Whitewater continues to dominate WIAC foes: Showdown with Pointers up next

Whitewater 63, River Falls 14: No. 1-ranked UW-Whitewater rolled to its 22nd consecutive victory Saturday, pummeling UW-Stout with 413 yards rushing in a 63-14 victory in River Falls.

Antwan Anderson did the bulk of the damage for the Warhawks, who remained atop the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Anderson had 240 yards rushing and three touchdowns; teammate Michael Pirtle added 147 yards and two TDs.

Whitewater quarterback Matt Blanchard was a perfect 10 for 10 passing, for 181 yards and three TDs. He also ran for 21 yards.

Aaron Rusch had seven catches for 118 yards and three TDs.

The Falcons (0-7, 0-4) mustered only 220 yards of offense. Whitewater had 599 total yards.

Stevens Point 31, La Crosse 17: Jared Jenkins had seven receptions for 177 yards, including two touchdown catches from Jake Swank, to help the Pointers scoot past the Eagles in Stevens Point.

It was the third straight victory for Stevens Point, which also got 121 yards rushing and one TD from Kyle Furhman.

Swank finished with 194 yards passing.

Jenkins also had a good day punting, landing three punts inside the 10-yard line, including two that were downed at the 2.

The victory set up a showdown with first-place Whitewater at Perkins Stadium next week.

Stout 37, Eau Claire 28: The Blue Devils jumped out to a 24-7 halftime lead, Carlos Concepcion extended the lead by taking the second-half kickoff back 90 yards for a touchdown and Stout then held off the a comeback attempt by the Blugolds in Menomonie.

Ross Carey threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns, a 68-yarder and 38-yarder to Antawan Walker. Craig Warminski chipped in with a 152 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Austin Neu led the Blugolds with 344 yards passing and three TDs, all in the second half.

Oshkosh 41, Platteville 14: Nate Wara threw for 293 yards and a career-best five touchdowns as the Titans blasted the Pioneers in Oshkosh.

Oshkosh's Garrie Fox caught seven passes for 103 yards and two scores.

Wara also rushed for 72 yards as the Titans rolled up 521 yards of total offense to 277 for Platteville.

The Pioneers benefited from 105 yards rushing and one touchdown from Lee Vlasak, and quarterback Nick Anderson finished with 120 yards passing and the other touchdown.

Wally & Rod’s 17th Annual Raffle-Auction set for Saturday evening, November 6th

The Raffle-Auction is the major annual fundraiser for UWW Football, Men’s Basketball, Baseball Programs, to help keep them among the elite Division III athletic programs in the United States.

The 2010 Raffle-Auction will be held on Saturday evening, November 6th, in the Hamilton Room of the UW-Whitewater University Center. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. with the Auction kicking off at 6:30 p.m.

The following is the initial list of auction items

Get-a-ways, Vacations
• Sanibel Island Vacation– Connie & Gerald Murray
• Week Vacation – Phoenix – One person in group must be 55 or older (Nov. 27 – Dec. 22 – Mike & Tami Mikkelsen
• Time Share Vacation – Jim “Mills” Miller
• 1 Week Vacation – Adams-Friendship – Home Lumber
• ½ Day Fishing Trip with Brian Thatcher

Golf Packages
• Golf & Night Lodging – Grand Geneva
• Nakoma Country Club – Golf for 4
• Koshkonong Mounds – 4some Pat Miller
• 4 some Golf – Prairie Woods
• Whitewater Country Club Membership
• Spring Creek Annual Membership – New member only

Rod Berg and other Custom Furniture/Items
• Oak Chest - Rod
• Dresser – Rod
• Roulette Wheel – Rod
• Couch Table – Rod
• Birdhouse – Rod Berg
• Wind Gig – yard ornament – Rod
• Warhawk “W” – Rod & Cheri
• Badger “W” – Rod & Cheri
• Chest $1 Raffle– Rod
• Sleigh Table – Rod – Dr. Allenstein
• Gun Cabinet – Dr. Allenstein
• Oak Chest – DD Cooper

Restaurant/Food Packages
• Freezer Chest filled with food – Badger Auction – 52 card raffle at $20
• Dinner at the Chancellor’s House for 8 – Chartwells & Telfers
• Catered Prime Rib Meal for 25 - Capn’s Corners
• Champagne Brunch for 8 – Randy’s
• Taco Bar for 20 – Margaritas – Green Bay
• 4 Prime Rib Dinners – Saxes
• 2 – 6 lb Country Hams – Kimball Farms of Kentucky
• UC Party – Bob Barry
• Breakfast once a week for a year – Whitewater Street Restaurant
• Dinner once a week for a year – Whitewater Street Restaurant
• 52 Pizzas – Home Run Inn Pizzas
• Fish Fry Once a month year – Squiddy’s
• Pizza once a month – 14” 2 Topping Pizza – Gus’s Pizza
• Gallon of Bean and Sausage – Saxes
• Gallon of Chili – Saxes
• Pizza once a month year – Rocky’s
• Pizza Party – Rocky’s
• Pizza once a month year or 12 Pizzas – Rocky’s
• 1-Large 2 topping Pizza – once a month year – Salamone’s

Sports Memorabilia/Ticket Packages, Etc.
• Aaron Rodgers Jersey
• Barry Alvarez autographed Helmet
• Lou Holtz Autographed Helmets (2) – Mark Murphy – Jim “Mills” Miller
• Brandon Jennings Canvas Print – Pat Miller
• 3 – 50 minute pitching lessons from Greg Reinhard
• Dallas Cowboy Tickets in Dallas – game TBA – Pat Miller
• Denver Bronco’s Helmet – Warhawk Football
• Liberty University Football Helmet – Lance Leipold
• 2 Buck’s Tickets – across the aisle from Herb Kohl – Dec. 27 or Jan. 26 Games – both vs Atlanta Hawks, Commercial Bank
• Badger Hockey Tickets from Eric Fields
• Helmet Plaque – Warhawk FB
• 2009 Stagg Bowl Championship DVD – Nancy Cooper
• Helmet Lamp – Allemand Family
• Gold Membership – Williams Center
• Fitness Membership – Williams Center
• Athletic Photo Shoot – Edmunds Studio
• UWW Athletic Youth Camps – Baseball, Football, Basketball
• Coach & Players for 3 hours labor – Football, Basketball, Baseball
• Assistant Coach – Football, Basketball, Baseball

Miscellaneous
• Generator – Generac
• Pro Steam – Room & upholstery
• 3 Hayride Packages – Rollie Cooper
• Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits – Matt Messner – Autographed by Lindsey Buckingham
• Bike – Quiet Hut & Ketterhagen Ford & Palmyra State Bank
• Duck Decoy’s from Duck’s Unlimited (10) – Rod Berg
• Haircut once a month/year – Pete the Barber

MORE ITEMS TO COME!!!!

Random Notes & Quotes From The Weekend

The following are some notes and quotes that caught my eye over the weekend...

- It was a dominating performance by the Warhawks in it's 45-0 win over UW-Eau Claire. Through the first six games, the Hawks' defense has been outstanding.

- Entering the weekend, Whitewater ranked 1st in NCAA Division III in Total Offense and 4th in Total Defense. That is quite impressive isn't it?

- UW-Stevens Point's 27-21 victory over UW-Stout Saturday afternoon keeps the Pointers in the WIAC championship race. UWSP hosts La Crosse this week prior to travelling to Whitewater on October 30th.

- I sat in my motel room Saturday night in Eau Claire transfixed to the UW - Ohio State game at Camp Randle. The Badger's 31-18 primetime win over the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes will go down as one of the great Wisconsin victories in Camp Randle history.

- How long is the fantastic game-day weather going to be with us?

- I came back from Eau Claire Sunday "the long way" through my hometown of Durand. A half block of downtown burned down last fall, and now a good 1/3 of all store fronts are empty. It is really sad for someone that grew up in the town of 2000.

- I'm getting very excited and nervous as the days tick down to UW-Whitewater's Hall of Fame Day & Homecoming on October 30th. Knowing that I will be inducted into the Hall of Fame has absolutley humbled me!!

October 16th WIAC Football Roundup

Whitewater 45, Eau Claire 0 (@ Eau Claire)
The Warhawks (6-0, 3-0) used a balanced offense and a dominating defense that handed the host Blugolds (3-3, 1-2) their first shutout loss since 2007.

Lavell Coppage paced the ground game for the Warhawks with 106 yards in 18 carries and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Matt Blanchard threw for 170 yards and score.

The Warhawks' defense, which got a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown from Matt McCulloch, held the Blugolds to 150 yards of offense.


Stevens Point 27, Stout 21: (@ Menomonie)

Jake Swank connected with Anthony Aker with 11:40 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Pointers (4-2, 2-1) the victory over the Blue Devils (3-3, 2-1) in Menomonie.

Swank completed 26 of 39 passes for 310 yards, with three TDs and three interceptions.

Point's Jared Jenkins led all receivers with 10 catches for 96 yards and one touchdown.


Platteville 21, La Crosse 6 (@ La Crosse)

- Lee Vlasak ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns in leading Platteville past La Crosse, 21-6, on Saturday for its first victory at Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse since 1980.

Nick Anderson hit Jeff Bracken for a 20-yard score in the second quarter for a 7-3 halftime lead for the Pioneers (4-2, 2-1 WIAC). Vlasak ran in from 45 yards out in the third quarter and four yards in the fourth, giving the converted receiver seven TDs in the last two weeks.

Platteville held the Eagles (1-5, 1-2) without a touchdown for the first time in the annual series since 1973.


Oshkosh 35, Lambuth (Tenn) 22

The dynamic duo of Nate Wara and Garrie Fox compiled four touchdowns as the UW-Oshkosh football team posted a 35-22 victory over Lambuth University (Tenn.) in Jackson, Tenn.

Lambuth advanced to the second round of the NAIA playoffs last season.

Voices Eye around the WIAC

• The unbeaten UW-Whitewater football team travels to Eau Claire on Saturday. Now in the middle of the season, the Warhawks cannot “just show up” and get the win. Last year UWEC trailed UWW 17-14 in the third quarter before the Warhawks exploded for the final 21 points.

• The Blugolds are likely to have a “full house” at Carson Park on Saturday for its game vs. Whitewater. Eau Claire has played very well at home this season beating St. Johns 23-20 in overtime and a couple weeks later knocking off Stevens Point 26-20 for another overtime win. The Blugolds outscored Bethel (Tennessee) 35-31 in the season opener. Bethel, in the same conference as Campbellsville who played Whitewater in week 3, is averaging 40 points per game this season.

• UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout will meet on Saturday in Menomonie. It is a huge game for both teams who enter the weekend with 1 & 1 conference marks. Stout is coming off a 30-7 loss at Whitewater. The Pointers beat Oshkosh at Point in dominating fashion, 41-17. Eau Claire and Platteville are also 1 & 1. Oshkosh enters the weekend in second place in the WIAC by a half-game with a 2-1 conference record.

• With UW-River Falls head coach John O’Grady “retiring” at the end of the season, the rumor is O’Grady may join his college roommate Stan Zweifel at Dubuque. It is JUST a rumor at this point.

• La Crosse Mayor Matt Harter on Tuesday vetoed a measure that would have decriminalized marijuana. The veto occurred just before the end of his five-day veto period. The council had approved the measures Thursday. BTW, Harter didn't object in the veto to the merits of the marijuana ordinance, which would give police and the district attorney's office flexibility to charge first-time offenders. Could the UWL football teams stuggles have something to do with all the talk of legal marijuana in La Crosse?

Perkins Stadium Record Crowd Facts & Figures

Here are some intreguing facts and figures surrounding the record crowd of 12,189 football fans that attended Saturday's UW-Stout at UW-Whitewater football game at Perkins Stadium

There is no doubt that the Warhawks amazing streak of five-plus years has been reflected at the Perkins Stadium turnstiles.

Saturday's attendance broke the former record was set on October 4, 2008 when a Family Day crowd of 11,028 turned out for the annual battle between UW-La Crosse and UW-Whitewater.

Saturday's crowd boosted Whitewater's 2010 season attendance figure per game to 7,906 fans for each of the three games so far this season. UW-Whitewater trails only St. Johns (Minn) in attendance this season.

While thWarhawks and Stout drew 12,000-plus on Saturday, the total attendance of the three other WIAC games on Saturday (10/9) was 8,196.

Whitewater heads to Eau Claire this weekend, and UW-River Falls in two weeks prior to returning home to host UW-Stevens Point on October 30 for Homecoming and Hall of Fame Day.

Stout-Whitewater game Saturday shatters WIAC attendance mark

UW-Whitewater outscored the UW-Stout 20-0 after halftime and ran away with a comfortable 30-7 victory in front of a Perkins Stadium and WIAC record 12,178 fans Saturday afternoon.

The 12-thousand-plus attendance figure shattered the old record of 11,028 set in 2008.

Why the record breaking attendance figure? It was the "perfect storm!" Summer-like temperatures in the upper 70s, a Warhawk football team that won the NCAA Division III Title last year and off to a 4 & 0 start to the 2010 season. The UW-W game was not going "head to head" with the Badgers who played earlier in the day in its homecoming game vs. Minnesota at Camp Randle Stadium.

Despite a 3 p.m. start at Perkins Stadium, the stadium parking lot was totally filled with Warhawk fans enjoying the unbelievable weather with extended pregame tailgating.

Saturday's 12,189 attendance figure elevated UW-Whitewater to second place in 2010 NCAA Division III football attendance. The Warhawks are averaging 7,906 fans to each of the three games at Perkins Stadium this fall.

While thWarhawks and Stout drew 12,000-plus on Saturday, the total attendance of other WIAC games (10/9) was 8,196.

UW-Whitewater hopes to continue its record breaking attendance pace with two home games remaining: October 30 vs. UW-Stevens Point for Homecoming and Hall of Fame Day. The regular season finale on November 13 vs. archrival UW-La Crosse.

Here are the Top 5 attendance games at Perkins Stadium over the past five years:

10/9/10 Stout 12,189
11/4/10 La Crosse 11,028
10/14/10 La Crosse 9,753
10/3/09 Platteville 9,157
10/13/07 Oshkosh 7,825

October 9th WIAC Recap

Whitewater 30, Stout 7: The host Warhawks (5-0, 2-0) scored 23 unanswered points to blow by the Blue Devils (3-2, 2-1).

Stout tied the game at 7-7 when Tyler Butzler fell on a fumble in the end zone.

But Whitewater held Stout to 61 rushing yards and rolled to its 20th straight victory.

The Warhawks finished with 255 yards on the ground in 40 attempts. They only had 54 rushing yards at the half. Levell Coppage led the way with 163 yards in 20 carries and two touchdowns.


Platteville 35, Eau Claire 14: The UW-Platteville running back, who had only one carry in his collegiate career before Saturday, rushed for 114 yards and scored five touchdowns to lead the host Pioneers to a 35-14 victory over UW-Eau Claire.

Vlasak's five touchdowns set a Platteville record. The sophomore, recently converted from receiver, is the sixth player in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history to have five scores in a game.

Chad Hoiska and Cory Sartorelli, both of Eau Claire, hold the WIAC record with six touchdowns in a game.

Nick Anderson completed 15 of 25 passes for 200 yards for the Pioneers (3-2, 1-1 WIAC).

Joel Sweeney ran for 114 yards and scored the only two touchdowns for the Blugolds (3-2, 1-1). Eau Claire struggled passing the ball, with Austin Neu going 15 of 31 for 152 yards and getting sacked five times.


Stevens Point 41, Oshkosh 17: Jake Swank threw for 228 yards and four touchdowns as the host Pointers (3-2, 1-1) rallied from a 14-point deficit to dominate the Titans (2-3, 2-1).

Charlie Weissman had a game-high 95 yards for Oshkosh. Stevens Point racked up 408 yards, compared with 311 for the Titans.



La Crosse 37, River Falls 20: Nick Anker threw three touchdown passes, and Lee Lauters rushed for 83 yards to help the host Eagles (1-4, 1-1) earn their first victory.

La Crosse snapped an eight-game losing streak that dated back to last season. The Eagles have beaten the Falcons (0-6, 0-3) in 18 straight games.

UW-Oshkosh at UW-Stevens Point an intriguing matchup

The two key football games in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on Saturday are UW-Stout at UW-Whitewater along with UW-Oshkosh at UW-Stevens Point.

The Pointers are coming off of an overtime loss to UW-Eau Claire, 20-13. The Pointers led 13-10 until UW-Eau Claire kicked a game tying field goal with 3:06 left in the fourth quarter. The loss put the Pointers at 0-1 in conference play.

The Pointers have not lost consecutive games since the end of the 2007 season, a streak that has now lasted two plus seasons.

UW-Oshkosh defeated UW-La Crosse last week by a score of 28-17. It was the Titans first triumph in its last 38 games with the Eagles. The victory gives Oshkosh a 2-0 mark in the WIAC.

The question going into Saturday’s game in Stevens Point is: Are the Titans for real?

UW-Oshkosh opened the season with a 45-28 loss to perennial NCAA Division III powerhouse Mount Union. The 28 points were the most the Purple Raiders surrendered during the regular season since 2001 (123 games).

An Oshkosh victory at Steven Point Saturday would serve notice that the Titans are legitimate contenders for the 2010 WIAC championship.

A Stevens Point victory will put the Pointers right back in the championship picture.

Other WIAC games Saturday include: UW-Eau Claire @ UW-Platteville, UW-Stout @ UW-Whitewater, and UW-River Falls @ UW-La Crosse.

UW-La Crosse tailspin continues

What has happened to the mystique surrounding the UW-La Crosse football program? The Eagles won WIAC titles in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and have a league leading 33 championships overall.

UWL had been a thorn in the side of UW-Whitewater with archrivals often playing with the road to the conference title going to the winner.

The genesis of UW-Whitewater’s current five-year run of WIAC Championships began in La Crosse on October, 15, 2005.

A memorable goal-line stand by the UWW defense and a Justin Beaver touchdown with 46 seconds left broke the hex, giving the Warhawks a 29-23 win spring boarding UW-Whitewater to a 10-0 regular season and playoff run to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

The mystique was broken.

The Warhawks next trip to La Crosse proved even more devastating for the Eagles.

Both teams entered the game ranked in the Top 10 in three national polls.

The Warhawks trailed 21-7 at halftime and 28-10 in the 3rd quarter prior to scoring the 25 consecutive points in the 4th quarter, handing the conference-favorite Eagles its first loss of the season. Late in the game UW-Whitewater’s AJ Raebel knocked UW-L quarterback Griffin Moe out of the game with a ferocious sideline hit.

Three plays later replacement Gus Almonroeder's pass was picked off by UW-W’s Ben Farley at the La Crosse 46, and returned to the 18 with 2:14 left in the game.

Three plays later Jake Andersen, filling in because Beaver had left the game with a shin injury midway through the third quarter, punched it in from one yard out to give the pulsating come-from-behind victory.

The UWL-UWW rivalry bottomed out for the Eagles in last year’s 58-21 loss to the Warhawks in the regular season finale in front of the home crowd at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.

The 58 points allowed by UW-L are the second-most in school history. UW-Whitewater scored 60 points in a victory (60-32) n 1987.

For the first time since 1972, the UW-La Crosse football team lost to UW-Oshkosh last weekend.

The Titans ended a 37-game winless streak (35 losses, two ties) that included 24 wins in a row by the Eagles with a 28-17 victory at J.J. Keller Field at Titans Stadium.

The loss was La Crosse's eighth in a row dating to last year - the most in school history - and fourth to start the season.

Since the loss to Whitewater in 2007 UW-La Crosse has struggled to an 8 & 14 conference record and 11 & 20 overall.

Stroke victim says goodbye to post-stroke ROCK

It is just a few days after the fourth anniversary of my stroke. I can honestly say that the major reason for my recovery (both short term and long term) were due to the great folks at Meriter Hospital's (Madison) inpatient and outpatient stroke rehabilitation units. Considered one of the top rehab programs in the country, Meriter announced this week that it is shutting down it's outpatient, daily rehab unit.

Meriter Hospital will close its outpatient program for people who have suffered strokes and brain injuries as part of recently announced job cuts. The decision follows news last week that Meriter Health Services is cutting 57 positions. The Day Rehabilitation program is scheduled to close on Nov. 1, but Knowles said Meriter plans to introduce a new, more efficient program to treat those patients.

Wednesday evening a large number of former stroke rebab patients packed Meriter's Rehab Center to say goodbye to those who so successfully worked with us to rehab following strokes.

I understand that many of you reading this don't understand the impact the Meriter's stroke rehabilitation therapists have had on my life. They were the rock that allowd me and hundreds of others to get back on our feet, at times with a little help. Those working at Meriter's stroke rehab were family to me. Even at Wednesday night's somber event, they continued to show me the understanding and courage to continue with a partially disabled body.

I understand that the world is not fair but I wish the "higher ups" who made the decision could walk "just a mile" in the shoes of the many stroke victims that relied on Meriter Hospital for stroke rehabilitation services. We are ALL upset about the elimination of jobs due to this cutback.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, Meriter Hospital will close its outpatient program for people who have suffered strokes and brain injuries as part of recently announced job cuts.

"It's a great program, it's just not financially sustainable," said Mae Knowles, spokeswoman for Meriter. "It is on track to lose $200,000 this year."

The decision follows news last week that Meriter Health Services is cutting 57 positions.

The Day Rehabilitation program is scheduled to close on Nov. 1st.
I undertand this situation has nothing to due with football but for a stroke victim the recent news has been extremely disappointing.

Best of luck to my peeps at Meriter Stroke Rehab - you guys are the best!!!

Warhawks getting offensive in 2010

The UW-Whitewater football team has certainly been offensive in its four wins so far this season.

Whitewater is ranked No. 1 in the nation in total offense. The Hawks are averaging 575 yards per game offensively while score a robust 47.8 points per game.

Matt Blanchard is ranked No. 3 in the latest NCAA Division III statistics in pass efficency. For the season, the junior from Lake Zurich, Illinois is 67 for 93 for 1002 yards through the air. Blanchard is ranked No. 2 in the country with a 72.04% pass completion percentage.

On the ground, Whitewater is ranked No. 1 in the WIAC. The Hawks are averaging 324.5 yards rushing per game at a 6.6 yard per carry clip. Both Levell Coppage and Booker Stanley pace the UWW rushing attack. Coppage is averaging 102.2 yards per game just ahead of Stanley's 101.0 yards per game. Antwan Anderson ranks a close third at 79.8 yards per game on the ground.

This is the first time in my memory that the Warhawks lead the nation in total offense.

Warhawks and Crimson Tide lead nation in consecutive wins

The UW-Whitewater football team will enter Saturday's game at vs. UW-Stout at Perkins Stadium tied for the longest winning streak in NCAA football (any division).

As a result of last week's 49-17 win at UW-Platteville, the Warhawks have now won 19 games in a row. The Hawks are tied for the longest win streak with BCS No. 1 ranked Alabama who's blowout win over Florida last Saturday gives the defending national champions 19 straight wins as well.

The Warhawks' streak of 19-straight dates back to its loss to Mount Union in the 2008 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

The win streak is also the longest in school history.

Random thoughts on Prime Time Thursday at Platteville

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?

Big UW-Whitewater crowd at Platteville Thursday night

The momentum of the 2010 season is building among Warhawk football fans.

A large contingent, including a full Warhawk Express fan bus, were on hand for Thursday night's game at UW-Platteville.

Platteville's Family Fest game drew 3124 fans to Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium under perfect weather conditions.

A reminder, the Warhawk Quarterback Club will have a Van Galder/Coach USA motor coach fan bus going to each of the Warhawk road games during the regular season.

The excitment is building. Catch the fever by attending the Oct. 6 Family Day game vs. Stout at Perkins Stadium.

Last year over 9.100 attended the Hawks' Family Day game. This year lets aim high by Packing the Perk!!

Rusch passes 3000 yards receiving

Whitewater's Aaron Rusch is UW-Whitewater's all-time leading pass receiver. The senior from Hartford led all receivers with 9 catches for 123 yards in Thursday nights 49-,17 win at UW-Platteville. In the process, Rusch eclipsed the 3,000 yard mark for his career. The former All-State reciever at Hartford Union High School now has 3,097 yards receiving in his record-setting career.

The Warhawks recorded a season-high 342 yards passing in the conference opening victory. UWW QB Matt Blanchard finished the game 24 for 30 for 342 yards and three touchdowns through the air.