With Alvarez around will Bielema have free reign
When
Barry Alvarez arrived in Madison Wisconsin in 1990, he inherited a losing football program with a bleak future. But in the 15 plus years of being the Badgers’ coach he did things that no other Wisconsin and Big Ten coach ever did. He led the Badgers to the three winningest seasons in school history and to three Rose Bowls.
He retired at the end of the 2005 season to become the Athletic Director and named defensive coordinator
Bret Bielema his successor. Up until the untimely death of Randy Walker, which caused Pat Fitzgerald to be appointed the head coach of Northwestern, Bielema was the youngest coach in Division 1 at 36 years old.
Not only does Bielema have to follow in the footsteps of the greatest football coach in Wisconsin history, he has to do it with Alvarez looking over his shoulder as AD. If the Badgers get off to a bad start you know the press and alumni are going to be making remarks to Bielema about going to Alvarez for advice. For his sake I hope that does not happen this year.
