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Leader-Telegram PreviewTHIS WEEK'S GAME: UW-Stout (1-4, 0-2 WIAC) will take to the road for the second consecutive week as they head to
UW-Eau Claire (0-5, 0-2 WIAC), Saturday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. in the annual "War on 94" contest. Both teams are looking for their first conference win.
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.
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.
Live Stats will be available for all home games.
WEEKLY INTERVIEW: UW-Stout head coach
Clayt Birmingham will speak with Pete Knutson on Sports Radio 1400 on a weekly basis 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: UW-Stout scored touchdowns by the pass, by the run and on special teams but it wouldn't be enough as the Blue Devils lost 28-21 to UW-La Crosse at Veterans Memorial Stadium Saturday. |
Complete Story and Box ScoreLAST TIME OUT: UW-Eau Claire: The UW-Eau Claire football team fell 10-7 in a hard-fought match against UW-River Falls on Saturday for their homecoming game at Carson Park. | Complete Story and Box Score
WHEN STOUT AND EAU CLAIRE LAST MET: The "War on 94" trophy won't be returning to UW-Stout for at least another year. The Blue Devils lost a 20-17 contest at Carson Park Saturday as UW-Eau Claire scored in the final minutes of the game to reclaim the prize for the year. The game proved to be a back-and-forth contest for the two nearby rivals which were both looking for their first conference win of the season. | Complete Story and Box Score
THE SERIES: UW-Eau Claire holds a 51-35-6 record over the Blue Devils. Eau Claire has won three of the last five meetings and six of the last 10 meetings. Stout's last win over the Blugolds was a 35-27 win in 2013 in Menomonie.
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WHO'S WHO: UW-Stout: Quarterback Hank Kujak missed the majority of the 2014 season due to an injury in the opening game, but he made his return to the starting lineup again this season against Bethel University. Kujak, who is also a team captain for the third season, had a career day to open the season going 30-of-52 passing for 341 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Against Loras, Kujak completed 50 percent of his passes going 22-of-44 for 418 yards and three touchdowns. Kujak's passing yardage was brought out of the stratasphere against Wartburg College when the Blue Devils actually had more rushing yardage, but Kujak still completed 19-of-38 passes for 212 yards and three TDs. Even in the conference opening loss to UW-Oshkosh, Kujak was able to get some air underneath the ball, completing 18-of-29 passes for 217 yards two scores. On the season, the Blue Devils are second in the WIAC in passing offense with 280.6 yards, and Kujak is averaging 273.4 yards per contest, second in the league. Kujak has completed 108-of-200 passes for 1367 yards, throwing 11 TDs and three INTs. Kujak leads the league in total offense, adding 143 yards of rushing to his totals to tally 1510 yards of total offense. Kujak has thrown for more than 200 yards in four of five games this season. Injured except for about half of the season-opener last year, Kujak threw for 189 yards against Dakota Wesleyan before going down. During the 2013 season, Kujak threw for more than 200-yards in seven games.
KUJAK CLIMBING THE LADDER: After the UW-La Crosse game, Hank Kujak is currently ranked sixth on the UW-Stout all-time passing list with 4228 yards, passing John Elkin (4192 yds, 1973-76). Fifth on the list is Ross Carey (2008-11) with 4688 yards. For his career, Kujak has completed 346-of-668 passes, with 27 TDs. Kujak has thrown for 11 TDs this season, matching his season-best of 11 during the 2013 season.
Chris Pica-Anderson has 28 catches for 295 yards and a TD, while freshman Kevion McDonald has 21 grabs for 300yards. McDonald is still looking for his first collegiate TD. Brian Alvarez, who was injured early in the UW-Oshkosh game and missed the UW-La Crosse game, has 15 grabs for 263 yards and three scores. Jordan Dabney has recorded a team-high four TDs on 11 catches for 222 yards, a 20.2 yard per catch average. Alvarez is seventh in the WIAC in receiving yards per game (65.8), while McDonald is eighth (60.0). Pica-Anderson is third in the league in receptions per game (5.60/game). Pica-Anderson is the only wide receiver returning from last season that caught more than five passes. Alvarez did not compete in 2014, but was the team's leading receiver in 2013.
 Adolfo Pacheco and KeyShawn Carpenter have been splitting rushing duties. Pacheco has netted 221 yards on 55 totes (4.0 y/carry), while Carpenter has 176 yards on 42 carries (4.2 y/carry). Pacheco is currently eighth in the WIAC in rushing. Pacheco's longest rush of the year has been a 25 yard jaunt, while Carpenter's best so far this season has been 26 yards. QB Kujak has 143 yards rushing, and ran off a team-best 47-yard run against Wartburg.
The Blue Devils return four starters from last season's offensive line, including center David Koronkiewicz, Kane'ala Atchison-Keolanui, a second team all-WIAC selection and preseason honorable mention All-American, Logan Stoa and Corey Parris. Injuries have sidelined both Atchison-Keolanui and Parris, and Stoa missed a game earlier. Second in the league in passing, Stout has given up only four sacks, and none the last two games.
On the defensive side of the ball this season, LB Matt Hoefft is second in the WIAC in tackles with 52, 25 solo. Hoefft got his first career interception against UW-Oshkosh, returning the ball 14 yards. DB Tony Blair has 49 tackles, 23 solo, with one interception. Hoefft had a career-best against Loras College with19 tackles, while Blair had 14 in that same wild shootout. DBs Enzo Rosani and Javauhn Staley each have two interceptions, tied for the second in the conference. Rosani has 39 tackles, 27 solo and two pass break-ups. Staley has 31 tackles, 19 solo, and is third in the league with seven passes defended (two INTs, five pass break-ups). DB Michael Pierson has seven pass break ups and is tied with Staley for passes defended. Blair has an interception, as does Josh Johnson, who is out for the season. Stout has recorded a league-high seven interceptions.
Kevin Houts returns at defensive end after missing the majority of the season to injury and is finding his rhythm. Houts is tied for third in the league in tackles for loss with 7.0, and tied for first in sacks with 4.5. The defensive lineman had four tackles and a sack against Loras, and each of his tackles was either for a loss or no gain. He also had two sacks against UW-La Crosse. DBs Blair and Tanner Hoversholm have also been involved in sacks this season...Iyen Ogbomoh earned a spot on the defensive line last season, taking over for Houts after he was injured. Ogbomoh is sharing the spot with his high school teammate, Isaiah Hardy. Hardy has 21 tackles, five solo and 1.5 tackles for a loss. Ogbomoh has been a terror on special teams. The lanky defensive end blocked three kicks last season, and added two blocks against Wartburg, a punt and an extra point. Stout has blocked five kicks this season. Travis Shackleton blocked a La Crosse field goal attempt Enzo Rosani returned 86 yards for a TD.
Injuries have put a dent in the Blue Devils' defensive backfield. Safety Collin Laursen returned against Wartburg after a preseason injury sidelined him for the first two games. Laursen, who missed most of the 2013 season to injury, came back to play all 10 games last year....Stout has lost DB Josh Johnson and CB LaRon Thompson to injury. Johnson was a transfer who was the Blue Devils' defensive player of the week after the Bethel game when he picked off a pass and recovered a fumble. Thompson led the Blue Devils in pass break-ups last season.
SACKS FOR/SACKS AGAINST: After recording no sacks in the season opener against Bethel University, the Blue Devil defense has recorded at least one sack in each of the following four games. Stout has recorded two sacks against Loras College, Wartburg College and UW-La Crosse. Defensive lineman Kevin Houts leads the Blue Devils with 4.5 sacks, four solo sacks, including two last week against UW-La Crosse. Blue Devil quarterbacks have been sacked only four times at the midway point of the season. The offensive line has not allowed a sack in the last two games.
YARDS FOR/YARDS AGAINST: Stout is averaging 404.2 yards of total offense, 280.6 passing,123.6 rushing and have given up 618.6 yards, 363.2 passing, 255.4 rushing. Stout has been outscored 215-140 (43.0-28.0).
Kicking Game: Place kicker Drew Pearson kicked the final three extra point attempts against Wartburg, the two against UW-Oshkosh, and all three against UW-La Crosse.  Pearson has been perfect on all eight attempts...Kicker Taylor Pahl saw his streak of consecutive PATs come to an end at 24 when his opening extra point attempt did not connect. Coming into the season, the sophomore was 15-of-17 in PATs, including the final 15 of the season. This season Pahl is 3-of-4 in field goals, while Pearson has missed his one attempt...Pahl hit a career-long against UW-River Falls in 2014, connecting on a 42-yard field goal to seal Stout's victory late in the fourth quarter...Punter Clark Riedel is averaging 38.9 yards per punt, tops in the league by nearly two yards. The Blue Devils, as a team, are tops in the conference in net yardage per punts (35.3), So far this season, Riedel has placed seven punts inside the 20 and has had nine of his punt fair caught. Riedel had a career-long punt in 2014 of 59 yards against UW-Platteville. This season, his best boot has been 52 yards against UW-La Crosse. So far, only four punts have been returned...Against Wartburg College last season, Riedel was called on to punt 11 times, and the Blue Devils punted 12 total times, matching a team record set during the 1939 football season against Gustavus Adolphus.
FIELD GOAL BLOCK & RETURN: Travis Shackleton blocked a 29-yard field goal attempt by UW-La Crosse and Enzo Rosani scooped up the ball on the La Crosse 14, returning it 86 yards for a score. The blocked kick was Shackleton's first career block and the touchdown was Rosani's first collegiate TD. There is no mention in the UW-Stout, the WIAC or the NCAA record books for returning blocked field goal attempts.
JUNIOR VARSITY: The JV between UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout for, Sunday, Oct. 18 has been canceled.
PRESEASON POLLS: After finishing near the bottom last season, the Blue Devils were picked to finish eighth in the WIAC this season, according to a preseason poll by WIAC football coaches and sports information directors. The Blugolds were picked to finish seventh in the same WIAC preseason poll.
WHO'S WHO: UW-Eau Claire: Leading the Blugolds is freshman quarterback JT DenHartog. DenHartog is currently ranked sixth in passing in the WIAC with 886 total passing yards and 177.2 yards per game. Last week, DenHartog completed 18-of-39 passes for 183 yards and one TD. The Blugolds leading rusher is freshman running back Toure Wallace.  Wallace is currently third in the WIAC for rushing yards per game with a 63.8 yard average and is 5th in total rushing yards with 255 total.  The Blugolds gave Wallace the ball 20 times last week for a total of 46 yards.  The leading receiver for UW-Eau Claire is junior Matthew Knapp.  Knapp is currently ranked third in the conference with an average of 74.4 receiving yards per game.  Knapp has caught a total of 27 passes this season, five of which were last week.  However, Knapp was not the Blugolds' leading receiver.  Instead, the Blugolds leading receiver was senior tight end Lucas Emmerich.  Emmerich caught eight passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.  On the defensive side of the ball for UW-Eau Claire, senior linebacker Erik Hulman is leading the team in total tackles and has the sixth most total tackles in the WIAC. Against UW-River Falls last week, junior cornerback Bo Casper lead the team in tackles with seven solo tackles and one tackle for a loss. Junior safety Brandon Luedke is also a big playmaker for the Blugolds.  On the season, Luedke has 20 solo tackles and 28 total tackles. Kicking the ball for the Blugolds is freshman Liam O'Malley.  O'Malley is tied for first in the WIAC going 8-of-8 on PAT's and is 1-of-2 on field goal tries. | 2015 Statistics
THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:
| Stout | WIAC Rank | | WIAC Rank | Eau Claire |
|---|
| 28.0 | 5 | PPG | 8 | 13.2 |
| 43.0 | 7 | Opp. PPG | 7 | 41.4 |
| 280.6 | 2 | Pass Yds | 5 | 207.8 |
| 123.6 | 4 | Rush Yds | 7 | 83.0 |
| +1 (9-8) | 7 | Turnover /- | 8 | -11 (6-17) |
NON-CONFERENCE SCORING EXPLOSION: If it seems as if there has been a lot of scoring in the WIAC this season, it's because there was during the non-conference portion of the schedule. Comparing the 2014 season to the 2015 season yields the following up to start of the conference season: in 2014, among non-conference games, there were two games where WIAC schools scored 50 points for more, there were six games where WIAC schools scored 40 points or more and there were eight games where WIAC schools scored 30 points or more. During the 2015 season up to this point, there were six games where WIAC schools scored 50 points or more (shoot, there were four games with 60 or more points scored), there were seven games where WIAC schools scored 40 or more points and there were 14 games where WIAC schools scored 30 points or more. In 2014, the total number of points scored over the first 24 games of the season was 595 points for an average of 24.8 points per game. In 2015, the WIAC scored 838 points over the first 24 games of the season for an average of 34.9 points per game.
The Blue Devils were certainly a part of that scoring explosion. Last season, after the first three games of the season, Stout scored 54 total points for an average of 18.0 points per game. This season, in the first three games of the season, Stout scored 105 points for an average of 35.0 points per game.
LOTS OF RANKED OPPONENTS: The Blue Devils will play five teams that received preseason recognition by D3football.com - Bethel (No. 20, Sept. 3), Wartburg College (No. 6, Sept. 19), UW-Oshkosh (No. 18, Oct. 3), UW-Platteville (receiving votes, Oct. 31) and UW-Whitewater (No. 1, Nov. 14). In the latest D3football.com Top 25 poll, Platteville (No. 14), Bethel (No. 20), Wartburg (No. 6), Oshkosh (No. 17), and Whitewater (No. 1).
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: In Stout's contest with UW-La Crosse, senior Collin Laursen was selected as the defensive player of the week. Junior Mark Hatcher and freshman Caleb Adams were selected as the offensive lineman of the week. Sophomore Travis Shackleton was selected as the special teams player of the week. Senior John Redepenning was selected as offensive scout team player of the week, freshman Holden Timm was selected as the defensive scout team player of the week and sophomore Devon Hartman was selected as the special teams scout team player of the week..
TEAM CAPTAINS: Captains for the 2015 season include quarterback Hank Kujak (Sr, Blair), defensive back Collin Laursen (Sr, Mondovi), defensive lineman Kevin Houts (Sr, Bloomington, Minn.), wide receiver Brian Alvarez (Sr, Atwater, Calif.) and offensive lineman David Koronkiewicz (Sr, Peshtigo). This is Kujak's third year as a team captain.
ODDS AND ENDS: In comparison to 2014 when they played four home games, the Blue Devils play five home games in 2015. Stout opens the 2015 season Sept. 3 at home and will have completed three home games within the first month of the season.
THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Clayt Birmingham (21-34) is in his sixth 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.
UW-Eau Claire: Todd Glaser is in his 10th season at UW-Eau Claire (40-57) and his 13th season overall (53-74).
COACHING STAFF Travis Destache returns as the defensive coordinator, and
Pat McAvoy is in his second year as the offensive coordinator. Chase Vogel returns for his second year and will work with the quarterbacks and the passing game.
Kody Morgan,
Jed Stutzman,
Joe Gerber and Jake Schiff return. Student assistant coaches include
Matt McKone and
Jake Pollock.
THE LEAGUES: UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire are members of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Stout finished seventh in league play last season and the Blue Devils were picked to finish eighth in a
WIAC preseason poll in mid-August. Eau Claire last season finished in a tie for 7th and were picked to finish seventh.
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Senior defensive back
Collin Laursen was selected as a semifinalist for the 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments and hosted at the New York Athletic Club. Laursen is an engineering techology major with an emphasis in facilities with a 3.64 GPA who has received the Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence six times. Laursen is a Blue Devil captain and a three year starter at safety. Laursen missed the majority of the 2013 season due to injury, but, coming into the 2015 season, started 21 of 31 games that he played. He was a WIAC honorable mention defensive back his sophomore year.
SEASON HONORS: Quarterback
Hank Kujak was selected as the WIAC offensive player of the week and the UW-Stout/Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week after throwing for 418 yards and three TDs against Loras College...defensive back
Enzo Rosani was selected as the WIAC defensive player of the week after intercepting two passes against Loras College...Returners to the 2015 season that were all-conference selections are offensive lineman Kane'ala Atchison-Keolauni, who was a second team pick. Atchison-Keolauni was a preseason honorable mention choice by USA Football Division III...
2014: Garrett Peterson was the WIAC offensive athlete after his performance against UW-River Falls, Nov. 8...
Luke Bakkum was selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week after his performance against UW-River Falls, Nov. 8...
Tyler Naatz was selected to the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District 6 team....
Tyler Naatz received the Burger King/Warren Bowlus Academic Achievement Award...
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.
TOPPERS: The following are career bests for several of Stout's offensive players
Hank Kujak - Passing
22 comp, 44 att, 418 yds, 3 TD vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
30 comp, 52 att, 341 yds, 2 TD vs. Bethel University, Sept. 3, 2015
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
18 comp, 29 att, 217 yds, 2 TDs vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 3, 2015
20 comp, 36 att, 215 yds, 3 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
19 comp, 38 att, 212 yds, 3 TD vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 19, 2015
Garrett Peterson - Passing
26 comp, 39 att, 324 yds, 4 TD vs. UW-River Falls, Nov. 8, 2014
25 comp, 45 att, 205 yds vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 25, 2014
20 comp, 37 att, 187 yds vs. UW-Stevens Point, Nov. 15, 2014
10 comp, 19 att, 156 yds vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 11, 2014
26 comp, 37 att, 155 yds vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 18, 2014
7 comp, 16 att, 104 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 4, 2014
Jay Alston - Passing
2 comp, 7 att, 36 yds, vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 3, 2015
Brian Alvarez- Receiving
7 receptions, 135 yards, vs. Bethel University, Sept. 3, 2015
10 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-River Falls, Nov. 9, 2013
4 receptions, 95 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
7 receptions, 89 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 12, 2013
8 receptions, 71 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 26, 2013
4 receptions, 57 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 19, 2013
5 receptions, 54 yards vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 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
17 carries, 77 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
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
Chris Pica-Anderson - Receiving
8 receptions, 94 yards vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 25, 2014
8 receptions, 60 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 10, 2015
4 receptions, 76 yards vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 19, 2015
5 receptions, 70 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
Kevion McDonald - Receiving
5 receptions, 98 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
5 receptions, 67 yards vs. UW-La Crosse, Oct. 10, 2015
7 receptions, 72 yards vs. Bethel University, Sept. 3, 2015
Jordan Dabney - Receiving
4 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TDs vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
Justin Guarnaccio - Receiving
5 receptions, 62 yds, 1 TD vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 3, 2015
Reggie Kujak - Receiving
2 receptions, 47 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 11, 2014
2 receptions, 38 yards vs. UW-Oshkosh, Oct. 3, 2015
3 receptions, 26 yards, 2 TDvs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
3 receptions, 23 yards, 1 TD vs. UW-Platteville, Oct. 26, 2013
2 receptions, 22 yards, 1 TD vs. Wartburg College, Sept. 19, 2015
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
85 - Brett Kasper to Sam Mentkowski (UW-Oshkosh), Oct. 3, 2014
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
350 - Brett Kasper (UW-Oshkosh), Oct. 3, 2015
349 - Austin Neu (UW-Eau Claire), Oct. 1, 2011
341 - Hank Kujak vs. Bethel University, Sept. 3, 2015
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 2015: The Blue Devils have a full slate of promotions scheduled for 2015, beginning with Dorm Days for the Sept. 19 contest with Wartburg College. Oct. 3 vs. UW-Oshkosh is Homecoming, along with Football Legacy Reunion Day and a day to recognize the 2000 and 1965 championship teams, Oct. 24 vs. UW-River Falls is the annual Hall of Fame Game and Nov. 7 vs. UW-Stevens Point is Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day.
CHAMPIONSHIP RECOGNITIONS: The Blue Devils will use Homecoming Weekend to recognize the conference championship teams of 1965 and 2000. The weekend will also be a football legacy reunion, honoring all Stout football teams.
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. | 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. Last fall, the Blue Devils had a coach from Germany into preseason camp for a couple of days. Enzo Rosani began his career as a Blue Devil, joining Stout as cornerback from France on the 2014 roster. Feature Story 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 home to host UW-River Falls, Saturday, Oct. 24, in the annual Hall of Fame Game at 1 p.m.
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