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Live AudioTHIS WEEK'S GAME: UW-Stout (1-1, 0-0 WIAC) returns to Don & Nona Williams Stadium Saturday, Sept. 19 where they will face sixth ranked
Warburg College (2-0, 0-0 IIAC) at 7 p.m.
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: In a wild, wild west shootout, UW-Stout prevailed over Loras College, 52-42, Saturday in Dubuque, Iowa. The two teams combined for 1336 yards of total offense, with Stout compiling 534 yards of offense and Loras rolling up 792 yards of offense. In the final 2-minutes, 55-seconds of the second quarter, the two teams combined for four TDs, two each and Stout held a 28-21 halftime lead. Stout's
Hank Kujak completed 22-of-44 passes for a career-best 418 yards and three TDs.
Jordan Dabney hauled in four passes for 124 yards and two TDs. Loras QB Nolan Baumhover completed 30 passes for 387 yards and three TDs before being knocked out of the game in the third quarter. Backup QB Nic Schulte completed 17 passes for 220 yards and a score. |
Complete Story and Box ScoreLAST TIME OUT: Wartburg College: No. 6 Wartburg moved to 2-0 on the season with the 24-14 win over No. 19 Bethel Saturday. This marked the second-straight win for the Knights over the Royals and also marked the first win for the program on Bethel's field. Brandon Domeyer ran for 83 yards and two scores, while Jake Haberman added the other score. Quarterback Logan Schrader was 14-for-30 for 214 yards. Robbie Anstoetter hauled in six of those passes for 124 yards. The teams traded scores through much of the first three periods before the Knights took the lead for good on a 31-yard Michael Bohlke field goal late in the third period. Domeyer scored on a 16-yard run with just under two minutes left in the game to seal the win. | Complete Story and Box Score
WHEN STOUT AND WARTBURG LAST MET: Wartburg College threw for six touchdown passes - three in the second period - and went on to a 45-14 win over UW-Stout in Waverly, Iowa, Sept. 20, 2014. Wartburg QB Logan Schrader was 15-of-27 for 308 yards as Wartburg tallied 571 yards of offense, 344 passing, 227 yards rushing. Taylor Jacobsme caught seven passes for 173 yards. Brandon Domeyer carried the ball 20 times for 137 yards. Stout finished with 238 yards of total offense, 175 yards rushing, 63 passing. Tanner Kuehn ran for a career-best 88 yards on 18 carries. Adolfo Pacheco carried the ball 13 times for 85 yards. | Complete Story and Box Score
THE SERIES: Wartburg holds a 1-0 lead in the series with last year's contest the only meeting between the two teams..
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. Last week against Loras, Kujak completed 50 percent of his passes going 22-of-44 for 418 yards and three touchdowns. On the season, Kujak has completed 52-of-96 passes for 759 yards and five touchdowns. Kujak, currently ranks first in the WIAC in completions, attempts, and passing yards. He ranks second in the WIAC in passing touchdowns and passing yards per game. Kujak has been intercepted only once in 96 attempts.
The Blue Devils return only one wide receiver from last year that caught more than five passes in a game, with Chris Pica-Anderson hauling in 17 passes for 142 yards, averaging 8.2 yards per grab. Pica-Anderson pulled in six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Bethel. Last week, Pica-Anderson caught five passes for 70 yards. Brian Alvarez, who sat out the 2014 season and was the team's leading receiver in 2013, grabbed seven passes for 135 yards against Bethel. Alvarez snagged four passes for 95 yards against Loras. The biggest standout receiving last week was Jordan Dabney, who had four receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Keep an eye out for freshman receiver Kevion McDonald, who has pulled in a team-best 12 receptions for 170 yards. All four of these receivers have recorded at least one pass reception longer than 25 yards. TE Ben Hall recorded his first collegiate TD, a 2-yard grab in traffic against Loras.
Injuries slowed down the Blue Devils' running game in 2014. Tanner Kuehn picked up the slack, and did it well, when Adolfo Pacheco was slowed off and on due to injuries. Kuehn earned all-conference honors as an all-purpose back and led Stout in rushing with 582 yards, but Kuehn has since graduated. Pacheco was a second team all-conference selection in 2013, tallying 965 yards and nine TDs as a freshman. Pacheco ran for 42 yards against Bethel and 77 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns last week against Loras. Pacheco recorded four 100 yard rushing games as a freshman, but just one in 2014. Pacheco has been sharing time with KeyShawn Carpenter, and Carpenter found the end zone for the first time against Loras.
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.
On the defensive side of the ball this season, LB Kyle Hoeft is currently the teams overall leader in tackles with 26, 12 solo. DB Tony Blair isn't far behind with 23 total tackles, 14 solo. Hoeft led Stout's defense with tackles again last week against Loras with a career-high 19. Blair had 14. DB Enzo Rosani, a sophomore from France is Stout's interceptions leader with two interceptions, both of which were recorded last week against Loras.
Kevin Houts returns at defensive end after missing the majority of the season to injury. The defensive lineman had four tackles and a sack last week against Loras, and each of his tackles was either for a loss or no gain...Iyen Ogbomoh earned a spot on the defensive line last season, taking over for Houts after he was injured. Ogbohmoh is sharing the spot with his high school teammate, Isaiah Hardy...
Injuries have put a dent in the Blue Devils' defnsive backfield. Safety Collin Laursen is expected to come back this week against Wartburg after a preseason injury sidelined him for the first two games. Larsen, 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...Enzo Rosani has been a pleasant addition in the defensive backfield and his two picks are tied for the conference lead....Javauhn Staley, Josh Johnson and Tony Blair each have an interception.
Stout is averaging 478.0 yards of total offense, 379.5 passing, 98.5 rushing and have given up 654.0 yards, 441.0 passing, 213.0 rushing. Stout has been outscored 77-72 (38.5-36).
Kicking Game: Kicker Taylor Pahl continued his streak of consecutive PATs. Coming into the season, the sophomore was 15-of-17 in PATs, including the final 15 of the season. Pahl has since stretched that mark to 24 consecutive PATs, getting two against Bethel and nailing all seven attempts at Loras. The season Pahl is 3-of-3 in field goals, making him 9-of-14 overall. Pahl has made seven consecutive field goals, stretching back to the end of the last season. He made the final four field goals in 2014...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...Against Wartburg College last season, Clark 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. Riedel finished the season with a 38.4 yards per kick average, tied for third in the WIAC. So far this season, Riedel has improved on his average from last year, putting up an average of 40.0 yards. Riedel had a season-long punt in 2014 of 59 yards against UW-Platteville.
JUNIOR VARSITY: The Blue Devil junior varsity squad defeated UW-River Falls, 28-14, Sept. 14 in Menomonie. The JV program is scheduled to host UW-Eau Claire, Sunday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.
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. Wartburg is the unanimous choice to win the IIAC, according to a preseason poll.
WHO'S WHO: Wartburg College: The Knights have been ranked sixth in the D3football.com poll since the outset of the season. The Knights last season advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs where they were knocked out of play - barely - by eventual national champion UW-Whitewater, 37-33, in the third round, finishing the season at 12-1 overall. For the third straight year, the Knights' offense are under the direction of quarterback Logan Schrader. Schrader, last year's Iowa Conference Offensive MVP and a second-team D3football.com all-region player, threw for 3,187 yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 60.6 percent (198-327) of his passes. He also ran for 465 yards and seven scores. Among IIAC players, Schrader ranked second in total offense (280.9 yards per game), third in passing yards per game (245.2) and fifth in passing efficiency (169.6). He ranked fourth in Division III in passing yards per completion (16.10), fifth in yards per attempt (9.75), 10th in passing efficiency (169.6), 13th in passing yards and 16th in passing touchdowns. Senior running back Brandon Domeyer, a two-time second-team all-IIAC pick and a third-team all-region player last year, ran the ball 223 times for 1,212 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. Domeyer's 19 rushing TDs in 2014 ranked sixth nationally. Senior Robbie Anstoetter, a second team all-region pick, is back after hauled in 38 passes for 607 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior linebackers Gunner Tranel and Will Janssen lead the middle of the defense. Tranel, a second-team all-league pick in 2014, was Wartburg's leading tackler a year ago with 123 stops (74 solo), 11.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three pass break-ups and a forced fumble. Janssen, an all-IIAC first-teamer and a D3football.com all-region third-teamer, ranked third on the team with 87 tackles (43 solo) with 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and two interceptions. Senior defensive lineman Cole Hinders is another returning first-team all-conference selection, after making 49 tackles (23 solo), 9.0 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks All-IIAC first-teamer senior defensive back Logan Pitz returns and last season had 34 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and team-highs with three interceptions and 17 passes broken up.
Wartburg in 2015: Brandon Domeyer is averaging 4.3 yards per carry (142 yds, 33 attempts) and has already racked up five rushing TDs.Jake Haberman has 76 yards rushing on 20 carres and has a TD. QB Logan Schrader picked right up from last year, tallying 448 yards through the air, completing 32-of-58 passes. But, he has been picked off three times this season. Schrader has 70 total yards rushing. Robbie Anstoetter is the leading receiver, pulling down 11 catechs for 198 yares and a TD. Riley Brockway has seven catches for 94 yards and a score. Mitch Rahm and Jordan Schmitt each have seven receptions. Defensively, linebackers Gunner Tranel, Will Janssen, and Rob Rottler are leading the way with 18 tackles each. Tranel and Rottler have eight solo tackles, Janssen nine. Janssen has 2.5 sacks, Tranel 1.5 and Rottler, 1.0. Defensive back Logan Pitz has three pass breakups to go along with his 16 tackles, 10 solo, and 1.5 sacks. James Garlock and Germaine Dorsey each have a pair of interceptions. Punter Grant Zimmerman is averaging 39.3 yards per boot and has pinned two inside the 20. Kicker Michael Bohlke is 1-for-2 in field goals and has nailed all eight PATs. | 2015 Statistics
THE MATCHUP: Comparing the numbers:
| Stout | WIAC Rank | | IIAC Rank | Wartburg |
|---|
| 36.0 | 5 | PPG | 3 | 29.5 |
| 38.5 | 6 | Opp. PPG | 2 | 20.5 |
| 379.5 | 2 | Pass Yds | 4 | 229.0 |
| 98.5 | 7 | Rush Yds | 5 | 143.0 |
| 4 (6-2) | T-4 | Turnover /- | 2 | 2 (6-4) |
COMMON OPPONENT: Last week, Wartburg defeated 19th ranked Bethel University - the same team Stout opened the season with - 24-14 in St. Paul, Minn. The Blue Devils stayed with the nationally ranked Royals through three quarters, but lost, 35-20, in the season opener.
SPEAKING OF 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 has now climbed into the rankings... Bethel (No.23), Wartburg (No. 6), Oshkosh (No. 20), Platteville (No. 22) and Whitewater (No. 1).
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: In Stout's contest with Loras College, quarterback Hank Kujak was named the offensive player of the week and the WIAC offensive player of the week...senior deffensive lineman Kevin Houts and sophomore defensive back Enzo Rosani were named defensive players of the week. Rosani was the WIAC defensive player of the week...sophomore returner Isaac Tuttle was the special teams player of the week..sophomore Keith Bolden was selected as the offensive scout team player of the week...freshman Josh Draeger was selected as defensive scout team player of the week and as special teams scout team player of the week...junior Kane'ala Atchison-Keolanui, was selected as the offensive lineman 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 (21-31) 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.
Wartburg College: Now in 17th year as head coach of the Wartburg College football program,
Rick Willis has compiled a 142-35 (.800 percent) record and won eight Iowa Conference championships. His 140 wins coming into the season are the most in program history, while his winning percentage ranks seventh-best in the nation among active NCAA Division III coaches and 13
th-best among all NCAA coaches (entering 2015 season). On October 6, 2010, he became the fastest to reach 100 wins in Iowa Conference history. He's led the the only four unbeaten/untied teams in Wartburg history (1999, 2003, 2010, 2014). The Knights have advanced to NCAA postseason play eight times under his guidance with the 2008 and 2014 squads reaching the quarterfinal round. He's earned many awards including 1999, 2010 and 2014 IIAC Coach of the Year recognition and the GTE West Regional Coach of the Year accolade from the American Football Coaches Association in 1999.
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 is a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Stout (1-1, 0-0 WIAC) and finished seventh in league play. The Blue Devils were picked to finish eighth in a
WIAC preseason poll in mid-August. Wartburg College (2-0, 0-0 IIAC) is a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) and last season won the title and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Knights were the unanimous pick to repeat as conference champion.
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
20 comp, 36 att, 215 yds, 3 TD vs. UW-Eau Claire, Nov. 2, 2013
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
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
5 receptions, 70 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 2015
Kevion McDonald - Receiving
5 receptions, 98 yards vs. Loras College, Sept. 12, 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
Reggie Kujak - Receiving
2 receptions, 47 yards vs. UW-Whitewater, Oct. 11, 2014
3 receptions, 26 yards, 2 TDvs. 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 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. 8 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 are off next week and return to action when they host UW-Oshkosh in the annual homecoming game, Saturday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m.
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