Heading into a new football season with new wide receivers can be difficult, especially if one of those wide receivers was statistically the best in team history.

They received a standing ovation at a Wisconsin Badger basketball game. They have been recognized by the Whitewater Common Council. They even mingled and shared a few laughs with Gov. Jim Doyle at his mansion in Madison. It’s been quite the ride for the football team since defeating Mount Union College (Alliance, Ohio), 38-28, on Dec. 19 to win the program’s second national championship in three years. However, with the first of 15 spring practices beginning today, senior wide receiver Aaron Rusch already has his eye on the 2010 season.

Jordan Wells did not waver when he made this statement: “I guarantee they will know when we come off the football field that we’re the better football team,” the senior wide receiver said. Wells is, of course, referring to Saturday’s 1 p.m. showdown at UW-Stevens Point (5-2, 4-0 WIAC) – who is tied with UW-Whitewater (7-0, 4-0) atop the conference standings with only three weeks left in the regular season.