Barry Alvarez has voiced his concerns about the current state of Wisconsin football, urging the program to get back on track. A respected figure in Wisconsin football, Alvarez’s recent remarks about the team’s performance may cause some to pause and reflect on the program’s trajectory.
Alvarez, who played a key role in building Wisconsin into a national powerhouse in the 1990s and 2000s, has expressed frustration with how the program is being managed under current leadership. Speaking on ESPN Radio in Madison, Alvarez emphasized the importance of this spring practice, highlighting the need for the team to regain pride after a losing season.
“This spring is critical because after a losing season, there has to be a sense of pride within the team to bounce back and become relevant again,” Alvarez explained. “We worked tirelessly to start winning, to win championships, and to go to bowl games every year. For 20-some years, we did it better than anyone. Now, they have to fight hard to get back to that level, and I hope they realize the responsibility they carry. I don’t like where we are right now. They need to bring this program back to where it belongs.”
Last season, Wisconsin finished with a 5-7 record and missed out on a bowl game for the first time since 2001, ending the third-longest bowl streak in college football history, behind Georgia and Oklahoma.
Head coach Luke Fickell, who was hailed as a major hire after his success at Cincinnati, has posted a 13-13 record so far with Wisconsin. Alvarez, who led the Badgers to 11 bowl games during his 16 years as head coach before becoming athletic director in 2005, has been openly critical of Fickell’s leadership.
In October, Alvarez revealed that he had sent a message to CBS broadcaster Brad Nessler during Wisconsin’s loss to USC, expressing his displeasure with Fickell’s decision to run a 4th-and-1 play from the shotgun formation, which resulted in a turnover that allowed USC to score the go-ahead touchdown.
Looking ahead, the Badgers face one of the toughest schedules in the Big Ten in 2025, with away games at Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, and Indiana, along with a home game against Ohio State. This challenging slate presents Fickell and the team with ample opportunities to prove themselves or further raise questions about the program’s direction under his leadership.
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