Lucas: Bicknell’s experience helping to shape o-line room
February 20, 2023 | Football, Mike Lucas
35-year coaching career includes stops in college and NFL
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – After taking over the Louisiana Tech program as a first-time head coach, Jack Bicknell Jr., sought out the advice of a proven veteran in the business and tapped into the experience that he had gained from 15-years of calling the shots at the University of Maine and Boston College.
"Treat every player like they're your son," Bicknell was instructed.
Filing away the suggestion, he has applied it at every stop on his path. "Like I tell my players now, 'It's not like I was easy on my own son because I wasn't,'" Bicknell said. "You're at an age right now where you can really determine what the quality of the rest of your life is going to be."
Not only did he embrace the counsel from the savvy head coach on the handling of players – "Something I've always kept in the back of my mind" – but he recognized, "That also means when there are tough days, you have to be picking them up, and loving them and caring for them."
Bicknell has brought that attitude into his latest assignment as Wisconsin's offensive line coach on Luke Fickell's staff. To this day, he still stays in touch with the ol' ball coach who had advised and shaped him. That would be his mentor for life/father, Jack Bicknell, who turned 85 on Monday.
"I talk to him obviously every chance I get," he said of his dad who has long since retired after coaching stints with NFL Europe and the World League of American Football. "It's not as much about football anymore. But we'll talk about the game. We just won't talk about the specifics."
Bicknell played for his father at Boston College and there's one game, one golden moment specifically, that still comes up in conversation with people: the Miracle in Miami. Or Hail Flutie. Nearly four decades later, it's still viewed among college football's most memorable and treasured plays.
Trailing the 'Canes, 45-41, with 28 seconds left, Boston College had the ball on its own 20.
Doug Flutie was the quarterback; Bicknell Jr., was his center. "To be honest, I was like, 'Ok, we're screwed. We lost the game,'" Bicknell recounted. "But I'll never forget, he (Flutie) got in the huddle and said, 'Listen up, we've got to get this thing past midfield so I can throw one up in the end zone.'
"Man, I just felt like everyone in the huddle was, 'Ok, we've got a plan still.'
"And, son of a gun, if he didn't do it."
Flutie guided the BC offense to the Miami 48-yard-line with 6-seconds remaining. In the huddle, he called the play, "55 Flood Tip." All of his receivers took off for the end zone. Scrambling to avoid pressure and a sack, Flutie launched a pass that was caught by Gerald Phelan for a touchdown.
The 5-10 Flutie won the 1984 Heisman Trophy.
"He was just such a leader," Bicknell said. "To me that was the ultimate leadership because everyone else -- though they wouldn't say we gave up – it was, 'We're in big trouble here.' But he had a plan and we did it. Just an amazing moment. And it was so cool because my dad was the head coach."
&&&
Bicknell Jr. got involved in coaching as a Boston College graduate assistant in 1986. Ten years later, Phil Longo took his first step in the profession as the head coach at Parsippany Hills (N.J.) High School. Their timelines would not intersect until 2017 at the University of Mississippi.
Longo was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Bicknell was the O-line coach. Longo left after two seasons for the OC/QBs job at North Carolina. Bicknell spent one more year at Ole Miss, and one at Auburn and Louisville, before rejoining Longo in Chapel Hill under Mack Brown in 2022.
During this offseason, Fickell added them both to his Badger staff in Madison. "I kind of knew of him but never really met him and then we just really hit it off at Ole Miss," Bicknell said of Longo. "It was just a situation where our friendship developed there and it has obviously continued."
Both are Jersey Boys. Bicknell was born in North Plainfield; Longo in Red Bank.
"I have great respect for him as a person," Bicknell said, "and great respect for his offense."
As Wisconsin's new offensive coordinator and play-caller, Longo is bringing his version of the Air Raid system to Camp Randall Stadium and the Big Ten. "I've been doing this for a long time," said the 60-year-old Bicknell, "and this is my favorite offense that I've ever been a part of.
"Everybody is going to say, 'We're going to take what they're going to give us.' But that is the absolute description of our offense. Phil has built it out and on almost every play, there are answers for any problem that they may give you (on defense). That's what makes it so effective.
"As an O-line coach, it's very O-line friendly in the sense that if the defense is going to put another guy in the box to make it difficult to run, the ball is coming out somewhere.
"It makes it really fun to be an offensive lineman or a coach in this offense."
How does the offensive personality – a more wide-open spread attack – impact personnel? Especially on the line of scrimmage? "Great players come in all shapes and sizes," Bicknell said. "Wisconsin is known for big, huge linemen which I have no problem with that, either.
"But they've got to be able to move. If you're asking me what I'm looking for, that's what I'm looking for – a guy with great size who can move, a great athlete who can bend. He could be 6-7. He could be 6-4. He could be even 6-3.
"Other than that, I'm looking for guys who love football and will come to work every day and that's what I look for in recruiting."
During spring practice, Bicknell will be counting on the returning starters to be the leaders on the practice field: Jack Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Michael Furtney, Riley Mahlman and Trey Wedig. In addition, University of Cincinnati transfers Joe Huber and Jake Renfro have valuable starting experience.
Off their effort in the weight room, Bicknell said, "They're a very serious group when it comes to football. They're a group that loves football and are going to be the foundation of the team as far as character.
"What jumps out at me – and it's like that on any team – are guys who have been out there in the fray. They have a little bit different edge to them. Some of the younger guys have got to learn that – guys like Nolan Rucci and Joe Brunner – and when they do, they're going to be great players also."
Whenever Bicknell walks into his meeting room at Camp Randall, he's reminded of Wisconsin's rich offensive line tradition and the high standard that has been established. The walls are adorned with pictures of players who have starred here and gone on to the National Football League.
Before interviewing with Fickell in Madison, Bicknell admitted, "I really didn't know much about Wisconsin. But I knew they had a great offensive line and they had some great players go on to the league. When you look at all the pictures on the wall, and go through the names, it's amazing."
One of those pictures is of Joe Thomas, the 2006 Outland Trophy winner. Last week, Thomas, a perennial Pro Bowler with the Cleveland Browns, was named to the NFL Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. "That's so cool," Bicknell said. "And what a great player, one of the best ever."
Bicknell worked for a potential Hall of Fame head coach in Tom Coughlin, who authored two Super Bowl victories with the New York Giants. Bicknell was in New York for three seasons (2009-2011), culminating in SB XLVI, a win over New England.
"Tom Coughlin has had an unbelievable influence on everybody he has been around," Bicknell said of the Bill Parcells disciple. "My dad actually hired him when he had left Syracuse and he was on my dad's staff (at BC) when I played.
"To be able to coach with him, I learned so much. He's such a hard worker and there's nothing phony about it. He's not going to ask you to do anything he won't do. The efficiency of everything and how well it was done under him was second to none."
Bicknell had three other NFL stops (Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Miami) before taking a pause and returning to the collegiate ranks at Ole Miss. With the Chiefs, he was on an offensive staff with Brian Daboll (now the head coach in New York) and Nick Sirianni (now the head coach in Philly).
"Having known what it's like at that level for seven years, it's a real advantage when you come back to college," Bicknell said of the benefits of his pro background.
"I've said to my O-line, 'I know everybody wants to get to the NFL, so let's just act like we're in the NFL right now.' The one thing you've got to know about the NFL is there's not a lot of talk about motivation and things to get the guys to play. The guys that you're coaching come to work.
"That's the way I want this O-line to be. Let's come to work every day. Let's be physical and tough. And then let's spend our time on getting better each day instead of trying to figure out some fancy way to motivate people.
"Our guys have done that. They do have that NFL mentality. It's just a certain edge."
It's just a certain way of preparing, he noted. Which is exactly what that Louisiana Tech head coaching experience did for Bicknell. It got him ready for a career in the business. In his first season, he went 8-3 and beat Alabama. In 2001, he won the WAC and was cited as the league's Coach of the Year.
"The biggest thing that I take away having sat in that (HC) chair for eight years, I understand what he's going through a little bit more than maybe some other assistants," he said. "I get it when there's a sense of urgency to things. No matter what you say, the head coach's name is on the program.
"It's a big job and he needs to count on us. In my situation here, I've got to get that offensive line room doing exactly what he wants and have them believing in the things that he believes in. And then if everybody does that, everybody is pushing in the same direction."
He feels that's happening under Fickell at Wisconsin: "I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a part of this because I do think he's the best head coach in the country and he's going to do great things here. Hopefully I can help him build a great program that is going to be great for a long time."
Treating his players like his sons is the cornerstone of Bicknell's coaching. Still.
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – After taking over the Louisiana Tech program as a first-time head coach, Jack Bicknell Jr., sought out the advice of a proven veteran in the business and tapped into the experience that he had gained from 15-years of calling the shots at the University of Maine and Boston College.
"Treat every player like they're your son," Bicknell was instructed.
Filing away the suggestion, he has applied it at every stop on his path. "Like I tell my players now, 'It's not like I was easy on my own son because I wasn't,'" Bicknell said. "You're at an age right now where you can really determine what the quality of the rest of your life is going to be."
Not only did he embrace the counsel from the savvy head coach on the handling of players – "Something I've always kept in the back of my mind" – but he recognized, "That also means when there are tough days, you have to be picking them up, and loving them and caring for them."
Bicknell has brought that attitude into his latest assignment as Wisconsin's offensive line coach on Luke Fickell's staff. To this day, he still stays in touch with the ol' ball coach who had advised and shaped him. That would be his mentor for life/father, Jack Bicknell, who turned 85 on Monday.
"I talk to him obviously every chance I get," he said of his dad who has long since retired after coaching stints with NFL Europe and the World League of American Football. "It's not as much about football anymore. But we'll talk about the game. We just won't talk about the specifics."
Bicknell played for his father at Boston College and there's one game, one golden moment specifically, that still comes up in conversation with people: the Miracle in Miami. Or Hail Flutie. Nearly four decades later, it's still viewed among college football's most memorable and treasured plays.
Trailing the 'Canes, 45-41, with 28 seconds left, Boston College had the ball on its own 20.
Doug Flutie was the quarterback; Bicknell Jr., was his center. "To be honest, I was like, 'Ok, we're screwed. We lost the game,'" Bicknell recounted. "But I'll never forget, he (Flutie) got in the huddle and said, 'Listen up, we've got to get this thing past midfield so I can throw one up in the end zone.'
"Man, I just felt like everyone in the huddle was, 'Ok, we've got a plan still.'
"And, son of a gun, if he didn't do it."
Flutie guided the BC offense to the Miami 48-yard-line with 6-seconds remaining. In the huddle, he called the play, "55 Flood Tip." All of his receivers took off for the end zone. Scrambling to avoid pressure and a sack, Flutie launched a pass that was caught by Gerald Phelan for a touchdown.
The 5-10 Flutie won the 1984 Heisman Trophy.
"He was just such a leader," Bicknell said. "To me that was the ultimate leadership because everyone else -- though they wouldn't say we gave up – it was, 'We're in big trouble here.' But he had a plan and we did it. Just an amazing moment. And it was so cool because my dad was the head coach."
&&&
Bicknell Jr. got involved in coaching as a Boston College graduate assistant in 1986. Ten years later, Phil Longo took his first step in the profession as the head coach at Parsippany Hills (N.J.) High School. Their timelines would not intersect until 2017 at the University of Mississippi.
Longo was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Bicknell was the O-line coach. Longo left after two seasons for the OC/QBs job at North Carolina. Bicknell spent one more year at Ole Miss, and one at Auburn and Louisville, before rejoining Longo in Chapel Hill under Mack Brown in 2022.
During this offseason, Fickell added them both to his Badger staff in Madison. "I kind of knew of him but never really met him and then we just really hit it off at Ole Miss," Bicknell said of Longo. "It was just a situation where our friendship developed there and it has obviously continued."
Both are Jersey Boys. Bicknell was born in North Plainfield; Longo in Red Bank.
"I have great respect for him as a person," Bicknell said, "and great respect for his offense."
As Wisconsin's new offensive coordinator and play-caller, Longo is bringing his version of the Air Raid system to Camp Randall Stadium and the Big Ten. "I've been doing this for a long time," said the 60-year-old Bicknell, "and this is my favorite offense that I've ever been a part of.
"Everybody is going to say, 'We're going to take what they're going to give us.' But that is the absolute description of our offense. Phil has built it out and on almost every play, there are answers for any problem that they may give you (on defense). That's what makes it so effective.
"As an O-line coach, it's very O-line friendly in the sense that if the defense is going to put another guy in the box to make it difficult to run, the ball is coming out somewhere.
"It makes it really fun to be an offensive lineman or a coach in this offense."
How does the offensive personality – a more wide-open spread attack – impact personnel? Especially on the line of scrimmage? "Great players come in all shapes and sizes," Bicknell said. "Wisconsin is known for big, huge linemen which I have no problem with that, either.
"But they've got to be able to move. If you're asking me what I'm looking for, that's what I'm looking for – a guy with great size who can move, a great athlete who can bend. He could be 6-7. He could be 6-4. He could be even 6-3.
"Other than that, I'm looking for guys who love football and will come to work every day and that's what I look for in recruiting."
During spring practice, Bicknell will be counting on the returning starters to be the leaders on the practice field: Jack Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Michael Furtney, Riley Mahlman and Trey Wedig. In addition, University of Cincinnati transfers Joe Huber and Jake Renfro have valuable starting experience.
Off their effort in the weight room, Bicknell said, "They're a very serious group when it comes to football. They're a group that loves football and are going to be the foundation of the team as far as character.
"What jumps out at me – and it's like that on any team – are guys who have been out there in the fray. They have a little bit different edge to them. Some of the younger guys have got to learn that – guys like Nolan Rucci and Joe Brunner – and when they do, they're going to be great players also."
Whenever Bicknell walks into his meeting room at Camp Randall, he's reminded of Wisconsin's rich offensive line tradition and the high standard that has been established. The walls are adorned with pictures of players who have starred here and gone on to the National Football League.
Before interviewing with Fickell in Madison, Bicknell admitted, "I really didn't know much about Wisconsin. But I knew they had a great offensive line and they had some great players go on to the league. When you look at all the pictures on the wall, and go through the names, it's amazing."
One of those pictures is of Joe Thomas, the 2006 Outland Trophy winner. Last week, Thomas, a perennial Pro Bowler with the Cleveland Browns, was named to the NFL Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. "That's so cool," Bicknell said. "And what a great player, one of the best ever."
Bicknell worked for a potential Hall of Fame head coach in Tom Coughlin, who authored two Super Bowl victories with the New York Giants. Bicknell was in New York for three seasons (2009-2011), culminating in SB XLVI, a win over New England.
"Tom Coughlin has had an unbelievable influence on everybody he has been around," Bicknell said of the Bill Parcells disciple. "My dad actually hired him when he had left Syracuse and he was on my dad's staff (at BC) when I played.
"To be able to coach with him, I learned so much. He's such a hard worker and there's nothing phony about it. He's not going to ask you to do anything he won't do. The efficiency of everything and how well it was done under him was second to none."
Bicknell had three other NFL stops (Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Miami) before taking a pause and returning to the collegiate ranks at Ole Miss. With the Chiefs, he was on an offensive staff with Brian Daboll (now the head coach in New York) and Nick Sirianni (now the head coach in Philly).
"Having known what it's like at that level for seven years, it's a real advantage when you come back to college," Bicknell said of the benefits of his pro background.
"I've said to my O-line, 'I know everybody wants to get to the NFL, so let's just act like we're in the NFL right now.' The one thing you've got to know about the NFL is there's not a lot of talk about motivation and things to get the guys to play. The guys that you're coaching come to work.
"That's the way I want this O-line to be. Let's come to work every day. Let's be physical and tough. And then let's spend our time on getting better each day instead of trying to figure out some fancy way to motivate people.
"Our guys have done that. They do have that NFL mentality. It's just a certain edge."
It's just a certain way of preparing, he noted. Which is exactly what that Louisiana Tech head coaching experience did for Bicknell. It got him ready for a career in the business. In his first season, he went 8-3 and beat Alabama. In 2001, he won the WAC and was cited as the league's Coach of the Year.
"The biggest thing that I take away having sat in that (HC) chair for eight years, I understand what he's going through a little bit more than maybe some other assistants," he said. "I get it when there's a sense of urgency to things. No matter what you say, the head coach's name is on the program.
"It's a big job and he needs to count on us. In my situation here, I've got to get that offensive line room doing exactly what he wants and have them believing in the things that he believes in. And then if everybody does that, everybody is pushing in the same direction."
He feels that's happening under Fickell at Wisconsin: "I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a part of this because I do think he's the best head coach in the country and he's going to do great things here. Hopefully I can help him build a great program that is going to be great for a long time."
Treating his players like his sons is the cornerstone of Bicknell's coaching. Still.
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