Badger of Honor
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Former Wisconsin great Jonathan Taylor talks about hiring of Luke Fickell

By Joey Lovell

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 13: Running back Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts scores on a 3-yard touchdown run against strong safety Johnathan Abram #24 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the second half of their game at Allegiant Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Colts defeated the Raiders 44-27. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 13: Running back Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts scores on a 3-yard touchdown run against strong safety Johnathan Abram #24 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the second half of their game at Allegiant Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Colts defeated the Raiders 44-27. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Legendary former Wisconsin Badger running back Jonathan Taylor was recently on the Jim Rome show and was asked what he thought about the hiring of new head coach, Luke Fickell.

“First initial hiring of Luke Fickell was, man, that’s awesome….if there’s a guy, to come into the University of Wisconsin and make things happen, it’s Luke Fickell”.

Taylor then went on to cite the recent billboard in downtown Manhattan, sponsored by The Varsity Club, welcoming all of the new, incoming players to Madison.  While the September launch date of The Varsity Club may have been behind some of the other, more notable NIL collectives, with this kind of attention-getting exposure, it’s going to make up any lost ground very quickly.

Jonathan wraps up the discussion about the Badgers by talking about the change in the atmosphere around the program. Off-season workouts and weight-room sessions have become competitions that have really picked up the intensity of the workouts.

I recently had an individual ask me why “us media-types” hype teams and players up before they even play a game. Well, I can honestly answer that by saying this.

The situation at Wisconsin warrants hype and exposure. Even when Ron Dayne was pounding Big Ten defenses to bits, Wisconsin football didn’t reach the level of publicity that it has now.

Granted, a great deal of that has to do with social media and whatnot, but another major factor is that suddenly, Wisconsin is suddenly not just a place where great running backs and defensive linemen go.

The incoming transfers of Tanner Mordecai, Nick Evers and Braedyn Locke are proof positive that more than just the Wisconsin faithful are buying into what Luke Fickell is pitching.

And it would appear that some of the former Badger greats are right in line to buy the goods. Hear Jonathan Taylor’s entire interview with Jim Rome here.