Wisconsin will look to challenge Alabama’s defensive secondary under Phil Longo, but the Crimson Tide has a coach on defense that is extra motivated for Saturday’s matchup.
Colin Hitschler, 38, is Alabama’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
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Kane Wommack refereed to Hitschler as the best game day defensive mind he’s been around.
Hitschler knows Luke Fickell, Wisconsin’s head coach, all too well. He coached under him for six years, including 2023 for the Badgers.
Hitschler has been preparing the Tide’s safeties for what to expect from Tyler Van Dyke at quarterback.
Malachi Moore, a fifth-year senior, has noticed the extra energy from his position coach in practice.
Hitschler is ready to outwit Longo and Fickell on the field.
“Coach Hitschler is one of the those guys that loves to win and hates to lose,” Moore said Tuesday.
“He pushes us to be the best group in the country and pulls the best out of us. He has a little bit more juice this week because it is his old stomping grounds, so anybody who plays their former team is going to have extra juice. He is excited and ready to go.”
Hitschler is set to go, but it will be interesting to see how he has Alabama’s safeties playing against Van Dyke.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
