These are the Good Old Days

    My memories of Warhawk football extend back to the '60's.  Those were the good old days.  There was nothing quite like game day.  Packed little Hamilton Field, tucked away behind old Hamilton Gym, whose open windows served as press row.  The sometimes perspective clash of academia and a small rural Wisconsin community set aside for a common purpose: to root for a Whitewater Warhawks victory.  Hot dogs, popcorn, and soda? Absolutely.  A half-time spread in the press box?  Only if you consider an ancient building a press box and a run to the concessions stand a spread.  Bathrooms? If you could find them.  Winning football? More often than not. People from many different walks of life from professors to farmers to cops to students came together to set aside differences and the burdens of the world, to escape to a good and fun and increasingly important part of their life known as Warhawk football.  Excitement continued to build throughout the decade as the dream of a new stadium became a specific vision.  The vision of a top notch football stadium to serve as a centerpiece for Whitewater's campus, community, and football program.   The vision spawned a theme for the drive: "Open the Gate by '68". The vision of Warhawk Stadium began becoming a reality as construction began and the stadium began taking shape.  Many in the community made a quick drive to the north end of campus to check on the progress of the new stadium a part of their weekly routine. Warhawk Stadium became a reality and the dream was fulfilled when "the gate" was opened in 1970.  Whitewater now had the centerpiece that so many people had sacrificed so much for.

    Fast forward to October 1st, 2011.  The smell of burgers on the grill filled the air through the sea of purple in the parking lot of what is now known affectionately as "The Perk".  Friends reuniting, music, bean bag toss, football catch, plenty of food and drink, and plenty of anticipation all helped paint the portrait of Gameday 2011 at UW-Whitewater.  A crowd of over 10,000 people looked on as UW-Whitewater won their 34th consecutive game in defeating UW-Platteville 34-14. Even those who dared to dream big dreams and sacrificed so much in the 1960's couldn't have possibly known how out of control successful this venture and this program would become.   Six straight National Championship Game appearances and three National Championships is ridiculous for anyone not named Larry Kehres or Mount Union.  National Championships do wonders for a tailgate party.  As former UW-W coach Forrest Perkins says concisely about both fans and players,  "You win a National Championship and everyone wants to come here."

    When you are talking about a dream, a vision, and finally, a reality that spans 50 years, you are talking about way too many people sacrificing way too much to try to get into naming names.  But for those tossing the football and reflecting through the grill smoke outside the Perk, there is one name that needs to NOT be overlooked.  Bob Berezowitz.  "Brez" quarterbacked the Warhawks back in the 1960's and led his 1966 team to Whitewater's first National Championship game.  He became head coach in 1985 and stayed through the 2006 season.  He took his final two teams to the National Championship game.  Brez is one of three head football coaches UW-W has had over the past 55 seasons.  Perkins, who coached UW-W from 1956 to 1984 had the dream and demonstrated the vision and the leadership to bring people together to make the dream a reality.  Coach Lance Leipold, a rare coaching talent who is also a former UW-W quarterback under both Perkins and Berezowitz, has been the ultimate closer in this 5 decade marathon to the top of the mountain in Division III football.  In 64 games since taking over the program, Leipold has a gaudy 61-3 record, winning the WIAC Championship all four years and winning three National Championships.  And while Perkins rightfully has been honored by having the stadium named after him and Leiopold rightfully gets the spoils and hardware that comes with taking a program to the best in the nation, it is Berezowitz who had what it took to keep it all moving forward for 22 years.  Berezowitz won 8 WIAC Championships in additional to his teams' national championship appearances.  He had the vision and commitment to find out what it took to build a program to succeed on the national level and, like Perkins, has seen his dream fulfilled.  

      Winning games and championships are not a birthright, they are the result of a lot of commitment, sacrifice, vision, and leadership by a lot of people.  They are the result of the tremendous support and leadership of Athletic Director Paul Plinske, Chancellor Richard Telfar, and those who preceded them. 

     It's impossible to know how long this all may or may not last for Warhawk football.  The incredible string of victories and championships could end this season for all we know.  There will be a festive game day at the Perk that ends with a loss at the end of the day sometime in the future.  There will be a season that ends with more losses than wins.  And knowing that just makes the smell of the grilled burgers even better, the sight of the current sea of purple even brighter, and the thrill of victory even sweeter.  

     On Saturday afternoon, as the clock ticked toward kickoff, I took a moment as I arrived up near the back of the home field stands to turn back.  This time, not turning back the clock to the memories of the '60's, but to turn back to look at the sea of purple, the flying bean bags and footballs, and the smoke that filled the parking lot.  I listened to the laughter and the sound of distant conversations. And I realized something I will take with me to every Warhawk football game for the rest of my life.  These ARE the good old days.