June 18, 2009

Dear Falcon Fans,

SOME UPCOMING EVENTS
Don't forget the Don Page Golf Outing on Monday June 22. Rumor has it that Jim Benick and Ellis Wangelin might show up!

Saturday, July 11 Get together at my place. Check the May Enewsletter if you want more information.

Saturday August 15 is reporting day for the 2009 Falcons and preseason practice begins.

Friday August 21 at 7 p.m., is the annual Hog Roast for the football players, families, and any friends. It will take place at the Kilkarney Golf course northwest of town. Please RSVP to Dori Holter (doris.holter@uwrf.edu) with your name and the number of people in your group who will attend the Hog Roast.

Friday August 28 Scrimmage with St. Thomas at St. Thomas at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Saturday September 5 UWRF vs. St. John's at Ramer at 1 p.m. This will be recognized as Jim Baier Day. More to come.

Saturday September 26 UWRF vs. Alma at Ramer 1 p.m. This is Homecoming and we will recognize the 1979 and the 1984 teams. More to come.

2009 Falcon Schedule
Sept. 5 St. John's (Jim Baier Day), 1 p.m.
Sept. 19 at Northwestern, 1 p.m.
Sept. 26 Alma (Homecoming), 1 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Stout, 1 p.m.
Oct. 10 at Oshkosh, 1 p.m.
Oct. 17 La Crosse (Hall of Fame Game), 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 at Whitewater, Noon
Oct. 31 Platteville, 3 p.m.
Nov. 7 at Stevens Point, 1 p.m.
Nov. 14 Eau Claire (Parents' Day), 1 p.m.


RAMER FIELD RENOVATION
Athletic Director Rick Bowen is in the process of putting together information that will introduce the "Buy a yard of turf" plan which is a new idea for raising money for this project. We will both mail this information and put it on the website when it is completed. NOTE: I attended the 2009 Wisconsin state track meet in La Crosse. Their new facility is tremendous!

STAFF
We are very excited to announce that Jeff Rogers has rejoined our staff. Jeff worked with us during the 2004-2007 seasons. He spent 2008 at Cornell and returned this spring. Jeff will work with Greg Bower on the defensive side of the ball and coach the linebackers.This will give our staff some needed balance with four full time coaches. Jeff is not receiving a full time salary but I promise you he has already given us full time hours here in the football office. We welcome him back and appreciate his committment to Falcon football.

GREAT NEWS
Greg Spahn, a former center for us from Middleton, Wisconsin, has just accepted a job at Big Fork high school in Minnesota. He is rejoining a Falcon teammate "Big" Thor Johnson! Thor is the head coach at Big Fork which is his high school alma matre. The reunion of these two Falcons should be exciting to see! Don't expect the ball to be thrown forward very often! Good luck Greg and Thor!

Also Chad Bogard, who filmed for us for a number of years, has accepted a filming position with the Cleveland Browns. Chad has spent some time with the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, and most recently was the film coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh. Chad will be second in line at Cleveland to the film coordinator. Chad was one of the first film guys we had who helped bring us into the new age of filmwork with end zone film and use of the computer. Congratulations Chad and good luck.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
This is something I'd like to do as much as possible with this newsletter. If I get information from former Falcons I will put something in each month or as much as possible. One thing about this E technology is it is pretty cheap! I can write as much as possible and it doesn't cost anything to mail!

Jack Skalicky played for the Falcons from 1976 through 1979. I was coaching here throughout his entire career. Jack was an old fashioned, hard nose physical defensive back. He would make a great hit, which could be heard by all, and get up off the ground, realign his face mask, and have that little smirk on his face! You had to love the guy! He was a fun guy to be around and had a great sense of humor! Jack came to RF from Columbia Heights HS in Minnesota. He played for legendary coach Ron Raveling who Jack himself described as "an animal!" If you are a little older and familar with Minnesota HS football you know Coach Raveling's name. He was old school! Jack graduated from RF with a degree in either biology or chemistry. From RF he went to Northern Colorado University where he completed an advanced degree in chemistry. From here he enrolled at the University of Colorado and completed a dual Ph.D in chemistry and biochemistry. Jack then spent time at the University of British Columbia and then at the University of New York/Buffalo. Jack was involved in post doctoral work at both institutions. Jack is presently a research professor at the University of Utah in their School of Medicine. His research is focussed on the HIV1 virus and he also teaches a special class in a specialized area of biochemistry! (Makes you wonder how a guy like this hung around with other guys like Jamie Eckels, Phil English, Chuck McKee, Barry Mossack, Greg "Bubba" Smith and Mike McMartin so much in college!!!!! Apparently they didn't have much influence on Jack's academic merits!) Jack loves the outdoors and is an avid hiker, backpacker, and bike rider. What a guy! We're all very proud of Jack! If you'd like to contact him let me know. I can get you his email address.

FINALLY
I hope to write a weekly Enewsletter during the seaon. I'll review the previous game and preview the upcoming game!

ONE GAME AT AT TIME!

GO FALCONS!
John O

John O'Grady

2009 Falcon Schedule