The Wisconsin Badgers are not off to a good start against Washington State University. For the second-straight year, it appears like Wisconsin is going to lose to a team after being completely out-classed by them in just about every phase of the game.
Most notably, the Badgers defense has been ineffective against Cam Ward and the Huskies offense. The unit is not playing with the toughness and grit that fans came accustomed to seeing from former defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s defenses.
While it is just the second game, and rebuilding a program takes more than a few weeks, enraged Badgers fans took to social media calling for their former defensive coordinator to be brought back.
Never mind the fact that Leonhard has already taken a job with Big Ten rival Illinois, Badgers fans have never really felt too great about how things ended between the university and Leonhard. Saturday night’s struggles have brought those feelings to the surface:
Paging Leonhard. Mr. Jim Leonhard. You’re needed at the … well, everywhere. #Badgers
— Eric Schmoldt (@ericschmoldt) September 10, 2023
Wisconsin is just getting overmatched up front and their secondary looks embarrassingly lost. Jim Leonhard’s defense would never.
— Matt Dary (@MattDary34) September 10, 2023
This is disgusting Please bring Jim Leonhard and the old O-Line back #Badgers #OnWisconsin
— Sam (Fullback U Fan) (@BuckybadgerW1) September 10, 2023
Should have just hired Jim Leonhard #Badgers
— KSlice (@kslice2) September 10, 2023
Wisconsin’s new defense makes me want to puke. Get Jim Leonhard back
— Ben Pauli (@benpauli) September 10, 2023
Isn’t it great that the #BADgers got rid of Jim Leonhard? They certainly didn’t need him did they?
— WSRanter (@WSRanter) September 10, 2023
Jim Leonhard watching that half pic.twitter.com/aB0VQuxAs7
— Scary Alvarez (@barryisthedon) September 10, 2023
As much as fans may want Leonhard back, it is unknown how much he would even want to come back to Wisconsin at this point. He decided not to pursue a defensive coordinator position with the Philadelphia Eagles due to hip surgery that is keeping him off the sidelines for a year.
Furthermore, Coach Luke Fickell offered Leonhard a position on his staff, one that Leonhard turned down.
Meanwhile, Leonhard’s defense at Illinois (where he is a senior analyst) gave up 34 points in a loss to Kansas on Friday.
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