Barry Alvarez didn’t rush to hand out a tidy verdict on Chris McIntosh’s run as Wisconsin’s athletic director. He left that to everyone else.
Speaking this week on ESPN Madison, the former Badgers AD offered a blunt, measured take on McIntosh’s tenure after the former Wisconsin standout stepped down earlier this offseason and moved into a newly created role at the Big Ten office.
“I don’t know,” Alvarez said on ESPN Madison. “Take a look at it yourself and see what you think.
What did he bring to the table? Did he add anything?
Did he take anything away? Are we better or are we worse?
You decide that. I’m not exactly sure, but you can take a look at the facts and see what happened when he was here, where we were before that, and where he leaves us.”
McIntosh’s exit closed a chapter that started with a lot of Wisconsin ties and ended with plenty of noise. The 49-year-old was once a Badgers offensive tackle from 1996-99, then became a first-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. An injury cut his playing career short, and after a stretch in the business world, he returned to Wisconsin in 2014 as Director of Business Development.
From there, he climbed quickly. McIntosh became deputy athletic director in 2017 under Alvarez, then was chosen as Alvarez’s successor in 2021 after the longtime athletic director retired.
Five years later, the picture around McIntosh’s departure is complicated. He is best remembered for hiring Luke Fickell, but Wisconsin also lagged behind in the NIL era, something that was detailed this offseason, and the football program just endured its worst season since 1990.
Alvarez didn’t sound eager to debate his own private opinion on the matter.
“I have my own opinion. I don’t care to share that publicly,” Alvarez said. “I know this: I have confidence in Shawn [Eichorst], and I’m confident that Shawn will do a great job.”
In Other News...
Wisconsin Fans Face A Costly Lambeau Debate Before Notre Dame
Wisconsins trip to Lambeau Field on Sept. 6 is already turning into a pricey assignment for fans who want to be there in person. Ticket listings for the Badgers matchup with Notre Dame show the lowest available seats hovering around the mid-$200s, while more desirable spots are pushing into the $300s and $400s, a sign that demand for one of the seasons marquee nonconference games is holding firm.
The market has been fairly steady for about a week, but anyone waiting for a bargain may be taking a gamble. As tickets continue to change hands through different vendors, the prices can move quickly, and the cost of getting into the historic Green Bay setting may be the biggest pregame debate for Wisconsin supporters before the teams even take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Catches A Break Before Notre Dame But One Worry Remains
Notre Dame will open Week 1 without Quincy Porter, the former five-star recruit who has been ruled out while he continues to recover from a left patellar tendon injury. That is a meaningful development for Wisconsin as it gets ready for a road matchup against a defense coach Freeman has already described as strong up front, and it likely means Micah Gilbert will be the player asked to absorb Porters role when the Badgers see the Irish on the field.
For Wisconsin, the broader concern is still closer to home. The Badgers are monitoring the health of offensive linemen Kevin Heywood and Emerson Mandell, and how those two hold up could shape the matchup as much as any absence on the other side. Even with Notre Dame missing a key piece in its passing game, Wisconsins own availability on the offensive line remains the issue that could define how comfortable the opener feels. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Receiver Battle Has A Surprise Name Pushing For A Big Role
Wisconsin spent the offseason reshaping its receiver room, dipping into the transfer portal for multiple additions as it looked to add more size and depth on the outside. Jaylon Domingeaux, Malachi Coleman, Shamar Rigby and Zion Kearney all arrived with a chance to help, and the group reflects the Badgers clear preference for bigger boundary targets as they build out the passing game.
Among that collection, Rigby has become the name to watch. The former Oklahoma State transfer has worked through earlier injuries but has still positioned himself as a key contributor, and Luke Fickell has sounded encouraged by where he stands heading into the season. If Rigby stays healthy, Wisconsin believes he can carve out a significant role and give the offense the kind of presence it has been looking for on the perimeter. [Read more 🡒]