Oct. 21, 2009

Dear Falcon Fans,

Season
We find ourselves right in the middle of our season. We have had four very tight losses which have been tough to handle. We are an improved team but need to learn how to win in the fourth quarter. I was reminded the other day of a statement/reaction made by Coach Farley when faced with disappointment and adversity: “SO what are you going to do now???????” Quitting or getting down is NOT in our vocabulary.

Ramer Field Renovation
We have some exciting news about the Ramer Field fund raising process. We have completed a brochure that was created by Mike Farley Jr., and it is a great looking product. Many of you will be receiving one of these from us. I think all of you might have heard about an idea that originally was developed by Coach Farley. This idea was simple yet very appealing. You can now purchase a “yard of turf”! I myself have been putting money into this for at least two years now on a monthly basis. If you decide that you’d like to do this your name will be engraved onto a brick that will be placed at the new entrance to the stadium. The ramifications of this idea are endless. I will give you a few examples.

My son Logan was a member of the RFHS Band for four years. I am going to purchase at least one square yard in honor of him and his contributions and endless hours of time devoted to that wonderful activity and all of the time he spent at Ramer Field. He will have a brick with his name on it.

I am also going to purchase at least one square yard for Marty Leoni, a teammate and former player of ours in my early years coaching here. Marty died while trying to save the life of an infant while working as a firefighter in his hometown of Evanston, Ill. He will have his name on a brick.

I am going to buy at least one square yard of turf for Steve Brovold. He was a teammate of mine from Alma, Wis., who died in a car accident shortly after graduating from UWRF. He will have a brick with his name on it.

I am purchasing at least one square yard of turf for Andrew Kruger. Andy was a fullback of ours in the 90’s who died shortly after graduating from UWRF. He will have his name on a brick.

I am also purchasing a yard for another lost teammate - Tom Klicka. We will have a brick in his name.

I am also purchasing several square yards of the sideline where Coach Farley roamed AND WON for all of his years here as our Head Football Coach. He will have his name on a brick.

I’ll keep purchasing until this thing is done. Please join me!

I have heard of others who are interested in doing similar dedications.

Mick Miyamoto is purchasing a square yard in honor of the late great Coach Ted Thompson who spent many years coaching here along side of Coach Farley and others.

The opportunities to honor others in this endeavor are endless!

You can of course buy a brick with your own name engraved on it.

I urge all alumni to consider a donation to this cause. WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE!

If you’d like a short story (a sentence or two) about the person or the reason behind this purchase Harold Tiffany and I will keep a record of all of this information and make it available to anyone who is interested.

Let’s get on board! This is a project that we need to complete. Monthly donations can be given from your paycheck. Go to the Renovate Ramer Field homepage (http://www.uwrf.edu/ramer-renew/) and this process is detailed for you.

The best thing of all is the fact that when we complete this project the FIELD itself will be known as a “PLAYERS FIELD!” Where else in this modern era can you find an idea like this that honors all of us who sweat, bled, cried and celebrated on a plot of land we competed on and can now call our own!

Falcon Touchdown Club
A big success to date. Many new members have signed up each game. Our numbers are well over 100 in this first year. We’re very excited about this. Some of us met with Athletic Director Rick Bowen recently to discuss some of our goals. We are very excited about doing all we can to support the renovation of Ramer Field in any way possible.

Future Event
Also, we are in the early stages of planning a football alumni get together next summer at Miller Park! When the plans have been finalized we will sure let you know. Tom Olson, a recent grad works at the Park with his Dad, and Daryl Herrick will be helping us to get this event going. Stay in touch.

GO FALCONS!
John O

John O'Grady

2009 Falcon Schedule