Washington has wrapped up its inaugural Big Ten Media Day, and there was much for our 4 reps to chat about as they move into a new league. These are the three most essential things we learned from Jedd Fisch, Kamren Fabiculanan, Carson Bruener and Jonah Coleman.
Remain Calm
Expectations are bound to change given the amount of turnover the Husky team has endured in the last six months. The 2024 Huskies will feature 46 new scholarship players, 21 new starters and an entirely new coaching staff. Fisch acknowledges this, stating that right now, it’s not necessarily about the wins and losses.
“I want our team to compete against the hardest opposition possible. My intention is for our opponents to feel as though they had already played two games after leaving that one.
Although it’s obvious that this year is about rebuilding, Fisch isn’t satisfied with that. He was very emphatic in saying that this program, and himself in particular, is looking forward.
“We intend to construct our team by selecting high school athletes and by having one of the top recruiting staffs in the nation.”
However, as he stated, Jedd would also use the gateway to supplement that strategy and fill in gaps. “This program is about development, and this program is about finding the best players in the country to help us succeed,” Jedd declared in the end.
Positives Everywhere
Coach Fisch and his staff have no qualms about living up to the Be A Pro motto, and they have the credentials to prove it. Additionally, he has highlighted Will Rogers’ status as an NFL-caliber quarterback—a skill Fisch claimed to have at Mississippi State.
“They were able to teach him a little bit more about playing under center and playing with more tight ends last year when (he) played in a slightly more pro-style system.”
However, Jedd also mentioned the addition of helmet communication this year as an additional means of streamlining that procedure. He said that in addition to calling the game, he would use the helmet communication to alert Will to defensive tells. For instance, if a linebacker is positioned in a particular way, it indicates that man coverage is being used by the defense.
"We never took an offensive snap at a disadvantage."
Jake Butt (@Jbooty88) played for Jedd Fisch, and credits the new @UW_Football coach for helping turn around Michigan. #B1GFootball x #B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/1M9XzriU7F
— Washington on BTN (@WashingtonOnBTN) July 25, 2024
Rogers is not the only one who committed to Jedd because of his NFL background, however. Jonah Coleman highlighted that he followed Fisch (and running backs coach Scottie Graham by extension), because he wanted to be a pro-style running back. Fisch wants to be pro-style on more than just the offensive end of the ball, though.
Although Steve Belichick, the new defensive coordinator, “is still learning the ins and outs” of the college game, according to Kamren Fabiculanan, the Dawgs’ reputation as the “Death Row Dawgs” will endure. He declared, “Our defense will still be our defense.”
Carson Bruener said something to a similar effect. “I’ve seen his vision, and that’s something that I wanted to buy into”.
Growing Illnesses? Perhaps Not…
Being at Big Ten Media Days, according to Carson Bruener, “didn’t really hit until we came in and saw the jerseys of 18 schools.” He is accustomed to being in the PAC 10/12, just like the majority of us.
“It’s a true reboot, but so is college football,” stated Coach Fisch. In an attempt to convince himself that he is the best person to guide the Dawgs into this uncharted territory, Fisch emphasized his time as OC at Minnesota in 2009 and at Michigan in 2015 and 2016, saying that these experiences will help the team remain composed and goal-oriented while traveling. As former Michigan tight end and current Big Ten Network analyst Jake Butt noted, “we never took an offensive snap at a disadvantage,” Fisch’s supporters are not hard to come by.
We’re going into a conference that is recognized more for its defensive capabilities, so we’ll need this kind of preparation on the offensive end of the ball. Fisch has proven that he can accomplish it, despite his constant insistence that this is a rebuilding year.
