Location: River Falls, WI 54022
Enrollment: 6,100
Chancellor: Don Betz
WIAC faculty representatives: Rik Seefeldt, Barbara Rebhuhn
Athletic director: Rick Bowen (phone: 715/425-3246)
Assistant athletic director: Patti Ford (phone: 715-425-3244)
Head coach: John O'Grady (18th season 92-75-3 overall record; 61-51-3 WIAC record)
(best time to reach O'Grady is early mornings, phone: 715/425-3135)
Assistant coaches: Kevin Bullis (defensive coordinator), Andy Kotelnicki (defensive backs, special teams), Woody Fangmeier (defensive line), Alan Hensell (quarterbacks), Jeremy Kerg (wide receivers), Carmen Pata (offensive line)
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
2005 overall record: 3-7
2005 conference record, finish: 2-5, 7th place
2005 letter winners lost: 34 (14 offensive, 20 defensive) Ryan Abbott (OG), Andy Acosta (LB), Jim Allen (WR), Steve Bernard (C), Bryce Bonow (DB), Jeff Cassellius (DE), Nate Cook (OT), Glen Curtis (LB), Tanner Daffinson (HB), O'Neal Hampton (DB), Sonny Heinrich (OT), Jesse Jaworski (DB), Matt Jordan (DB), Luke Kabat (DE), Dave Kapping (OG), Justin Larson (LB), Jordan Lile (DB), Brady Lind (LB), Nathan Litscher (FB), Matt McCollom (LB), Michael Meissner (HB), Dan Minick (DL), Josh Nelson (WR), Mike O'Day (QB), Eric Pufall (DL), Kevin Raska (DE), Aaron Retzlaff (DT), Zach Schmick (DL), Matt Schreiner (DT), James Scott (WR), Nick Segerstrom (DL), David Stanton (HB), Eric Voight (DL), Jaime Zavala (FB)
2005 letter winners returning: 63 (25 offensive, 35 defensive, 3 special team) Dave Affeldt (WR), Ryan Agrimson (LB), Nathan Anderson (TB), Ryan Ankerson (DB), Bruce Baillargeon (DB), Adam Beguhn (OG), Jamie Bisch (DB), Spasimir Bodurski (PK), Dan Buker (LB), Dylan Dabrowski (OG), Cory Danielson (LB), Beau DeBruin (TB), Brandon DeMotts (DT), John Dickinsen (LB), Tony Dorner (LB), Cory Ellis (LB), Justin Eloranta (LB), Mike Fedie (OG), Jesse Goebel (LB), Connor Graves (DE), Josh Grover (WR), Jim Hansen (LB), Ryan Hansen (TE), Brett Hanson (DE), Shane Hanson (DB), Storm Harmon (QB), Tyler Hasse (LB), Todd Hofdahl (DT), Ben Hoglund (LB), Andrew Jacobson (OT), Mike Johnson (DB), Seth Johnson (DB), Dan Keller (PK), Josh Koehn (OG), Pete Kolpack (OT), Andy Kolstad (DB), Jovin Kroll (P), Mike Larson (LB), Mark LaScotte (WR), B.J. LeRoy (FB), Ambrose Martell (DT), Andy Marx (TE), Jordan Miller (OT), Sam Morken (DB), Michael Mueller (LB), Robby Nesvig (DB), Gregg Neumann (DE), Chad Nolechek (WR), Brad Novacheck (FB), Tom Olson (C), Jesse Ostertag (DE), William Pettis (DB), Nathan Renk (DE), Greg Robinson (TB), Zeke Secrist (TB), Joseph Simonson (DB), Joe Steinert (DB), Nathan Tenut (OG), Brad Vanderveren (OT), John Ward (FB), Scott Witte (C), Sean Wolf (LB), Jeremy Wolff (QB)
2005 returning offensive starters: (9) Dave Affeldt (HB/WR), Nathan Anderson (TB), Josh Grover (WR), Andy Marx (TE), Jordan Miller (T), Zeke Secrist (TB), Nathan Tenut (G), Scott Witte (C), Jeremy Wolff (QB)
2005 returning defensive starters: (7) Ryan Agrimson (LB), Dan Buker (LB), Shane Hanson (DB), Tyler Hasse (LB), Mike Larson (LB), Gregg Neumann (E), Robby Nesvig (DB)
2005 returning specialists: (3) Spasimir Bodurski (PK), Dan Keller (PK), Jovin Kroll (P, H)
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/sports0607
Football web site: www.uwrf.edu/sports/sports0607/fb_menu.htm
Sports information fax: 715/425-4486

2006 Falcon Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Time	Series record
Sept. 9	St. John's	A	1 p.m.	1-2-0
Sept. 16	Pacific Lutheran	A	1:30 p.m.	1-1-0
Sept. 23	St. Francis	A	Noon	0-0-0
Sept. 30	Oshkosh*	H	7 p.m.	35-15-1
Oct. 7	Eau Claire*	A	1 p.m.	46-32-7
Oct. 14	Stevens Point*	H	2 p.m.	35-27-3
Oct. 21	Stout*	H	1 p.m.	67-25-1
Oct. 28	Platteville*	A	1 p.m.	31-17-2
Nov. 4	La Crosse*	A	1 p.m.	29-55-7
Nov. 11	Whitewater	H	1 p.m.	21-26-2

* WIAC Game

2005 Falcon Results
3-7-0 Overall, 2-5-0 WIAC
Home 2-4-0, Away 1-3-0

Date	Opponent	Site	Time	Result	Series record
Sept. 10	Con.-St. Paul	H	1 p.m.	L, 26-21	0-4-0
Sept. 17	Bemidji State	H	1 p.m.	L, 35-19	1-3-0
Sept. 24	Pacific Lutheran	H	1 .m.	W, 45-14	1-1-0
Oct. 1	Oshkosh*	A	7 p.m.	W, 13-10 OT	35-15-1
Oct. 8	Eau Claire*	H	1 p.m.	L, 21-11	46-32-7
Oct. 15	Stevens Point*	A	1 p.m.	L, 23-16	35-27-3
Oct. 22	Stout*	A	1 p.m.	L, 38-6	67-25-1
Oct. 29	Platteville*	H	1 p.m.	W, 28-21	31-17-2
Nov. 5	La Crosse*	H	1 p.m.	L, 40-25	29-55-7
Nov. 12	Whitewater	A	1 p.m.	L, 35-16	21-26-2

*WIAC Game

2006 UW-River Falls football preview
Some things change while some things will stay the same for the 2006 Falcon football team.

The Falcon defense, under third year coordinator and Assistant Coach Kevin Bullis, will use the same schemes for the third year. But Head Coach John O'Grady has made a major change in the Falcon offense.

No longer will the Falcons run the wishbone offense. The Falcons will run a zone offense that means there will be a balance between running and passing. The Falcons have used he wishbone offense since midway through the 1973 season. But a change was needed, according to O'Grady who starts his 18th year with the Falcons. "Our offense has turned the ball over way too much the past few years," said O'Grady. "We need to cut down the number of turnovers and I think this is the way to do it." In the past three years, the Falcons have fumbled the ball 76 times and lost 45. In turnover margin, the Falcons are -10 in the past three seasons. "This program needs to take some steps forward. We need to limit scoring and the offense needs to limit turnovers. We're making this offensive move for many reasons - one is that we must cut back on fumbles," said O'Grady.

Offense
In 2005, like all previous seasons since 1973, the Falcons relied on rushing the ball out of the wishbone formation. Last year the Falcons ran 717 offensive plays - 590 (.882) were rushing attempts.

Nine starters return. Leading the way is running back Nathan Anderson who was a unanimous selection to the All-WIAC team in 2005. He rushed for 1,265 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. He scored six touchdowns and came out of the backfield to catch three passes for 36 yards and one score. Anderson will get most of the rushing attempts this fall. "He has an innate ability to find the hole. He does not have tremendous speed. But he's big, strong and can run fast enough," said O'Grady. Also back is quarterback Jeremy Wolff who O'Grady says has a strong arm and the talents to get the ball to open receivers. "He has as much talent to do the things at quarterback as anyone we've had." He rushed for 970 yards and scored eight times last year. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry. He completed 44-123 passes for 579 yards and six touchdowns. He threw six interceptions. He will cause defenses to not only defend the pass, but to honor his skills as a runner. Dave Affeldt (34 carries, 211 yards; nine receptions, 122 yards) is back with talents to run and catch the ball. He has been moved to wide receiver. Zeke Secrist (33-146 rushing yards) also returns. Joining Anderson in the backfield when the Falcons use two backs will be either B.J. LeRoy or John Ward. Wide receiver Josh Grover returns after catching seven passes for 102 yards and one touchdown last year. Others who will line up as wide outs are Chad Nolecheck and Mark LaScotte. Up front the Falcons have four starters back. Tackle Jordan Miller, guard Nathan Tenut, center Scott Witte and tight end Andy Marx lead the way. Mark Fedie and Dylan Dabrowski will compete for a guard spot while Pete Kolpack and Brad Vanderveren will play at a tackle spot. Ryan Hansen will play tight end also. "The offensive line will be very big," said O'Grady.

"We still will run the ball 60 per cent of time time and if we can do that successfully we will be okay. When defenses put seven or eight guys in the box it makes it very difficult to run the ball. Wolff has the talent to do what we want. We have confidence in him - he's the best athlete we've got," said O'Grady.

Defense
Seven starters return to the Falcon defense, including three of the top four tacklers from the 2005 season. Free safety Robby Nesvig returns after leading the team in tackles (41-27-68). He had one interception. Linebacker Ryan Agrimson (31-32-63) and corner Shane Hanson (46-14-60) also return. Agrimson had two tackles for loss and recovered two fumbles while Hanson had two tackles for loss, one interception and he recovered a fumble. Three other linebackers also return - Dan Buker (36-24-60), Mike Larson (20-18-38) Tyler Hasse (14-12-26). Buker had 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Larson had one tackle for loss and two hurries. Hasse had 1.5 sacks. Last year's second leading tackler, linebacker Tony Dorner (28-38-66) is also back. He had 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Only one starter in the line returns, but end Gregg Neumann had an outstanding season (26-17-43) with six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also recovered a fumble, had three hurries and blocked a kick.

"I think that in this defense you will see many more sacks - I'm expecting more," said O'Grady. "Overall we want to make it much more difficult for offenses to drive the ball. We have said that you can't give up a lot of big plays. In today's game, you'll give up some, but you can't give up easy touchdowns. We have done that. But offenses have learned to be patient - get first downs - we have not done a good job of preventing that. Our scheme will do more of that and I think opponents will have shorter drives and punt more. I'm excited about the scheme in general. We have a good group of players who can do what this defense asks them to do."

Special Teams
Punter Jovin Kroll and place kicker Spasimir Bodurski both return for the 2006 season. Also back is place kicker Dan Keller who played when Bodurski was hurt in mid-season. Kroll did all of the punting last year (47) and averaged 37.6 yards per kick. He had a long of 60-yards and had 12 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He also holds for extra points and field goals. Bodurski, who set a school record with a 47-yard field goal against Platteville, was good on 7-14 field goals and 5-7 extra points. Keller hit on 7-8 extra points. Shane Hanson was the leading kick off and punt returner last year. He averaged 5.8 yards in punt returns and 14.7 in kick off returns. Andy Marx and Jesse Goebel will be long snappers.

WIAC Race - Schedule
O'Grady believes that there is as much parody in the league as ever. "The WIAC is as good as it's ever been in terms of parody. Whitewater was a great team last year. The league is at its best in terms of athleticism and parody. Whitewater has several great players returning and you'd be crazy not to choose them to win the title. But La Crosse is always there also." The Falcons play three teams that competed in post-season play in 2005 - St. John's, St. Francis and Whitewater. UW-RF opens its season with three straight road games - at St. John's (Sept. 9), at Pacific Lutheran (Sept. 16) and St. St. Francis (Sept. 23). The Falcons open WIAC play on Sept. 30 when they host Oshkosh at 7 p.m. It will be the first night game at Ramer Field since the 1981 season. The Falcons also play Stevens Point (Oct. 14), Stout (Oct. 21) and defending WIAC champion, Whitewater (Nov. 11), at Ramer Field.

2005 Returning Letter Winners

Go to the Falcon 2005 Statistics Page

Go to the WIAC Football Page

John O'Grady
Head Coach