Why a former Wisconsin defensive back is advocating for flag football Troy Vincent Sr. Jan 31, 2023 Jan 31, 2023 Updated Jul 4, 2026 × CHRIS DOYLE A native of Ohio, Luke Fickell left his home state to became the Badgers football coach when he was hired Nov. 27, 2022. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save BUFFALO — As a National Football League executive, it’s been remarkable having a front-row seat to flag football’s explosion.kAmu=28 92D 8C@H? E@ a_ >:==:@? A=2J6CD :? >@C6 E92? `__ 4@F?EC:6D 3642FD6 :E’D ECF=J :?4=FD:G6] %96 DA@CE @A6?D A2CE:4:A2E:@? E@ H@>6?[ A6@A=6 H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D[ E96 J@F?8 2?5 @=5[ 2?5 @FC ?6:893@CD H9@ >2J DECF88=6 E@ 277@C5 E24<=6 6BF:A>6?E] xE’D 7@@E32== 7@C 2==]k^AmkAm%9:D 92D 366? >J >6DD286 E@ 2F5:6?46D H@C=5H:56] xE’D 7F6=65 3J 2 A2DD:@? E92E 6G6CJ@?6 H9@ H2?ED E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 7@@E32== D9@F=5 92G6 E92E @AA@CEF?:EJ] qFE C646?E=J[ E9C66 J@F?8 H@>6? 82G6 7C6D9[ 4C62E:G6 E9:?<:?8 23@FE E96 DA@CE] ~FC 6?4@F?E6C C6:?7@C465 E92E 25G@42E:?8 7@C 7=28 7@@E32== :D?’E 6?@F89] {:DE6?:?8 :D 4C:E:42=]k^Am People are also reading… Lake Geneva approves plans and permits for several projects Gateway helps graduate help family Prominent UW-Madison professor agrees to resign after investigation Lake Geneva City Council rejects alternative site for public safety building Brandon Sproat part of Triple-A no-hitter; Tyler Black saves the day Wisconsin high school football player who died after game remembered for love of sports, family, cattle They lost one fight against a solar farm. Now this Dane County town is hoping to stop another UW-Eau Claire joins UW system’s Direct Admit program IKEA store on Madison's Far West Side will consume 3 retail spaces Green Bay police shoot, kill armed subject during welfare check Packers get a glimpse of what MarShawn Lloyd can add to offense in preseason win Lake Geneva Tourism Commission pauses grant program for two months This Dane County town bet against sprawl. Fifty years later, it's still paying off St. Francis de Sales School completes expansion project Traver School starts off the school year with new principal kAmx? y2?F2CJ[ DEF56?ED z2J=66[ w2=6J 2?5 $J5?6J :?G:E65 >6 E@ G:D:E |@F?E $E] |2CJ p4256>J @FED:56 qF772=@ E@ 962C E96:C :562D 23@FE DE2CE:?8 2 7=28 7@@E32== AC@8C2>[ 2?5 H92E :E >62?D 7@C J@F?8 H@>6?] (92E x =62C?65 7C@> E96D6 =6256CD — 2D H6== 2D E96:C A2C6?ED 2?5 A66CD — H2D :?G2=F23=6]k^AmkAm%96J 36=:6G6 :? F?:G6CD2= CF=6D — ?@ 5:776C6?46 36EH66? E96 H@>6?’D 2?5 >6?’D 82>6D] %96J H2?E EC2:?:?8 7@C >2=6 4@2496D @? 56G6=@A:?8 8:C=D’ 7=28 A=2J6CD[ D@ ?@ 2E9=6E6 :D F?56C6DE:>2E65] %96J H6C6 4=62Ci H6 H2?E E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ 2?5 C:89E E@ E2<6 E96 7:6=5] %96J D2:5[ 5@?’E D4965F=6 FD E@ 4@>A6E6 H:E9 uC:52J ?:89ED :? E96 72==[ H96? 2EE6?E:@? :D 2=C625J @? 3@JD’ 9:89 D49@@= 7@@E32==]k^Am kAm!2C6?ED 2D<65 9@H E@ :?EC@5F46 E96:C <:5D E@ E96 DA@CE 2E 2? 62C=J 286] %96J 2=D@ H2?E >@C6 4@>>F?:42E:@? @? 364@>:?8 4@2496D @C @77:4:2=D] p5F=E :?AFE 2?5 :?G@=G6>6?E :D 4CF4:2=[ 6DA64:2==J :7 E96 }6H *@C< $E2E6 !F3=:4 w:89 $49@@= pE9=6E:4 pDD@4:2E:@? :D E@ >2<6 7=28 7@@E32== 2 492>A:@?D9:A DA@CE] r@>3:?65 H:E9 7=28’D 563FE 2E E96 (@C=5 v2>6D 2?5 A@E6?E:2= 2D 2 7FEFC6 ~=J>A:4 DA@CE[ E96 @FE4@>6 @7 }*$!w$pp’D G@E6 4@F=5 92G6 2 3:8 :>A24E @? 5C:G:?8 DEF56?E\2E9=6E6D E@H2C5 E96 82>6]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^764a34h6\2`hg\``65\g5g3\h7fa4c`c3dg4Qmu@C>6C (:D4@?D:? 5676?D:G6 324< AC@>@E6D 7=28 7@@E32== ?62C qF772=@k^2mk^Am kAm%9:D EC:A H2D 2 C6>:?56C @7 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 =@42= 6?8286>6?E 3642FD6 E96C6 2C6 J@F?8 =6256CD H:E9 G2=F23=6 :?D:89ED] %9@D6 4=@D6DE E@ E96 492==6?86D 2C6 E96 4=@D6DE E@ E96 D@=FE:@?D]k^AmkAm}u{ 4=F3D 2C6 962C:?8 7C@> E96:C 4@>>F?:E:6D 23@FE E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 7=28 E@ J@FE9] pE=2?E2 2?5 E96 DE2E6 @7 v6@C8:2 2C6 ?2E:@?2= =6256CD 7@C J@FE9 7=28[ E92?<D :? =2C86 A2CE E@ :?G6DE>6?E 7C@> E96 u2=4@?D @C82?:K2E:@?] (:E9 E96 q:==D W2=@?8 H:E9 E96 y6ED 2?5 v:2?EDX A:=@E:?8 7=28 AC@8C2>D[ 2?5 =6256CD9:A 7C@> J@F?8 H@>6? =:<6 z2J=66[ w2=6J 2?5 $J5?6J[ qF772=@ >2J 6>6C86 2D 2 9F3 7@C 7=28 :? E96 }@CE962DE]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^5b_a47hc\h_fb\``65\3hah\3f`25b7`bfe4Qm%C@J ':?46?E 364@>6D (:D4@?D:? 7@@E32==VD `aE9 r@==686 u@@E32== w2== @7 u2>6Ck^2mk^Am kAmw6C6’D E96 3@EE@> =:?6i u=28 @A6?D E96 5@@C 7@C E9@D6 H9@ 92G6 EC25:E:@?2==J 366? F?23=6 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 4@>A6E:E:G6 7@@E32==] xE’D @? FD E@ =:DE6? 2?5 =62C? 7C@> E9@D6 8C@FAD[ E@ D92A6 2?5 6DE23=:D9 E96 7FEFC6 @7 E96 DA@CE — ECF=J 2D 7@@E32== 7@C 2==]k^AmkAm%92E D:>A=6 24E H:== >2<6 7=28 6G6? >@C6 :?4=FD:G6 7@C 564256D E@ 4@>6]k^Am kAmk6>m%C@J ':?46?E $C] :D E96 6I64FE:G6 G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 7@@E32== @A6C2E:@?D 7@C E96 }2E:@?2= u@@E32== {628F6 2?5 2 7@C>6C >6>36C @7 E96 qF772=@ q:==D] w6 92D 366? ?2>65 E@ E96 r@==686 u@@E32==[ !9:=256=A9:2 t28=6D 2?5 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 (:D4@?D:? pE9=6E:4 w2==D @7 u2>6[ 2?5 D6CG6D 2D E96 4@\492:C @7 ':D:@?ag[ 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 E96 x?E6C?2E:@?2= u656C2E:@? @7 p>6C:42? u@@E32== E@ =625 7=28 7@@E32==’D :?4=FD:@? :? E96 a_ag $F>>6C ~=J>A:4D]k^6>mk^Am Look back as J.J. Watt's stellar NFL career comes to an emotional end Derek and T.J. Watt wear J.J. jerseys Man oh man, I wasn’t ready for this this morning. Genuinely could not ask for two better brothers. This means the world to me. 🙏🏼 https://t.co/q56CUOzzyz — JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 8, 2023 Watt tribute video - NFL tweet A special surprise for @JJWatt before his final game. 🥹❤️#HardKnocks @AZCardinals Wednesdays 10pm ET on @HBOMax pic.twitter.com/vckbVL2qVv — NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2023 J.J. Watt sendoff video Was not ready for that whatsoever. Truly one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. Will cherish it forever. https://t.co/XvRr7PqeRV — JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 11, 2023 J.J. Watt final game - NFL films The final moments of @JJWatt's career. Captured by @NFLFilms. Incredible. #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/R4sdp9KVUq — NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2023 J.J. Watt appreciation tweet Sometime in the coming days I’ll find the right words. But for right now, all I can say is thank you. You’ve changed my life forever and I am perpetually grateful. 🙏🏼 — JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 9, 2023 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story How Luke Fickell grew from an Ohio State lineman to Wisconsin football leader A native of Ohio, Luke Fickell left his home state to became the Badgers football coach when he was hired Nov. 27, 2022. Troy Vincent becomes Wisconsin football's 12th College Football Hall of Famer Vincent was one of the cornerstones of Barry Alvarez’s first two Badgers teams. He was the highest NFL draft pick of graduates under Alvarez. Salary details for 5 Wisconsin football assistant coaches The Badgers' salary pool for assistant coaches is on track to surpass last season's total after five coaches' contracts were released Tuesday. Here's what Wisconsin is paying Jim Leonhard after his departure from football staff Former Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard gets to decide what's in the "best interest of his family" as part of a separation agreement… Wisconsin football lands another 4-star recruit The new Wisconsin coaching staff continues to make the state of Illinois a priority as a four-star tight end verbally commits. Wisconsin football finalizes Luke Fickell's first Badgers coaching staff An up-and-coming running backs coach is getting his first Power Five job with the Badgers. Polzin: Why 'flashy headlines' aren't part of Wisconsin's NIL approach The Varsity Collective has operated in relative silence compared to some others in that space. But its executive director believes the group “… How Wisconsin football OC Phil Longo evaluates his quarterback room Where the Badgers' three QB transfers stand, how practice will be divided and more from offensive coordinator Phil Longo. What you should know about Wisconsin football's busy recruiting cycle The University of Wisconsin football team has been generating a lot of recruiting buzz since Luke Fickell took over as coach in November. Here… How Jamel Howard Jr.'s winding journey led him back to Wisconsin football The Illinois native and projected nose tackle was the lone Badgers recruit to sign during national signing day. How Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai earned Luke Fickell's respect New Badgers QB Tanner Mordecai played against new coach Luke Fickell the past two seasons. Mordecai left an impression that led to Fickell rec… Luke Fickell details the strengths and 1 flaw of Wisconsin football staff Luke Fickell's first Badgers coaching staff is filled with assistants he's worked with in the past. But the group lacks in one area that conce… 3 changes fans can expect from Wisconsin football under Luke Fickell A spring football game? Not quite. But Badgers coach Luke Fickell has already changed the way the program approaches certain aspects of the of… Wisconsin football quarterback not returning to program The backup quarterback who led the Badgers to a bowl win in December has reversed course, and won't return for a sixth season. Former Wisconsin football, NFL star helps launch domestic abuse study Troy Vincent continues to pursue causes outside of his role as the NFL's vice president.
How Luke Fickell grew from an Ohio State lineman to Wisconsin football leader A native of Ohio, Luke Fickell left his home state to became the Badgers football coach when he was hired Nov. 27, 2022.
Troy Vincent becomes Wisconsin football's 12th College Football Hall of Famer Vincent was one of the cornerstones of Barry Alvarez’s first two Badgers teams. He was the highest NFL draft pick of graduates under Alvarez.
Salary details for 5 Wisconsin football assistant coaches The Badgers' salary pool for assistant coaches is on track to surpass last season's total after five coaches' contracts were released Tuesday.
Here's what Wisconsin is paying Jim Leonhard after his departure from football staff Former Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard gets to decide what's in the "best interest of his family" as part of a separation agreement…
Wisconsin football lands another 4-star recruit The new Wisconsin coaching staff continues to make the state of Illinois a priority as a four-star tight end verbally commits.
Wisconsin football finalizes Luke Fickell's first Badgers coaching staff An up-and-coming running backs coach is getting his first Power Five job with the Badgers.
Polzin: Why 'flashy headlines' aren't part of Wisconsin's NIL approach The Varsity Collective has operated in relative silence compared to some others in that space. But its executive director believes the group “…
How Wisconsin football OC Phil Longo evaluates his quarterback room Where the Badgers' three QB transfers stand, how practice will be divided and more from offensive coordinator Phil Longo.
What you should know about Wisconsin football's busy recruiting cycle The University of Wisconsin football team has been generating a lot of recruiting buzz since Luke Fickell took over as coach in November. Here…
How Jamel Howard Jr.'s winding journey led him back to Wisconsin football The Illinois native and projected nose tackle was the lone Badgers recruit to sign during national signing day.
How Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai earned Luke Fickell's respect New Badgers QB Tanner Mordecai played against new coach Luke Fickell the past two seasons. Mordecai left an impression that led to Fickell rec…
Luke Fickell details the strengths and 1 flaw of Wisconsin football staff Luke Fickell's first Badgers coaching staff is filled with assistants he's worked with in the past. But the group lacks in one area that conce…
3 changes fans can expect from Wisconsin football under Luke Fickell A spring football game? Not quite. But Badgers coach Luke Fickell has already changed the way the program approaches certain aspects of the of…
Wisconsin football quarterback not returning to program The backup quarterback who led the Badgers to a bowl win in December has reversed course, and won't return for a sixth season.
Former Wisconsin football, NFL star helps launch domestic abuse study Troy Vincent continues to pursue causes outside of his role as the NFL's vice president.
