Powered by tradition. It’s a phrase that has played such a prominent role in the Warhawk football program’s history. Bob Berezowitz, who coached football at UW-Whitewater from 1985-2006 will be honored...

This Homecoming will be special for AJ Raebel. Actually, all the Homecomings from here on out will be quite special for him. Raebel, who graduated in May 2009, looks at life a little different these days. “I don’t take the little things in life for granted anymore,” Raebel said. “Just things like playing catch and going for a run are gifts.”

When the news first spread in January that AJ Raebel was diagnosed with testicular cancer, many knew that they had to help the former UW-Whitewater football player in some fashion. Many have helped through the Cure 33 Fund, but tonight inside the Kachel Gymnasium there will be another opportunity for students and community members to show their support for the two-time All-American linebacker.

When Lance Leipold was introduced as the new head coach three years ago, he knew what awaited him. The Warhawks were coming off the best seasons in school history advancing to the national championship game in 2005 and 2006. “The bar has been raised here the last couple of years,” Leipold said at his first news conference after taking over for legendary head coach Bob Berezowitz in 2007. As hard as it might have been to do, Leipold has raised that bar even further.

The national championship game is still more than three weeks away, and the Warhawks have not punched their ticket into that game quite yet. But can this team return to Salem, Va., the site of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and play in its fifth straight title game? Three UW-Whitewater Hall of Famers, who have either graced the football sidelines or have been associated with the program for many decades, believe so.