The Chris McIntosh departure just got more complicated — and Barry Alvarez’s reaction is raising serious questions.
In this segment of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, the crew reacts to Barry Alvarez revealing he found out about McIntosh leaving the same way everyone else did — and what that says about the state of Wisconsin athletics.
🚨 The Shocking Detail
Barry Alvarez — the man who:
Hired Chris McIntosh
Handpicked him to lead Wisconsin athletics
👉 Wasn’t told before the news went public
Instead:
👉 He found out like everyone else
🧠 What That Really Means
The show immediately connects the dots:
The relationship between Alvarez and McIntosh likely deteriorated over time
Criticism from Alvarez — especially about football performance — may have played a role
And McIntosh may not have handled that criticism well
⚠️ The Bigger Issue: Leadership & Results
This conversation expands into:
Wisconsin’s recent underperformance in football
Questions about the program’s identity
And whether McIntosh struggled to adapt to the modern NIL landscape
👀 “Thin-Skinned” Debate
One of the strongest takeaways:
👉 Was McIntosh too sensitive to criticism?
Former players and insiders have been vocal
Results on the field backed up those concerns
And it may have contributed to the disconnect
🔄 What This Says About Wisconsin
Now the focus shifts to:
Whether Barry Alvarez misjudged the hire
How difficult the AD job has become in the NIL era
And what kind of leader Wisconsin needs moving forward