The Wisconsin Badgers have a season-defining, and potential program-defining, showdown with No. 4 Alabama on Saturday.
A win, and Luke Fickell makes a strong statement in his second year with the program. A blowout loss, and the Badgers have real big-picture questions moving forward. The stakes are high, as they should be for a game with this magnitude.
Related: Wisconsin releases updated depth chart for Week 3 vs. Alabama
Earlier today, we ran through everything Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said about playing the Crimson Tide during his Monday press conference.
Now, we’ve gone through Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s recent presser to do the same. Wisconsin will be Alabama’s toughest contest to date after the team started with Western Kentucky and South Florida. DeBoer’s presser focuses on how the Crimson Tide can improve after a lackluster Week 2 win over USF, and what the team will look like in the first half without impact LB Justin Jefferson (targeting ejection).
He did not have extensive thoughts on the Badgers and the on-field matchup between the two teams. But he did have a few thoughts the challenge, and the road environment, that his team will face on Saturday:
On struggles against South Florida
Sep 7, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer watches as the Tide loses a fumble near the South Florida Bulls goal line at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 42-16. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
“I know a lot of the things both the coordinators talked about. A lot of the stuff that needs to be worked on was pretty obvious. I think sometimes you look at a game and the statistics don’t show the things that we know as a staff we need to work on are pretty obvious. Penalties, and takeaways, turnovers, creating takeaways and limiting turnovers are a high priority. It always is. It’s not something that we don’t take lightly, it’s something that has an emphasis every single day…Other issues presented themselves and in the end though, they’re gonna find a way and they kept fighting, they kept playing together. [The players] took it on themselves individually, their units, to go make plays and trust the other side of the ball that they’d get it done as well. So I’m proud of that piece. Tomorrow we go back to work. Today’s their day off from practice and the guys came in yesterday excited and ready to go with the challenge that lies ahead with Wisconsin, and there really is no other option than to go to work tomorrow and we’re gonna have a great Tuesday.”
On losing starting LB Justin Jefferson for the first half after a targeting ejection
Sep 7, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Justin Jefferson (15) dives for South Florida Bulls running back Ta’Ron Keith (9) as he runs the ball down the field during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William McLelland-Imagn Images
“I think that whole linebacking core has done a lot of great things. Justin, certainly, flying around. We feel great about the speed he brings. He’s into it. Not just individually, he’s a guy that’s become a strong leader on our football team in the energy that he brings everyday. I just love having him in this program. He’s involved in special teams. Not having him out there in the first half will be tougher. He’s an important part of what we do with different packages. Unfortunately, [the targeting] happened late in the game. We’ll have to work through that with the first half against Wisconsin.”
On the targeting call, Wisconsin also missing starting LB Jake Chaney
April 9, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer coaches his team during practice in the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility at the University of Alabama. Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY NETWORK
“The helmets hit each other, so we’ll wait to get exactly the feedback. There’s not much you can do when you’re out there as a coach in that moment. Anything I say isn’t going to matter when [the refs are] going through their decision. Their helmets hit, now it’s just a matter whether it met any or all of the ways that they determine whether it’s targeting or not. Face mask versus crown, all those type of things. I know [Wisconsin] has got a player that’s out too. I think that was more of a midlevel hit in that game.”
On playing in a raucous Camp Randall
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
“There’s nothing like playing at home here at Bryant-Denny, but I think there is something to knowing you’re going into a great environment. These guys really probably haven’t been there — maybe a couple guys from the Midwest that have seen that or been on a visit maybe at one point. It’s going to be a great atmosphere up there. And I think it’s one that when you’re preparing to go play those games, and we’ll of course have that many times here with the SEC schedule too, that hostile environment, taking it on and just kind of knowing that it’s you versus everyone there. I think our guys are looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to improving on this last week and knowing we’re going to have to in order to get a win against Wisconsin on Saturday.”
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Publish date : 2024-09-10 05:30:00
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