THIS WEEK'S GAME: UW-Stout (1-3, 0-1 WIAC) is in the midst of a murderer's row part of their schedule. The week before the bye, the Blue Devils took on ninth ranked Wartburg College, then last week UW-Oshkosh, a revived program that has made the top of the WIAC a common view. And this week, it doesn't get any easier as the Blue Devils will prepare for defending national champion and No. 1 ranked
UW-Whitewater (4-0, 1-0 WIAC) Saturday, Oct. 11, in the annual homecoming contest beginning at 2 p.m.
Â
ON THE AIR: WMEQ 880 AM Radio will provide broadcast coverage for the season with Pete Knutson and Jake Bostrom providing commentary during the games.Â
WMEQ will also audio stream the games. At home games, WMEQ will provide the audio portion for
Live Video streaming of all home football games, network providing.Â
Live Stats will be available for all home games. Â
WEEKLY INTERVIEW: UW-Stout head coach
Clayt Birmingham will speak with Jimmie Kaska on Sports Radio 1400 in Eau Claire Saturday mornings at approximately 11:15 a.m. about the upcoming game and last week's game. A link to the weekly broadcast is available here.
This week's interview. |
Weekly InterviewsLAST TIME OUT: UW-Stout:Â The Blue Devils were unable to overcome a sluggish day offensively as they fell 32-7 in the conference opener to UW-Oshkosh on Saturday, Oct. 4. Stout kept the game close in the first half, holding the Titan's offense to just nine points, but Oshkosh kept up the pressure and ran away in the second half. Trailing 22-0 late in the third, the Blue Devils got on the board when quarterback
Garrett Peterson connected with
Aaron Jenny on a 37-yard touchdown pass. Oshkosh would add a field goal and touchdown in the fourth for the final of 32-7. Peterson finished 7-16 for 104 yards and Jenny caught four passes for 57 yards. Defensively, it was
Luke Bakkum leading the Blue Devils with 13 tackles and two sacks. Linebacker
Kyle Hoefft also had 12 tackles, including two for loss. Â |Â
Complete Story and Box ScoreLAST TIME OUT: UW-Whitewater:Â Eight different ball carriers combined for 326 rushing yards in UW-Whitewater's 38-7 win over UW-La Crosse in the WIAC opener Saturday at Perkins Stadium in Whitewater. The Warhawks held a 38-0 lead before the Eagles got on the board with eight minutes left in the game.Nick Patterson ran for two first quarter scores and Jake Kumerow caught three TD passes as quarterback Matt Behrendt was 23-of-27 for 300 yards. Kumerow caught 10 passes for 143 yards. | Â Complete Story and Box Score
WHEN STOUT AND WHITEWATER LAST MET: UW-Stout scored the first touchdown of the game, but it was seventh ranked UW-Whitewater that passed the Blue Devils on their way to a 55-13 win at Warhawks Stadium Oct. 12, 2013. The Blue Devils took advantage of a Warhawk fumble on the Stout 48 and went 52 yards in nine plays capped off by an Adolfo Pacheco one-yard run. Whitewater scored field goals on their next two drives and added a touchdown on the third drive. They tagged on three touchdowns in the second quarter, all through the air. Stout did get a 34-yard field goal by Ricky Marteney late in the second quarter, but the Warhawks had built up a 34-10 halftime lead. Whitewater's Matt Behrendt threw six touchdown passes on the day, three to receiver Jake Kumerow. Behrendt finished the day completing 21-of-30 passes for 333 yards. Kumerow hauled in 11 passes for 226 yards. Stout quarterback Hank Kujak completed 22-of-45 passes for 232 yards, but did not throw a touchdown pass for only the second game this season. Brian Alvarez pulled down seven passes for 89 yards. The Warhawks tallied 561 total yards of offense, 353 in the air, 208 on the ground. Stout finished with 338 total yards, 255 passing, 83 rushing. | Complete Story and Box Score
THE SERIES: The Warhawks hold a 44-10-2 lead in the series and have won the last 12 meetings. Stout's last win over Whitewater came in 2001, a 28-25 win. Stout had won the previous season, during the 2000 championship year, 17-15.
WHO'S WHO: UW-Stout: Â Â
Since quarterback Hank Kujak (Sr, Blair) was lost to injury in the first game of the season, sophomores Aaron Koerner (Colby) and Garrett Peterson (So, Menasha) have taken over at the spot. Koerner has started the last three games for the Blue Devils and has completed 28 of 76 passes for 265 and four touchdowns.  In his first collegiate start at quarterback, Koerner led Stout to a 21-17 victory over Loras College, throwing for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Peterson came on in relief of Koerner against UW-Oshkosh and went 7-16 for 104 yards and a touchdown to receiver Aaron Jenny (Sr, Spicer, Minn.)...
Jenny, a former All-WIAC selection in basketball, has emerged as the top pass catcher for the Blue Devils this season. He currently leads the team in receptions (15), yards (175) and touchdowns (5). His five touchdown catches this year is second in the WIAC. In Stout' s victory over Loras College, Jenny caught touchdowns of 30, six, and three yards, with his third coming on an acrobatic, one-handed catch in the back corner of the endzone. The last time a Stout player caught  three touchdowns in a game was when tight end Patrick Mengellkoch accomplished the feat against UW-Oshkosh on Nov. 4, 2009. The last time a Stout wide receiver caught three TDs in a game was on Sept. 3, 2005, when Jessie Wendt caught a trio of scores against Upper Iowa. Over the last four years, three players have scored three TDs in a single game: RB Adolfo Pacheco on Oct. 26, 2013 vs. Plattevile, QB Michael Blizel vs. Stevens Point on Oct. 6, 2012, and RB Craig Warminski on Oct. 30, 2010 against La Crosse. Jenny has caught a touchdown pass in three straight games after grabbing four passes for 57 yards and a TD last week against Oshkosh...
Also featured in Stout's passing game are seniors Matt Small (Atwater, Calif.) and Zak Snell (Castaic, Calif.). In the season opener, Small caught four balls for 72 yards and a TD. Snell had been quiet in the passing attack up until last game, when he set a career high with 46 receiving yards on four catches. He has also performed his usual jack-of-all-trades role this season, helping out wherever the Blue Devils need him
Tight end Reggie Kujak (Jr, Blair) caught three touchdowns a year ago and represents a big target in the passing game...
Running backs Adolfo Pacheco (So, South Elgin, Ill.)  and Tanner Kuehn (Sr, Fairchild) lead the Blue Devil rushing attack, which has just started to hit it's stride. Over the first two games of the year, Stout averaged just 82 yards on the ground. In the two games since, the team has rushed for 100+ yards and has averaged 139.5 yards... Pacheco leads Stout in rushing, with 315 yards and a touchdown on the year. He is currently averaging 78.8 yards per game, good for third in the conference. A year ago, Pacheco ran off a late season run of four straight games with over 100 yards rushing. Kuehn has operated as a shifty, change-of-pace back, while also handling punt and kick return duties. Kuehn set a career high with 88 yards and a touchdown against Wartburg two weeks ago, which he followed up with 41 yards on 11 carries against Oshkosh. In the first two games of the season, Kuehn rushed for just 13 yards. In the two games since, he has gone for 129 yards. On the year, Kuehn has 142 rushing yards and leads the team with a 3.8 yards per carry average...
Stout is averaging 257 yards of total offense, 110.8 rushing, 146.2 passing.
Senior linebacker Luke Bakkum (Oconomowoc) has keyed the defense all year and has at least eight tackles and a sack in every game so far this year. He leads the team with 40 tackles, including 30 solo. Bakkum is the WIAC leader in tackles, sacks, and tackles for loss. With two sacks against Oshkosh a week ago, Bakkum has 6.5 on the year to go along with 11.0 tackles for loss of 46 yards. With the exception of Stout's win over Loras, Bakkum has registered at least 1.5 sacks in every game this year. He had one against Loras. The linebacker next to Bakkum is Kyle Hoefft (Jr, Morton, Ill.). Hoefft is third on the team with 28 tackles, 17 solo. He als has 5.5 tackles for loss and a half sack. Against Oshkosh, Hoefft had 12 tackles, eight solo and two tackles for loss...
In the secondary, free safety Tyler Naatz (Sr, Menomonie) has been a steady presence. Naatz, a team captain, is a two-time all-conference honorable mention pick and led the team with six pass breakups last year. He was also third on the team with 62 tackles. This year, Naatz has had at least seven tackles in every game and is second on the team with 30, 14 solo. He also leads the team in pass breakups with three. Strong safety Collin Laursen (Jr, Mondovi) has bounced back in a big way after missing nearly all of last season with an inury. In 2012, he was a second team All-WIAC selection when he recorded 78 tackles, including 9.5 for loss. This year, Laursen is tied for the team lead with one interception and has defended three passes while also ranking fourth on the team with 24 tackles, 17 solo. James Van Thiel (So, Hilbert) has taken over at the weak safety position. After not seeing much action over the first two games, Van Thiel has seen his playing time increase over the past two contests and will make his first start of the season against Whitewater. Last week, he recorded eight tackles, including seven solo. Austin Ludowese (So, Stewart, Minn.) has also been a big part of Stout's defensive backfield, with 18 tackles (10 solo), good for fifth on the team. At cornerback, Grant Miller (So, Pleasonton, Calif.) has an interception on the season...
On the defensive front, senior defensive linemen Jamie Rohrig (Owatonna, Minn.), Alec Zoern (Germantown), Josh Archibald (Cottage Grove, Wis.), and Kevin Houts (Bloomington, Minn.) provide punch at the point-of-attack. Last week against Oshkosh, Rohrig had four tackles, two solo, and forced a fumble. Archibald also has forced a fumble this year. Zoern and Iyen Ogbomoh (Fr, Olympia Fields, Ill.) are tied for second on the team with two sacks apiece. Rohrig has one sack this season as well...Â
As a unit, the Blue Devil defense ranks tied with Whitewater for first in the WIAC with 15 total sacks on the season. Seven players have recorded at least a half a sack for Stout. The Blue Devils have forced five fumbles this season, recovering four. The Blue Devils are giving up 431.2 total yards of offense, 143.8 on the ground, 287.5 by passing.
Kicker Taylor Pahl (Fr, Hortonville) got his collegiate career off on the right foot, drilling both his field goal attempts from 28 and 34 yards out in the season opener. Against Loras and Wartburg, freshman Clark Riedel (Waukesha) was called on to punt 11 times. Against Wartburg, Koerner also punted once for team total of 12, which tied a Blue Devil team record set during the 1939 football season against Gustavus Adolphus.
Â
WHO'S WHO: UW-Whitewater:Â The Warhawks ran the table last year on their way to their fifth national championship under coach Lance Leipold, and are ranked No. 1 in both the D3football.com Top 25 poll and the AFCA Top 25 poll. The Warhawks received all 25 first place votes in the D3football.com polls and 37 of 42 first place votes in the AFCA poll. (Mary Hardin-Baylor received three first place votes and Mount Union received two). Quarterback Matt Behrendt is averaging 210.8 yards per game, completing 66-of-86 attents for 10 TDs. Nearly half of Behrendt's passes have been hauled in by 6-foot-5 receiver Jake Kumerow, who has pulled in 29 passes for 474 yards and seven TDs. Kumerow is averaging 16.3 yards per catch and leads the league in scoring with 42 points.. Justin Howard has 13 receptions for 150 yards and Joe Worth has 11 catches for 145 yards. Nick Patterson leads the Warhawk running game, tallying 352 yards on 41 carries (8.6 yards per carry) with six TDs. Dennis Moore is averaging 7.0 yards on 31 attempts (216 yards) and has two TDS. Ryan Givens is averaging 5.8 yards on 32 carries (187 yards) and three scores. Eric Wade is averaging 4.7 yards on 25 carries (118 yards) with two scores. Linebacker Justin Dischler leads the team in tackles with 19, 15 solo. Defensive end Mykaell Bratchett has 11 tackles, 4.5 for loss and three sacks for 26 yards. Safety Zach Nellis has two interceptions for 23 yards, and Ryan Winske had a 44-yard interception return. As a team, Whitewater has seven interceptions. The Warhawks are averaging a league-best 538.0 yards, 254.0 by rushing, 284.0 by passing. The Warhawks are allowing 180.5 yards per game, 40.2 rushing, 140.2 passing. Whitewater is outscoring their opponent 201-27 (50.2-6.8). The Warhakws are ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense, fifth in scoring defense, first in rushing defense and second in total defense.
THE MATCHUP:Â Comparing the numbers:
|     Stout   | WIAC Rank | | WIAC Rank | UW-Whitewater |
|---|
| 15.2 | 6 | PPG | 1 | 50.2 |
| 29.2 | 6 | Opp. PPG | 1 | 6.8 |
| 146.2 | 8 | Pass Yds | 1 | 284.0 |
| 110.8 | 5 | Rush Yds | 1 | 254.0 |
| -2 (6-8) | 6 | Turnover +/- | 3 | +7(8-1) |
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Luke Bakkum was named defensive player of the week. Defensive back Enzo Rosani was selected as the defensive scout team player of the week and quarterback Shane Javorski was selected as offensive scout team player of the week.
TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2014 season include quarterback Hank Kujak (Sr, Blair), defensive back Tyler Naatz (Sr, Menomonie) and linebacker Luke Bakkum (Sr, Oconomowoc).
ODDS AND ENDS: Quarterback Hank Kujak threw for 2183 yards – the most yards by a Stout quarterback since Matt Bunyan threw for 3220 yards during the 1998 seasons – and tossed 11 touchdown passes last season...Alec Zoern led all WIAC defensive linemen in tackles with 48 a year ago...Zak Snell is a jack-of-all-trades. In addition to playing wide receiver where he caught nine passes and a TD, Snell is a key performer on special teams and is utilized all over the field on offense. Snell is one of the few players in Blue Devil history who, throughout the course of his career, has completed a pass, rushed for yardage, caught passes, returned punts, served as a punter, returned kickoffs and served as the place kicker on the kickoff team....Sophomore running back Adolfo Pacheco recorded 965 rushing yards - the most by a Blue Devil freshman since Luke Bundgaard ran for 1,366 yards in 2000 (as a red-shirt freshman)...Last season, senior linebacker Luke Bakkum was fourth in the WIAC with 94 total tackles...The Blue Devils play just four home games in 2014 and have nearly a one month gap from their first home game to their second (Sept. 13 to Oct. 11).
THE COACHES: UW-Stout:Â Â
Clayt Birmingham (19-25) is in his fifth year as the UW-Stout head coach. Before coming to Stout, Birmingham coached at Western Michigan, Emporia College and UW-Stevens Point. Birmingham was the UW-Stout defensive coordinator for three years before assuming the head coaching role. Birmingham played his college football at UW-Stevens Point. Â .
UW-Whitewater: Lance Leipold (98-6) is in his eighth season with the Warhawks, and it has been nothing but success for Leipold and his charges along the way. The former Warhawk quarterback has won five national titles as the team's head coach and is 29-1 in postseason play.
COACHING STAFFÂ
Travis Destache returns as the defensive coordinator along with
Chris Morton, defensive line,
Jed Stutzman, running backs, First year coaches are:
Pat McAvoy, offensive line and run game coordinator; Chase Vogel, quarterbacks and pass game coordinator;
Kody Morgan, cornerbacks; and
Bob Lichty, linebackers. (Lichty actually returns to the Blue Devil coaching staff after more than 30 years. Lichty coached under Sten Pierce in the 1970s)
Joe Gerber returns as a graduate student coach working with the tight ends; Student coaches include:.
Ricky Marteney, kickers;
Jake Schiff, defensive backs;
David Reyes, offensive line;
Trevor Morning, receivers.
THE LEAGUES: UW-Stout and UW-Whitewater are members of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Stout (4-6, 2-5 WIAC) and finished sixth in league play. In a
conference preseason poll, Stout is predicted to finish sixth. Not suprisingly, Whitewater (15-0, 7-0 WIAC) was picked to repeat as the conference champion.
SEASON HONORS: Tyler Naatz is a semi-finalist for the National Football Foundation William Campbell Trophy...
Aaron Jenny was named the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual player of the week after catching three TD passes against Loras College...Returners to the 2014 season that were 2013 All-WIAC selections include:
Jamie Rohrig,
Adolfo Pacheco,
Tyler Naatz,
Luke Bakkum...Bakkum is a 2014 D3football.com preseason All-American second team selection...Bakkum, Rohrig,
Tyler Naatz, and
Hank Kujak were 2014 USA Football Division III preseason honorable mention All-America selections.
TOPPERS: The following are career bests for several of Stout's offensive players
Garrett Peterson - Passing
7 comp, 16 att, 104 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 4, 2014
Aaron Koerner - Passing
16 comp, 31 att, 173 yds, 3 TD vs. Loras College, Sept. 13, 2014
Hank Kujak - Passing
20 comp, 35 att, 272 yds, 3 TD vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 7, 2013
24 comp, 43 att, 262 yds 2 TD vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 26, 2013
23 comp, 45 att, 250 yds vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 12, 2013
19 comp, 42 att, 243 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 5, 2013
21 comp, 34 att, 237 yds, 1 TD vs. University of Jamestown, Sept. 14, 2013
18 comp, 37 att, 224 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-River Falls, Nov. 9, 2013
20 comp, 36 att, 215 yds, 3 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
Tanner Kuehn - Rushing
18 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 20, 2014
17 carries, 65 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 5, 2013
19 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 7, 2013
14 carries, 54 yards vs. University of Jamestown, Sept. 14, 2013
10 carries, 44 yards, 1 TD vs. North Central College, Sept. 21, 2013
Adolfo Pacheco - Rushing
28 carries, 194 yards, 3 TD vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 26, 2013
25 carries, 143 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 16, 2013
27 carries, 139 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-River Falls, Nov. 9, 2013
24 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
35 carries, 118 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 13, 2014
13 carries, 94 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 5, 2013
13 carries, 85 yards, vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 20, 2014
16 carries, 67 yards vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 7, 2013
14 carries, 65 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 19, 2013
8 carries, 65 yards vs. North Central College, Sept. 21, 2013
Cody Rosemeyer - Receiving
7 receptions, 98 yards vs. University of Jamestown, Sept. 14, 2013
5 receptions, 92 yards vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 6, 2014
5 receptions, 75 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 5, 2013
7 receptions, 58 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 13, 2014
4 receptions, 55 yards vs. North Central College, Sept 21, 2013
3 receptions, 42 yards vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 16, 2013
Aaron Jenny - Receiving
8 receptions, 107 yards, 3 TDs vs. Loras College, Sept. 13, 2014
4 receptions, 57 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 4, 2014
Zak Snell - Receiving
4 receptions, 46 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 4, 2014
3 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD vs. North Central College, Sept. 21, 2013
4 receptions, 44 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Sept. 22, 2012
4 receptions, 32 yards vs. UW-River Falls, Oct. 27, 2012
3 receptions, 25 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 20, 2012
Matt Small - Receiving
4 receptions, 72 yards vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Sept. 6, 2014
3 receptions, 54 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 3, 2012
3 receptions, 37 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
3 receptions, 33 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 19, 2013
3 receptions, 32 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Sept. 29, 2012
Reggie Kujak - Receiving
3 receptions, 26 yards, 2 TDÂ vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
3 receptions, 23 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 26, 2013
DON & NONA WILLIAMS STADIUM MARKS
Longest Pass Play
87 - Jon Bane to Anthony Muilenburg (Dakota Wesleyan) Sept. 7, 2013
85 - Michael Blizel to Trevor Morning vs. Jamestown, Sept. 8, 2012
Longest Run from Scrimmage
86 - Craig Warminski vs. UW-Oshkosh, Nov. 13, 2010
Longest Field Goal
55 - Nick Dace (North Central College), Sept. 15, 2012
53 - Nick Dace (North Central College), Sept. 15, 2012
Longest Punt Return
80 - Craig Warminski vs. Eureka College, Sept. 18, 2010
Longest Kickoff Return
90 - Carlos Concepcion vs. UW-Eau Claire, Oct. 23, 2010
Most Rushing Yards in a Game
328 - Luke Bundgaard vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 15, 2003
207 - Taylor Edwards (UW-River Falls), Oct. 3, 2009
207 - Justin Biever (UW-Whitewater), Nov. 5, 2005
Most Yards Passing in a Game
446 - Tom Stetzer (UW-Platteville), Sept. 29, 2001
381 - Dylan Jones (Loras College), Sept. 13, 2014
358 - Brett Borchert (UW-Stevens Point), Oct. 16, 2004
349 - Austin Neu (UW-Eau Claire), Oct. 1, 2011
Most Yards Receiving in a Game
243 - Max Boe (Jamestown), Sept. 11, 2010
238 - Nate Even (Loras College), Sept. 13, 2014
Most TDs Scored in a Game
4 - Luke Bundgaard vs. UW-Platteville, Nov. 15, 2003
PROMOTIONS PLANNED FOR 2014: The Blue Devils have a full slate of promotions scheduled for 2013, beginning with Dorm Days for the Sept. 13 contest with Loras College. Oct. 11 vs. UW-Whitewater is Homecoming, Oct. 25 vs. UW-Platteville is both Military Appreciation Day and the annual Hall of Fame game and Nov. 8 vs. UW-River Falls is Senior Day.
MAX SPARGER: UW-Stout dedicated the Don & Nona Williams Stadium press box in honor of former UW-Stout athletic director and coach Max Sparger September 11, 2010. Sparger led the Blue Devil football team to the 1965 WSUC championship. After leaving Stout in 1972, Sparger served as the WSUC commissioner. Sparger is a member of the UW-Stout Hall of Fame, as well as the WIAC Hall of Fame.
STOUT FOOTBALL HISTORY: Stout Institute played their first game on Nov. 4, 1911, when they lost to River Falls Normal School, 13-11. Walter Anderson scored Stout's first touchdown, an 85 yard kickoff return. A week later, Stout won their first game, 30-2, against LaCrosse Business School as Harvey Tice scored four touchdowns. The predecessor to the WIAC began in 1913 and Stout has won five conference titles - 1921, 1941, 1949, 1965 and 2000. Stout became the Blue Devils during the late 1920s or early 1930s. Football was not played during the war years of 1918, 1943, and 1944. Along the way, the school has gone through a number of name changes - Stout Institute, Stout State College, Stout State University and the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Stout celebrated 100 years of football with a season-long celebration and alumni reunion during the 2011 season. |Â A 10-week series on Stout football is available.
TAILGATING RETURNED IN 2009: UW-Stout has adopted a formal tailgating policy for Blue Devil football games. The south end of the parking lot by the Don and Nona Williams Stadium has been designated as a tailgating area known as the "Tailgate Zone." Fans will be able to participate in the Blue Devil Walk. Tailgating is permitted three hours before the game, and tailgating activities will cease at game time. Only propane grills are permitted, no open flame grills. Alcohol or tobacco is not permitted.
EUROPEAN FLAVOR: UW-Stout coach Clayt Birmingham has been active in raising the popularity of American football in Europe and has made several trips to Europe to participate in workshops and coaching clinics. This fall, the Blue Devils had a coach from Germany into preseason camp for a couple of days. Enzo Rosani is a sophomore cornerback from France on the 2014 roster...The Blue Devils have consistently welcomed European coaches to their training camp. In 2011 it was Nico Teichert and Johannes Fiebig from Germany getting an up close look at American football. The Blue Devils also had Antti Kurenniemi, a native of Finland, on their roster last season. Kurenniemi saw action in several games. In 2012, the Blue Devils, for the first time in several years, did not host a European coach, but did have an international player, Jan Andre Millemann from Germany, who is the subject of this feature story.
DON & NONA WILLIAMS STADIUM: The Blue Devils' home stadium - Don & Nona Williams Stadium - got a facelift during the summer of 2008 when the original Astroturf-type surface was replaced with ProGrass, a surface that more closely resembles natural grass. Don & Nona Williams Stadium was only the second artificial playing surface in the state of Wisconsin when it opened in 2001. Only the Wisconsin Badgers played their games on artificial turf. The Green Bay Packers had an artificial surface in their practice facility. Now, nearly every WIAC school either has or is planning an artificial surface, and many high schools in the state have followed suit.
UP NEXT: The Blue Devils return to the road and will travel to UW-La Crosse, Saturday, Oct. 18 for a 1 p.m. contest.
