Derrick LeVake was a man among boys on Warhawk football team

                                    (Adjacent photo courtesy of UW-Whitewater Athletics)

Brad Arnett and Derrick LeVake will represent UW-Whitewater football when the duo joins seven others to be inducted as the class of 2013 into the UW-Whitewater Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2013 induction ceremony will take place on Saturday evening in the Hamilton Room at the James R. Connor. The inductees will also be honored at halftime of the Whitewater and UW-Platteville football game Saturday afternoon, with kickoff at 1:00.

I did a profile on Arnett yesterday – today I feature LeVake.

LeVake was a cornerstone for two UW-W teams, excelling on the football field and on the mat. He played, and started, all four years in the Warhawk offensive line, earning second team all-conference honors as a freshman, and first team recognition his final three years including conference player of the year honors his senior season. In 1996, as a junior, he was named to four All-America teams, including the American Football Coaches Association Division III First Team. His senior year he was tabbed a first team All-American by all four organizations that followed Division III football. In 1997 he became the first offensive lineman named WIAC Player of the Year. That same year he was a finalist for the Melberger Award, given to the top Division III player in the country, the first offensive lineman ever, and a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, given to an outstanding Division III player that represents the student-athlete ideal. LeVake helped UW-W win WIAC football championships in 1994 and 1997, with the '97 team advancing to the NCAA III playoffs. Though he wrestled just two years for UW-W, LeVake also made his mark there, placing second in the WIAC championship and then seventh in the NCAA III tournament to earn All-America honors. He came back for his junior season, went 23-5, again finished second in the WIAC and repeated his All-America recognition with a fifth place finish. He did not wrestle his senior year, preparing for professional football, where signed a free agent contract with Cincinnati in 1998 and Miami in 1999.

LeVake, a West Allis/Central product, graduated from UW-W with a business management major in 1998. He is the chief executive officer, president and owner of Investigative Risk Management in Englewood, Colorado and lives in Aurora.

There is an often used phrase in men’s sports, “he’s a man playing among boys.” LeVake is the “poster child” of that saying.

Prior to attending UW-Whitewater the West Allis native served as a member of the U.S. Army Rangers who execute special operations and light infantry missions requiring a mature, competent, highly disciplined, and lethal force to ensure the precise application of combat power in politically sensitive environments.

Gary D’Amoto of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel wrote a fascinating profile on LeVake back in May of 1998. To read the article CLICK HERE

Warhawkfootball.com passes the 1 million :"hit" mark

It was a big day for Warhawkfootball.com on Tuesday. Just after 4:30 p.m. my Website passed the one million “hit” mark.

Former UW-Whitewater football coach Bob Berezowitz and I came up with the idea of the site following the Warhawk football team’s 2003’s regular season game at Mount Union. We had noticed that Ric Brienza Mount Union football fan Website was extremely popular with the Purple Raider fan base. It allowed fans the opportunity to click onto a football only Website 365 days a year.

It took me a little over a year to develop my “fan” Website.

Most of you know me as the predessor to Gary Douglas as the “radio voice” of UW-Whitewater football, along with men’s and women’s basketball and baseball on WFAW and later KOOL 106.5 Radio. But I have also been a journalist including being news director at WFAW and KOOL 106.5 along with a couple other stations during my 40 year media career.

There are several excellent Division 3 level fan Websites around the country. While some, like Linfield’s Catdome Alumni site, excel in both video and stories, I made the decision to “stay close to home” and focus exclusively on newspaper style stories and photos. I envisioned Warhawkfootball.com as a daily online “newspaper” devoted exclusively to Warhawk football and its fans.

I’ve been a longtime advocate for Division 3 athletics around the state to get better media exposure, primarily from the larger city newspapers. I’m happy to say the WIAC’s visability has greatly increased. Saturday’s WIAC first place showdown game between Platteville and Whitewater will be telecast live on Fox Sports Wisconsin and Fox Sports North and will be available to 4 1//2 million households in the upper Midwest.

Thank you to Pat Coleman's D3football.com Website that inspires me daily by letting me realize that there is a huge market out there of fans that have a passion for Division 3 football.

Having survived a moderate stroke and won my battle with colon cancer, all in the past seven years, my life has sort of spun out of control. Being able to see that “hit clicker” continue to rise on a daily basis allows me to understand that my “passion” has been worth it.

Thank you for your interest in Warhawk foorball!

Matt Blanchard signed to Carolina Panthers practice squad

Matt Blanchard has found a new home in the National Football League. The former Chicago Bear quarterback tweeted late Tuesday afternoon…"Want to thank @ThrowItDeepQBs for helping me get back n ready for the workouts I've had! Blessed to join the Carolina Panthers!"
As of 9:00 p.m. the signing had not been published however the Carolina Panther Website has Blanchard listed on its practice roster.

The Panthers currently have two quarterbacks on its active roster. The starter is former 1st round draft pick Cam Newton. His backup is nine year journeyman Derek Anderson.

The former UW-Whitewater quarterback fractured a knuckle on his left non-throwing hand in the second preseason game against the San Diego Chargers.

Blanchard would have been expected to play all or most of Thursday’s game against the Browns at Soldier Field if he was healthy.

“Getting injured at all it’s always frustrating,” Blanchard told the Chicago Tribune. “You just have to handle it with as much poise as possible. You have to keep your head up and move forward.”
Blanchard was released after signing an injury settlement with the Bears on August 26. Blanchard was not be eligible to re-sign with the Bears until after Week 10. It also precluded him from joining the team’s practice squad. Blanchard was able to sign with another organization after the length of the injury settlement had expired.

Hall of Famer Brad Arnett committed to training athletes of all levels

Brad Arnett and Derrick LeVake will represent UW-Whitewater football when the duo joins seven others to be inducted as the class of 2013 into the UW-Whitewater Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2013 induction ceremony will take place on Saturday evening in the Hamilton Room at the James R. Connor. The inductees will also be honored at halftime of the Whitewater and UW-Platteville football game Saturday afternoon, with kickoff at 1:00.

In today’s story – a profile of Brad Arnett.

Arnett graduated in 1994 with a degree in physical education with an emphasis in corporate, community fitness and health. He lettered four years for the UW-W football team, and was a member of the Whitewater team that went undefeated in conference play, and through the regular season, in 1990 when the Warhawks earned a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. As a senior in 1993 Arnett earned All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Second Team honors. In 1993 he was named an All-American by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Arnett graduated from Fort Atkinson High School. After working in the strength and conditioning area of collegiate athletics for seven years, Arnett owns and operates NX Level Sports Performance Center in Waukesha, and developed a working relationship with a wide ranging clientele that includes Olympians and professional athletes.

former University of Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt has become a megastar in the NFL with the Houston Texans. Watt has trained for years at Arnett’s NX Level Sports Performance Center in Waukesha. Watt’s work ethic and desire to succeed have been there ever since trainer Brad Arnett met Watt when Watt was sophomore at Pewaukee High School.

Fox Sports Wisconsin published a story back on June 19, 2011 detailing the relationship with Watt and who he calls as his mentor Brad Arnett.

To read the story written by Bradon Cruz CLICK HERE

Friday Night Lights at Perkins Stadium to feature a BLACKOUT for U-Dub-Dub fans

Friday night’s UW-Whitewater vs. UW-Eau Claire football game at Perkins Stadium has been designated Friday Night Lights and UWW students are holding a BLACKOUT asking everyone at the Perk to be wearing black.
A huge pregame tailgate is set for students around the Coulthart Family Pavilion located immediately adjacent to Perkins Stadium.

UW-Whitewater Dining Services will be offering free food to U-Dub-Dub students (with ID) starting at 5 p.m. The UW-Whitewater Student Entertainment Awareness League (SEAL) is sponsoring a special pregame appearance by Tony Lucca as part of the pregame tailgate from 5:45 to 6:45 at the pavillion.
Lucca captured American’s hearts earler this year as the Team Adam finalist on NBC's hit TV show "The Voice". Lucca's cover of Hugo's version of Jay-Z's "99 Problems" reacted strongly, propelling Lucca to the No. 3 spot on ITunes Rock singles chart. His songs have been featured on TVs Friday Night Lights, Brothers and Sisters, Felicity and Kevin Costner's Open Range. He has been seen on E! Entertainment.

The first 300 U-Dub-Dub students to the pregame “blowout” will receive a pair of Warhawk sunglasses courtesy of UWW Res Life.

Perkins Stadium is in the running for the Best Under the Radar Atmosphere in NCAA Football (voting ends Monday). Here’s a shout out to UWW students to make Friday night’s atmosphere at the Perk electric!

Check out the pregame atmosphere at the Perk last Saturday

UW-Whitewater's Perkins Stadium is challenging for the Enterprise Rental Car Best Under the Radar NCAA Football Atmosphere national contest.

I spent a couple of hours prior to Saturday's Family Fest game vs. Stout taking photos of the "tailgate scene" at the Perk.

You want atmosphere? Take a look at these photos

Vote for Warhawk Football and Perkins Stadium as "Best Under-the-Radar NCAA Football Atmosphere" in the USA

 

To vote for UW-Whitewater and Perkins Stadium as the best "under the radar" atmosphere in NCAA Football (all Divisions) CLICK HERE

** Please Note: You may only vote once per day. The final day of voting is Oct. 21, 2013

 

GAMEDAY CENTRAL - UW-Whitewater @ UW-La Crosse

KOOL 106.5 Radio (UW-W Broadcast)  CLICK HERE

WKTY AM-580 Radio (UW-L Game Broadcast)  CLICK HERE

Live Video Stream  CLICK HERE

UW-W @ UW-L Live Stats  CLICK HERE

Game Notes (from UW-W)  CLICK HERE

Game Notes (from UW-L  CLICK HERE

WIAC Weekly Release  CLICK HERE

Media Stories Previewing UW-Whitewater at UW-La Crosse Game...

Warhawks ready for WIAC (Daily Jefferson County Union)  CLICK HERE

UW-L prepares for powerhouse UW-Whitewater (WKBT TV-8)  CLICK HERE

Eagles try to get running game moving (La Crosse Tribune)  CLICK HERE

D3football.com National Scoreboard  CLICK HERE

Tom "Voice" Pattison's Warhawk Football This Week Podcast gets you ready for WIAC opener

 

On Tom Pattison’s Warhawk Football This Week you’ll get a look back at last week’s win over Waldorf College with Hawk head coach Lance Leipold… Veteran defensive line coach Kevin Bullis takes you inside the Hawks D-L… Tom Pattison has a feature on UWW punter and place kicker who has had scouts from several NFL teams come calling to UWW practice this season… and “Voice” will get you all set up for U-Dub-Dub’s WIAC opener on Saturday (1 p.m.) at rival UW-La Crosse.

The Podast was uploaded Thursday afternoon. To listen CLICK HERE