As the first game is fast approaching, the fans are now starting to get into it online. Wisconsin fans are stirring the pot, and Notre Dame fans are taking the bait. One recent fan, Mike Goolsby, is also a former linebacker for the Irish. Goolsby jumped online to tell everyone that he "watched the film." And then his only real comment was about Cooper Catalano, and he blasted the sophomore linebacker.
This is the type of bulletin board material that Catalano and the Badgers need ahead of the big first game against No. 4 Notre Dame. Goolsby called Catalano "light in the ass." A phrase that means he's undersized and not a heavy hitter. Not much power or ability to stop opponents.
Goolsby's only other comment was to "expect downhill runs" from Wisconsin. However, it appears Goolsby only watched the tape against Oregon from last season. Which would have been Catalano's first game as a starter...as a true freshman. Catalano still ended up with eight tackles that game.
Goolsby must have turned off the tape when November 8 rolled around. Catalano had 19 tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss. He won Big Ten Player of the Week as a true freshman in a win against No. 23 Washington. The Huskies weren't calling him "light in the ass" that day; in fact, it was his coming-out party, and the world took notice.
Mike Goolsby blasts Cooper Catalano and he's wrong in more ways than one
Related: Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph doubles down on Luke Fickell's Leonard Moore comments
He went on to have another sack and five tackles against Indiana the following week. Goolsby better be rethinking his evaluation of Catalano because if the Notre Dame team tries to run their playbook through Catalano, good luck. In fact, maybe do exactly that: try to run through Catalano.
Later in the comments, Goolsby tried to back up a little with a "he's a fine player just light in the ass." Sorry, Goolsby, you can't run it back now. Also, literally every single linebacker on the Notre Dame roster is somewhere between 6'1-6'3 and 225-235. Cooper Catalano is also listed in that same exact frame at 6'1, 230. So, what are you even talking about, Goolsby? Calling your whole linebacker core "light in the ass."
At the end of the day, Catalano plays with a fire and an edge. This may be exactly what he needs to go out there and play with his hair on fire. Maybe he hasn't seen it, maybe he has, but hopefully someone shows him. For a linebacker with a little juice and something to prove, that's exactly what the Badgers need for this game.
While Marcus Freeman is complimenting Mason Posa and calling him one of the best linebackers in the nation, you have Goolsby blasting Catalano. Time for the young linebackers to put the world on notice with a huge breakout game. Bust CJ Carr a few times, get Aneyas Williams down in the backfield, and make some noise.
Add us as a preferred source on Google