Interim Wisconsin coach Jim Leonhard: 'Teams are tampering with other teams' players'
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Jim Leonhard chose his words carefully but delivered them forcefully.
“I would never accuse any teams of tampering with your players,” Wisconsin's interim head coach said after the Badgers' 24-10 loss to Iowa on Saturday, “but teams are tampering with other teams’ players.”
Leonhard was commenting on recent Internet rumors that tailback Braelon Allen was considering transferring to Michigan.
Allen refuted those rumors on 97.3 The Game in Milwaukee and people close to the program recently told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the team to monitor was USC, which signed several prominent transfers after the 2021 season.
Those people told the Journal Sentinel that Allen long ago decided he would finish the season at Wisconsin. Allen reiterated Saturday he plans to play for UW in 2023 if Leonhard is promoted to full-time head coach.
“Unfortunately we have to recruit our own team every day right now,” Leonhard said. “It is unfortunate to see where it’s at, but I have to continue to show a clear vision. I’ve mentioned it a number of times. The uncertainty is going to cause people to look and see what the best decisions for their future are.
“We have to be real about that as coaches. That is why we have conversations almost daily with our team about where we’re going, what the plan is and how we’re going to get there.”
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Allen, limited to 40 yards on 17 carries Saturday, addressed the rumors calmly and at length.
He said acknowledged he has a friend on Michigan’s team but added he has not had any contact with the program.
“That is honest truth,” Allen said. “I haven’t had any contact with them. The fact that rumor sprouted up is surprising to me … especially Michigan specifically.”
Allen acknowledged speculation will continue as long as Wisconsin goes without a permanent head coach in place.
“We’ve made it pretty clear as a team we want Coach Leonhard to be our coach," he said. "I made it pretty clear. That is just what it is.
“We want him to be our coach and we’re going to continue to play for him to get him that job.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's Jim Leonhard says teams are tampering with players
