The Warhawks have not clinched a berth in the NCAA tournament yet, but there is little doubt they will roll to the national championship game – especially after the drubbing the ’Hawks put on UW-Stevens Point last Saturday.
So technically, the regular season finale against UW-Oshkosh will not be the last time the 17 seniors suit up for a game at Perkins Stadium.
Nevertheless, Saturday’s contest is dubbed as “Senior Day” honoring the contributions the group has accomplished.
And there have been many.
Since this class has arrived in 2006, they have won 48 games with only three losses.
But more impressively, during that span they have also lost only one conference game by a single point last year.
How has this happened?
It hasn’t happened overnight, but because of the unselfishness of this team, they will likely clinch their fifth straight WIAC championship this weekend and will have little trouble getting back to another national title game.
Although many of the seniors who will be in uniform are not four-year starters, it has not hurt the team.
In fact, it has actually helped the team.
Jeff Donovan learned from two great quarterbacks – Justin Jacobs and Danny Jones. Jordan Wells learned from former NFL wide receiver Derek Stanley when he was a Warhawk.
Troney Shumpert and Paul Wick were on the sidelines during the 2007 national championship – not in the game. But they were waiting in the wings to have their chance, which has helped them get better.
It’s simply the culture that has been established at UW-Whitewater. It will go on next year and the year after because of what has occurred year in and year out.
The ’Hawks are head and shoulders above everyone else in the conference and should be the No. 1 ranked team in the country.
But the seniors have indicated over and over again that they don’t care about rankings. They just continue to approach each game with a business-like approach.
And that’s the reason they crushed UW-Stevens Point and it’s the reason this senior class will have a lasting legacy for many years to come.
