michfan6060

December 5th, 2012 at 9:03 PM ^

Well you have to remember a lot of Badger coaches just left to go to Pitt. Plus some coaches are going to leave with Bielema to Arkansas so there really aren't a heck of a lot of options. Alvarez has been there and knows the team. He is probably the best option to keep things together. I wouldn't be surprised if he coaches next year as well. He might have been out of the game for seven years, but he has probably forgotten more football than most coaches know. Hell I can't stress this enough to younger posters, but before Barry Wisconsin was basically Indiana.

Brewers Yost

December 6th, 2012 at 9:08 AM ^

Alvarez turned the program around. Just to illustrate your point. When Alvarez retired he had 20% of their total wins and all of their bowl wins except 1 (9 total bowl wins), including their first Rose bowl win. This took place over the course of 16 years.

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

December 5th, 2012 at 9:49 PM ^

He stated today the Wisconsin program is "in better shape than when I started with 3 straight Rose Bowls". That is a clear FU to Barry - something clearly caused a major rift.

aratman

December 5th, 2012 at 10:46 PM ^

When do we get to the part where that coach, appointed by Bo,  looks the other way and rips my heart out for 15 years?  Not that I am bitter but being awesome again really makes the last 15 years hurt.

Craig

December 5th, 2012 at 11:36 PM ^

If you remember, Bo was offered the job at Wisconsin and turned it down because he felt that they 'didn't have their shit together.' I have a feeling they don't have their shit together this time either, or else they would have already lined someone up for the job.

Brodie

December 6th, 2012 at 12:29 AM ^

iirc, he interviewed for but was never offered the Wisco job (and he wasn't interested in it anyway).

he did turn down offers from Pitt and Tulane (haha), while he was interested in UNC but they went with Bill Dooley (Vince's brother and Derek's uncle)

Jacoby

December 6th, 2012 at 12:19 AM ^

All this talk about who the next coach is doesn't interest me yet. First order of business is the bowl game, and I want to see the Big Ten do well. So, how will his departure affect Wisconsin's chances in the bowl game?

Don

December 6th, 2012 at 6:39 AM ^

which I think is a strong bet. If Bielema honestly thinks that the program is stronger than when he inherited it, he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

State Street

December 6th, 2012 at 9:34 AM ^

I love the Wisconsin fan reaction to Bielema bailing.  "Good riddance!  You were terrible!  Anybody could have won here with the talent we were bringing in!  Our recruiting classes average 45th nationally and top out at 34th!!!"