Rumors of former Wisconsin head coach and athletic director Barry Alvarez dying surfaced on Twitter/X this Wednesday.
There’s been nothing on where the fake news came from, however, former Ohio State star Matt Finkes was among those claiming that the 77-year-old had passed away.
“Football lost a legend today. Barry was a pillar of the sport & a great guy,” Finkes wrote. “Never forget him coaching me in the East West Shrine game & coming back to the hotel & seeing him & my dad at the bar having scotch & telling stories till the wee hours. RIP Barry.”
The development must have come as a shock to Alvarez himself as he is reported to be very much alive, with multiple administrators from said university confirming as much.
“Multiple Wisconsin administrators confirm former #Badgers AD and football coach Barry Alvarez is still with us, despite a rumor on Twitter this morning. Current UW AD Chris McIntosh spoke with Alvarez this morning,” Wisconsin State Journal reporter Colton Bartholomew tweeted this morning.
It appears Finkes was fed some bad info that he didn’t follow up on. But he has apologized for his part in spreading the rumor.
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Alvares was the Wisconsin head coach from 1990-2005, winning three Big Ten Titles and two Big Ten Coach of the Year awards.
He served as the program’s athletic director from 2004-21 and was an advisor for the Big Ten during the 2022 season before stepping down last fall.
It’s good to know that he’s still with us.
