After a huge victory over Mount Union, the UW-Whitewater football team is back on home turf. The team earned an NCAA Division III national championship title. Sunday the team was welcomed home with a parade through town and a reception at the university.

Aboard firetrucks, lights flashing and sirens screaming, came the UW Whitewater football team. Although their ride atop the trucks was chilly, the warm reception they got at the UW Whitewater gymnasium was warm. The fans cheered, hooted, and hollered as the pep band played loudly to welcome home the team. Roger Beaver was among those welcoming the team back. His nephew, Justin Beaver is a running back on the team and his uncle was anxious to show off his pride. "The teams awesome. The teams a great team. I've watched them for 5 years now and based on the performance I saw this year, it's just a great, awesome, team they play well together and what else could you say, but yeah, go," Beaver said.

The team did go all the way to nationals to show who truly is number one. "Right from the beginning of the game it was just Warhawks, Warhawks, and Warhawks," explained Beaver.

After settling the score and winning the game and the title, the Warhawks are back on home turf with a trophy in hand. As it was announced, "Warhawks, 2007, National Champions," the crowd went wild. "I screamed as loud as I could. It's really cool. It's really cool to see the whole team pumped and ready to go," explained Freshman Nicole LeBlanc.

"I think just for the players to know that they've had the support of the fans and the community is just going to be great for them," said UWW Junior Martin Schmidt.

The crowd showed the team their big win was good for the community that's stood behind the Warhawks for years, because they know it's not everyday a team returns with a big win.

"It's something special for the community of Whitewater and UW Whitewater as well," said Schmidt.

The team has lost to Mount Union the last 2 years, but the third time is the charm. The UW-Whitewater football made history by becoming the NCAA Division III national champs.

http://www.uwwsports.com/News/football/2007/12/15/fb12152007_Staggrecap.asp?path=football