Yahoo Sports college football expert Pat Forde wrote at the conclusion of the 2014 season that Wisconsin was plagued by institutional problems and hinted at a downfall.
The column is titled, “On Wisconsin? Gary Andersen bolting shows UW’s problem may be institutional,” and was written shortly after then head coach Gary Andersen left to coach Oregon State. He left two years after Bret Bielema departed for Arkansas. Neither are currently employed as college football coaches.
Forde seemed to buy into the idea that the Badgers had become a weakened program ripe for regression. He wrote the following:
Barry Alvarez said Wednesday he was “very surprised” that football coach Gary Andersen had abruptly fled Wisconsin for Oregon State.
That comes two years and four days after Alvarez was “totally caught by surprise” by football coach Bret Bielema abruptly fleeing Wisconsin for Arkansas.
Surprise, surprise. The football program Alvarez turned into a contender shockingly has become the most dump-able program in the Power Five conferences.
The question is why? What has made Wisconsin a bailout job?
Neither Andersen nor Bielema left Madison for an obvious step up. That should concern Alvarez and the Wisconsin administration.
It’s remarkable that “the most dump-able program in the Power Five conferences” is now undefeated, and in the hunt for the national championship.
Look, Forde is a really good writer, he knows college football and a lot of what he said at the time might have very well appeared to be true. It’s just pretty funny how much people overreacted in 2014 when Andersen left and current coach Paul Chryst got hired.
It just goes to show that college football pundits and fans have a tendency to overreact and jump the gun. In a world driven by hot takes, college football might lead the pack for quickest to jump without thinking.
Of course, anybody who knows a lot about the Badgers program (hand up) knew that were weren’t going to fall apart. The Badgers program is built like a tank. Even after a hit, the armor can endure. Now that tank has nearly won the battle. It’s been an incredible journey, and a lot of fun to watch along the way.