I was excited about the pregame publicity surrounding last night's Family Night in connection with the Whitewater at Platteville game. The UWP students did there part by showing up in droves at Ralph E. Davis/Pioneer Stadium. I guess I was a little disappointed in the number of adults and "families" that made the trek to the stadium. UWP did a wonderful job in putting together $1 off tickets, special interactive games for kids, and $10 family food deals.
I apologize for "going off" at the student workers manning the drive down to the parking lot immediately adjacent to Platteville's stadium. It was the first time in my 22 years of broadcasting Warhawk football that I was not allowed to park in the lot. Now that I'm sufficiently handicapped and being told I'm suppose to park "over the hill" in the Jay Street SW/Longhorn lot I regretfully "snapped." Maybe it is time to adhere to my doctor's advice and get a lobotomy.
The attendance last night's game did get a bump. The announced attendance of 3,124 was actually double the 1,791 average attendance of of five UWW - UWP games played in Ralph E. Davis/Pioneer Stadium.
The Warhawks might of fell behind early but I was impressed with the way there was no panic and would go on to methodically roll to a win 49-17 victory in the WIAC opener at Platteville.
How about the Hawks rushing defense? Last night the Pioneers finished the game a minus-12 yards rushing. Through four games, Whitewater is giving up a miniscule 31 yard rushing per game. Bethel (Minn) 26 yards per game and North Central (Ill) 28 yards per game are currently ranked 1-2 entering the weekend.
Whitewater has now won 16 of the 18 George Chryst Memorial Bowl Games. The game is held each year in memory of former Platteville head football coach George Chryst who died unexpectantly following the 1992 season.
Now that the WIAC portion of the schedule is underway the importance of the remainder of the games in the regular season is evident. For those that think that Whitewater will have a "cake-walk" to a sixth consecutive conference championship, you better think again. one game at a time must be the focus for not only the team - but also for "Warhawk Nation."
Did you know that the annual "Family Day Game" at Perkins Stadium has averaged 8,829 fans the past three years.
* 2009 - 9,157 vs Platteville
* 2008 - 11,028 vs. La Crosse (Perkins Stadium record attendance)
* 2007 - 6,301 vs. River Falls
With UW-Stout coming in next week for 2010 UW-Whitewater Family Day lets plan on Packing the Perk
I wish I knew how many Milwaukee and Madison area football fans listened in to last night's simulcast of the KOOL 106.5 broadcast on 540 ESPN-Milwaukee and 100.5 ESPN-Madison. I didn't hear any on-air promotion of the broadcast on either of the stations and worried about the number of listeners that were aware that the Hawks game was coming up?
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