. I could sit up here every week and say, Oh, we're close, we're close, we're close. The reality is that just like turnovers and things like that, they don't just happen. You've got to make them happen. And I think that's where we've got to get ourselves back to understanding that there's a lot of things we have to do to make this happen."

The Road Ahead: A Georgia Southern Challenge

Wisconsin has no time to dwell on past failures, not with a capable Georgia Southern team on the horizon. As Fickell wisely summarized, it's up to the Badgers to take this humbling lesson and use it as a springboard for future triumphs. Fickell has set the tone for the rest of the Wisconsin Badgers' season. Whether his players can translate this optimism into actions on the field remains to be seen. 

Watch the full Media Conference below:

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