Shawn Eichorst has touched down in Wisconsin as the new athletic director for the Badgers. His plane landed today, and he's spent time getting acclimated to his new responsibilities. He also joined ESPN Milwaukee to talk about Wisconsin athletics, and he had some really good lines that Wisconsin Badger fans will want to hear and read. One of his best zingers came from Barry Alvarez.
Eichorst was explaining what could help Wisconsin get things right. He said putting more wins in the column, and then he quoted Alvarez, "Winning is good for the soul." One of the more iconic lines from Alvarez. Eichorst then said, "We need to do some soul-building around here." It caused Mark Tauscher to have a big grin on his face.
“Barry Alvarez said it best: ‘Winning is good for the soul.’ Well, we need to do some soul-building around here.” 🔥 #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/tt1pHWAKQD
— ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) July 6, 2026
Shawn Eichorst says that Wisconsin needs to do some soul-building by winning
Related: The 5 biggest position battles facing Luke Fickell, Wisconsin entering fall camp
The Wisconsin football team has been terrible in the winning column for the last few years, with the most recent being the worst at only four wins. Luke Fickell has been on the hot seat, and a new athletic director may have actually made things hotter. His best defender was former athletic director Chris McIntosh, who blamed not Fickell and his coaching prowess, but the budget and spending towards football. McIntosh vowed to improve that, and he seemingly did as Fickell brought in a ton of talent in the transfer portal and has one of the best recruiting classes in years for 2027.
However, it has to translate to winning. Eichorst is right that losing creates stress and wrecks the soul of an athletic department, while winning covers a multitude of sins. Fickell doesn't need to immediately jump into the College Football Playoff this season, but he has to find six to eight wins. If not, it's hard to think that Eichorst will just keep things going.
Eichorst has a lot to prove as an athletic director, and he won't let football wallow year after year. Especially because the biggest red flag for Eichorst was how he handled Nebraska football the last time he was an athletic director. He basically wrecked the Corn Huskers while he was in charge there. He needs to make sure that Wisconsin is winning.
He continues to reassure Badger fans that he will work tirelessly and as hard as possible. Eichorst has said over and over again that "no one will care more than him" when it comes to Wisconsin athletics. Football has to be the first priority, and Eichorst needs to find out if Fickell has what it takes to bring Badgers football back to prominence and if things are actually headed in the right direction.
Read also: Shawn Eichorst delivers passionate message on plans to help Wisconsin, Luke Fickell
Eichorst is going to start 'soul-building' on day one of his new job, and as fall approaches, winning will solve a lot of issues. He needs to channel Barry Alvarez in more than one way; he will also need to find the winning ways that Alvarez showcased in both his coaching and athletic director careers.
Add us as a preferred source on Google