Jeff Donovan earned WIAC player of the year honors while leading the football team to its fifth straight conference title and its second national championship in three years. Now, less than five months later, Donovan is at the helm of the baseball team’s WIAC championship and its own run to a national championship. For his efforts in both sports, the former Wauwatosa East High School star has been named the 2009-10 Royal Purple Male Athlete of the Year.

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.