Wisconsin Player’s Cryptic Tweet Sends Out Red Flags for Coaching Staff
If that smells like some deeper issues brewing within the Wisconsin Badgers football program, then I guess it’s your call. As the team followed up a disappointing 5-7 season that ended the team’s 22 year bowl streak, the situation in Madison seems to be getting worse rather than better.
Post-Transfer, Badgers Safety Kamo’i Latu Stirs Controversy
Kamo’i Latu, who entered the transfer portal and committed to UConn recently, has raised eyebrows after tweeting something that appears to express displeasure with the state of the program . Latu said he’ll always be grateful to former coaches Paul Chryst and Jim Leonhard both of whom left the program in 2022 for his ‘amazing time at Wisconsin.’
His thanks did not include any current coaching staff, including his head coach Luke Fickell. Latu denied that interpretation — many interpreted the omission as a direct critique of the current regime. He claimed it wasn’t “a shot” but followed up with a cryptic warning: “God taught me differently, ‘Y’all wouldn’t be prepared if I got started shooting.’ But I mean, I wouldn’t’ve been ready if I started shooting.”
The tweet posted Monday is still public with comments turned off, with fans and observers freely drawing their own conclusions.
Under Fickell, Wisconsin Isn’t Used to Tension
And this isn’t the first time there has been such tension since Fickell became head coach. Former Wisconsin star running back Braelon Allen, who ended his career with the Badgers in 2023 and is now in the NFL, made similar comments in September suggesting he still had issues with the coaching staff.
This all makes me think that something with the program is not right. If they are veiled comments and subtweets, fans are intrigued, but if it’s unproductive behavior, you have to supply the actual specifics. Airing such a grievance out in the open would be a lot more constructive than vague insinuating.
Leadership Time to Take Control
That said, Coach Fickell has a tough job ahead of him. He has to bring the team together again, but also to address these core problems head on. Although fans in Madison are fiercely loyal, they won’t abide for any amount of time playing subpar, drama-filled football. But already many have given up faith in the program’s direction.
It will take tangible progress before skepticism will go away. Only time can answer if Fickell can turn this ship around. For now, the Badgers’ program seems like it needs a lot of stability and leadership.
