Location: River Falls, WI 54022
Enrollment: 6,100
Chancellor: Don Betz
WIAC faculty representatives: Jim Mulvey
Athletic director: Rick Bowen (phone: 715/425-3246)
Assistant athletic director: Patti Ford (phone: 715-425-3244)
Head coach: John O'Grady (19th season 95-82-3 overall record; 63-56-3 WIAC record)
(best time to reach O'Grady is early mornings, phone: 715/425-3135)
Assistant coaches: Andy Kotelnicki (offensive coordinator, offensive line), Scott Imrie (defensive backs), Chet Banger (defensive backs), Tom Boyer (linebackers), Dan Dietrich (defensive line), Woody Fangmeier (defensive line), Neal Folta (running backs), Alan Hensell (special teams coordinator, wide receivers), Jeremy Kerg (wide receivers), Mike Nicholson (offensive line), Jeff Rogers (linebackers), Steve Tennies (quarterbacks)
National affiliation: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Div. III
Conference: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Conference members: Eau Claire, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior, Whitewater
Nickname: Falcons
Colors: Red and White
WIAC championships: (18) 1915, 1916, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1933, 1938, 1947, 1958, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1998
Offensive formation: Zone
Defensive formation: 3-5-3
2006 overall record: 3-7
2006 conference record, finish: 2-5, tie 6th place
2006 letter winners lost: 33 (13 offensive, 18 defensive, 2 special teams) Bamidele Adetifa (DE), Chris Aeschliman (DE), Clay Anderson (LB), Spasimir Bodurski (K), Brandon Bruesewitz (TB), Dan Buker (LB), Beau DeBruin (TB), Tony Dorner (LB), Mike Fedie (OG), Sean Finnegan (QB), Lawrence Gales (TB), Michael Gander (DB), Brett Hanson (DE), Tyler Hasse (LB), Jake Jensen (WR), Michael Johnson (DB), Seth Johnson (OT), Andy Kolstad (DB), Jovin Kroll (P), Kellen Lager (LB), Michael Larson (LB), Matt Lawecwicz (TE), B.J. LeRoy (FB), Derrick Lidstone (OG), Pat McMahon (LB), Robby Nesvig (DB), Nathan Renk (DE), Marcus Sand (OG), Dylan Schachtner (DT), Zeke Secrist (DB), Geoff Torzewski (TB), Jeremy Wolff (QB)
2006 letter winners returning: 64 (30 offensive, 33 defensive, 1 special team) Ryan Agrimson (LB), Nathan Anderson (TB), Ben Arata (DB), Bruce Baillargeon (DB), Adam Beguhn (OT), Jamie Bisch (DB), John Bratcher (WR), Robert Crump (TB), Benjamin Damm (DE), Cory Danielson (LB), Brandon DeMotts (DT), Jesse Goebel (LB), Seth Gould (DB), Connor Graves (DE), Josh Grover (WR), Scott Hanna (TE), Jim Hansen (LB), Shane Hanson (DB), Storm Harmon (QB), Ben Hoglund (LB), Ryan Jackson (TB), Andrew Jacobson (C), Scott Kane (DT), Jonathan Keepers (WR), Ben Klosinski (LB), Josh Koehn (OG), Pete Kolpack (OT), Ryan LaCount (DB), Mike Larson (DT), Nicholas Lloyd (WR), Mike Low (OG), Cole Lowell (FB), Ambrose Martell (DT), Andy Marx (TE), Jordan Miller (OT), Sam Morken (DB), Lucas Mueller (DB), Michael Mueller (LB), Jacob Nelson (LB), Derek Nette (DE), Gregg Neumann (DE), Nick Nhep (DT), Chad Nolechek (WR), Brad Novacheck (FB), Matthew Olson (FB), Tom Olson (OG), Jesse Ostertag (DE), Justin Parsons (DE), William Pettis (DB), Ross Potter (LB), Londe Richardson (WR), Greg Robinson (TB), Joseph Simonson (DB), Keith Stern (P), Nathan Tenut (OG), Brandon Trzebiatowski (TB), Brad Vanderveren (OT), Derek Vrieze (TB), John Ward (FB), Tim Wendroth (DT), Scott Witte (C), Daniel Wolf (DE), Sean Wolf (LB), Jason Zander (WR)
2006 returning offensive starters: (6) Adam Beguhn (G), Josh Grover (WR), Pete Kolpack (T), Jordan Miller (T), Nate Tenut (G), Scott Witte (C)
2006 returning defensive starters: (7) Ryan Agrimson (LB), Ben Arata (S), Bruce Baillargeon (DB), Jamie Bisch (CB), Shane Hanson (CB), Scott Kane (T), Gregg Neumann (E)
2006 returning specialists: (3) Ryan Agrimson (LS), Josh Grover (KOR), Shane Hanson (PR)
Home field, phone: Ramer Field (4,300) press box phones, 715/425-3746 and 715/425-3369
Trainer: Gary Eloranta 715/425-3130 (e-mail: gary.eloranta@uwrf.edu)
Sports information director: Jim Thies 715/425-3846 (e-mail: james.g.thies@uwrf.edu)
Athletic department web site: www.uwrf.edu/sports/
Football web site: www.uwrf.edu/sports/football.home.php
Sports information fax: 715/425-4486

2007 Falcon Schedule

* WIAC Game

2006 Falcon Results
3-7 Overall, 2-5 WIAC
Home 2-2, Away 1-5

*WIAC Game

2006 UW-River Falls football preview
The Falcons are looking forward to the 2007 season and will try to   rebound from three straight 3-7 records under veteran Coach John O'Grady.

Six starters return on offense and seven on defense for O'Grady who has a 95-82-3 overall record at UWRF.

Offense
"This is the second year we've been running our new system," said O'Grady. The Falcons abandoned the wishbone offense last year and used a zone offense.

The Falcon line is a veteran group and, "should be the strength of our team," according to O'Grady. Scott Witte returns at center, Jordan Miller and Pete Kolpack at tackles, Nate Tenut at guard and Andy Marx at tight end. "We've got several other veterans back and all those guys should give us a very formable line. It's the spot where we have the most experience."

Jeremy Wolff started every game at quarterback, but has graduated. O'Grady said that Storm Harmon played well in the spring, but he is relatively inexperienced. There will be some strong competition from freshmen including Ryan Luessenheide (6-2, 190) from New Hope, Minn., Seth Hubbard (6-4, 185) from Becker, Minn., and Erik Beumer (6-1, 175) from Northfield, Minn. "A freshman could win the No. 1 spot that can be a scarry thing for an offense," said O'Grady.

Josh Grover is the top wide receiver back. He led the team with 30 catches for 509 yards and four touchdowns. John Bratcher and Londe Richardson will also play. O'Grady said that the Falcons have a good core group at wide receiver, but not a lot of upper classmen. Freshmen Mike Zweifel and MJ Bland will help. "There will be some new, young receivers who will get playing time," said O'Grady.

Nathan Anderson looks to be the started at tailback, according to O'Grady. He led the Falcons in rushing with 611 yards in 2006.   He rushed for 1,265 yards in 2005. "We've got some freshmen tailbacks who could get playing time," said O'Grady.

"We're going to simplify the passing game, but at the same time try to throw it more than last year. Our line has to have a good year. We should be improved on offense."

Defense
The Falcon secondary is very experienced with players back at every spot. Shane Hanson and Jamie Bisch will man the corners. Hanson had 49 tackles in 2006 and led the team with five interceptions. Bisch finished with 46 tackles and one pick.

Ben Arata (38 tackles, one interception) and Joe Simonson (20 tackles). Sam Morken had a great spring practice session will play at strong safety. Bruce Baillargeon is another talent defensive back who was named to the second All-WIAC team in 2006 after he made 84 tackles, second on the team, and had two interceptions.

Gregg Neumann, who was named to the first All-WIAC team, will be a leader in the line. The end had 37 tackles and led the team with seventh and one-half sacks and three hurries. Mike Mueller (10 tackles) will man the other end spot. O'Grady predicts that four or five Falcons will play at tackle. Mike Larson (13 tackles) and Sean Wolf (3 tackles) lead the way. "We may end up with one or two of our big freshmen also play at tackle," said O'Grady.

Ryan Agrimson (36 tackles, 2.5 sacks) is the lone linebacker returning. "We are looking for a middle linebacker, but Ryan Jackson or Derek Vriese could fill that spot," said O'Grady.

"Our defensive expectations are much more than a year ago," said O'Grady.

Special Teams
The Falcons lost their place kicker (Spisimir Bodurski) and punter (Jovin Kroll) to graduation. Kroll was named to the first All-WIAC team and Bodurski earned honorable e mention.

Place kicker Jesse Finer joins the Falcons after transferring from Whitewater and Dan Keller returns after playing for the Falcons in 2005. The biggest concern, for all, teams, is the new rule which will have teams kicking off from the 30," said O'Grady. "It will be tough to kick the ball into the end zone and it will put more pressure on defenses."

O'Grady has two freshmen who will battle for the punting job - Nate Thorseon and Eric Stoller. "I'm not sure who it will be, but both have very good leg strength." Agrimson and Marx can both do the long snapping."I'm very comfortable with both," said O'Grady.

Hanson was the team's punt returner last year and he averaged 8.3 yards per try. Grover led the team in kick off returns with 35 and he averaged 17.5 per return. O'Grady said that Zweifel and some incoming tailbacks have the skills to handle both punt and kick off returns.

WIAC Race - Schedule
O'Grady picks two-tie defending champion Whitewater as the team to beat in 2007. "They lost a lot of talent, but still have a great about of very good players back," said O'Grady. He thinks Oshkosh, with 33 seniors, La Crosse and Platteville are the other topp teams in the WIAC.

2006 Returning Letter Winners

Falcon 2006 Statistics Page

WIAC Football Page

John O'Grady
Head Coach

Andy
Kotelnicki

Gregg Neumann

Bruce Baillargeon