The date has been set for an on-campus benefit for A.J. Raebel. Recently diagnosed with an advanced case of testicular cancer. The former All-American linebacker is currently undergoing several weeks of chemotherapy.

The Cure 33 A Night For AJ will be held on Wednesday evening, March 10th, at the Kachel Gymnasium in Williams Center.

What is the old saying? Once a Warhawk, always a Warhawk.

AJ's former teammates are being invited back to campus for the event. Mini-basketball games that are planned include: A team made up of AJ's former teammates vs current and former UWW coaches, 2007 Warhawk national championship football team vs. selected members of the 2009 Warhawk national championship football team. Also scheduled is mini-game between seniors from the 2009 national champions vs. the 2009 national champion wheelchair basketball team, plus a wheelchair basketball demonstration.

A Night for AJ will be energenic and lots of fun for those in the gymnasium. The Klement's Racing Sausages and Willie Warhawk will be in attendance. The UW-Whitewater spirit squad and dance team are scheduled to be "in the house" plus much, much more. The night is being set up for youngsters to adults!

While the Cure 33 - Night for AJ is a benefit, our goal is to fill Kachel Gym with former teammates and schoolmates for a fun night while showing support for AJ in his battle against cancer!

Much more on A Night for AJ will be posted here on Warhawkfootball.com over the next few weeks leading up to the March 10th event.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 the night of the benefit. A list of ticket outlets will be released next week.

In the words of UW-Whitewater Athletic Director Paul Plinkse, himself a testicular cancer survivor... We are motivated here at UW-W to raise much-needed support for you. You carried Warhawk football to heights never seen before. It's time we return the favor. Win this battle, one day at a time!

If you wish to donate, make checks payable to AJ Raebel Cure 33. You can send checks to: Commerci​al Bank, C/O AJ Raebel Cure 33, 200 S. Fremont Street, White​water WI, 53190.

All proceeds from the March 10th event will go directly into the AJ Raebel Cure 33 Fund

The Whitewater Common Council formally recognized the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team's NCAA Division III National Championship win during the council's regular session Tuesday night. The council proclaimed Tuesday, Feb. 2, as "University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Football Day" in the City of Whitewater." On hand for the event were UW-Whitewater football coach Lance Leipold, athletic director Paul Plinski and several of the football team players. The council placed the banner that was hung across Main Street in the council chambers for the proclamation.

Pictured above are, left to right: Front Row - council member Max Taylor, who also is a UW-Whitewater student; Coach Leipold; players Garth Coats, Paul Wick, Anthony White, Jovon Dixon, Kyle Supianoski, Max Wasikowski and Jeff Schebler, and UW-Whitewater director of operations Andy Harris; Back - athletic director Plinski.(Story and photos courtesy of Chris Welch, Daily Jefferson County Union)

Tonight (Wednesday - 2/3/10) the 2009 NCAA Division III champions will be honored at halftime of the UWW vs UWL men's basketball game at Kachel Gymnasium.

Steve Dinkel has been promoted to offensive coordinator for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team. Dinkel, a member of the Warhawk staff for eight years, had been the team's offensive line coach and run game coordinator. He replaces Jim Zebrowski, who left after three years to become quarterback coach at the University of Northern Illinois.

"Steve has been very dedicated and loyal to Warhawk football, essentially working two full-time jobs," UW-W head coach Lance Leipold said. "The opportunity to bring him to Whitewater is a tremendous plus. There is a direct correlation between the success of Warhawk football the last five years and Steve's work with the offensive line and run game. During the run of success we've had there were two offensive coordinators, but a constant on the offensive side has been Steve."

Dinkel helped coach fifteen offensive linemen to First Team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors, with eight of those also earning all-America recognition. Max Sakellaris was named Division III Offensive Lineman of the Year by the Football Gazette in 2006, and center Brent Allen was named the Division III Rimington Award winner as the top center in 2007. That line was a key element in running back Justin Beaver’s Gagliardi Trophy award in 2007 and Levell Coppage becoming the second back in school history to rush for 2,000 yards (2,107) in 2009.

(In the adjacent photo, Dinkel and his offensive line pose following the Warhawks 2009 NCAA Division III Championship in Salem, Virginia - photo courtesy of Daryl Tessmann, Capture The Moments Digital Images)

The Warhawks have never had a losing record in Dinkel's years with the program, with a mark of 89-16 (.848) over that span.

"We couldn't be more excited to elevate Steve to offensive coordinator for the Warhawks," UW-W director of athletics Dr. Paul Plinske said. "His work ethic, attention to detail, knowledge of the game, and passion for his players will make him very effective in leading our offense. I look forward to watching him take this next leadership role in our program."

Prior to joining the staff at UW-Whitewater Dinkel was the head football coach at Jefferson (WI) High School for ten years. He guided the Eagles to a 60-36 record, including a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association championship and three state playoff appearances. He has remained on-staff at Jefferson High School while coaching football at UW-Whitewater.

Dinkel will resign his position with the Jefferson School District and assume an academic staff position at UW-W in addition to coaching football.

Hey Warhawk fans - make sure you attend Wednesday night's (2/3) men's basketball game at the Kachel Gymnasium. At halftime of Wednesday night's game the tips off at 7:05 pm. The 2009 NCAA Division III Championhip football team will be honored.

“We’re so excited to be able to honor the football team that won its second national championship back in December,” UW-Whitewater athletic department promotion coordinator Leah Thyne tells Warhawkfootball.com. "We have a special prize that the football team is going to throw into the stands during the halftime recognition. The players will hold an autograph session following the halftime ceremony. It will be a great opportunity to get Warhawk football photos, programs, or football clothing autographed.

Immediately after Wednesday night’s La Crosse – Whitewater men’s basketball team, a great commemorative signature sheet of the National Championship trophy will be available for fans to have autographed following the game.

Both kids and adults are invited to secure autographs at Wednesday night’s salute to the 2009 UW-Whitewater national champions.

Just a reminder for Warhawk football fans...

The deadline for ordering official 2009 NCAA III championship clothing through Gerry Davis Sports is January 29th.

Among the National Championship apparel available are: T-Shirts, Long Sleeve T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, Sweat Shirts, Hooded Sweat Shirts, and Jackets.

Make Checks Payable to: Gerry Davis Sports

Please mail with payment and form no later than January 29, 2010.

Mail to: Gerry Davis Sports, Attn: Jeff Weise, N72 W38288 Lang Road, Oconomowoc, WI 53066

To download Warhawk Championship Apparel order form CLICK HERE

Hey Warhawk football fans......

The NCAA now has the 2009 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl available for purchase on-line.

The official video of UW-Whitewater's fifth consecutive championship game meeting with Mount Union College is available in DVD - the cost is just $24.99.

The NCAA On-Line Store also includes the four previous Warhawk-Mount Union championship game videos for purchase.

These DVD's have an incredible keepsake value, and are a must for any Warhawk football fan.

For more on NCAA On Demand Warhawk football video information or to order DVD's CLICK HERE

The big question for UW-Whitewater football fans is who is going to replace Jim Zebrowski as the Warhawks offensive coordinator and quarterback's coach.

As reported over the weekend on Warhawkfootball.com, Northern Illinois University officially announced Monday that Zebrowski is the new quarterback's coach for the NCAA Division I Huskies.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to coach at Northern Illinois University and to work with Coach Kill and his staff," Zebrowski said. "I have known Coach Kill and his assistant coaches for several years, and this is an opportunity not only to coach at the Division I level but to work with a group of guys that I am very comfortable with. I look forward to being a part of the continued development and success of the Huskie program."

Zebrowski, who arrived with Lance Leipold to a program thatin 2005 & 2006 had garnered two consecutive WIAC titles and trips to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. The success has continued without a hiccup. Zebrowski's "high octane" offense was a key cog in leading Whitewater to three consecutive conference championships and NCAA Division III Championships in 2007 and 2009 along with a second place finish in 2008.

Northern Illinois is coming off a 7-6 season and made its second straight appearance in a bowl game, earning a trip to the International Bowl.

Jim Zebowski is expected to formally step down Monday as offensive coordinator of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team.

According to the Dekalb, Illinois Daily Chronicle, Zebrowski was hired on Friday to become the quarterback's coach for Northern Illinois University and current NIU quarterback's coach Pat Poore will move to wide receivers coach, though the two will work closely together. Poore has served as NIU's quarterback coach the past two seasons.

Zebrowski was named the 2009 after the Warhawk offense ranked fourth in scoring in D-III at 42.5 points a game and fifth in total offense at 489.6 yards a game. UW-Whitewater led the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in scoring, rushing, total offense, passing efficiency, first downs, third down conversions, sacks allowed and fourth down conversions.

Zebrowski arrived at Whitewater in 2007 as Lance Leipold's first offensive coordinator for the Warhawks. The past three season, UW-Whitewater is 42-and-3 while capturing the 2007 and 2009 NCAA Division III Championship. The Hawks finished runner-up to Mount Union in 2008.

More on this breaking story will be coming up Monday here on Warhawkfootball.com.

AJ Rabel faced many challenges on the football field for UW-Whitewater. The All-American linebacker ended his Warhawk football career in 2007 by helping his team capture the school's first NCAA Division III Football Championship.

UW-Whitewater's all-time leading tackler now faces a much larger challenge. Word was released over the weekend that AJ has been diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 24.

"The best course of action was to go in for a very difficult surgery removing the lymph nodes before they developed tumors to stop the spread," AJ says in his caringbridge.org online journal. "That surgery was scheduled for Jan 7th. On January 6th they discovered that a tumor was already growing in my lymph nodes. This means the odds are good that it's already in my brain, lungs, or liver. Taking out my lymph nodes and recovering from surgery only allows the cancer more time to grow and spread while I recover."

The next step for AJ is chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

"I begin chemo on Jan. 18th," AJ indicates in his journal. "I will lose my hair sometime in the first week of February, and I will be done with chemo March 15th.

UW-Whitewater athletic director Paul Plinske knows alot about testicular cancer. Plinske faced a similar battle with testicular cancer in 2003. On Monday night's UW-Whitewater Coaches Radio Show on KOOL 106.5, Plinske told Tom Pattison that after two surgeries and chemotherapy he is now 100% free and clear of cancer.

Plinske stresses to AJ that the battle is tough, but he too can win the battle.

Even with cancer, medical and related costs can be staggering. Dr. Paul Plinski, Lance Liepold, and Justin Beaver have established the AJ Raebel Cure 33 Fund locally in Whitewater.

If you wish to donate, make checks payable to AJ Raebel Cure 3, You can send checks to: Commerci​al Bank-Whitew​ater, C/O AJ Raebel Cure 33, 200 S. Fremont Street, White​water WI, 53190.

We are motivated here at UW-W to raise much-needed support for you. You carried Warhawk football to heights never seen before. It's time we return the favor.

Win this battle, one day at a time!

Once again - to donate to the AJ Raebel Cure 33 Fund please send checks to payable to: AJ Raebel Cure 33, Commercial Bank-Whitew​ater, C/O AJ Raebel Cure 33, 200 S. Fremont Street, White​water WI, 53190.

UW-Whitewater head football coach Lance Leipold has been named Division III Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association. The award was announced Tuesday at the The American Football Coaches Association 2010 convention in Orlando.

Leipold directed to an undefeated season, the first 15-0 record in school history. The Warhawks won their fifth consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and advanced through the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III playoffs to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the Division III championship, all five years.

(In the adjacent photo - Warhawk head coach Lance Leipold is interviewed moments after accepting the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship at Stagg Bowl XXXVII - photo courtesy of Jeff Seisser, Daily Jefferson County Union0

In his three seasons at the helm in Whitewater Leipold guided UW-W to Division III championships in 2007 and 2009, including a 38-28 win over Mount Union College December 19. During that span the Warhawks have compiled a 42-3 record, including 20-1 in the WIAC.

Leipold also earned AFCA Coach of the Year honors in 2007 when he led Whitewater to the school's first-ever national championship.

The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935.

Leipold also captured the D3football.com Coach of the Year, announced December 19.