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.