All Things Fickell

[Lobot]

OK, so just some thoughts here.

Try and remember that Luke Fickell has grown up in the OSU program as a player and coach for years. He's used to to having that level of resources at his disposal for his entire career and then came to CIncinnati where we do not have that level of resources, donor activity, facilites etc. We're slowly getting there but the BIg XII money hasn't rolled in yet.

It's going to be a while before the new Indoor Practice facility is ready, The UCATS donor numbers are growing and I think they'll continue to to grow unless we mess up the hire for Fickell's replacement. We finally have an NIL collective after kinda wandering in the desert all season. All this factors in to his choice to move on. Wisconsin has these things already and will be rolling in dough with the new B1G TV deal.

Anyone insinuating that John Cunningham ran Fickell off is most likely wrong. That said, John doesn't have OSU money to throw around. For someone like Fickell, UC looks like a step down from where he began and it's probably frustrating at times.

If we had not made the CFP last year, Luke would have bolted for ND after last season.

[Big_Daddy_Bearcat_07]

Ha the five stages of grief…I believe we’ve hit the anger stage. Dare I say, take away the ND game (despite that we were favored) and Luke failed to win a game he wasn’t supposed to win? Even lost a few he was expected to win? He was a solid coach, great for our university. He’s a good man by college football standards. I think time will tell if his coaching was the winning touch or if he was the right guy to coach the team at the right time.

[leo from jersey]

He is not the great gentleman we all thought he was. He signed a seven-year contract last year for over $5 million a year, but used the Bearcats to better his pocket book by another 3 million.

He has to remember that USC and UCLA will be joining his division, and it’s not going to be the easy road he thinks. I don’t wish him bad things, but I have lost some faith in humanity with how Saint Luke screwed us all over here this year.

B.C.

Few seem to have the courage to go against the flow. He was paid for everyday he coached, although the last few were not worth the money as well as the lost of recruits. I have lost respect for LF. I would leave out religion, but most articles deal with his strong faith. The players, the University and the fans put their football faith in Luke. Yes He provided one miracle, but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!111

a side note. It looks like the big will be doing away with divisions very soon.

[Bearcat Chris]

He is not the great gentleman we all thought he was. He signed a seven-year contract last year for over $5 million a year, but used the Bearcats to better his pocket book by another 3 million.

He has to remember that USC and UCLA will be joining his division, and it’s not going to be the easy road he thinks. I don’t wish him bad things, but I have lost some faith in humanity with how Saint Luke screwed us all over here this year.

B.C.

[Lobot]

I'm sure he had some remarks during his Wisconsin introductory press conference, but has Fickell said anything else/thanked UC and its fans yet?

There is no easy way to do this. Even if you're not trying to be like Brian Kelly, there is still work done behind the scenes, you are still hopping on a private plane to your future school and leaving town before the dust settles... but would be nice to see something from Fickell soon.

I haven't seen anything. His Twitter account hasn't posted anything since 11/24. Usually when a coach moves to a new school, they start fresh with a new account. I don't see a new account out there for him yet.

[GoBearcats31]

I'm sure he had some remarks during his Wisconsin introductory press conference, but has Fickell said anything else/thanked UC and its fans yet?

There is no easy way to do this. Even if you're not trying to be like Brian Kelly, there is still work done behind the scenes, you are still hopping on a private plane to your future school and leaving town before the dust settles... but would be nice to see something from Fickell soon.

[Rufus]

Yea I thought it weird that in the game when UC was flagged for a bunch of penalties, USF? but one of which they yanked an opposing players helmet off while out of bounds and it was more or less a non issue with Fickell when asked about it later. I began to be suspicious then.

[leo from jersey]

This doesn't surprise me. I just kept feeling something was off this year, too. I can't explain it, but something about this season felt weird.

That whole game Friday showed it after looking back. Again, LF let the team down. He didn't really build but continued the trend of using UC. I hope we can recover from the loss of recruits, the lack of playing time for the underclassmen etc.

[Geaux Juan]

Here’s a story that suggest CLF was planning on leaving weeks ago. Perhaps there was less energy in practice and players knew something was up, as this recruit indicates in the story. Worth reading.

B.C

https://share.newsbreak.com/2eqp0llc

This doesn't surprise me. I just kept feeling something was off this year, too. I can't explain it, but something about this season felt weird.

[JBB]

I hate to see CLF go. He truly built something here compared to Dantonio and Kelly. I hope we get them on the schedule at some point RE next coach, I hope Cunningham has his act together. We don’t need a passing game coordinator for our next coach. A true OC or DC ready to bloom or a winning head coach with experience. Not a 500 record in Big 12. We need a winner. Keep in mind that CLF paid his dues at OSU. We need someone with same passion and drive

[leo from jersey]

This whole thing tells me that whether or not UC made it into the B12, He was going leave just as soon as an "opportunity" presented itself anyway. I was hoping that Fickell was wanting to make UC a destination program but he had his eyes on Notre Dame or hoping the OSU job would come open. This also tells me He never really believed that a CFA championship could be accomplished at UC. I hope Fick nothing but the best. But I hope that a coach can be found that will build on what has been done. One that can see that given enough hard consistent recruiting a championship can be won here and even become a destination school.

at least I hope LF has the dignity not to write team on his clothes.

[Rufus]

This whole thing tells me that whether or not UC made it into the B12, He was going leave just as soon as an "opportunity" presented itself anyway. I was hoping that Fickell was wanting to make UC a destination program but he had his eyes on Notre Dame or hoping the OSU job would come open. This also tells me He never really believed that a CFA championship could be accomplished at UC. I hope Fick nothing but the best. But I hope that a coach can be found that will build on what has been done. One that can see that given enough hard consistent recruiting a championship can be won here and even become a destination school.

[leo from jersey]

Fickell Wiscy contract is 7.5M moving to 7.9M per year for 7 years.

Lobot it appears that LF knew this for a while. With that in mind what about his horrid use of time to end the first half. Good for LF getting his 7.5, but the players wanted to win a championship. LF is just like BK. I realize it is the state of the game, but the players he recruited deserved more from LF.

[Lobot]

Fickell Wiscy contract is 7.5M moving to 7.9M per year for 7 years.

[leo from jersey]

Got it. Has a reputation as a great recruiter. He has coached exclusively at tO$U, starting as a grad assistant. He became receivers coach in 2018 and was named passing game coordinator in 2022.

I just wonder if he has the experience. I didn't worry about him as WR coach at tOSU as he was a NFL player, but a HC is different. He is very bright so perhaps he would do well.