The slate is wiped clean.  Even though Whitewater lost more than half its starting lineup no one is going to take any pity.  UW-Whitewater has won six consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships.  UW-W has advanced to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the NCAA III championship game, six years in a row.  UW-W has won the last two, and three of the last four, national titles.  But, as UW-W head coach Lance Leipold has said, this 2011 team didn't accomplish any of that.  The 2011 Warhawks have to establish their own identity beginning with the season opener Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at UW-La Crosse.

Along the way UW-W has compiled the longest win streak, thirty games, in any level of NCAA football.  That streak includes twenty-one straight at Perkins Stadium, seventeen in a row in the WIAC, sixteen straight non-conference games, and ten in a row in the NCAA III playoffs.  In a quirk of the 2011 schedule, Saturday's game will be a non-conference matchup.  With budget cuts and the difficulty league teams have had filling their schedules, the league agreed that each school would have a different partner each year that they faced twice, with one of the games counting in the WIAC standings.  UW-W and UW-L will also end the 2011 regular season November 12 at Perkins Stadium, with that contest designated as a WIAC game.

Last Year
UW-W won 24-0 November 13 in Perkins Stadium.  Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) hit Adam Brandes (Burlington/Catholic Central) with a 29 scoring pass in the first quarter and Eric Kindler (Germantown/Germantown)'s 21 yard field goal made it 10-0 at the half.  UW-W went 80 yards in five plays to open the second half, with Blanchard connecting with Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) from 32 yards out.  Immediately after holding UW-L to a three and out, Whitewater used 13 plays to grind out 69 yards, with Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) running it in from the two for the final score.  Coppage rushed for 114 yards on 23 carries and Blanchard went 16-23 for 196 yards.  The Whitewater defense limited the Eagles to 7 yards rushing on 19 attempts.  UW-L defensive back Dustin Drath led both teams with 12 tackles, including two for a loss.  Warhawk defensive lineman Louissaint Minett was in on three sacks.

The Series
UW-L leads the all-time series, which began in 1917, 32-27.  Whitewater has won the last six games and eight of nine.  The Eagles' have had two five game win streaks, 1970-74 and 1992-96.  The most points UW-W has scored came in a 60-32 win in 1987, and the Eagles blanked Whitewater 59-0 in the series opener in 1917, which is also their largest winning margin.  Whitewater's largest margin was 58-21 in 2009.  The most points the two teams have combined for, 82, came in that 1987 contest.  La Crosse has won seven times by shutout, the most recent 21-0 in 2001; Whitewater has blanked the Eagles just twice. 

The series also matches the teams with the longest streaks at the top of the WIAC.  Whitewater's current run of six straight league championships ties the mark set by UW-La Crosse from 1949 to 1954. 

The Coaches
For years the Whitewater-La Crosse game matched the league's most veteran coaches.  First it was Forrest Perkins (1956-1984) for Whitewater and Roger Harring (1969-1999) for La Crosse.  Then it was UW-W's Bob Berezowitz (1985-2006) and UW-L's Larry Terry (2000-2010).  By those measuring sticks Saturday's game matches relative newcomers.  Whitewater's Lance Leipold, in his first head coaching opportunity, has compiled a four year record of 57-3, including 27-1 in the WIAC.  Joel Detwiler is in his first year, taking over for Terry February 7th in time for late recruiting and spring practice.  An Oregon, Wisconsin native and 1997 UW-Platteville graduate, Detwiler coached the last seven years at Wartburg College, including the last three as defensive coordinator.  Wartburg went 57-18 and won three league titles while Detwiler was on the staff.

La Crosse Notes
This is the second year that Whitewater has started out against a team with almost no track record.  The new coach, like the new coach at Adrian last year, could change up nothing or everything.  On offense, senior tailback Lee Lauters will have to be watched.  Lauters averaged 5.0 yards per rush and caught 30 passes coming out of the backfield last year.  Sophomores Mike Butterfield and Andy Sires have been splitting time at QB in practice.  The players listed in the two-deep at the two wide receiver spots and tight end combined for five receptions last year.  All-WIAC cornerback Derek Dreher heads the defense.  La Crosse can count on placekicker Justin Huinker and punter Christian Hallingstad, the incumbents.

UW-Whitewater Notes
Glass half full, or half empty?  No other team can count on the likes of Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich), Lee Brekke (Sun Prairie/Sun Prairie) and Levell Coppage (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park) at quarterback and running back.  The big questions on offense will be who, besides Logan Allemand (Kenosha/Tremper), will be blocking and who will be catching the Blanchard-Brekke passes?  Whitewater is replacing four guys in the offensive line that all started at least two years, as well as record-breaking receiver Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford), wideout Adam Brandes (Burlington/Catholic Central), and tight end John Novak (Michigan City, IN/Michigan City). 

Defense is the same story.  Casey Casper (Dousman/Kettle Moraine) is the lone returnee on the line, and Greg Arnold (Big Bend/Mukwonago) the only starter back among linebackers.  Defensive back is the strong part of the team, and it may have to be with five of the front seven starting their first game.

All-WIAC punter Kris Rosholt (Reedsburg/Reedsburg) and placekicker Eric Kindler (Germantown/Germantown) (77-78 PATs and 9-10 FG 30 yards or less) lend stability.

By the Numbers
UW-Whitewater
    Offensive Starters Returning for 2011:  4
    Defensive Starters Returning for 2011:  4
    Special Teams (kicker, punter, kick return, punt return) Returning for 2011:  2
    Offensive Line Averages:  287 pounds
    Defensive Line Averages:  252 pounds
    Offense, Class Breakdown:  6 seniors, 5 juniors
    Defense, Class Breakdown:  5 seniors, 2 juniors, 2 sophomores
UW-La Crosse
    Offensive Starters Returning for 2011:  4
    Defensive Starters Returning for 2011:  5
    Special Teams (kicker, punter, kick return, punt return) Returning for 2011:  2
    Offensive Line Averages:   269 pounds
    Defensive Line Averages:  242 pounds
    Offense, Class Breakdown:  3 seniors, 5 juniors, 2 sophomores, 1 freshman
    Defense, Class Breakdown:  5 seniors, 3 juniors, 1 sophomore, 2 freshmen

What's Coming Up?
UW-W will travel to Indiana to face Franklin College September 10.  Franklin is ranked 24th in the D3football.com preseason poll.  The Warhawks defeated Franklin, in Perkins Stadium, in the first round of the 2010 NCAA III playoffs.  The Warhawks' home opener is set for Saturday, September 17 at 12:00.  Tickets for home games can be purchased at the University Center ticket office on the main campus mall during normal business hours, and at the Perkins Stadium window on game day.  Call 262-472-2222 for ticket information.

For More Information
Tom Fick, UW-W sports information:  262-472-1147 or fickt@uww.edu
UW-Whitewater football web site
Dave Johnson, UW-L sports information:  608-785-8493 or johnsondav2@uwlax.edu
UW-L football web site
WIAC football web site