Hunter Wohler calls out Badgers as 'soft' after latest loss: '100% it's on the players'
Hunter Wohler is not happy with the recent play by Wisconsin. On Saturday, the Badgers took a disappointing home loss, falling to Northwestern by a score of 24-10 in Madison.
As a result, the Badgers have now lost 3 straight and need one win in the final two games to get to a bowl game. After the latest performance, Wohler pinned those struggles clearly on the players.
Speaking with the media, Wohler said it is the players that have to be better and have come out soft, flat and with zero energy. He shouldered responsibility for part of that performance and said it is up to players to decide if they want to be a part of turning things around.
“We have to be better. We’re soft. We’re not physical. We’re not doing the things the coaches ask of us. Then we go out there and expect to win,” said Wohler. “That’s not how this game works, especially in the Big Ten.
“Guys gotta look inside themselves and find out who they really are and if they really want to play this game and be a part of this team. Because this is not what I came to Wisconsin for, to be completely honest. This is miles different from what I grew up watching, and obviously, I take responsibility for it being a part of the team. Whatever we can do to figure this thing out we’re going to do. But it’s got to be individually. Saying one thing and trying to get everyone together, it only gets you so far.”
Here’s a visibly ticked off Hunter Wohler post game.
“We’re soft. We’re not physical. We’re not doing the things the coaches ask of us. Then we go out there and expect to win.”#Badgers pic.twitter.com/sYRpFDbDF1
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) November 12, 2023
While some fans may be unhappy with coaches, Wohler said there is nothing the coaching staff could have done differently to make the team successful on Saturday. It’s “100” up to the players after what Wohler described as the Badgers playing “horribly” against Northwestern.
“There’s nothing the coaches could have done differently tonight that would have made us win that game. I mean, we played horribly, we were flat, we had no energy, we couldn’t do anything on either side of the ball,” Wohler explained. “100% it’s on the players. I don’t blame Coach Fickell… I don’t blame the coaches for what happened today, what happened last week. We’re not good enough right now.”
We’ll see how Wisconsin addresses things heading into Week 12, but it is a particularly ugly stretch of Badger football.