Training Camp is in full swing, but not in Madison. If YOU want to see the Badgers practice, where should you be, and when?
Minimizing Distractions
Luke Fickell made a change to training camp last offseason to “minimize distractions.” He took the team to UW-Platteville for the first week of training camp. The players stayed in the dorms, were served food by the school, and used the University’s facilities for practice and conditioning.
Fickell was a fan of this “road trip” training camp during his time at Cincinnati. It builds team chemistry and accelerates integrating transfers into the locker room. But most importantly, it minimizes distractions. At an hour and 15 minutes from Madison, the players are sufficiently far enough away from the Madison party scene, their friends, and their girlfriends, that the only thing they can focus on is football.
Last year was considered such a success, the Badgers are doubling down in 2024. Instead of 1 week in Platteville, it’s 15 days this year. They left town on July 29 and won’t be back until August 12. The Badgers have committed to returning to Platteville for training camp for the next 3 seasons, so don’t expect many Badgers to be around Mad Town in early August as long as Fick is in charge.
Spring Game Substitute
There was no Spring game this year, and that sucked. It was a necessary concession for Camp Randall to have a new heated field installed. The Badgers are providing a kind of alternative this summer though.
One of the last practices of the Platteville training camp will be open to fans and held at Pioneer Stadium. Saturday, Aug 10th will serve as a pseudo spring game style practice for fans to get a look at the team.
Gates open at 8:30 AM, and practice will be from 9:30 to 11:30.
Tickets are $5 per person, with 12 and younger receiving free admission.
With 2 weeks of summer camp under their belt, I expect the team to look a lot better than they would after Spring Training. Hopefully, some of the transfers can impress fans and give them something to believe in this season.
#BuckyByAMillion
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This article was written by Cole Tollison and edited by Hayden Breene