Luke Fickell credits Wisconsin’s best play to a player who ignored his call

The Wisconsin Badgers haven't scored in two games and have only had 21 total first downs in those games. They can't find the end zone and really barely the red zone. It's bad. There aren't many chances for this team to keep the momentum going or take it in the first place. That's why when punter Sean West saw his opportunity to go for a first down and flip the momentum against Ohio State, he took it.

The best play for Wisconsin all day was an improv moment from the punter. It was the second-longest play from scrimmage for the Badgers at 20 yards, and the real kicker is that Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell didn't call it. He said the player just decided to do it on his own.

Here's a look at the play, and you can see that West decides it after the snap was high, and he barely caught it. He went to put a foot to it and realized there was no one watching him; they all had their backs to him, and if the coach isn't going to try a gamble, the punter will.

Wisconsin punter Sean West decided to do a afake punt on his own

In a game that the Badgers lost 34-0, a drive didn't get kick-started by that moment and, in fact, failed just a few plays later. The question needs to be asked: why does this matter? It matters because it shows a moment in which the players are more likely to go for broke, even if the coach won't.

Luke Fickell had two timeouts and over a minute left in the first half, and instead of trying to get even three points, he chose to run out the clock. Why? Who knows, but it seems as if the players even recognize a coach who won't try for them anymore.

Sean West seems to say, whether he meant to or not, 'if the coach won't call the momentum-swinging play, I'll do it myself.'