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.
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