EDITORIAL OUR VIEW: Luke Fickell proves need for cap on college coaching salaries, buyouts Wisconsin State Journal editorial board Nov 2, 2025 Nov 2, 2025 Updated Apr 4, 2026 × Follow along as State Journal cartoonist Phil Hands draws a cartoon comparing beer sales with coach Luke Fickell's salary. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Congress need look no further than Luke Fickell’s absurd buyout clause for stark evidence that college coaches need a salary cap.kAmu:4<6== 92D DEF?< :E FA 7@C E9C66 D62D@?D =625:?8 E96 @?46\>:89EJ (:D4@?D:? q2586CD 7@@E32== E62>] w:D =@D:?8 C64@C5 :?4=F56D 8@:?8 _ 7@C f 282:?DE C2?<65 E62>D[ _ 7@C `_ 282:?DE 9:D >@DE C646?E q:8 %6? @AA@?6?ED 2?5 >:D6C23=6 D9FE@FED @7 bf\_ 2?5 bc\_ 2E 9@>6 G6CDFD x@H2 2?5 ~9:@ $E2E6[ C6DA64E:G6=J]k^AmkAmuCFDEC2E65 72?D 92G6 492?E65 “u:C6 u:4<6==P” 2E r2>A #2?52== $E25:F> :? |25:D@?] qFE D9@H:?8 9:> E96 5@@C 4@F=5 4@DE Sag >:==:@?[ 3642FD6 @7 2 4@?EC24E D:8?65 3J 2E9=6E:4 5:C64E@C r9C:D |4x?E@D9] |4x?E@D9 5:5?’E =62C? 9:D =6DD@? 27E6C 3FJ:?8 @FE E96 4@?EC24E @7 AC6G:@FD 7@@E32== 4@249 !2F= r9CJDE :? a_aa] %92E 4@DE S`` >:==:@?]k^Am People are also reading… Lake Geneva receives update on Hillmoor Zone 1 project Lake Geneva restaurant owner honored for quick response Riga-Tony’s serves Italian with style, fun and flair Look Ahead: Happy Easter in Lake Geneva! Plus a best-selling author visit & local live music Lake Geneva considers speed bumps for slowing down traffic Lake Geneva approves dining facility for Bible camp New Lake Geneva event a celebration of America's 250th anniversary Incumbent faces former council member for District 3 seat Work begins on project to honor Dungeons & Dragons co-founder Gary Gygax Judge orders Trump to halt White House ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it Lake Geneva changes Highway 50 plat for planned path project Riga-Tony’s serves Italian with style, fun and flair Jacob Misiorowski strong again as Brewers use 6-run 8th inning to power past Rays 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle Trump issues fiery new threat against Iran as details of US aviator's rescue emerge kAmtG6? |4x?E@D9 :D AC@E64E65 7C@> 244@F?E23:=:EJ 7@C 9:D 325 564:D:@?D] w:D 4@?EC24E 42==D 7@C 2 3FJ@FE @7 >@C6 E92? Sc >:==:@? :7 r92?46==@C y6??:76C |?@@<:? 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Saad[___[ q2F>82CE?6C ?@E6D[ 2?5 $FAC6>6 r@FCE ;FDE:46D >2<6 Sb__[___]k^AmkAm“(9J 5@ 325 4@==686 4@2496D 86E S`_ >:==:@?n” 96 2D<D]k^Am kAmp =@E @7 q2586CD 72?D 2C6 H@?56C:?8 E96 D2>6 E9:?8]k^Am kAmr@==686 4@249:?8 D2=2C:6D 2?5 3FJ@FED ?665 2 C62=:EJ 4964<] x7 E96 }rpp 2?5 q:8 %6? 42?’E D66 A2DE 2== E96 5@==2C D:8?D E@ :?DE:EFE6 C62D@?23=6 =:>:ED[ r@?8C6DD D9@F=5 DE6A :? E@ AC@E64E &( 2?5 @E96C AF3=:4 :?DE:EFE:@?D]k^Amk2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?EQmk^2D:56m The Wisconsin State Journal's longest-serving community member on its editorial board introduces himself. Lauren Cnare, a community member on the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board, introduces herself Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack Locations Madison Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! 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Chris McIntosh is best suited to lead UW athletic department | Patrick McBride Calls to fire UW Athletic Director Chris McIntosh are shortsighted. As a former UW Athletic Board member — a voluntary position -- I saw first…
OUR VIEW: Shut down any chance of another dysfunctional shutdown The last time Washington broke a record for government dysfunction in 2019 — shutting down most federal operations for 35 days — Rep. Glenn Gr…
Wisconsin football tickets were $7 with ‘full rides’ in jeopardy This State Journal editorial ran on Jan. 22, 1976:
Betting on games was blamed for commercializing college football a century ago This State Journal editorial ran on April 10, 1926:
Betting on games was blamed for commercializing college football a century ago This State Journal editorial ran on April 10, 1926:
Watch Now: Phil Hands draws a cartoon about beer sales at Camp Randall Follow along as State Journal cartoonist Phil Hands draws a cartoon comparing beer sales with coach Luke Fickell's salary.
Chris McIntosh is best suited to lead UW athletic department | Patrick McBride Calls to fire UW Athletic Director Chris McIntosh are shortsighted. As a former UW Athletic Board member — a voluntary position -- I saw first…