T minus 11 days and counting for Warhawks season opener

D3football.com's 2010 Kickoff Preview was published on-line Tuesday. In one of the feature stories, the writer talks about what it takes for one or two of "the other" 236 Division III programs to "take the next step" and knock either Whitewater or Mount Union off the NCAA Division III pedestal.

Coach Leipold dismisses the idea that Whitewater has been able to "sail" through the playoffs in each of the past five seasons.

2005:
3rd Round:
-- UWW 44, Linfield 41 (called one of the greatest D III games of all-time. The win over defending National Champion and No. 1 ranked Linfield put the Warhawks on "the national map")

2006:
2nd Round:
-- UWW 24, UWL 21 (needed a 4th quarter Jacobs to Mrkvicka to overtake the Eagles that afternoon.)
-- UWW 17, St. Johns 14 (Hawks beat St. Johns for the second year in a row with the Johnnies favored to win both games at Perkins Stadium.

2007:
Semifinal:
-- UWW 16, Mary Hardin-Baylor 7 (It was the second game in 2007 for the two teams at Perkins Stadium. The Hawks rolled over UMHB 41-14 by playing a nearly perfect game. You knew that UMHB was better than they showed on 10/27. They were!)

2008:
3rd Round:
-- UWW 30, Willamette 27 (Willamette was unbeaten and favored in the game. Hawks got off to a big lead behind the running of Atwan Anderson. Hawks were forced to "hold on" in the second half in the game played in Willamette, Ore)

2009:
Semifinal:
-- UWW 27, Linfield 17 (Warhawks trailed Linfield going into the fourth quarter at Perkins Stadium)

There are teams very capable of beating UWW or Mount Union. As referenced above, it has never been a "cake walk" to Salem.

The same can be said in the WIAC - with the exception of its 2008, 17-16 loss to UW-Stevens Point, UWW has been able to dodge potential landmines on the way.

It just ain't that easy and that has been what has been so special over the last 5 seasons. To be champions you must excel each week. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it!