Another Warhawk football national championship means Warhawk football fans have the opportunity to purchase official National Championship apparel and merchandise from Jerry Davis Sports of Oconomowoc.

Gerry Davis Sports has published the official 2011 Warhawk football NCAA Division III National Championship Apparel website with a National Championship apparel from New Balance.

2011 national champion T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Polo Style Shirts, Outerware, Caps, and Accssories are available to purchase online.

Don’t delay – make your 2011 championship purchase today. The National Champions web store is open now until December 31st.

To place your online championship apparel order CLICK HERE

Spend some of that “Christmas cash” on official 2011 NCAA Division III championship merchandise by clicking onto the UW-Whitewater University Bookstore Website.

T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Hooded Sweatshirts, Outerwear, etc. are available to purchase online.

Celebrate the Warhawks fourth national championship in the last five years by wearing official UW-Whitewater 2011 National Championship merchandise!

Additional championship merchandise is also available in the Warhawk Store located at Walmart in Whitewater.

To purchase 2011 National Championship merchandise online CLICK HERE

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Time Football Team includes eighteen players representing the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The team honors standout athletes from the history of football in the league as part of the WIAC's centennial celebration.

To establish an “All-Time” team that encompasses 100 years of competition is an extremely difficult process according to WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner. He acknowledges that “while disagreement is inherent and expected whenever there is a selection of an all-time anything (be it a team, restaurant or movie), the conference nonetheless felt it important to recognize student-athletes and coaches who have contributed to the success of the most accomplished Division III conference in NCAA history.”

The student-athlete representation on each team has relied heavily on input provided by the sports information director from each of the nine WIAC campuses, while the process for selecting the head coach(es) for each team also includes input from a panel of media representatives.

(Note: The conference will also establish a special “legacy” category to recognize those student-athletes and coaches who had extremely accomplished careers but competed during an era(s) when the compilation of statistical data was spotty at best and/or the style of play at that time does not translate for comparative purposes to the stats prevalent in the modern era. The WIAC “Legacy Team” will also be named at a later date.

The honorees from UW-Whitewater include (in alphabetical order): Brent Allen, Bill Barwick, Justin Beaver, Levell Coppage, Al Equi, Justin Jacobs, Spencer Johnson, Ryan Kleppe, Derrick LeVake, Mike Miller, A.J. Raebel, Jace Rindahl, Aaron Rusch, Max Sakellaris, Jeff Schebler, Derek Stanley, Jim Walters, and Matt Weber.

For a detailed look at each of the 18 UW-Whitewater players named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Time Football Team CLICK HERE

UW-Whitewater senior running back Levell Coppage was named D3football.com's 2011 Offensive Player of the Year, and head coach Lance Leipold was named Coach of the Year.

This is Coppage's second consecutive POY honor (2010, 2011) and Leipold's fifth consecutive Coach of the Year award (2007, 08, 09, 10, 11).

Also earning All-America honors were offensive tackle Logan Allemand, linebacker Greg Arnold, defensive lineman Casey Casper, and quarterback Matt Blanchard. All are seniors.

Coppage rushed for 2,120 yards this season on 380 carries for an average of 5.6 yards/rush, and scored 28 touchdowns. In breaking the 2,000 yard mark three seasons in a row, he became the first running back in UW-W and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history to accomplish that feat, and the first to have at least 1,000 yards rushing four seasons consecutively.

Coppage ended his collegiate career with 7,795 rushing yards, second in NCAA III history and third in all levels of NCAA football history. Coppage's career scoring total of 654 points (109 rushing touchdowns) is also second in NCAA III career totals. He has a long line of honors, with four First Team WIAC honors, two-time WIAC Player of the Year (2010, 11), and four total appearances on the D3football All-America team (2008 3rd, 2009 1st, 2010 1st, 2011 1st). He was also named a 2011 All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.

Leipold led the Warhawks to a 15-0 record en route to the team's seventh WIAC championship and third straight NCAA III national championship and fourth in his five seasons at the helm. He was also the WIAC Coach of the Year, an honor he has earned three years running (2009, 10, 11).

The Warhawks, with three consecutive 15-0 seasons, are on a 45 game win streak, the longest active streak in all NCAA football. They are two shy of tying the University of Oklahoma's 47 game win streak compiled under Bud Wilkinson from 1953-57, the fourth longest streak in NCAA (any level) football history.

To read Tom Fick’s story on 2011 D3football.com All-America story CLICK HERE

What a weekend for UW-Whitewater football.

Friday night the Warhawks defeated rival Mount Union (Ohio) 13-10 to capture the 2011 NCAA Division III football championship.

Early Saturday afternoon the Hawks arrived back on campus to an emotional “welcome home” greeting by a large group of Hawk fans who had been awaiting the arrival in the Perkins Stadium parking lot.

(Adjacent photo courtesy of the Whitewater Banner)

Among the players being welcomed back was former Whitewater High School athlete Loussaint Minett, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl XXXIX most valuable player.

The sophomore defensive end made the definitive play in the game.

Minett knocked the ball loose from Mount Union quarterback Matt Piloto at his own goal line in the third quarter. Sophomore linebacker Cole Klotz recovered the loose ball at the Raiders 1-yard line, and Levell Coppage scored on the next play to give the Warhawks a 10-0 lead.

“It means the world, it's great," Minett said prior to finding a spot on a Whitewater fire truck for the traditional, ceremonial ride through town.

The UW-Whitewater football team is national champions for a third straight year.

The Warhawks (15-0) won their 45th consecutive game, topping the University of Mount Union (14-1), 13-10, in front of an announced crowd of 3,784 at Willis White Field at Salem Stadium in Salem, Va.

UW-Whitewater held off a 10-point fourth quarter rally by the Purple Raiders to clinch their fourth title in a five year span.

Sophomore defensive end Loussaint Minett earned Stagg Bowl MVP honors after recording three tackles and forcing a key fumble at the Mount Union goal line.

The key play in the game occurred in the third quarter when Minett forced a Matt Piloto fumble late in the third, leading to Levell Coppage's one-yard prance into the end zone for a 10-0 lead with 4:02 remaining.

Coppage rushed for 91 yards and the only touchdown while Matt Blanchard completed 9-of-13 throws for 97 yards.

The difference in the game was UW-Whitewater’s defense.

The Hawk defense held Mount Union running back Jeremy Murray to 59 yards on 22 carries, while forcing Matt Piloto into three turnovers.

Leading 13-10 late in the fourth quarter – Mount Union had one final possession.

Mount Union got the ball back with time winding down, but Chris Denton was stopped short of the first down on 4th-and-10, sealing the Warhawks third consecutive national title, and fourth in the last five years.

More to come Sunday morning…

Warhawk fans – both individual and commercial have emailed me with their Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl XXXIX Viewing Parties planned for Friday evening.

Friday’s Stagg Bowl telecast begins at 6 p.m. (CST) on ESPN 2

Cornerstone Sports Pub & Eatery - 24 S Main Street in Oconomowoc

The party starts approximately 5pm - Food & Drink Specials for Warhawks fans!

For Warhawk fans in the Metro Milwaukee area…

Bottoms Up - 5105 W.Coldspring Road in Greenfield

nother ESPN Watching Party in the Milwaukee area will be held atMad Dog Saloon - 4395 South 76th Stree in Greenfield

For Chicagoland area Hawk fans…

Will's Northwoods Inn - 3030 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL Todd Rollins and Frank Lombardo have arranged to have the game shown with sound in a special section in the rear of the establishment.

Miller’s Alehouse in Lombard, 455 E. Butterfield Rd., Lombard, IL

Join former Warhawk Doug Brown and friends root on former OPRF tailback Levell Coppage and the Hawks shoot for a three-peat.

For Hawk (QB Club) fans in Whitewater… plan on watching the game on ESPN at Cooper’s Barn.

Suggested Whitewater taverns< that have emailed me to say they are featuring the game on crystal clear HD TV are Salvo’s Coyote Grill, Saxes Lone Star Inn, and Ricks.

For UW-Whitewater football fans over in Lawton, Iowa, the proud parents of LUKE GROTH, Director of Operations/Equipment Manager for the Warhawks will be watching every minute of the Warhawks victory over the Purple Raiders on Friday night.

If you want to publicize the Stagg Bowl viewing party that you are planning to attend simply email me the information.

Email info to: tpattis@core.com

GO WARHAWKS!!

The “radio voices” of UW-Whitewater Warhawk football – Gary Douglas and Arnie Peck hosted a one-hour game-day special this (Friday) morning live from the Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center in Roanoke, Virginia.

Douglas and Peck were joined by former Warhawk football coach Bob Brezowitz, Daily Jefferson County Daily Union sports writer Josh Smith, UW-Whitewater’s Dick Haven, and Warhawkfootball.com’s Tom Pattison.

The group tackled a number of topics surrounding Friday night’s seventh consecutive Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl match-up between the Warhawks and the Purple Raiders of Mount Union (Ohio).

A reminder – you will able to the radio broadcast of the Stagg Bowl beginning with an expanded Stagg Bowl pregame show at 5 p.m. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (CST).

To listen to a podcast of Friday morning’s Championship Friday broadcast from Roanoke CLICK HERE

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football program is steeped in tradition. This year marked the 32nd time Whitewater captured the WIAC championship. Whitewater and La Crosse dominated through the 1980s and 1990s by earning a combined 26 conference titles.

La Crosse entered the 2005 season as the preseason favorite coming off three conference crowns the previous four years.

Whitewater travelled to La Crosse that year. A 4th quarter goal line stand, followed by a game-winning drive dominated by Justin Beaver runs, gave UWW a 29-23 win.

Whitewater has dominated the conference since.

The UW-Whitewater football resume for the past seven seasons has been nothing less than staggering.

Entering Friday night’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the Hawks have posted a 74 and 5 record over the past seven seasons.

Whitewater has now won seven consecutive WIAC championships, a league record. UW-W had shared the mark at six with UW-La Crosse. The seven straight league championships also ties the UW-W record, shared with the wrestling team (1974-1980).

Whitewater is currently on a 44-game win streak - the longest active streak in college football (NCAA or NAIA). It is also the fifth longest streak in NCAA history, with Bud Wilkinson’s University of Oklahoma teams (47, 1953-57) in fourth place.

UW-Whitewater has been ranked number one in the D3football.com poll for twenty-five consecutive weeks, dating back to the 2010 preseason poll.

With the Warhawks and iconic Mount Union set to meet for an incredible seventh consecutive time with a Division III national championship on the line there is no disputing the fact that Whitewater has risen to national elite status over the past seven years.

Daily Jefferson County Union sports writer Josh Smith is the Wisconsin State Journal’s Stagg Bowl correspondent this week. Josh has written a story that takes a look at the changes that seven years of winning has brought to UW-Whitewater and the football program.

To read the Josh Smith “changes” story CLICK HERE

Warhawks football fans have begun their annual “invasion” into the Roanoke/Salem, Virginia area in advance of Friday night’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl XXXIX.

U-Dub-Dub football fans are arriving today (Thursday) to a sunshine splashed Roanoke Valley where the weatherman is calling for a top-temp of 68 degrees this (Thursday) afternoon.

Thursday’s featured event will be the “Spotlight on Champions” Banquet this evening at the Salem Civic Center.

A reminder for Hawk fans heading to Salem this week – a huge tailgate party and pep rally will be held in the Salem Stadium parking lot adjacent to the minor league baseball stadium next door to the football stadium.

UW-Whitewater football marketing director Leah Thyne tells me there are plenty of activities planned for the pregame event including a special appearance of the UW-Whitewater marching band along with Willie Warhawk scheduled to be on hand for the U-Dub-Dub pregame pep rally.

The tailgate gets underway at 4:30 eastern time in advance of the 7 p.m. eastern time kickoff.

More details on the Stagg Bowl tailgate and pep rally will be posted later today.