combatsports4life wrote: Most people believe that Barry called the shots and BB was along for the ride.  The only thing BB gets credit for generally is promoting the brand.  I liked BB, but it's hard for me to argue with the naysayers with all the facts on the table.

Ordfan wrote: Bret was an integral part of the success of the program during his time as head coach.  He screwed up royally in the manner in which he left, but to minimize his significant positive impact on the program as simply "promoting the brand" is inaccurate, at best (and Barry Alvarez would tell you as much). 

The Badgers aren't headed to their third consecutive Rose Bowl due to the head coach "promoting the brand".  Rather, they're going West due in large part to BB's program leadership and coaching acumen (the players would tell you that), not because he's been some figurehead.

Again, his departure was sloppy and ill-advised, to put it mildly.  And in Gary Andersen, I think the Badgers likely have a better and more well rounded coach and representative of the University.  But trashing Bret as coach really has no basis in fact, and comes across as nothing but uninformed sour grapes.  Best to just move on.

combatsports4life wrote: Most people believe that Barry called the shots and BB was along for the ride.  The only thing BB gets credit for generally is promoting the brand.  I liked BB, but it's hard for me to argue with the naysayers with all the facts on the table.

Delusional!  We Badgers are headed to our third straight Rose Bowl because B1G divisional alignment landed us in a division with both the better teams finding themselves ineligible.  Without the divisions, we do not even sniff the Gator bowl if we are lucky.  Finishing 5th in the conference is nothing to brag about!

Regardless, BB is not being mentioned in press coverage for the Andersen hire because it is now ancient history.  Rightly, this is about the future and not the past.  BB is the past: a controversial past at that.

Ordfan wrote: Bret was an integral part of the success of the program during his time as head coach.  He screwed up royally in the manner in which he left, but to minimize his significant positive impact on the program as simply "promoting the brand" is inaccurate, at best (and Barry Alvarez would tell you as much). 

The Badgers aren't headed to their third consecutive Rose Bowl due to the head coach "promoting the brand".  Rather, they're going West due in large part to BB's program leadership and coaching acumen (the players would tell you that), not because he's been some figurehead.

Again, his departure was sloppy and ill-advised, to put it mildly.  And in Gary Andersen, I think the Badgers likely have a better and more well rounded coach and representative of the University.  But trashing Bret as coach really has no basis in fact, and comes across as nothing but uninformed sour grapes.  Best to just move on.

combatsports4life wrote: Most people believe that Barry called the shots and BB was along for the ride.  The only thing BB gets credit for generally is promoting the brand.  I liked BB, but it's hard for me to argue with the naysayers with all the facts on the table.

TheNewRed wrote:

Delusional!  We Badgers are headed to our third straight Rose Bowl because B1G divisional alignment landed us in a division with both the better teams finding themselves ineligible.  Without the divisions, we do not even sniff the Gator bowl if we are lucky.  Finishing 5th in the conference is nothing to brag about!

Regardless, BB is not being mentioned in press coverage for the Andersen hire because it is now ancient history.  Rightly, this is about the future and not the past.  BB is the past: a controversial past at that.

Ordfan wrote: Bret was an integral part of the success of the program during his time as head coach.  He screwed up royally in the manner in which he left, but to minimize his significant positive impact on the program as simply "promoting the brand" is inaccurate, at best (and Barry Alvarez would tell you as much). 

The Badgers aren't headed to their third consecutive Rose Bowl due to the head coach "promoting the brand".  Rather, they're going West due in large part to BB's program leadership and coaching acumen (the players would tell you that), not because he's been some figurehead.

Again, his departure was sloppy and ill-advised, to put it mildly.  And in Gary Andersen, I think the Badgers likely have a better and more well rounded coach and representative of the University.  But trashing Bret as coach really has no basis in fact, and comes across as nothing but uninformed sour grapes.  Best to just move on.

combatsports4life wrote: Most people believe that Barry called the shots and BB was along for the ride.  The only thing BB gets credit for generally is promoting the brand.  I liked BB, but it's hard for me to argue with the naysayers with all the facts on the table.

combatsports4life wrote: Most people believe that Barry called the shots and BB was along for the ride.  The only thing BB gets credit for generally is promoting the brand.  I liked BB, but it's hard for me to argue with the naysayers with all the facts on the table.

TheNewRed wrote: BA rightly deserves most of the credit for the success of the program, including the years under Biff. Biff also owes a great deal of his success to BA's mentoring and guidance. The jury is out on just how much of the success over the past 7 years can be attributed to Bielema. We will know much more after he's been at Arkansas a couple of seasons.

The Andersen hire is totally on BA as well and it appears to be another home run by the man most everyone agrees is the architect of football success for us. What I personally like most (alluded to in Ben Worgull's tweet) is that he looks like he will be much more effective as a representative of the University and as a fundraiser with the donor community than Biff could ever be. I have no doubts at this point that he will also be a more effective recruiter. The skill sets are similar. This is a big step-up at the position. Biff is history.

Ordfan wrote:

Bret is well regarded as a coach and, while the foundation created by BA is obvious, BB very clearly did great work to further enhance it while he held the coaching reins.  Suggesting otherwise really robs anyone of their credibility.

combatsports4life wrote: Most people believe that Barry called the shots and BB was along for the ride.  The only thing BB gets credit for generally is promoting the brand.  I liked BB, but it's hard for me to argue with the naysayers with all the facts on the table.

Ordfan wrote: Uh, the only way you get a chance to play for your third consecutive Rose Bowl is to have played in numbers one and two.  The only thing delusional are the over the top, highly emotional (and hyperbolic) shots at Bret as coach.  They're inaccurate, undeserved, and wholly uninformed. 

His resignation was a train wreck and reflective of someone who lacks both maturity and an appreciation for common courtesy.  To do what he did to Barry Alvarez was revealed his shortcomings in those areas.  But his leadership of the program during his tenure was quite good, and suggesting otherwise is really without basis.  And any competing coach, any former or existing player, and Barry Alvarez himself would tell you the same.

TheNewRed wrote:

Delusional!  We Badgers are headed to our third straight Rose Bowl because B1G divisional alignment landed us in a division with both the better teams finding themselves ineligible.  Without the divisions, we do not even sniff the Gator bowl if we are lucky.  Finishing 5th in the conference is nothing to brag about!

Regardless, BB is not being mentioned in press coverage for the Andersen hire because it is now ancient history.  Rightly, this is about the future and not the past.  BB is the past: a controversial past at that.

Ordfan wrote: Bret was an integral part of the success of the program during his time as head coach.  He screwed up royally in the manner in which he left, but to minimize his significant positive impact on the program as simply "promoting the brand" is inaccurate, at best (and Barry Alvarez would tell you as much). 

The Badgers aren't headed to their third consecutive Rose Bowl due to the head coach "promoting the brand".  Rather, they're going West due in large part to BB's program leadership and coaching acumen (the players would tell you that), not because he's been some figurehead.

Again, his departure was sloppy and ill-advised, to put it mildly.  And in Gary Andersen, I think the Badgers likely have a better and more well rounded coach and representative of the University.  But trashing Bret as coach really has no basis in fact, and comes across as nothing but uninformed sour grapes.  Best to just move on.

combatsports4life wrote: Most people believe that Barry called the shots and BB was along for the ride.  The only thing BB gets credit for generally is promoting the brand.  I liked BB, but it's hard for me to argue with the naysayers with all the facts on the table.

Ordfan wrote: Bret was an integral part of the success of the program during his time as head coach.  He screwed up royally in the manner in which he left, but to minimize his significant positive impact on the program as simply "promoting the brand" is inaccurate, at best (and Barry Alvarez would tell you as much). 

The Badgers aren't headed to their third consecutive Rose Bowl due to the head coach "promoting the brand".  Rather, they're going West due in large part to BB's program leadership and coaching acumen (the players would tell you that), not because he's been some figurehead.

Again, his departure was sloppy and ill-advised, to put it mildly.  And in Gary Andersen, I think the Badgers likely have a better and more well rounded coach and representative of the University.  But trashing Bret as coach really has no basis in fact, and comes across as nothing but uninformed sour grapes.  Best to just move on.

combatsports4life wrote: Most people believe that Barry called the shots and BB was along for the ride.  The only thing BB gets credit for generally is promoting the brand.  I liked BB, but it's hard for me to argue with the naysayers with all the facts on the table.

You can disagree with it as do I for the most part, but like I was saying, that is the sentiment by most.  I remember breaking the news to my buddy in absolute shock that BB was going to Arkansas and without hesitation he said, "good, now they can get a good coach."  I knew BB was a jerk, but he was our jerk.  He had balls at times that helped us to win games like the Iowa fake punt.  Overall like I said I liked him, but I don't know how much was him and how much was BA.  You hear both sides from "people in the know."

Ordfan wrote: Uh, the only way you get a chance to play for your third consecutive Rose Bowl is to have played in numbers one and two.  The only thing delusional are the over the top, highly emotional (and hyperbolic) shots at Bret as coach.  They're inaccurate, undeserved, and wholly uninformed. 

His resignation was a train wreck and reflective of someone who lacks both maturity and an appreciation for common courtesy.  To do what he did to Barry Alvarez was revealed his shortcomings in those areas.  But his leadership of the program during his tenure was quite good, and suggesting otherwise is really without basis.  And any competing coach, any former or existing player, and Barry Alvarez himself would tell you the same.

TheNewRed wrote: Delusional!  We Badgers are headed to our third straight Rose Bowl because B1G divisional alignment landed us in a division with both the better teams finding themselves ineligible.  Without the divisions, we do not even sniff the Gator bowl if we are lucky.  Finishing 5th in the conference is nothing to brag about!

Regardless, BB is not being mentioned in press coverage for the Andersen hire because it is now ancient history.  Rightly, this is about the future and not the past.  BB is the past: a controversial past at that.

Ordfan wrote: Bret was an integral part of the success of the program during his time as head coach.  He screwed up royally in the manner in which he left, but to minimize his significant positive impact on the program as simply "promoting the brand" is inaccurate, at best (and Barry Alvarez would tell you as much). 

The Badgers aren't headed to their third consecutive Rose Bowl due to the head coach "promoting the brand".  Rather, they're going West due in large part to BB's program leadership and coaching acumen (the players would tell you that), not because he's been some figurehead.

Again, his departure was sloppy and ill-advised, to put it mildly.  And in Gary Andersen, I think the Badgers likely have a better and more well rounded coach and representative of the University.  But trashing Bret as coach really has no basis in fact, and comes across as nothing but uninformed sour grapes.  Best to just move on.

combatsports4life wrote: Most people believe that Barry called the shots and BB was along for the ride.  The only thing BB gets credit for generally is promoting the brand.  I liked BB, but it's hard for me to argue with the naysayers with all the facts on the table.

SoCalBucky wrote: I was a BB "supporter" because he was winning games and had some swagger....however I was never proud of BB or felt he was THE reason for our success. He did a very good job in my opinion, but was a ticking time bomb because of his immaturity....

Just noticed his latest tweet was a picture of Arky's outdoor practice field with a comment about " can't wait to practice on this field".

With the A**hole he is, you know this is a dig a us since he's probably pissed at all of the positivity around the new hire.

Anytime there's a changing of the guard there's a chance for regression, but I'm optimistic we're on a better long term path with a true gentlemen as our leader.

Go Badgers!

DBQBadger wrote: Just one comment on the line about GA not being afraid to take on the big boys and BB liking cupcakes.  Remember what they like is not the real issue.  USU like many MAC schools will take on the big boys for two reasons (a) they have nothing to lose because if they lose that was what was expected; and (b) money.  You come into Auburn, Alabama, OSU, or Wis and you get a nice pay check, more money that you would have had playing a NC game at home.  The NCS is determined more by the financial needs of the university than the attitude of the HC.  Finally, we want teams like Auburn, Texas or Notre Dame to play us, but getting them to agree to a straight home and home is going to be tough.  They have to play a very phsycial team early in the year which many coaches don't want because of the wear/tear.  They have to come to Wis for an away game and CR has a reputation as a tough place to play.  And finally, we do have a reputation as a team that can easily beat the very best on any given Sunday.  Trust me, not many coaches and their AD's at elite schools are calling Coach A in hopes of getting a straight up home and home series.  Finally add in the simple fact that the only sure way to play for the MNC is to go undefeated.  Yes SOS helps, but at the end of the year if you are undefeated, you are in the final four regardless of your NCS.  So few teams go undefeated, as this year shows, only 2 undefeated teams and if OSU was not on a bowl ban,  I would bet it would have been them playing Notre Dame.

Go Badgers..On Wisconsin

Ordfan wrote: Bret was an integral part of the success of the program during his time as head coach.  He screwed up royally in the manner in which he left, but to minimize his significant positive impact on the program as simply "promoting the brand" is inaccurate, at best (and Barry Alvarez would tell you as much). 

The Badgers aren't headed to their third consecutive Rose Bowl due to the head coach "promoting the brand".  Rather, they're going West due in large part to BB's program leadership and coaching acumen (the players would tell you that), not because he's been some figurehead.

Again, his departure was sloppy and ill-advised, to put it mildly.  And in Gary Andersen, I think the Badgers likely have a better and more well rounded coach and representative of the University.  But trashing Bret as coach really has no basis in fact, and comes across as nothing but uninformed sour grapes.  Best to just move on.

combatsports4life wrote: Most people believe that Barry called the shots and BB was along for the ride.  The only thing BB gets credit for generally is promoting the brand.  I liked BB, but it's hard for me to argue with the naysayers with all the facts on the table.