Ex-Ohio State Player Laments Spreading Rumor of Ex-Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez’s Death

The Badgers legend is alive and well.

Former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez is a) a two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, b) the Badgers’ program savior and c) alive and kicking.

Reports of Alvarez’s demise circulated around social media Wednesday morning, fanned by a tweet from former Ohio State defensive lineman Matt Finkes.

“Football lost a legend today,” Finkes wrote. “Barry was a pillar of the sport & a great guy.”

That tweet spurred Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal to confirm Alvarez’s continued earthly existence with Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh.

“Despite a rumor this morning on Twitter, former Badgers coach and AD Barry Alvarez is alive,” Polzin wrote. “Chris McIntosh told me he just got off the phone with Alvarez.”

Despite a rumor this morning on Twitter, former #Badgers coach and AD Barry Alvarez is alive. Chris McIntosh told me he just got off the phone with Alvarez.

— Jim Polzin (@JimPolzinWSJ) March 6, 2024

Finkes then apologized.

Apologize for the earlier tweet about @BadgerFootball Barry Alvarez. There was a post this morning from a reliable source. I did not research further. Happy Barry is still rocking!!

— Matt Finkes (@MattFinkes) March 6, 2024

Alvarez, 77, coached Wisconsin from 1990 to 2005. In 16 full seasons with the Badgers and two one-off interim appearances in ’12 and ’14, he went 118-75-4 and won three Rose Bowls.