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Wisconsin football: 5 things to be thankful for in 2018-19

By Brian Sampson

MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 08: Madison Cone #31 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts to a stop against the New Mexico Lobos during the first half at Camp Randall Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 08: Madison Cone #31 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts to a stop against the New Mexico Lobos during the first half at Camp Randall Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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4. The coaching staff

As long as the Badgers have held the Axe, they’ve had good football coaches even longer. Ever since Barry Alvarez took over in 1990, the program has experienced stability and consistent winning. Alvarez took them from the bottom of the barrel and gave the program a recipe they have continued for almost 30 years now.

When Alvarez retired in 2005, Bret Bielema took over and continued the team’s success. Suddenly in 2012, the program faced some adversity when Bielema darted for Arkansas before the Bowl Game and Wisconsin was forced to hire a coach the following season. That coach, Gary Andersen, only lasted two seasons before heading out west and Paul Chryst has taken over ever since.

Andersen was beginning to modernize this Wisconsin team, but Chryst has pulled them back into their roots that allowed them to be successful in the ’90s. This type of stability is an anomaly and all fans have to do to appreciate it is take a look at Minnesota. The Gophers have had eight coaches in that time span and haven’t found a consistent winner yet. Thank you to Mr. Alvarez.

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