The draw of competing within the Massive Ten was a significant component in Luke Fickell’s resolution to take the Wisconsin job.
The previous Cincy coach is now the person in cost in Madison, and it’s the beginning of a brand new period of school soccer for the Badgers.
Whereas there are a variety of the reason why he left the Bearcats to teach the Badgers – together with a large payday – Fickell felt like being within the Massive Ten or SEC was maybe the one solution to safe your future.
Luke Fickell explains the draw of the B1G.
“Nicely, I believe that’s most likely a type of issues we didn’t discuss and say hey, ‘What sort of fell in keeping with you to taking this job?’ The Massive Ten had an enormous a part of it. Type of felt like in case you weren’t within the Massive Ten or the SEC, then who is aware of the place you’d be within the subsequent two-three years. I simply see the Massive Ten persevering with to maneuver in that course. Whether or not it’s increasing, rising, including groups. Sure, there’s going to be a very completely different look,” Fickell stated whereas speaking with Greg McElroy about why he took the job and the Massive Ten’s continued rise in energy.
His feedback make sense when you take into account the actual fact we’re racing in the direction of a world of haves and have nots. The B1G has the richest media deal within the historical past of school sports activities, and the SEC is second.
We’re already in a world the place the SEC and Massive Ten name the photographs. Everybody simply hopes to not get pillaged.
Fickell reacts to imminent Alabama collection.
As school soccer followers know, Alabama and Wisconsin begin a home-and-home collection in 2024. Is Fickell pumped about taking part in school soccer’s most historic powerhouse in years two and three of his reign in Madison? Not precisely, however in the end, it clearly wasn’t his resolution.
“I’m unsure I’d have picked Alabama. I’m unsure that will have been the primary one. I don’t suppose that was introduced up after I was speaking about taking the job or wanting into it. Folks would even ask, ‘Have you learnt who you guys play?’ No, that had no bearing on envisioning the place you’re going,” he defined with a slight chuckle.
Whereas the long run is unsure, it’s clear issues have modified in an enormous means in Madison. That’s nice information for followers. Fickell is bringing new power to this system, and regardless of having a tough non-conference schedule beginning in 2024, if you wish to be the very best, it’s important to beat the very best. It feels like Fickell is able to roll. Followers are definitely using with him. There’s little question about that in any respect.