You study the greats and to be among the greats and that’s a lesson Wisconsin Badgers had recently when they were visited by program legend J.J. Watt.
“It matters what you do every single day—for yourself, for your team, for the entire state of Wisconsin.”@JJWatt x #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/leR8GaAeC5
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) July 16, 2025
It was not just inspiring words that he left to the team he played for from 2008 to 2010. Center Jake Renfro revealed that the 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year also said things they need to hear even if they are unpleasant.
“When he came and spoke to us, it was powerful,” Renfro said in an interview with Badger 247’s Nick Osen.
“He spoke from the heart, and he said what he meant. I know that was really hard for him, because he loves this program and loves that place.”
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“For him to speak from the heart, and just tell us how it is, and how the outside world views us— it really hit home with me. I always knew there was so much pride in everything with Wisconsin.”
Preview of Wisconsin Badgers’ 2025 football season
This generation’s Badgers are in a different situation compared to the time Watt was with the team. The team was in the glory days during his time.
Today, the team is in an opposite place as they are coming off one of their worst seasons in decades when they failed to make any Bowl game last 2024.
The team underwent drastic changes in the offseason, most notably the departure of some key players through the transfer portal and arrival of a new quarterback in Billy Edwards Jr.
However, critics don’t see them improving in the 2025 season.
I don’t know if they win three games,” college football analyst Joel Klatt wrote recently.
“As much as I really like Luke Fickell and think he’s an excellent coach, and I could even make a strong argument that Wisconsin could be a better team this year, it’s not going to show up in the win-loss column.”
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