Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell says matchup vs. Alabama is what makes college football special

Posted by Admin September 9, 2024 Football

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MADISON – There is a segment of the coaching community that wants players to have tunnel vision for each opponent. No looking ahead.

Luke Fickell knows better than that.

As much as the Wisconsin football coach understands the importance of sticking to the task at hand, he also knows it’s not a realistic expectation for young adults.

So yes, it’s OK for the players to feel the opportunity to play Alabama at Camp Randall Stadium at 11 a.m. Saturday is special. Fickell, on the other hand, has remained in coach mode, saying he hadn’t given the game much thought until this week.

That said, he knows this isn’t just another game.

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“We work on the rivalry weeks. We talk about the teams we play historically. We don’t talk about some of these games, but our guys are all aware of it,” Fickell said during his weekly news conference Monday at the McClain Center. “So for them it’s been something that, just like me, has been in the back of their heads, probably closer to the front of their heads too often.

“But it’s something where I do think they understand. This is what makes college football. Rivalries and games like this are what really separates college football from everything else.”

The UW-Alabama matchup will be the third meeting between the schools. Wisconsin defeated the Crimson Tide, 15-0, in 1928 at Camp Randall and lost, 35-17, in 2015 at the AdvoCare Classic in Arlington, Texas.

The early betting line lists Alabama as a 15 ½ point favorite.

“This is a great opportunity and I think our guys are excited,” Fickell said. “As we went into fall camp these were the things that were in front of us and we knew that.

“Not that the first two games weren’t the start of the season, but we knew this was going to be the opportunity and point in time when we really, really got to see where we are and who we are.”

Here are some other highlights from Fickell’s news conference.

After further review Fickell feels better about the team’s play vs. South Dakota

The Badgers improved to 2-0 with a 27-13 win over South Dakota, which was ranked No. 6 in FCS at the time. UW scored the final 10 points after the Coyotes scored 10 unanswered points in the third quarter.

“Defensively in particular we played better than I thought,” Fickell said. “The one series at the start of the second half (when South Dakota scored a touchdown) is the one thing that jumps out.

“And then offensively, just efficiency. We were very efficient, created some big plays in the first half. Second half we weren’t quite as efficient. We didn’t create some big plays. I’m not saying we changed modes a little bit, but there were a lot of really good things to grow on.”

No great advantage for former UW assistant Colin Hitschler

There is one Wisconsin tie on the Alabama coaching staff. Co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Colin Hitschler left UW in January to join first-year coach Kalen DeBoer at Alabama.

Fickell noted that his defense has changed some since Hitschler left and that the coaches have a better grasp of where players fit best this year.

“There is a knowledge on both sides,” Fickell said. “There is a knowledge he has of playing against the offense every day, but I don’t think there is something that’s extreme. It’s not like they’re going to know every signal, they’re going to know everything, we’re going to have to go silent (count).”

No word on running back Tawee Walker, cornerback Xavier Lucas

Running back Tawee Walker, who scored the go-ahead touchdown against Western Michigan, didn’t play against South Dakota due to a leg injury. Cornerback Xavier Lucas took an awkward fall off the field after defending a play in the end zone in the third quarter.

“It’s Monday, so I wouldn’t have an idea,” Fickell said when asked about their status. “I didn’t know until late last week that Tawee wouldn’t be available and we still didn’t know. It was going to be a gametime decision. I’m hopeful and would expect that everyone is able to play, but we’ll have to push that (back) as we get going in the week.”