2024 Badger Football Thread

Mark87 said:
Kick-off specilist> Smith has shown an ability to kick the ball out of the end zone, recording kickoffs on 44 of his 62 opportunities. That was an issue for the Badgers last season, leading to some special-teams coverage struggles throughout the year.
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My guess is that since he's a walk on, someone is making it a point to create some interesting NIL money opportunities for him, so there won't be any issue covering the cost of his year at Wisconsin. This is one of those things that can be both a blessing and a real problem within the NIL.
 
Not sure this is legit account or not

 
GBP4EVER said:
Not sure this is legit account or not

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I heard it isn't cut in stone, but pretty much a given at this point. Northwestern would make more money for that one game out of proceeds than they would for half their games played at home in the old stadium. Moving it to Soldiers Field is also still in the mix, but probably not going to happen, because they don't think they'd get the home crowd they wanted. Money talks, even in college football. In this case, the gate, because of Wisconsin fans who never get to games would be filling those seats for a huge crowd.

Remember. Their new stadium in Evanston is only going to seat 35,000 people. They are not a team that draws large crowds for their games. If they even get close to 35,000 it will be during the first couple of years the stadium is open. After that, over 50% of the people attending will be visitors. Games like Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin, and even Minnesota usually creates that environment.

The last time I attended a game there, there was right around 20,000 people, and over 12,000 were visitors rooting for Wisconsin. It was like a home game on neutral turf.
 
TW said:
I heard it isn't cut in stone, but pretty much a given at this point. Northwestern would make more money for that one game out of proceeds than they would for half their games played at home in the old stadium. Moving it to Soldiers Field is also still in the mix, but probably not going to happen, because they don't think they'd get the home crowd they wanted. Money talks, even in college football. In this case, the gate, because of Wisconsin fans who never get to games would be filling those seats for a huge crowd.

Remember. Their new stadium in Evanston is only going to seat 35,000 people. They are not a team that draws large crowds for their games. If they even get close to 35,000 it will be during the first couple of years the stadium is open. After that, over 50% of the people attending will be visitors. Games like Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin, and even Minnesota usually creates that environment.

The last time I attended a game there, there was right around 20,000 people, and over 12,000 were visitors rooting for Wisconsin. It was like a home game on neutral turf.
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See though to they want to do a Black Friday game seems the NCAA wants to follow the NFL.
 
Air Force defensive line coach EJ Whitlow has now been announced as the Badgers new defensive line coach. He replaces Greg Scruggs, who left for Michigan.
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E.J. Whitlow is in his second year as defensive ends coach at Air Force. His first year was highly successful, as he helped the Air Force defense to a No. 1 national ranking in total defense (254.5), second in passing defense (159.1), third in scoring defense (13.4), fourth in third down defense (27.9) and sixth in rushing defense (95.3). The 13.4 points per game average is the sixth best in program history and best since 1997. Defensive end Christopher Herrera finished the season with 27 total tackles, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He was a three-year starter and helped the Falcons to 31 wins in his three seasons with the first unit. Vince Sanford wrapped up his career as one of the top pass rushers in program history. Sanford had 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks to lead the team this season. He finished his career ranked 10th in program history in tackles for loss (35.5), and TFL yardage (163), fourth in sacks (16) and fifth in sack yardage (130).

The Falcons finished the season 10-3 overall to secure 10-plus wins three straight full seasons. The Falcons won a series record 21st Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy and were Armed Forces Bowl champions with a win over Power 5 opponent Baylor.

Whitlow came to the Academy after spending the last four years at Miami University where he served as defensive run game coordinator last season.

Whitlow had a successful stint in Oxford, helping the program to the MAC championship in 2019. He also helped develop several All-MAC players. He engineered eight All-MAC honorees. In addition, last season he coached Dominique Robinson, who was a fifth round draft selection by the Chicago Bears in 2022. In 2018, Doug Costin earned second team All-MAC. A year later, Costin was one of the best players in the entire conference, earning first team accolades and joined the NFL in 2019 with the Jaguars. Kameron Butler was named second team All-MAC in 2019 and a year later Butler and Lonnie Phelps garnered third team All-MAC honors as Whitlow’s front four become one of the most feared units in the conference.

In 2019, Miami recorded 38 sacks, 28 of those coming from the defensive line. Miami’s pass rush made national news in a contest versus Akron as the RedHawks recorded 12 sacks in the game. Six of those sacks came from freshman Ivan Pace, who matched an NCAA record for sacks in a game. From 2018-19, Miami ranked second in the MAC with 67 sacks.

Whitlow joined Miami after four years on staff at Grand Valley State University coaching the defensive line. Under Whitlow, GVSU’s defensive line turned into one of the top defensive lines in the country annually. He tutored nine All-GLIAC honorees in four years, watching the Lakers record 144 sacks in that span. GVSU was the 2016 GLIAC champions.

In 2017, Whitlow’s defensive line had three players earn all-conference honors, including a pair of first team award winners. As a team, the Lakers allowed just 13.0 points per game, and due to the pass rush, gave up just four touchdown passes all season.

In 2016, the Lakers limited opponents to 134.3 rushing yards per game, recording 40 quarterback sacks and 96 tackles for loss. In 2015, Whitlow coached Matt Judon (currently with New England), who went on to win the Gene Upshaw Award, given to the nation’s top interior lineman. With Judon’s help, GVSU would lead the nation in sacks with 49.

Prior to joining Grand Valley State, Whitlow spent four years at Notre Dame College (Ohio) and was a part of the program from its beginning as the Falcons initial season playing football was in 2010. Whitlow was a graduate assistant in 2010 and 2011 but became the full-time defensive line coach in 2012.

Whitlow played collegiately at Findlay from 2006-10, where he was twice an All-GLIAC performer as a defensive tackle and was named the Oilers’ 2009 Team MVP. He recorded 44 total tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss en route to earning All-GLIAC honors as a junior, followed by senior season in which he tallied career-highs in total tackles (60) and tackles for loss with six and was named First-Team All-GLIAC and team MVP.

Whitlow and his wife, Kierre, are the parents of Emily and Emmanuel II.
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Sources: Luke Fickell, Wisconsin adding top young special teams analyst to Badgers staff​


Eric Raisbeck, who's gleaned international coaching experience as well as owning a previous Big Ten stop, is returning to his native Wisconsin.

Sources tell FootballScoop that Raisbeck, earlier this year tabbed to run special teams at FCS program UC-Davis, is instead departing California to return home, where Raisbeck is joining the Wisconsin Badgers as a special teams analyst.

Raisbeck is set to work with Matt Mitchell, the Wisconsin special teams coordinator as Luke Fickell enters his second season atop the Badger sprogram; Mitchell also coaches outside linebackers.
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Also owning experience at the NCAA Division II and Division III levels, as well as NAIA football and in Europe for teams in both Norway and Switzerland, Raisbeck also has Football Bowls Subdivision experience from a year at Utah State, when Stacy Collins was named the Mountain West Conference's Special Teams Coordinator of the Year and Raisbeck was his assistant.

As Wisconsin enters its second season under Fickell, the Badgers have back-to-back home games against Western Michigan and FCS program South Dakota before hosting Kalen DeBoer and Alabama in one of college football's top non-conference, intersectional games scheduled for the 2024 regular season
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Is Eric related to Casey? If so, they are a solid sports family out of the 'burbs of Chicago. Can't say I've heard a lot about him, but I do know that Casey was a tenacious baseball player. Worked his butt off trying to get somewhere in the field.
 
GBP4EVER said:
Any chance he picks UW?

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It would be nice if he did pick the Badgers, but he won't, count on it. I think it's either North Carolina or Georgia Tech, based on what prognosticators think. Next in line, but probably not happening, Georgia. The last, my personal opinion.

His Daddy was a pretty good linebacker at Notre Dame. He spent 3 years knocking around the NFL. Never made a name for himself there, but knows the ropes from HS through to the NFL, so this kid is going to be prepared to play the best he can, with the talent he has.

I'm extremely surprised that Notre Dame isn't considered a hot topic in the family, for the kid. I wonder if they're a dark horse?
 
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