(Editor's note: the following story is the second in a series of stories highlighting the 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2008 UW-Whitewater championship football teams. They'll be honored as part of the Warhawk Football Alumni Weekend Celebration September 27 and 28 on campus)
The 1988 UW-Whitewater football team was absolutely loaded with talent. The ’88 Hawks featured four players that earned All-American recognition. Dave Haluska (defensive back), Jim Jaworski (defensive end), John Spiegelhoff (center) and Travis Talton (running back) were key cogs in leading Whitewater to a WSUC title and first berth in school history in the NCAA Division 3 Playoffs.
Haluska, Jaworski and ’88 starting quarterback Jeff Olsen were later inducted into the UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame.
Talton who starred in both track and football at Beloit Turner High School, played “in the shadow” of George Rainey (currently sixth in career rushing) as a freshman at Whitewater. 1988 was Talton’s breakout season as he provided the “flash” for the UWW offense in 1988. His 1,599 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns both rank seventh all-time in the UW-Whitewater record book. Talton would finish his career in 1991 as the leading rusher in Warhawk history with 3,783 yards.
Whitewater’s lone conference loss in ’88 was a 24-10 defeat at the hands of UW-River Falls. The Warhawks and Falcons had shared the WIAC championship the previous season.
The Warhawks opened the NCAA playoffs by traveling to West Des Moines, Iowa and came away with a 29-27 win over Simpson College. Whitewater returned home to host Central College Iowa in round two at Perkins Stadium. The Hawks dropped a heartbreaker to Central that afternoon 16-13.
This invitation to WarhawkNation… All former UW-Whitewater football players and coaches are invited back to campus for the inaugural UW-Whitewater Football Alumni Weekend Celebration the weekend of September 27-28. For more information and to make reservations CLICK HERE
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