Wisconsin football leaders stump for Jim Leonhard to get full-time job

However he isn’t afraid to share his opinion as a senior security for the College of Wisconsin soccer crew, one who is about to depart the college with a grasp’s diploma.

“I feel whoever hires coaches goes to be an fool in the event that they don’t rent coach (Jim) Leonhard,” Torchio mentioned. “I don’t know if I ought to say that, however I’ll say it.”

The sting of a 23-16 loss Saturday to rival Minnesota, the primary consecutive UW losses to the Gophers since 1993-94, received’t put on off anytime quickly for this Badgers crew. However the darkish cloud of uncertainty about the way forward for this system could also be lifting quickly, and gamers proceed to marketing campaign for his or her interim coach to get the full-time gig.

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UW’s job posting for its teaching place has been up for the required seven days, and Badgers officers are anticipated to make a rent within the coming days. All indicators level to Leonhard, a former All-American security for the Badgers, being the substitute for Paul Chryst, who was fired Oct. 2.

Leonhard led the Badgers (6-6, 4-5 Huge Ten) to a 4-3 report because the interim, shedding at Michigan State, at Iowa and the regular-season finale to the Gophers. Leonhard instructed reporters after falling to Minnesota that he spoke this week with UW athletic director Chris McIntosh in regards to the job.

“We have been in a position to sit down earlier this week and had an important dialog,” Leonhard mentioned. “I feel that is between us, what was mentioned, however hopefully there’s selections which might be made quickly in the perfect pursuits of this college.”

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It’s been a making an attempt season for UW, shedding video games and coping with the loss of life of former teammate Devin Chandler, who was killed in a taking pictures on the College of Virginia. Leonhard has carried out what he may to maintain the crew afloat and helped it attain bowl eligibility for the twenty first consecutive 12 months.

Junior exterior linebacker Nick Herbig mentioned UW leaders’ sluggish hiring course of added to the stress of the season. It additionally made his decision-making course of as an upperclassmen pondering his selections for subsequent 12 months, specifically returning to highschool or making an attempt his hand on the NFL, harder.

“It baffles me each day that they simply depart us out to dry,” Herbig mentioned. “I type of really feel like we’re simply sitting round hoping and praying that we’re going to get a solution. … We’re youngsters, man. We’re nonetheless in school, we’re younger. All you guys, all of the outsiders, you’re all grown, y’all have been via life already. We’re rising, we’re turning into males. Numerous these guys got here as early enrollees, and I really feel unhealthy for them. All of the stuff that they needed to undergo, I don’t want that on anyone.

“I simply want that we may get a solution. Clearly coach Leonhard, I feel he’s the best Badger of all time and I feel he deserves it, he has each proper (to) it. … What he’s carried out for this program, what he’s carried out for me personally, what he’s carried out for my household, I can by no means repay him. Phrases can’t clarify how a lot love I’ve for him.”

UW confronted Minnesota with out main rusher Braelon Allen, who was held out of the sport as a consequence of shoulder and ankle accidents.

Allen has been pushing via his left shoulder pressure over the previous month, however Leonhard and the teaching employees determined to maintain him on the sideline after he injured his proper ankle final week at Nebraska.

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“We knew center of the week, at finest, he’d be restricted in what he can present,” Leonhard mentioned, “and we simply felt it was finest to carry him on this one. He is a grinder. He is a warrior. He is carried out that each one season for us. It simply acquired to the purpose the place the perfect resolution for him was to sit down.”

Allen this season grew to become simply the fifth UW participant to hurry for 1,000 yards as a freshman and sophomore. Seniors Chez Mellusi (19 carries, 75 yards) and Isaac Guerendo (seven, 40) helped UW common 4.3 yards per carry in Allen’s absence.

Nate Van Zelst’s efficiency this season as soon as once more confirmed how UW’s walk-on custom acts because the glue inside the program. The redshirt freshman has stuffed in a lot of the season for the injured Vito Calvaruso, and he held stable in dealing with the placekicking duties.

Van Zelst related on all three discipline objective makes an attempt Saturday. The Glenville, Illinois, native now could be 10 of 13 (76.9%) this season and has transformed all 32 extra-point tries.

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“I feel Nate’s carried out a really nice job beneath the radar,” Herbig mentioned. “Not lots of people discover it. I attempt to shake him up each time he kicks a discipline objective as a result of it is the little issues that matter, man.

“Any factors we are able to get issues. When you have got a man like that — he was most likely 100% as we speak — that issues. That is what’s in a position to hold us in video games, and that is all you may ask for. So I am pleased with the best way Nate has performed this 12 months.”

Changing Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal was a tall process for UW’s protection getting into this season, however Maema Njongmeta continued to make a distinction at one of many inside linebacker spots.

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The redshirt junior recorded a game-high 12 tackles (9 solo) and a pair of.5 tackles for loss Saturday. His efficiency helped maintain Mohamed Ibrahim and Minnesota’s speeding assault to 97 yards on 2.6 yards per carry. Ibrahim, one of many Huge Ten’s finest operating backs, completed with 70 yards on 27 makes an attempt.

Njongmeta leads the crew in tackles (88) and ranks second on the crew in tackles for loss (10.5) via 12 regular-season video games.