Progrums

Badgers’ Secret Weapon: The Alumni-Whispering Fullback

Wisconsin’s new Director of Alumni Relations, former Badger fullback Brady Ewing, is quietly healing the rift between Luke Fickell’s staff and program alumni. Though his playing career was modest—361 yards and four touchdowns—Ewing’s off-field contributions are proving invaluable. Tasked with mending relationships, he’s organized alumni events, decreased negative chatter online, and reconnected current players with franchise legends like Vince Biegel. Veterans returning for presentations on successful past seasons have given the team a sense of continuity and inspiration. Early feedback from players and fans suggests that Ewing’s return could help restore the hard-nosed identity Wisconsin fans crave, even if the on-field results have yet to materialize.

In an era when every college football program hires a “Chief Motivation Officer” and rebrands its jabroni crew as a “Culture Task Force,” Wisconsin has bet big on a former fullback moonlighting as the alumni pep squad. Because nothing says “authentic team synergy” like paying a third-string fullback in studio lighting to chug energy drinks with ex-players and chirp motivational tweets. Sure, he didn’t bulldoze defenders into the end zone, but apparently he can bulldoze alumni inboxes with LinkedIn event invites. Meanwhile, the real hacking of culture continues: fullbacks everywhere are polishing resumes, dreaming of powerpoints. And fans? They’re on the edge of their seats, holding breath until whenever Brady’s hand-shakes actually translate into touchdowns. Until then, let’s all raise a protein shake to Wisconsin’s most electrifying staffer since Jim Leonhard left for the NHL.