Despite my cancer, I just wanted to become emotionally invested in my Warhawks this week

                          

As many of you know, I am in my 452^nd day since being diagnosed with inoperable and incurable stage IV colorectal cancer with liver metastases. The disease has resulted in chronic fatigue and has drastically cut back on my promotion of UW-Whitewater football.

How much do I love the Warhawks? I have a book that is scheduled to be published next summer. The title of the forthcoming book is: Battling cancer through family, friends and Warhawk football: One day at a time.

I love writing about Warhawk football. It is my passion. I started the Website warhawkfootball.com at the start of the Hawks’ 2003 season. My disease forced me to step away from publishing the site two summers ago. 

Warhawkfootball.com is now in the very capable hands of Jay Perkins, the son of Forrest Perkins, the iconic former Warhawk head coach who passed away in December, 2014.

I am sad that I am unable to physically withstand the trip to Mount Union this week.  I desperately wanted to do what I’ve done for the past 29 years – to publicly promote the UW-Whitewater football program.

For the past two days I’ve been running on adrenaline.

The definition of adrenaline by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is: a substance that is released in the body of a person who is feeling a strong emotion (such as excitement, fear, or anger) and that causes the heart to beat faster and gives the person more energy.

I spent almost 10 hours yesterday writing and publishing photos on Facebook leading up to tomorrow’s showdown of Purple Powers. I intend to stay busy and posting photos for the remainder of the Warhawks drive to make it back to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for the 10^th time in the past 11 years.

I sincerely hope that my writing this week will add to your excitement as the Warhawks proceed on the Road to Salem.

Will I physically be able to maintain my current pace? I draw my energy through the inspiration from Stuart Scott’s iconic ESPY speech in 2014.

"So live. Live! Fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight, then lay down and rest and let somebody else fight for you," Stuart said near the end of his speech.

I draw my inspiration from watching Warhawk football, and to have the privilege of becoming friends with the coaches and many of the players over the years.

I’m using all my energy this week by just trying to make a difference through promotion of the Warhawks.

Thank you Stuart Scott for the inspiration you have given me.

A day at a time.

To view Stuart Scott’s ESPY speech click on the following link:

https://youtu.be/Yl_0ieqSi7Q

A Stagg Bowl berth will be on the line tomorrow in Alliance, Ohio

Over the past decade-plus UW-Whitewater and Mount Union have stood atop NCAA III football. 

Mount Union has made it as far as the semifinals 21 years in a row. Since 2005, Mount Union and UW-Whitewater have advanced to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia all but in 2012.   

Mount has won national titles in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012. the Purple Raiders were National Runner’s-up in: 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014

The Warhawks have been the NCAA III National Champions in 2007, ’09, ’10, 11, ’13, and ’14. 

Mount Union has not lost a regular season game since October 14, 2005 when the Purple Raiders lost to Ohio Northern 20-14 in Ada, Ohio.

The Purple Raiders enter Saturday’s game as the top scoring team in Division III, averaging 55 point per game

Why are the two teams meeting in the semifinal this year? It is the result of UW-Whitewater’s 10-7 loss at UW-Oshkosh back in October. The Warhawks won the rematch last Saturday, 31-29 in quarterfinal action in Oshkosh.

Kickoff Saturday is set for 11 a.m. 

The game will be telecast live via ESPN 3 and the ESPN App.

The game can be heard live on KOOL FM 106.5 WKCH with Gary Douglas providing play-by-play and Arnie Peck giving color analysis. Pregame is 10 a.m. CST.

To listen live, click on the following link:

http://player.streamtheworld.com/liveplayer.php?callsign=WKCHFM 

A new twist to the UW-Whitewater vs. Mount Union rivalry this year

                                  

The UW-Whitewater football team practices under the lights and an amazing sky Wednesday evening

The two most dominating NCAA III football programs will meet a week early this year. Mount Union and UW-Whitewater have met in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (NCAA III National Championship game in 2005, '06, '07, '08, 09, '10, '11, '13 and 14. This year the two teams meet in the semifinal round out in Alliance, Ohio.

We’re going to their house – and playing at their place,” Bullis indicated at last Saturday’s post game press conference. “I’m kind of embracing that idea to be honest with you.  You talk to any of our juniors and seniors, guys who have had the opportunity to have played against Mount Union. That sounds like a lot of fun. It sounds like a great opportunity and we are looking forward to the playing them on Saturday.” I’ve attended a couple of practices this week and the players are well aware to the challenge they face this week. Senior running back Jordan Ratliffe, who gained 116 yards on the ground in the Warhawks’ 43-34 in last year’s Stagg Bowl win over the Purple Raiders was asked about playing Mount in the NCAA III semifinal on Saturday after meeting them in the Stagg Bowl in nine of the past 10 seasons.

Rattliff talked about approaching Saturday’s showdown of Purple Powers no different than any other game during the season.

“We watch film, get the game plan early in the week and his week its Mount Union,” Ratliffe explained. “It is the same when we have prepared for them in previous year’s Stagg Bowls. 

At Wednesday night’s Quarterback Club radio show senior captain Joe Worth echoed his teammate’s thoughts.

“As a senior, this is incredibly exciting,” Worth told the radio audience.  “I can’t wait, it should be a lot of fun.”

The two teams played non-conference games in 2003 and 2004. Then head coach Bob Berezowitz wanted to get a feel what UW-Whitewater needed to do to get to “national elite” status. It didn't take long.

In 2005, Whitewater qualified for its first Stagg Bowl berth, the first of nine over the next decade. The Purple Raiders dominated the Warhawks in ’05 and ’06 prior to Whitewater capturing the school’s first national football title in 2007. The Hawks of won national titles in five of the next six Stagg Bowl meeting with Mount Union.

Gametime Saturday will be at 11 a.m. Saturday. The game can be seen live on ESPN 3 or the ESPN App. The game will also be broadcast on your radio home for Warhawk football on KOOL 106.5 and streamed online at 940wfaw.com.