Former players continue to bash Luke Fickell for letting former UW star join Illinois
The news broke yesterday that former Wisconsin Badgers’ coach Bret Bielema, who is now the head coach at Illinois, has hired one of his former players, star running back James White. White will be the assistant running backs coach for the Fighting Illini. This move in some regards comes as not that much of a shock as former players will help coach for their former coaches all the time. However, it is also frustrating for fans and other former players that Wisconsin is not the one to hire White.
Yesterday, Sojourn Shelton II was the first to jump online and express his disappointment in Wisconsin and Luke Fickell for not making this hire. In a string of posts after reposting the hiring announcement, Shelton voiced his annoyance.
Faion Hicks and Chris James are two more players that have voiced disappointment in Wisconsin not hiring James White
More former players joined in the chorus of discontent. Former Wisconsin DB Faion Hicks also reposted the Illinois Football post about White’s hiring with a “Why he not at Wisconsin???? Smh.” Then Chris James, a former Badger running back also posted, “SMH UW Badgers, Badger Football let’s get it together. This is a loss. These are OUR guys.” For those that don’t know “SMH” means “shake my head” or “shaking my head.” Often used for cases like this when someone is disappointed.
SMH @UWBadgers @BadgerFootball let’s get it together. This is a loss. These are OUR guys. https://t.co/IMXCxZUuK4
— Chris James (@5ive2Live) March 6, 2025
White is a Wisconsin legend and it’s going to be hard for former players and fans to see White donning the color Orange at a rival Big Ten university. It’s not known if Luke Fickell and Wisconsin tried to bring James White in or even if there was ever a conversation, but Fickell needs to find a way to rally the alumni base and help build a culture where the past is not just talked about but part of paving the way for the future.
