The day after, Wisconsin fans were heard chanting "FIRE FICKELL" during an ugly Badger loss to Maryland. Athletic Director Chris McIntosh is hosting Super Bowl-winning head coach Mike McCarthy in his suite to take in the Wisconsin Badgers volleyball match. This was shown on the Big Ten Network, and it has Badger fans dreaming about future Wisconsin Badgers head coach Mike McCarthy.
Mike McCarthy and Chris McIntosh. Just a couple of fellas watching some @BadgerVB at the Kohl Center. pic.twitter.com/0HWQ0JOBeT
— Jesse Nelson (@_JesseNelson) September 21, 2025
Mike McCarthy attending Wisconsin volleyball game has Badgers fans dreaming big
McCarthy is not a notable Wisconsin volleyball fan; his ties to the university are purely due to location. As a long-time Green Bay Packers coach, he stays fairly local, even though he grew up in Pittsburgh and went to college in Kansas, but is known for being a Green Bay resident. So the timing and who he's hanging with have fans excited.
It's almost assuredly a coincidence that McCarthy and McIntosh are in attendance together because if there was actual movement happening in the football program, it wouldn't be this big. However, it doesn't prevent Wisconsin fans from dreaming big about a change in trajectory for the Badger football program.
There are several steps that would need to take place before Wisconsin can move on from Luke Fickell. There would have to be money for a buyout, and that would require Chris McIntosh to give up on Fickell, which he has publicly stated he would not do.
Also, McCarthy hasn't coached in college since 1992, when he was a wide receivers coach at Pitt. The rest of his career was in the NFL. So, that would be quite the jump. However, any change would be received with great praise among Wisconsin fans. They are tired of where the program is and what direction it seems to be going. After losing to Maryland in the Big Ten opener, there's real concern that Wisconsin could be set for a two-win season.