Badger of Honor
Fansided

Wisconsin Chancellor sends Chris McIntosh statement that feels dismissive to fans

Jennifer Mnookin addresses the growing concern around the football program. Or did she?
ByMark Knight|
New Wisconsin head football coach Luke Fickell, right, joins athletic director Chris McIntosh, left, and Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin at a welcome event Monday, November 28, 2022. at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. He was previously head coach for six seasons at Cincinnati.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL Mjs Uwgrid28 4 Jpg Uwgrid Fickell
New Wisconsin head football coach Luke Fickell, right, joins athletic director Chris McIntosh, left, and Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin at a welcome event Monday, November 28, 2022. at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. He was previously head coach for six seasons at Cincinnati.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL Mjs Uwgrid28 4 Jpg Uwgrid Fickell | Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

You know things are bad when, after Wisconsin lost to Maryland 27-10 last Saturday, not only did Chris McIntosh feel like he needed to come out and say something about his support of Luke Fickell. However, a few days later, the Wisconsin Chancellor, Jennifer Mnookin, also felt the need to support Chris McIntosh. However, her support was more about what it didn't say than what it did say. It was dismissive at worst and maybe hopeful at best.

According to multiple Wisconsin media outlets that reached out to Mnookin, she sent back the same canned statement to them all, through a spokesperson, declining interviews, and not wanting to actually address anything. She simply said, "We all know what a complicated time it is for college athletics. Our Athletic Director, Chris McIntosh, has my full confidence as we navigate these challenges here at UW-Madison."

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin declined interviews and released a dismissive statement instead

Related: Phil Hands' new political cartoon says everything about state of Wisconsin athletics

So, at worst or maybe even at face value, she's being dismissive to fans, boosters, and others who are calling for accountability. She's unwilling to address it and wants to deal with the other things on her plate. She doesn't say anything about Luke Fickell or football; she only addresses Chris McIntosh, and barely, citing more the complexity of college sports than anything actually to do with McIntosh.

So while it reads at face value as support of McIntosh, it actually doesn't feel that supportive. She doesn't want to do interviews about it. She doesn't speak to anything specific, and she responded only because she was pushed. This is the hopeful side of things. Is there more going on behind the scenes?

Remember how Oklahoma State was like, "we support Mike Gundy," then let him do a press conference, and then fired him the next day? What if this is the same vibe? Probably not, but you never know because things are a mess over there, especially with football, and the chances of it getting better don't seem promising.

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