First QB Club meeting of the year is TONIGHT at Saxes Lone Star Inn

Hey Warhawk football fans – it is time to get on-board!

The first Quarterback Club meeting of the season will be held tonight (Wednesday) at Saxes’ Lone Star Inn located just two miles west of Whitewater on Highway 12.

The meetings have been shifted to Wednesday night’s this season primarily due to the fact that the Badgers open the 2011 season this Thursday night (September 1) vs. UNLV at Camp Randall Stadium.

Then – next Thursday night (September 8) - the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints will kick-off the NFL season in a showdown at Lambeau Field.

Now that you have the reason for the shift to Wednesday night QB Club meetings at Saxes’ Lone Star Inn, let me tell you why QB Club meetings will give you the “inside” information that non-QB Club members just don’t get.

Quarterback Club at Saxes Lone Star Inn will begin each Wednesday evening during the season with a “social” at 6:00. The actual meeting will begin this year at 6:45 with the coaches’ comments from the previous week’s game and introduction of players.

Dinner will then be served (approximately 7:00). Following dinner the players will be dismissed. QB Club members will then receive a preview of the upcoming game from members of the UWW coaching staff.

Once again The first 2011 Quarterback Club meeting is set for tonight (Wednesday, August 31) at Saxes Lone Star Inn. Hope to see you there!

Whitewater-La Crosse rivalry among most intriguing in Division III football

UW-Whitewater vs. UW-La Crosse - a look at the two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football programs shows the impact they have had over the past 27 seasons.

UWW vs UWL since 1985

(Bob Brezowitz’s first year as UWW head coach)

(Year by Year)
1985 11/9 @La Crosse L 2-28
1986 11/8 La Crosse L 14-27
1987 11/7 @La Crosse W 60-32
1988 11/5 La Crosse W 52-22
1989 9/16 @La Crosse L 15-19
1990 9/15 La Crosse W 24-14
1991 11/2 @La Crosse W 25-14
1992 11/7 La Crosse L 3-13
1993 11/6 La Crosse L 23-31
1994 11/5 La Crosse L 0-35
1995 11/11 @La Crosse L 14-45
1996 11/9 La Crosse L 16-28
1997 11/8 @La Crosse W 32-17
1998 11/14 La Crosse W 38-20
1999 10/2 @La Crosse L 14-28
2000 9/30 La Crosse L 22-23
2001 10/20 @La Crosse L 0-21
2002 10/26 La Crosse W 23-20(OT)
2003 11/15 @La Crosse L 23-36
2004 11/13 La Crosse L 10-35
2005 10/15 @La Crosse W 29-23
2006 10/14 La Crosse W 45-10
---- 11/25 La Crosse$ W 24-21 (3d round of playoffs @ Perkins Stadium)
2007 10/14 La Crosse W 45-10
2008 10/4 La Crosse W 31-0
2009 11/14 @La Crosse W 58-21
2010 11/13 La Crosse W 24-0

UWW 13 wins UWL 14 wins

UWW currently has a seven-game win streak going over the Eagles. The Hawks last loss to UWL was in 2004 – a 35-10 loss at Perkins Stadium

The Eagles longest win streak over Whitewater since 1985 was six consecutive victories (1991-1996)

And finally, since 1985 the two schools have dominated the conference championships:
UWW 9 undisputed, 2 co-championships 1 quad-championship

UWL 9 undisputed, 3 co-championships

Now that is a rivalry!

UWL looking forward to challenge of playing UWW twice during the regular season

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has implemented a mandatory, “In- Conference - Non-Conference” game vs. one other team in the conference this season.

It won’t take long for UW-Whitewater and UW-La Crosse to test the “water” of the new conference mandate. The two longtime rivals will square-off in the season opener, Saturday September 3 in La Crosse.

Eagles’ first year head coach Joel Dettwiler has stressed making his team tough – both physically and mentally – something that will be necessary to again challenge for the WIAC championship on a yearly basis.

"Are you tough? That's what I want to know," Dettwiler told the La Crosse Tribune earlier this month. "Are you a guy who's mentally tough and going to fight? Can you grind it out and can you be a guy I can count on?"

Dettwiler was hired this past February to replace Larry Terry, who retired after 11 seasons. Dettwiler, who played at UW-Platteville, had been the defensive coordinator at Wartburg (Iowa) the past three seasons.

Terry put together a 65-48 record in his 11 seasons at UWL. He was named WIAC Coach of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2004 following conference titles. The Eagles also went to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2006. La Crosse is just 11 & 17 in the WIAC over the past four seasons and has not defeated UW-Whitewater since 2004.

Coach Dettwiler tells WKBT TV-8 in La Crosse that he looks forward to the challenge of playing the two-time defending Division III national champions twice this season.

To view the WKBT TV-8 video CLICK HERE

Lance Leipold on Monday night's KOOL 106.5 UWW Coaches Show

In the words of Wayne and Garth – GAME ON!

The UW-Whitewater football team is back at it Monday following a grueling two-week training camp. The focus now is on week-one opponent, UW-La Crosse.

The Warhawks open the season on Saturday evening by taking on the Eagles in the newly WIAC mandated “in conference-non conference game.”

The 2011-12 UW-Whitewater Coaches Show is back on the air Monday night on KOOL 106.5.

Wahawk football coach Lance Leipold will be joining Gary Douglas and Tom Pattison on the show beginning at 6 p.m. Monday evening.

What kind of “feel” does Coach Leipold have for his team heading into the season? What is the focus of his team coming off a second consecutive NCAA Division III Championship and three in the past four years? What are Coach Leipolds feelings about having to play a WIAC team twice in one season?

The UW-Whitewater Coaches Show heard each Monday evening beginning at 6 p.m. on your Radio Home for Warhawk Football – KOOL 106.5.

To listen to Monday night’s UWW Coaches Show CLICK HERE

Hawks prepare for La Crosse - get your daily Warhawk fix here on Voices Eye On Football Blog

For many, memories of the Warhawks winning a second consecutive NCAA Division III football championship seem like yesterday. For others, the start of the 2011 season couldn’t come soon enough.

It is Game-Week as the Warhawks begin preparations for Week 1 opponent UW-La Crosse.

For Warhawk Nation, game-week will “kick-off” Monday evening with the KOOL 106.5 UW-Whitewater Coaches Show. The show begins at 6 p.m. live on the radio. It will also be streamed LIVE. To listen to the internet stream CLICK HERE.

Also set for early this week, the first Warhawk Quarterback Club E-newsletter will be distributed Tuesday to all OF YOU that have already joined the QB Club for the 2011 season.

I’m also pleased to announce that the Warhawk Football This Week Podcast will be available to listen to, or to download, at 12-Noon each Wednesday. To access the Warhawk Football This Week Podcast and all other Warhawk programming CLICK HERE

Saturday’s UW-Whitewater at UW-La Crosse season opener will kick-off at 6 p.m. Pregame programming on KOOL 106.5 will begin at 5:30 p.m.

To listen online to Saturday’s UWW @ UWL game CLICK HERE

All Warhawks, All the time here on Voiceseyeonfootball.blogspot.com and over on Warhawkfootball.com.

Go Warhawks!!!

Make sure you click on www.voiceseyeonfootball.blogspot.com for your daily "fix" of UWW football news!

The UW-Whitewater football team is wrapping up 2011 training camp Friday (8/26) with a 9 a.m. scrimmage inside Perkins Stadium. The players are expected to get the rest of the weekend off prior to UWW @ UWL game week preparation on Monday.

One of the most unpleasant tasks of the preseason for the Warhawk coaching staff is the pare the regular season roster down to the WIAC-mandated 100 player roster limit.

Make sure you visit http://www.voiceseyeonfootball.blogspot.com/ often over the next few days. I’ll be posting:

• The 2011 regular season roster (once it is released)
• A preview of your 2011 UW-Whitewater football team
• A preview of Week 1 opponent – UW-Lacrosse
• UWW-UWL game-week stories and interviews
• SmugMug photo gallery photos from Friday's scrimmage
• Much, much more

Make sure the Voices Eye on Football Blog is a daily stop as you surf the Web each day on your computer or smart phone.

www.voiceseyeonfootball.blogspot.com is All Warhawk Football All The Time!

Warhawk Football Today Podcast to air each Wednesday throughtout 2011 season

Hey UW-Whitewater football fans, I’m proud to announce that I’ll be producing a weekly show titled Warhawk Football This Week. The 20 minute on-line show will recap the previous week’s Warhawk game followed by a preview of the Warhawk football game coming up on the following Saturday.

The show will include scoring highlights from the KOOL 106.5 game broadcast, interviews, commentary, and a preview of the upcoming week’s WIAC games.

The Warhawk Football This Week Show podcast will be available to be downloaded by 2 p.m. each Wednesday afternoon throughout the entire 2011 season.

You may listen to, or download Warhawk Football This Week, KOOL 106.5 UW-Whitewater Football Game Broadcasts, and all other Warhawk Football shows aired on KOOL 106.5 by accessing the AM940 Podcast Center by CLICKING HERE

UW-La Crosse still searching for a No. 1 quarterback

T-Minus 9 days and counting until UW-Whitewater opens the season at UW-La Crosse.

The Eagles scrimmaged Loras College yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.

First-year head coach Joel Dettwiler was hoping that his starting quarterback decision would be determined.

The UWL football headline in today's La Crosse Tribune is: Eagles' QB race still wide open.

Sophomores Mike Butterfield and Andy Sires, along with freshman Josh Miska, who redshirted last season at the University of Minnesota Duluth, are the top players vying for what UWL offnsive coordinator Reed Hoskins calls a “three-horse race.”

To read the La Crosse Tribune story CLICK HERE

Th Wahawks and Eagles will open the season on Saturday, September 3, with a 6 p.m. primetime game at Veterans Memorial Field on the campus of UW-La Crosse.

Academic achievement a No. 1 goal for UW-Whitewater student-athletes

Remember “back in the day” when college athletes were known as “jocks” and academic achievement was not always a top goal?

Fast forward to the new millennium and the term student-athlete means just that.

During Stagg Bowl week last December in Salem, Virginia UW-Whitewater defensive back Jared Kiesow was named the recipient of the Elite 88 award for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Football Championship.

Kiesow, an elementary major and science minor, currently holds a 3.88 grade point average. He has been honored on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honor roll and the UW-W honor roll three (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-2011).

The Elite 88 is an award founded by the NCAA that recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.

As an athlete the junior has participated in the NCAA Division III National Championship, the Stagg Bowl, the previous two seasons (2008 and 2009) and aided Whitewater in the return trip this season. Kiesow will be presented with the award during the football banquet Friday afternoon in Salem, Virginia.

Wednesday morning Warhawk Football Training Camp Report on KOOL 106.5 dealt with senior co-captain Greg Arnold managing his studies, football, and his twin daughters while excelling in the classroom. Arnold is a biology major and plans to seek a medical career following college.

Academics definitely plays a major role in the success of UW-Whitewater football. Assistant coach Nelson Edmonds is the assistant director in UW-Whitewater’s Academic Advising and Exploration Center. Assistant coaches Kevin Bullis and Tom Karthauser are also employed in the Academic Advising and Exploration Center.

A spot-check of player’s majors emphasizes the ambition of UW-Whitewater student-athletes seeking a degree while pursuing the passion of playing football.

Majors being sought by the 2010 Warhawk football underclassmen included the following: Accounting, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Elementary Education, History, International Studies, Journalism, Mathematics, Psychology, Occupational Safety, Physical Education, Physics, Public Policy & Administration, Social Work and Sociology.

One of the unique aspects of UW-Whitewater current six-year run to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia has been football players who miss December commencement on campus receive their degrees in a special “remote” commencement exercise in Salem via phone with UW-Whitewater Chancellor Richard Telfer.

That is what NCAA Division III athletics is all about!

R U Purple? R U??

(In the above photo - UW-Whitewater freshman paint Warhawk Drive purple to allow fans to "follow the purple road to Perkins Stadium - R U Purple? - The photo is courtesy of UW-Whitewater Marketing)

Incoming UW-Whitewater freshman will be taking part in the fourth annual R U Purple kickoff celebration on campus on Thursday, September 1st. Hawk Fest takes place in the afternoon with R U Purple in the evening.

This UW-W tradition will kick-off on Thursday September 1 at 7:30 p.m. Join all new Warhawks for a rally, parade down Warhawk Drive, tradition/athletics event in Perkins stadium and the painting of Warhawk Drive. To view a video of R U Purple CLICK HERE

This UW-W tradition will kick-off on Thursday September 1 at 7:30 p.m. Join all new Warhawks for a rally, parade down Warhawk Drive, tradition/athletics event in Perkins stadium and the painting of Warhawk Drive. To view a video of R U Purple CLICK HERE

Make sure you R Purple this season by outfitting yourself in official Warhawk football gear through a number of purveyers.

The newly renovated Walmart store in Whitewater has opened a special UW-Whitewater Wahawk Apparel Room immediately adjacent to the cash registers. The “Wahawk Merchandise Room” opened Monday and has been extremely popular. Pick up your Walmart Warhawk apparel today and tell them Warhawkfootball.com sent you!!

To purchase an official replica UW-Whitewater Jersey CLICK HERE

To purchase official New Balance Warhawk apparel CLICK HERE

To purchase official NCAA Division III Championship and UW-Whitewater football apparel throught the University Book Store on campusCLICK HERE

Make sure you are wearing official UW-Whitewater Warhawk apparel at Warhawk games this year!

the Hawks open the season on September 3rd in a 6 p.m. game at UW-La Crosse. The Hawks open the home season on September 17th vs. Campbellsville University (Kentucky) in the annual Back to Whitewater game at Perkins Stadium

Are you a REAL D3 Football fan??

I am now ready for the 2011 Division III football season. The D3Football.com Kickoff 2011 E-Magazine went live, on-line Tuesday morning.

UW-Whitewater fans - you are some of the most knowledgeable fans in Division III football. You want even more knowledge? I strongly recommend that you subscribe to Kickoff ’11.

This year, Kickoff ‘11 literally has more stories than ever before. More features. Some great team pages with season previews and schedules. We rank your team somewhere between 1 and 239. We rank the conferences,” says Kickoff '11 Managing Editor Keith McMillan.

To learn more about D3football.com’s Kickoff '11 and to order CLICK HERE

Does NCAA Football rule book need a rewrite?

I am scratching my head over the reasoning for the current NCAA rule prohibiting texting, instant messaging or social media contact with a prospective NCAA Division III recruit is probated.

Illinois College announced late Saturday night that head football coach Garrett Campbell will serve a one-game suspension for violation of an NCAA rule regarding texting.

The college disciplined Campbell for what was described as a “secondary violation” of an NCAA texting rule. The release did not specify the details of the violation, nor did Illinois College athletics director Gale Vaughn when he was contacted Sunday.

The bylaw reads: “The use of text messaging, instant messaging or social networking Web sites by, or on behalf of, a member of the institution’s athletics department staff for the purpose of recruitment of prospects is prohibited.

According to the same NCAA Division III reference guide, there are no restrictions on the number and timing of telephone calls, emails or faxes to prospective Division III student-athletes.

A secondary violation, according to ncaa.org, is “an isolated or inadvertent violation that provides or intends to provide only minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantages.

My question – in light of allowing telephone calls, etc, to prospective recruits, why is texting, or use of social media contact prohibited.

In my opinion, it is one of the primary reason that an overly inflated NCAA rulebook is more of a detriment to college athletics than it is a positive factor.

I’m just saying!

UWL welcomes pregame tailgating prior to UWW @ UWL season opener

It is hard to believe but the UW-Whitewater football team opens the season in just 12 days – on Saturday evening, September 3rd at UW-La Crosse.

At this past Saturday afternoon’s scrimmage at Perkins Stadium I talked to a number Warhawk football fans that told me they were going to “pack up the babies and grab the old ladies (Neil Diamond ’69) and head to Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse to back the Hawks against archrival UW-La Crosse.

When you talk Warhawk football fans – you naturally talk about tailgating at a stadium prior to rooting on the Hawks.

“Full” tailgating is limited to two lots adjacent to UWL’s Veterans Memorial Stadium. The lots C-2 and C-3 are circled in the adjacent photo.

1. Tailgating is allowed only in the designated tailgating lots are C2 and C3. All regular automobiles may park in these lots for a single-game parking fee of $10. Other campus lots remain available, free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis.

2. Oversized vehicles such as RVs and trailers may park in Lots C2 and C3 for $30 but must park in such a way as to occupy the fewest number of spaces possible.

3. Tailgating lots open three hours before kickoff, with stadium gates opening two hours later. Lots close two hours after the game’s conclusion.

Propane and gas grills are permitted. Charcoal, wood burning units, or other open flames are prohibited. Please do not burn down the Stadium!!

All fans using the tailgating lots are expected to conduct themselves responsibly and to be respectful of others enjoying the tailgating experience. UW-L Campus Police monitor tailgating lots for underage drinking and inappropriate behavior, including abusive or foul language.

Violation of any part of this policy is grounds for removal from the parking lots and, potentially, from the UW-L campus.

UWW @ UWL for an early September, 6 pm game is as good as it gets. I look forward to crashing your tailgate party on Sept. 3rd in La Crosse.

Go Warhawks!

Will the Warhawks have the necessary depth at running back in 2011?

On the 2011 preseason, UW-Whitewater football roster there are only five running backs listed.

Gone from 2010 due to graduation are Antwan Anderson and Booker Stanley.

Unexpectedly not returning in 2011 are two promising, freshman running backs that have transferred out of Whitewater.

“We have players that have transferred out and gone to play in other programs because they didn’t want to wait,” UW-Whitewater head coach tells Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal. “You’ve got to find guys that want to compete daily and are not satisfied with their roles but are willing to accept them as they go the process.”

In an era of smart phones, facebook and twitter - maybe it is the mind set of today’s teenager that demands immediate “gratification” of being a “star” from the day they arrive at UW-Whitewater.

In reality, it has been the student-athlete that has spent four or five years in the system that have realized the rewards of their effort. It is those student-athletes that are responsible for contributing to a program that has put together a mind-boggling 85 & 5 record over the past six years, six consecutive WIAC Championships, six consecutive Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl appearances and putting together National Championship seasons in 2007, 2009 & 2010. 2011

What is the old saying? If it were easy, everybody would do it.

As we head into the final few days of preseason practice, here is the tailbacks on the training camp roster.
• Levell Coppage (5-8, 180) senior - Oak Park-River Forest, IL High School
• Evan Wright (6-2 192) sophomore – Palatine, IL/Fremd High School
• Desmin Ward (6-0 240) junior – Milwaukee Hamilton High School
• Byron Stanford (5-11, 210) freshman – Mount Carmel High School, Chicago, IL
• Colton Sweitzer (5-9 190) freshman – Arrowhead High School, Hartland, WI

It will be a distinctly different tailback situation after UW-Whitewater’s “3-headed monster” rushing attack last year.

Incoming freshman need look no further than the now-graduated Antwan Anderson. He arrived at Whitewater at a time when Justin Beaver was a solid, No. 1 tailback in the Warhawk backfield. The following year enter Levell Coppage.

Dspite playing in the same era of Beaver and Coppage, Antwan finished his career with 2601 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns. The 2601 yards ranks 11th on the UW-Whitewater career rushing list.

Oh by the way, “Double-A” worked his butt off to become an outstanding special team’s player.

Championships are defined by the work ethic and mindset of players such as Antwan Anderson.

Think of Saturday's scrimmage as a Training Camp mid-term exam for the Warhawks

The UW-Whitewater football team is just a week into its 2011 training camp – two days of practice in pads – and set to have its first scrimmage of the preseason on Saturday.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Warhawks will host Harper College of Palatine, Illinois in a morning dual practice and afternoon scrimmage in Whitewater.

The scrimmage will allow the coaching staff to get a “better read” of its personnel in live, game type situations vs. another team.

Some of the things that I’ll be looking for on Saturday will be:

• Offensive line play after losing four starters to graduation.
• Tailbacks: After Levell Coppage which of the other four tailbacks in camp will challenge for the No. 2 and No. 3 tailback spots.
• Wide Receivers: The Warhawks will have a stable of very talented and athletic wide receivers. It will be a very interesting WR depth chart this season. Of the 16 wide outs in camp it will be interesting to see who plays well in Saturday’s scrimmage.
• Quarterbacks: Blanchard and Brekke are a solid one-two on the depth chart. Of the three other QB’s in camp I’ll be watching closely in the battle for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.
• Fullbacks: Bernie Tamsett was outstanding as the starting FB last season. All the other fullbacks on the roster are very young and inexperienced.
• Tight Ends: 2010 starter, John Novak has graduated. Jason Ford, who has seen plenty of game action the past couple of seasons is back for his senior year. Coach Liepold indicated at Monday’s Media Day interview that for depth at the position it will be important for someone else to “step up.”
• Defensive Line: The Warhawks lose three solid DL to graduation (Jon Baldwin, Wes Hicks, Luke Hibner) but the cupboard is certainly not empty. Jake Keeser (Sr), Casey Casper (Sr), Jake Hohlstein (Jr) & Lou Minett are all back after being in the regular D-Line rotation last season.
• Linebackers: The Hawks coaching staff must replace two outstanding linebackers – Lane Olson and Max Ford. Senior Co-Captain Greg Arnold is back at “mike” linebacker and will anchor the 2011 linebacker corps. Josh Williams (Jr) has been in the LB rotation the past couple of seasons. Jaren Borland (Jr) and several other upper-classmen saw plenty of action last year. One of the key aspects to UWW’s linebackers has been having the speed to cover the field sideline to sideline. Will this year’s LB corps possess the same ability?
• Defensive Backs: The Hawks will have plenty of experience back in the secondary in 2011. One of last year’s DB starters, Shane Covington (Jr), has been moved to the wide receiver position. It will be interesting to see how the depth chart shakes out following Saturday’s scrimmage.
• Special Teams: The Hawks appear solid with Kris Rosholt (Sr) returning as UWW’s punter. Eric Kindler (Soph) returns as the Hawks field goal and extra point kicker. Aaron Samplawski and Shane Covington will likely return kicks. Samplawski is on course to set a new WIAC career record for kick return yardage. Covington returns a kickoff for a TD in 2010. Whitewater must find someone to handle punt returns this season after Aaron Rusch was the Hawks’ punt return guy for the past three seasons,

Think of Saturday’s scrimmage as the mid-term exam for the Hawks. For the young guys, making a play and catching the eye of the coaching staff can go a long ways in earning playing time – and for some – making the 100 man roster.

Saturday’s scrimmage will begin at 3 p.m. and the scrimmage is open to the public.

Voice's Week-One Training Camp News and Notes

• One week into training camp and yesterday was the first day in full pads. Game on!

• Tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon’s 3 p.m. scrimmage vs. Harper College will give both coaches and fans the chance to see individuals and the team in live football situations.

• Some of the things I’ll be watching for will be the play of the offensive line with four of last year’s starters now graduated.

• At running back, Levell Coppage is a given. Only sophomore Evan Wright is back from last year and he had just five carries in 2010. The remaining three tailbacks are brand new to the program. I need to see a couple of the new faces to step up.

• As I indicated earlier this week – Matt Blanchard and Lee Brekke are as good of a quarterback duo as there is in Division III football.

• We all know that the Aaron Rusch-Adam Brandes era is now over but this year’s wide receiving corps is very talented. It may be the deepest set of wide receivers during the Hawks current six-year run of championships.

• As far as the defense is concerned, I have a tough time getting a read on defensive personnel until the pads go on. I’ll have a much better “feel” after watching Saturday’s scrimmage

• I’ve written this week about UWW sophomore place kicker Eric Kindler – a member of Team USA - and coming off the World Fistball Championships earlier this month in Switzerland. A week ago I had never heard of Fistball!

• I’m not sure Lance Leipold was totally in favor of having his kicker risk injury by participating in Kindler’s “other” sport.

• Iconic former UW-Whitewater head coaches Forrest Perkins and Bob Berezowitz watched Thursday’s practice from the practice field sidelines. Midway through practice Levell Coppage came over to have a short chat with Coach Perkins. It was a very classy display of leadership from Levell.

• One of the biggest surprises of week-one of training camp has been the lack of August style heat and humidity. While it has been enjoyable, it’s a bit of a catch-22 situation.

• I hope you have checked out the HawkTube link on Warhawkfootball.com. If you are googling to find the URL address remember it is “HawkTube” not “Hawk Tube.” If you google the latter you will be quite surprised at what Websites turn up. Oh Baby!!!!

• I want to give a big shout out to my Foxglove Lane neighbors and Whitewater EMTs for “rescuing me” from my front yard shrubbery last Wednesday. Watch that first step – it is a Lulu!!

Have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing you at Saturday’s 3 p.m. scrimmage inside Perkins Stadium!

Perkins and Berezowitz watch Warhawk practice Thursday afternoon

The UW-Whitewater football team practiced in full pads Thursday afternoon. Among those on hand to watch the Hawks were legendary former UWW head coaches – Forrest Perkins and Bob Berezowitz.

Perkins, now 90 years old, possesses severely limited eyesight and relied on Berezowitz to explain to him what was happening on the practice field.

What is the old saying? Once a Warhawk, always a Warhawk??

Both Perkins and Berezowitz still have the same passion for UW-Whitewater football.

Perkins - whose UW-Whitewater coaching career spanned 29 years (1956-1984) - is second on the WSUC/WIAC coaching victory list with 190 victories.

Berezowitz is third on the list with 158 wins in a career that spanned 22 years (1985-2006).

I had the opportunity to shoot a HawkTube video with Coach Perkins in the south end zone of the UW-Whitewater football practice complex on the north end of campus Thursday afternoon.

To view my HawkTube interview with Coach Perkins CLICK HERE

Coming up over the weekend I will be uploading another HawkTube interview, this time with Coach Berezowitz.

UW-Whitewater athletic's marketing in good hands with Leah Thyne

Leah Thyne has been promoted to assistant athletic director for marketing and external relations at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Thyne had served UW-Whitewater as an athletic operations assistant in the NCAA Division III Ethnic Minority and Women's Internship Program the last two years.

"Leah successfully transitioned from her internship role to this full time position in athletics," director of athletics Dr. Paul Plinske said. "Simply put, she is an outstanding worker with a wonderful appreciation for UW-Whitewater. She has a great background in event management and marketing, and is equipped to help us engage our students, reach out to the local community, and attract a regional market with corporate partners. As our programs aspire for conference and national success, so does Leah Thyne. She aspires to make a difference," Plinske added.

Thyne has been involved in a number of major projects over the last two years. She created and executed marketing initiatives and promotions for Whitewater's twenty varsity sports, organized community relations events, and developed the Warhawk Camper Connection program. She also established the Purple Reign spirit group, assisted the athletic director with securing sponsorships and building a marketing budget, supervised game management activities, and produced specialized newsletters for teams, events and organizations within intercollegiate athletics.

In her position as assistant AD for marketing and external relations Thyne will handle event management for all sports except football, oversee all matters related to marketing and promotions, assist the director of athletics in the development of an external relations plan, work closely with university ticket operations, and work on other committees and activities under her umbrella of responsibilities and as assigned by the director of athletics

Thyne played basketball for the Warhawks for four years (2001-05), leading the team in assists her senior year, and served as a student assistant for the 2005-06 season before she graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in business. She added a master's in sports management and marketing from Indiana University in 2007.

After graduation she worked as a sales and marketing intern for the Beloit Snappers minor league baseball club, as a sales and marketing associate for the Milwaukee Bucks, and as an assistant manager for Walgreen's before earning the NCAA internship at UW-Whitewater.

Warhawk placekicker Eric Kindler excels at more than just one sport

Warhawk placekicker, Eric Kindler, checked into 2011 UW-Whitewater football training camp on August 13th just 24 hours after participating as a member of Team USA at the Fistball World Championships in Salzburg, Austria.

Kindler plays the setter position for Team USA.

While members of the 2011 Warhawk football team were checking into camp at the Student Athletic Complex, Kindler sat on the floor next to Tom Lange watching his fistball mates play in Team USA’s final game in Austria.

The Americans had never finished better than 12th at the World Championships. Team USA finish 9th earlier this month.

The sophomore from Germantown, Wisconsin has been playing the sport of fistball since he was nine years old. At 15 years old Eric was the starting center for Team USA in the 2007 World Championships held in Germany.

You don’t normally think of kickers as athletes however, Kindler was a quarterback, kicker and punter while at Germantown High School.

Why fistball? Eric’s dad, Reinhard, played for Team USAin 1999 and was the USA head coach in 2007.

Team USA is based in Wisconsin and is made up of select individuals from three regions across the country – the greater areas of Milwaukee, Newark (NJ) and Philadelphia (PA).

For an explanation of what exactly is Fistball CLICK HERE

Warhawks hold first night practice of preseason

The UW-Whitewater football team held its first night practice of the preseason Wednesday evening under perfect weather conditions at Perkins Stadium.

It was the final training camp practice in just NCAA mandated shoulder pads and helmets. For the first time this week Thursday afternoon's practice will be in full pads.

Training Camp can prove to be “brain drain” especially for first year players – coaches are preaching all practice for players to do it the Warhawk way – it is a big step for the first year players in camp.

Checking in on the different position groups Wednesday evening you could hear coaches telling, especially the first year players, to do it correctly - do it the Warhawk way.

A reminder - the Warhawks will have its first scrimmage of the preseason Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Perkins Stadium vs. Harper College (Illinois).

To view photos of Wednesday night's practice CLICK HERE

Tom Voice Pattison airing twice daily Warhawk Football Training Camp Reports

Hey Warhawk football fans - a reminder, Tom “Voice” Pattison is airing UW-Whitewater football training camp reports all week long. The reports are aired on 940-WFAW and KOOL 106.5 twice daily. The Training Camp Reports are also available via podcast.

The Thursday morning (8/18) UW-Whitewater Football Training Camp Report deals with how first year players in the Warhawk football program are welcomed into the “fold” by coaches and upper classmen.

To listen to the training camp reports via podcast CLICK HERE

UWW Quarterback Club meetings will be on Wednesdays this season

The UW-Whitewater Quarterback Club meetings are moving to Wednesday evenings this season.

The move from Thursday to Wednesday evening was made after learning the Wisconsin will open its season on Thursday night, September 1 vs. UNLV at Camp Randall Stadium.

The Green Bay Packers open 2011 on Thursday night, September 8 vs New Orleans at Lambeau Field.

Quarterback Club night at Saxes Lone Star Inn will begin each Wednesday evening during the season with a “social” at 6:00. The actual meeting will begin this year at 6:45 with the coaches’ comments from the previous week’s game and introduction of players.

Dinner will then be served (approximately 7:00). Following dinner the players will be dismissed. QB Club members will then receive a preview of the upcoming game from members of the UWW coaching staff.

The first 2011 Quarterback Club meeting is set for Wednesday, August 31 at Saxes Lone Star Inn. Hope to see you there!

The following is from the desk of UW-Whitewater head coach Lance Leipold...

If you have joined the UWW QB Club this year – thank you again - and please pass this on to someone that might have interest.

If you have not joined, it is not too late! We have been very fortunate to have had another successful regular season and to win our 6th straight conference championship and currently hold the nation’s longest win streak in NCAA football at all levels! As we prepare for our last conference game and then move toward post-season play additional costs have come up and will continue through the post season.

One example of unforeseen costs this year: we have had three laptop computers (just over 3 years old) stop working this year. These laptops run our practice and game film off a software system. Each laptop costs $1,200 to replace.

Your support through the years is what helps us separate ourselves from the competition - please help keep us there. Forward this on or continue to support our other fundraising efforts - you truly make a difference!!

Thank you and Go Hawks!

For more information about the QB Club and information on how to join CLICK HERE

Hawks will hold first evening practice tonight

It is Wednesday and the UW-Whitewater football team is now midway through week-one of 2011 training camp.

The Warhawks will hold will be holding its first evening practice of the preseason tonight inside Perkins Stadium. It is also the final practice restricted to helmets and shoulder pads.

On Thursday the Hawks will be in full pads for the first time.

A reminder - the Warhawks will hold its first scrimmage of the preseason on Saturday vs. Harper College (3 to 5 p.m.) inside Perkins Stadium.

The teams will hold a joint practice Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

Coppage one of just five tailbacks on UWW's preseason football roster

On the way to the 2010 NCAA Division III national championship UW-Whitewater’s “3-headed monster” at tailback of Levell Coppage, Antwan Anderson and Booker Stanley combined for 3,593 yards and 38 touchdowns.

This year’s running back corps looks a bit different with just five tailbacks on the UW-Whitewater preseason roster.

Leading the way will again be Levell Coppage who will open the season just 909 yards shy of the UW-Whitewater and WIAC career rushing record currently held by former Warhawk, Justin Beaver.

The only other running back returning from UWW’s 2010 roster is sophomore Evan Wright. As a freshman, Wright totaled just five rushes for a total of 9 yards.

The remainder of the Warhawks tailback corps this season will be first year players in the UWW football program.

Desmin Ward is a junior transfer that brings a “big body” (6’4”, 240 lb) to the Warhawks’ running attack. Ward participated in spring drills earlier this year after playing two seasons at Eastern Illinois University. Ward was recruited EIU out of Milwaukee Hamilton High School.

The two freshman recruits are: Colton Sweitzer (Hartland-Arrowhead HS) and Byron Stanford (Mount Carmel H.S.-Chicago).

Hawk head coach Lance Leipold indicated at Monday’s media day press conference that the “learning curve” will be steep early on for the young running backs.

Through his first three seasons at tailback for the Warhawks, Coppage has been able to put up staggering statistics.

The senior out of Oak Park-River Forest (IL) High School currently has rushed for 5,675 yards and opens the season 1,779 yards shy of second place on the NCAA Division III career rushing list.

RJ Bowers of Grove City (PA) College (1997-2000) is ranked No. 2 on the Division III career rushing list with 7,353 yards.

Nate Kmic of Mount Union (2005-2008) is not only No. 1 on the Division III career rushing list with 8,074 yards, but also is the all-time leading rusher at any Division of NCAA football.

Thoughts on Monday's Warhawk football media day and on the 2011 Hawk offense

The Warhawks will be in helmets and shoulder pads for the first time Tuesday as the UWW football team enters day-four of its 2011 training camp.

The team and coaches spent a couple hours on Monday afternoon getting individual headshot photos taken and meeting with the local media.

I was a bit surprised that only the Daily Jefferson County Union, KOOL 106.5, UWW-TV, Warhawkfootball.com and Voiceseyeonfootball.blogspot.com participated in the media event.

The facts on the Warhawks current six year run (2005 through 2010: UW-Whitewater football has won the last two NCAA Division III football championships and three in the last four, six consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, and has produced a mind-boggling 85 & 5 record over the past six seasons.

The one thing that jumps out at me when talking to the players this week is the team’s apparent mindset entering training camp. Senior leadership, buoyed by excellent team captains, has been critical each season in preparing the team to attack each season on a game-at-a-time basis.

A couple of thinks that came out of Monday’s media day is:

• The knowledge that Matt Blanchard is physically 100 percent coming off a fractured thumb in game 10 of the regular season last year.
• Even though Aaron Rusch and Adam Brandes, the all-time leading pass receiving duo in school history, have completed their UWW football careers, the 2011 group of wide receivers is as deep a group as Lance Leipold has had since assuming the Hawk head coaching position in 2007.
• The Warhawks have just five tailbacks on the preseason roster. Three of the five are new to the program.
• Last year offensive coordinator Steve Dinkle used the “three-headed monster” approach at tailback with Levell Coppage, Antwan Anderson and Booker Stanley sharing time, especially during the regular season. Will the Hawks again employ the “thunder and lightning” approach this season?
• Levell Coppage enters his senior season 910 rushing yards to become the conference’s all-time rushing leader, breaking the previous mark of 6,584 yards by UW-Whitewater’s Justin Beaver (2004-07).
• The offensive line must replace four starters off last year’s O-Line. Will they have the ability to mesh as a unit to allow the team to continue its “pound the rock” rushing attack on a consistent basis.

I’ll have thoughts on the 2011 Warhawk defense tomorrow here on Voiceseyeonfootball.blogspot.com.

Once again, the Hawks are allowed to practice in helmets and shoulder pads for the first time Tuesday with one practice at 8:45 a.m.

2011 Training Camp is underway for UW-Whitewater football team

The UW-Whitewater football team is in camp and will hit the practice field for the first time Sunday afternoon.

128 were expected to check-in Saturday morning at UW-Whitewater’s Student Athletic Complex.

Sunday’s itinerary includes physical testing, team meetings and the first practice session of preseason practice.

Monday’s schedule will include a morning practice session followed by Media Day and individual player and coaches photos at the SAC.

The Hawks first scrimmage is set for this coming Saturday with a morning dual practice and afternoon scrimmage vs. Harper College of Rockford, Illinois. The scrimmage will be held at Perkins Stadium.

Cure 54 with a championship effort in Art Gutierrez fundraiser

I have had been around many championship teams in my 38 year career of sports broadcasting. I left the New Berlin Ale House in New Berlin Friday night fully understanding that I had just witnessed what true champions really are.

UW-Whitewater alumnus and former Warhawk linebacker Art Gutierrez is involved in the greatest battle of his life – a battle against stage-four colo-rectal cancer.

Family, friends, and former UW-Whitewater football teammates – the Cure 54 Foundation – exhibited what the word “team” is all about by staging the Cure 54 raffle-auction Friday night in New Berlin.

A full-house turned out in support of Gutierrez at the New Berlin Ale House for the fundraising event.

A group of Art’s former UW-Whitewater football teammates took the motto “once a Warhawk-Always a Warhawk” to heart by forming the Cure 54 Foundation in support of Gutierrez’s second battle within a year with cancer.

Active bidding throughout the evening spearheaded by one of the top auctioneers in southern Wisconsin - Bob Johnson of Badger State Auction of Milton – resulted in thousands of dollars raised.

Money raised from the C.U.R.E. 54 fundraiser will allow Art to be able to pay some existing medical bills, as well as seek treatment, at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

“I wish it was under different circumstances but it was great seeing everyone last night,” Gutierrez indicated on his Facebook page Saturday morning. “Thank you all it means more than you'll know. If I didn't get to say good bye I'm sorry be good everyone thank you again.”

Just hours after the fundraiser, Gutierrez was on a plane back down to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to begin a unique form of radiation that isn't offered in the Midwest. It is a trip made possible by Cure 54’s fundraising effort.

“Thanks to everyone that came out last night” the Cure 54 Foundation indicated Saturday morning on its Facebook page. “For those of you that couldn't make it to the event, but made a donation, and to those that donated items for the event. We couldn't have done it without you!!! Thank you!”

And thank you to Art’s former UW-Whitewater football teammates for truly proving what once a Warhawk-Always a Warhawk is all about. It is what the word CHAMPION truely means.

I’ll have more on the story on Monday.

WIAC SID Preseason Poll: UW-Whitewater Picked To Win Football Crown

(Editor's Note: The following is the 2011 WIAC Football Preview and SID Preseason Poll story, released on Wednesday)

Two-time defending NCAA Division III national champion, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is the preseason choice to win the 2011 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football title, according to the league’s sports information directors.

For the first time in history, the schedule for each WIAC team will include one “non-conference game” against another WIAC opponent. The second game played between both schools will count as the league contest.

UW-Whitewater, ranked No. 1 nationally in preseason rankings by D3football.com, Sporting News and Lindy’s Sports, captured all eight first-place votes in the conference poll and is aiming for an unprecedented seventh consecutive WIAC first-place trophy. The Warhawks enter the 2011 campaign riding a NCAA-best (all divisions) 30-game winning streak, 17-game league victory string and 21-straight home triumphs.

Senior Levell Coppage claimed WIAC Player of the Year honors a year ago and needs 910 rushing yards to become the conference’s all-time rushing leader, breaking the previous mark of 6,584 yards by UW-Whitewater’s Justin Beaver (2004-07). Coppage already boasts the league career marks with 81 rushing touchdowns and 486 points scored. Head coach Lance Leipold, in his fifth season, owns as many NCAA Division III national championships as he does losses in his head coaching career (three).

UW-Stevens Point, ranked No. 23 by D3football.com, is 17-4 in WIAC play in the last three seasons and the last conference team to beat UW-Whitewater (October 25, 2008). This year’s roster will be bolstered by graduate school attendees Joe Mleziva and Justin Ourada. Head coach John Miech is the longest tenured football coach in the WIAC and needs seven victories to move into third place on the league’s all-time wins list. The Pointers have won at least six games in 20 of 23 seasons under Miech’s leadership. Gone from last year’s squad is Jared Jenkins who graduated as the school’s No. 2 all-time leading receiver.

UW-Stout is marking its 100th year of football in 2011 (started in 1911). Last year’s squad led the NCAA Division III in fewest turnovers (four fumbles, three interceptions) and placed second in the WIAC in total defense for the second consecutive year. The defensive unit returns leading tacklers Ryan Pearcy, Trevor Fiege and Aaron Kobes - all seniors.
Senior Ross Carey threw a league low three interceptions (for starting quarterbacks) in 273 pass attempts in 2010, while sophomore Richard Marteney converted 30 consecutive PATs, and established a school single-game record of 9-for-9 PATs against Eureka College (Ill.).

UW-Oshkosh returns seven starters on an offensive unit that led the WIAC with 226.8 passing yards per game during the 2010 campaign. Eight starters are back on a defense that placed second in the league in pass defense (186.0 yards per game). Junior Nate Wara, who owns 32 career touchdown passes, threw just four interceptions in 295 pass attempts last season. Senior Jeremy Roach needs 11 kickoff return yards to set the school record and move into second-place on league chart. The Titans have won 27 of their last 30 season openers and will play both teams who appeared in the title game of the NCAA Division III Championship for the second straight year. They visit University of Mount Union (Ohio) on Sept. 10 and host UW-Whitewater on Oct. 22.

UW-Platteville’s 2010 defensive corps allowed 156.3 rushing yards per contest - the second-lowest average since 1986 - and held Buena Vista University (Iowa) to a school record -20 rushing yards in the opener. In 12 seasons under head coach Mike Emendorfer, junior Lee Vlasak became the first person to rush for over 100 yards in five games and junior Nick Anderson became the third quarterback to have multiple 300-yard passing games in a season. A year ago, UW-Platteville defeated both UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls in the same season for the first time since 1992. The Pioneers have won all 12 season openers under Emendorfer, holding opponents to 10.2 points in those contests.

UW-La Crosse welcomes Joel Dettwiler as its head coach in 2011, replacing Larry Terry who compiled 65 wins in 11 seasons. Dettwiler served as the defensive coordinator at Wartburg College (Iowa) the last three years and played in UW-Platteville’s defensive backfield for four seasons. UW-La Crosse returns three of its top-four leaders in receptions, including senior Lee Lauters who also topped the squad with 148 rushing attempts, 746 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Senior Derek Dreher, who owns 12 career interceptions, returns after missing most of last year with an injury. The Eagles open the season against UW-Whitewater and follows that bout with a trip to 2010 national quarterfinalist University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas).

UW-Eau Claire returns all 11 starters on offense, including sophomore Joel Sweeney who ranked third in the conference with 102.8 rushing yards per contest and 13 total touchdowns. Senior David Goodman needs five touchdown receptions to break the school career record. The Blugolds open the 2011 campaign against Bethel University (Tenn.) for the fourth consecutive season and will play the same WIAC opponents at home as they did in 2010. UW-Eau Claire has won seven straight homecoming contests and will host UW-Oshkosh in this year’s game.

Matt Walker begins his first season at UW-River Falls after serving three seasons in charge of DePauw University (Ind.) (2006-09) and an offensive assistant at Butler University (Ind.) a year ago. He becomes just the third head coach at UW-River Falls since 1970 and replaces John O’Grady who accumulated 105 victories in 22 years. In 2010, senior Greg Klingelhutz set a NCAA Division III record with 1,017 kickoff return yards and tied the mark of 49 kickoff returns. He needs 29 returns and 644 yards to set the NCAA Division III career record. Senior Taylor Edwards has posted back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons - the first Falcon to accomplish the feat since 1989-90.

2011 Preseason Predictions--Voted on by WIAC Sports Information Directors

2010 Record
1. UW-Whitewater (8) 15-0 overall, 7-0 WIAC
2. UW-Stevens Point 7-3, 5-2
3. UW-Stout 6-4, 4-3
4. UW-Oshkosh 4-6, 3-4
5. UW-Platteville 5-5, 3-4
6. UW-La Crosse 3-7, 3-4
7. UW-Eau Claire 4-6, 2-5
8. UW-River Falls 1-9, 1-6
( )--First-place votes

2011 Running Backs Postion Preview

Editor’s Note: The following is the fourth of a week-long series of stories taking a look at the Warhawks – position by position – as the team enters training camp this weekend)

The ability to Pound the Rock - AKA - run the football - has been the life-blood of UW-Whitewater. The Warhawks have had at least one 1000 yard rusher every year but one since 2000.

This year’s UWW running back stable will again feature Levell Coppage. The dynamic, 5-foot-8, 180 lb. tailback enters his senior season with the a rather impressive resume.

Coppage has earned first team All-America honors each of his first three years. He rushed for 1,461 yards as a freshman, followed by 2,107 yards in both 2009 and 2010. He averaged over six yards per carry the last two years and has totaled 81 rushing touchdowns in his career, the school and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record. A First Team All-WIAC pick three times, Coppage was named the league's MVP in 2009 and 2010.

What’s even more amazing about Levell’s statistics is the rushing yards each year from the “other” Warhawk running backs the past three seasons. Anwan Anderson, the “thunder” in the Warhawks’ “thunder and lightning” running back duo the past three years. Anderson finished his career with 2601 yards (11th all-time) and 28 TDs (Tied for 7th all-time) in the UWW record book.

Going one step further – the No. 3 tailbacks the past two seasons (Booker Stanley 2010 and CJ Miller 2009) combined for 1150 yards and 15 TDs. Give big-time credit veteran UWW running backs coach Nelson Edmunds for his development of running back’s talent each season.

Meanwhile, Evan Wright returns for his second season with the Warhawks.

2011 Wide Receiver Preview

(Editor’s Note: The following is the second of a week-long series of stories taking a look at the Warhawks – position by position – as the team enters training camp this weekend)

Former UW-Whitewater wide receiver Mitch Moore returns to campus to serve as the Warhawks wide reciever's coach.

The 2011 wide receiver corps will be talented and deep. Luke Menzel (sophomore) and Tyler Huber (junior) spent last year in the “regular” rotation of wide outs used. Huber averaged 14.5 yards per catch. Menzel 13.4 yards per catch.

David Leaf was off to a sensation start in 2010 prior to suffering a foot injury that effectively ended the Winona, Minnesota native’s season.

Talk about a start to his senior season. In the three games, Leaf had 10 receptions at 17.1 yards per catch and one touchdown. Leaf recieved a medical redshirt exemption which allows him to return this year as a "fifth-year" senior.

This year's wide receivers roster will feature speed and impressive athleticism.

Aaron Samplawski was moved from cornerback to wide receiver during the season last year. Samplawski is also one of the top kick-return specialists in the WIAC. The senior from Horicon has averaged 24.4 yards per kick return. Heading into his senior season, Samplawski is already the UWW career leader in kickoff returns (64), kickoff return yards (1,611), and the previously mentioned kickoff return average.

This season, the wide recieving corps will include a starter on defense last year.

Zach Howard (sophomore) will return after missing all of last year due to injury.

Cory Robinson (senior), who was in the regular wide receiver rotation in 2009, is also expected to return after choosing not to play in 2010.

Among 2011 wide receiver recruits is a player from Hoover, Alabama and another from Colorado.

Notably missing will be the tandem of Aaron Rusch and Adam Brandes, who ended their careers ranked No. 1 in Warhawk football history in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

As is the case every season – it is time to turn the page.

Great list of Auction-Raffle items have been donated fo Cure 54 Event for Art Gutierrez

The Cure 54 Foundation fundraiser for Art Gutierrez is coming up this Friday, August 12th at the New Berlin Ale House located at 16000 West Cleveland Avenue just a block west of Moorland Road.

This Special Announcement for you UFC fans - Milwaukee's own Anthony "Showtime" Pettis will be at the New Berlin Ale House on August 12th from 5:30 to 6:30 to sign autographs and pose for pictures. Come out to see him and support a fantastic cause! Doors open at 5:00 and live auction begins at 6:30. Bring your friends!

Raffle tickets are now for sale! First prize is $1,000!!!! If you can’t make it to Friday night’s event and are interested in buying raffle tickets, please email c.u.r.e.54@gmail.com

Organizers have put together a great list of auction and raffle items.

The following is a list of some of donated items to Cure 54…

• Come down August 12 and bid on a Prince Fielder throwback jersey and a Green Bay Packers autographed mini helmet! We also have a 4 pack of tickets to the House of Blues with Foundation Room access and 4 gospel brunch tickets for the next morning.

• Full size Badger helmet. One side is signed by Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema signed the other side! Who wants this on August 12? New Berlin Ale House... tell your friends!!

• Here is a list of some of the awesome sports memorabilia and other live auction items:
AJ Hawk Signed Jersey, 8X10 signed Greg Jennings picture, 2 tickets to a Packers home game (Great Seats). Merrill Hills Golf Package, 4 pack tickets to a Milwaukee Brewers game 3rd row seats, Bar Style Dart board, and many others.

Bid on these great items and others August 12th and help the C.U.R.E. 54 cause

• Check out these items for auction, Showtime Pettis gloves, autographed Brewers items, Warhawk stuff, and more!

• We have a Kevin Love autographed jersey and one of his signed shoes! Who is ready to bid on August 12?

• Looking for a vacation? We have some great Vegas packages for auction! 3 night stay at the newly remodeled Tropicana with a complimentary bottle at the newest hot nightclub Nikki beach. 1 night stay at Wynn or Encore with 2 buffets @ Wynn and VIP Entry to Surrender nightclub @ Encore with open bar for 2. We also have 3 nights at the Rio and $200 to their steak house

• We have some great local options for those of you looking for relaxation. We have a Radisson Jacuzzi suite gift certificate, a Pfister hotel and restaurant package, an Intercontinental hotel and restaurant package and a Door County weekend getaway! All these and more up for auction on August 12.

• We have some amazing quilts that have been handmade for the auction. Perfect for you Packer fans to snuggle up with!

• We have some great golf packages set up for auction on August 12. Items include a foursome of golf at Merrill Hills Golf Course, 18 holes & Carts for Evergreen and Prairie Woods Golf Course, and multiple Golf Galaxy gift cards!

Check out a Cure 54 Photo Gallery in conjunction with the fundraising drive for Art Gutierrez’s battle against advanced stage 3 colo-rectal cancer. To access Warhawk Football SmugMug Cure 54 Photo Gallery CLICK HERE

Art posted on his Facebook page recently that he will be heading back down to the MDAnderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas next week to begin treatment by way of a unique form of radiation that isn't offered in the Midwest.

With the money raised from the August 12th C.U.R.E. 54 event, Art will be able to pay some existing medical bills as well as seek treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas and at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Both of these institutions are regarded as the two best cancer treatment centers in America.

Please help by attending Friday evening’s event.

The New Berlin Ale House has generously donated their facility to allow organizers to hold the C.U.R.E. 54 fundraising event on Friday, August 12th. Doors open at 5:00 and live auction begins at 6:30. Bring your friends!

Remember: Once a Warhawk, Always a Warhawk!

I look forward to meeting YOU at the New Berlin Ale House Friday evening.

Voice's Monday Morning Random Thoughts

I am having a blast putting together my Warhawk package on both my blog and Website.

The additions of HawkTube Video and Warhawk Football SmugMug Photo Gallery have been projects I have wanted to accomplish for the past five years. Finally it will happen this season!

HawkTube Video will allow me to produce video interviews, features, and more beginning with 2011 training camp.

I spent the weekend constructing my HawkTube Video home studio.

I had lunch Sunday with my daughter Kim and her family. Kim’s oldest daughter Jhanay will be doing “Hawk fan photos” this year at UW-Whitewater home football games. Her photos will be located in the Jay’s Faces in the Crowd folder.

I talked last week about the importance of you out in Warhawk Nation joining the Warhawk Quarterback Club. By joining you’ll receive a weekly E-Warhawk Football Newsletter To Join CLICK HERE

Just a reminder, official 2011 UW-Whitewater football apparel is now on sale. For a complete on-line catalog of Hawk apparel through Gerry Davis Sports ">CLICK HERE

Official Warhawk home football jerseys (virtually identical to actual jerseys) now on sale through Milwaukee Sporting Goods. To order or for more information CLICK HERE

Walmart in Whitewater also has a large grouping of NCAA licensed Warhawk clothing. Check it out!

By the way, the Voiceseyeonfootball.blogspot.com Reader’s Poll question asking which color home jersey do you prefer – Purple or Black? Black drew 60 % of the vote – Purple 40% of the vote.

The current Reader’s Poll now on line asks your response on the following question: How do you rate the Milwaukee and Madison newspaper and TV coverage of regular season UW-Whitewater home football games? The answers to choose from include: Outstanding, Satisfactory, Poor, Insulting, No Reaction. VOTE NOW

Finally – the Cure 54 Fundraiser for former Warhawk linebacker Art Gutierrez who is currently battling stage 3 colo-rectal cancer is coming up this Friday evening at the New Ale House in New Berlin. The Cure 54 Foundation has developed a great list of raffle and auction items and I sure hope you will be at Friday evening’s event.

Once a Warhawk, Always a Warhawk! Have a great week everybody!

2011 Offensive Line Preview

(Editor's Note: The following is the first in a series of stories this week breaking the Warhawk football team down position by position entering training camp)

As the UW-Whitewater football team enters the final week prior to the opening of 2011 preseason practice lets take a first look at building this year’s team. Four starters off the 2010 offensive line must be replaced. Mark Gawronski, Matt Weber, Robby Unsruck and Grant Murray were all seniors on last year’s national championship team. Logan Allemand will be lone returning starter back on the O-line back this season.

Along with Allemand, a number return that have either started, or seen extended action over the past couple of years.

Jimmy Norris has the most starting experience of offensive linemen returning this fall. The junior from Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois has been a “spot starter” during his tenure on the Warhawk football team.

In 2009, Norris was thrust into the starting line-up when Garth Coates went down with an injury. Mark Gawronski moved over from guard to replace Coates at center. Norris started three consecutive games at guard.

The remainder of the Hawks 2010 offensive line two-deep returns: Grant Poenitsch (Jr), Ryan Olson (Sr), Joe Hansen (Jr), Jake Wahl (Jr), Alex Misialek (Sr).

As is the case seemingly each season, offensive line coach Steve Dinkel is among the top developers of offensive line talent in college football – at any division.

Despite losing four OL starters, including two All-Americans, the stable of talent is deep. Offensive linemen were also a primary focus when building the UWW 2011 recruiting class.

Coming up Monday afternoon I will be taking a look at the wide receiver talent pool heading into the start of training camp this coming weekend.

Warhawks Top D3football.com 2011 Preseason Top 25 Poll

Most NCAA Division III football programs will open 2011 training camp on Saturday, August 13. At UW-Whitewater, the team begins preparations for a new season on the heels of back-to-back Division III national championship and three national titles in the past four years.

The impressive resume has led the D3football.com Top 25 panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country to vote the Warhawks No. 1 in its preseason Top 25 Poll released on Friday (8/5).

It marks the second consecutive year that UW-Whitewater has been tabbed as No. 1 with archrival Mount Union No. 2.

In 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Purple Raiders topped the D3football.com preseason poll with the Warhawks opening the season as No. 2.

While the notoriety of being ranked high in a preseason poll is great to hear, the only poll that really counts is the one at the END of the season.

To view the 2011 D3football.com Preseason Top 25 Poll CLICK HERE

A new Readers Poll question is now posted on Voiceseyeonfootball.blogspot.com

A new Reader’s Poll question is now posted on Voices Eye on Football Blog.

Here is the new poll question: How do you rate the Milwaukee and Madison newspaper and TV coverage of UW-Whitewater home football games? The answers to choose from include - outstanding, satisfactory, poor, insulting.

To cast your vote CLICK HERE

By the way – the just completed poll question – What color of Warhawk home jersey do you like most? Black jerseys drew 27 votes (60% of the vote) - Purple 18 votes (40% of the vote)

Thank you for voting and GO WARHAWKS!

Lack of preseason WIAC Football Media Day hurts WIAC state-wide exposure

We are now at T-minus one-week and counting until the opening of 2011 preseason practice for Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football programs.

Training camps will open for the second year in a row minus the previously “annual” WIAC Preseason Media Day held at the Kohl Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

The preseason media day concept was put on the “back-burner” last year as the result of a number of financial cutbacks or tweaks due to the current economic climate.

I fully understand the situation however marketing the football programs to media around the state IS important and lack of preseason marketing of the WIAC only enhances Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay TV stations to opt not to “cover” WIAC football on a season-long basis.

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is annually considered one of the top NCAA Division III football conferences in the country. The conference is home to the defending Division III National Champion and a football program that has reached the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in each of the past six seasons. UW-Whitewater has gone toe-to-toe with Mount Union each year, winning NCAA Division III Titles in 2007, 2009, and 2010.

I understand the budget concerns, but why not a “conference call” format for a WIAC football preseason media day? The more publicity this conference can get, the better it is for all WIAC schools and football programs.

Misialek home from Japan primed for his senior season on the Warhawk offensive line

For Alex Misialek the focus has returned from his second semester of study in Japan earlier this year to that of being a student-athlete at UW-Whitewater and his senior season as an offensive lineman on the UW-Whitewater football team.

Misialek attended Kansai Gaidai University, located in Hirakata, Japan, just south of Osaka, Japan in the southern part of the country. During his time in the Orient Alex studied the language, the culture and the business practices of the Japanese.

The Crystal Lake, Illinois native kept those “back home” informed on life in Japan by way of posting on his own blog.

Misialek kept us all informed on the tragic earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan on March 11th.

Barry Bottino writes a weekly column in the Northwest Herald in Northwest suburban Chicago. His July 27th column featured Alex Misialek and his thoughts back to his spring semester in Japan and his mindset heading into his senior year on the UW-Whitewater football team’s offensive line.

To read the Northwest Herald column CLICK HERE

Purple or Black home jerseys - Which do you prefer?

When the UW-Whitewater football team enters the field for a home game at Perkins Stadium, are you a black jersey fan or a purple jersey fan?

A reader’s poll that is currently posted here on voiceseyeonfootball.blogspot.com indicates a difference of opinion so far.

Black jerseys currently leads the poll with 12 votes (60%) to purple jerseys 8 votes (40%) of the reader’s poll vote.

The turn to black home jerseys from a school’s traditional home jersey color certainly didn’t start here at Whitewater.

A couple of cases of schools going to the black jersey are Northwestern in football and Duke in baskeball.

While “traditionalists” seemingly favor staying with the school color purple jersey, the younger demographic seems more inclined to favor the trendy black jersey.

When talking Division III college football, I thought it was rather ironic that UW-Whitewater wore their black jersey vs. Mount Union in the 2003 regular season game at Perkins Stadium vs. the Purple Raiders. The following year Mount Union debuted black home jerseys.

In an era of importance of marketing, even at the NCAA Division III level, following popular marketing trends is extremely important.

Please vote today on your home jersey color of choice. Is it purple or black?

Evan Walton arrives at UW-Whitewater as a two-sport star at Franklin High School

The UW-Whitewater football program will welcome a solid recruiting class when 2011 preseason practice opens on Saturday, August 13.

Most Warhawk football recruits will arrive on campus after playing leading roles in multiple sports in high school.

Evan Walton of Franklin High School is one of those multiple sport athletes.

Walton and his Franklin teammates captured the 2011 WIAA State Summer Baseball Championship in late July. Walton was Franklin’s starting center fielder and hit lead-off in the Sabres’ batting order.

The senior hit .392 with 20 extra-base hits, including six home runs and 26 runs batted in helping lead Franklin to a 23-7 season record ending with a second-consecutive state title.

Walton was a key cog in Franklin High School’s outstanding 12 & 1 football season last fall. The 5’11” 179 lb wide receiver averaged 23.7 yards on each of his 33 receptions as a senior for the Sabers. Walton was part of one of the top pass offenses in the state.

Franklin’s only loss in 2010 was a 23-7 defeat at the hands of eventual Division 2 state champion Waunakee in semifinal action at Kettle Moraine High School.

Wide receiver will be a key position being watched during this month’s training camp. Graduation has claimed the top wide receiving tandem in UW-Whitewater football history.

Aaron Rusch ended his UW-Whitewater football career with 3,746 receiving yards which ranks No. 1 in both UW-Whitewater and WIAC history.

Meanwhile, Adam Brandes finished with 2,429 receiving yards and that ranks No. 4 is school history.