Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez is set to retire in June, 31 years after being introduced as head coach of the Wisconsin football team,
From the moment he stepped to the podium on January 2, 1990, Alvarez promised a lot to a fanbase that was years removed from watching winning football.
And boy, did he deliver.
Barry Alvarez is retiring.
The @UWBadgers AD will make it official at a press conference today (1:30 ET, Big Ten Network).
Just for fun, here's a look back at his introductory presser as @BadgerFootball coach on Jan. 2, 1990.
📱: https://t.co/nBhqWyA3cG pic.twitter.com/yQRCMYwVwv
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) April 6, 2021
“Let me just say this, they better get season tickets right now because before long, they probably won’t be able to,” Alvarez said.
What did Wisconsin fans get? A 1992 season that showed promise for the coming years, a Rose Bowl win in 1994, back-to-back Rose Bowl wins in 1999 and 2000 and the foundation for a program that has become one of the best and most consistent in the country.
Related: The Wisconsin community reacts to reports of AD Barry Alvarez retiring in June
Alvarez inherited a bad program, he promised and he delivered. It’s soundbites like these that make his arrival in Madison and his accomplishments thereafter even more impressive.
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