Wisconsin’s HC Luke Fickell Following 38-14 Loss to Alabama

After Wisconsin's 24-point loss to Alabama on Saturday, the Badgers' head coach addressed the media regarding his team's performance and acknowledged one standout player from the Crimson Tide's offense.

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The Badgers' head coach opened his press conference by letting everyone know he is “Committed to being positive.” Fickell added, “It’s very easy to stand up here and rant and rave… We all know we need to get better.”

Fickell defended the offensive line woes, which saw the Badgers allow four sacks in Saturday’s 38-14 loss. He noted that the room is thin, with three redshirt freshmen starting in today’s game. 

“There’s a lot of shuffling parts, and we knew that was going to be the case. We knew that we were starting three redshirt freshmen on the offensive line.” Fickell said, “Things were going to be probably a little bit tougher at times, but I don't know that I could say that there's one glaring thing; there are a lot of other things that maybe stood out more than exactly how the younger guys played upfront.”

Wisconsin’s head coach was asked how hard it is to stay positive after performances like this, in which Fickell replied, “I don't know where else to go, and the truth of the matter is we knew this was going to be a mountain to climb, and I don't just mean this game, I mean this entire season.” Fickell said, “We knew that there was going to be some mix and matching; we didn't always expect all the injuries and things as early in the season that you have to mix and match.” 

Fickell promised that he and his staff would figure this out, with the head coach saying, “We are going to tear this thing apart. We're going to move forward, but find ways to understand that we cannot lose each other at any point in time. Not in a game, not in a half, not in a quarter, and sure as hell not in the season.”

 Fickell spoke on Alabama’s quarterback, Ty Simpson, and how his defense didn't stop him from having a phenomenal outing. He completed 24 out of 29 passes and recorded 382 yards through the air, along with four touchdowns. 

“We can’t make life on Ty Simpson harder; it's going to be really difficult for us.” Fickell added, “Give him (Simpson) a lot of credit. He did a hell of a job. Played a hell of a game. Threw the ball really well, but they protected him really well, and that's on us, I mean, if we're going to be, if we’re going to get better at that, the discipline things that we have to do.”

The third-year head coach mentioned turnovers, which the Badgers had two on Saturday. Both were interceptions by Alabama’s safety Bray Hubbard.

Fickell said, “Show up, you know, and those penalties and those situations, just like turnovers, you know, it’s not like not saying it wasn’t a good play, but when we throw it right to them, we've got to make people earn things, and those are the ones that stand out right there.”

Wisconsin will fall to 2-1, while Alabama will improve to 2-1 on the season. Alabama has a bye week next week, and Wisconsin will host Maryland, where they will try to get back on track.

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