Austin Brown is preparing to take the reins from Hunter Wohler this coming season as the starting Wisconsin safety opposite Preston Zachman. He's now a fifth-year senior and wears the mantle of leader on the defensive side of the ball. He also dropped a quote that should convict Wisconsin fans.
When asked about the schedule, "We see that as more fuel, I mean like we are already counted out by a lot of people, even our own fans count us out. So for us, we have nothing to lose. I see it as an opportunity, personally."
"Even our own fans count us out"
— Andrew Bandstra (@andrewbandstra) July 29, 2025
Austin Brown sees #Badgers gauntlet schedule as more fuel.
"Yeah, it's one of the hardest schedules if not the hardest, but who would want it any other way" pic.twitter.com/plfLCTuqtk
Austin Brown uses the fuel of everyone doubting them as motivation for the season
For Brown, it's a fuel. He isn't trying to heap shame on Wisconsin fans or make Wisconsin fans feel bad for something the football team hasn't earned or achieved. It's more of a chip that the team needs to prove themselves again. To get back to their winning ways and to do it with the hardest schedule in the Big Ten and one of the toughest rated schedules in the country. Shock the world mentality.
For Wisconsin fans, it's hard to have a lot of faith in a team that didn't even win six games last year. Most fans doubt this team until proven otherwise. If the Badgers go into Tuscaloosa and knock off the Crimson Tide, then you know who will be the first to start believing in this team again? Wisconsin fans. Prove it on the field.
This doesn't mean you can't feel a little convicted by his quote, as the players should sense support from the fans, but there is a healthy side to the doubt the team feels.
The players know how fans feel and plan to regain the respect they want. Brown and the other football players know what they are up against, and they know the perception that is heaped on them from the national narrative, other teams, and even their own fans. The only way out of the hole is to win. That's the cure-all for sports: winning.
The first opportunity will technically come in less than a month with the Badgers taking on Miami (OH) on August 28 at 8 pm CT in Camp Randall Stadium. This is a Thursday night game and will kick off the campaign to earn national respect again.