Former Wisconsin safety points to disconnect between Badgers coaching staff, alumni

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Former Wisconsin safety Collin Wilder pointed to a disconnect between the Badgers’ coaching staff and program alumni on Thursday. 

Wilder, who saw the field in 32 games with the Badgers from 2019-2021, alluded to the divide during an interview with ESPN Madison.

"It's just not the same," Wilder said. "It's sad."

Wilder noted how coach Luke Fickell, who took over on Wisconsin's sideline for his first full season in 2023, typically does not reach out to some of the program's top alumni in the NFL to establish a link between the program's successful past and its future.

"I'm not Zack Baun, I'm not T.J. Watt, I'm not J.J. (Watt), I don't expect him to call me on the phone," Wilder continued. "But if you're the head coach and you've got those big-time names being successful in the league, those would be the first phone calls I would make to build that bridge and build those relationships. From what I've heard, he hasn't reached out to these guys as much as we think."

Here are the former Badger safety's full comments:

Wisconsin is 2-6 through its first eight games of the 2025 season, entering its Week 10 bye on a six-game losing streak. The team welcomes the Washington Huskies to Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 8, before closing the season with games against No. 2 Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota.

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin safety Collin Wilder on Luke Fickell disconnect with alumni

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