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Warhawk Almanac

Warhawk Almanac: A Quaker Beginning

10/03/2024

Autumn Oakey

Written by Riley Smith

Today, the students and athletes at UW-Whitewater are fondly known as the Warhawks and are accompanied by a hawk mascot named Willie. Though, that was not always the case. Throughout the university’s early years, the student body had no real nickname or mascot to call their own. They did, however, have a school color- purple. “The Purple” was a common way to refer to school teams, whether athletic, for the football team, was referred to as “The Purple” in the 1934 Minneiska, the university’s yearbook, as well as other student organizations, such as the debate team.[1] Yet, as early as 1929, the football team also used the moniker of the “Quakers.”^[2] As students were trying to determine a mascot or symbol that represented them, the Quakers won out as the unofficial school mascot. It would be used in reference to the school’s athletic teams for the next couple of decades.

“Evolution of Willie the Warhawk”, *Royal Purple* (Whitewater, Wisconsin), November 19, 2014, 7. https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.35002026

*Faculty Dames Directory,* Whitewater, Wisconsin: Whitewater State Teachers College, 1957-1958.

*Baseball_quakers_nd.*, undated, still image, University of Wisconsin -Whitewater, Whitewater, Wisconsin.

Many stories exist as to how the name came to be. One story states that a traveling baseball team came to Whitewater to play a game and left their jerseys here, which had “The Quakers” printed on the back.^[3] A variation of said story claims the baseball team was bankrupt and unable to pay for a hotel, so they left the aforementioned jerseys as a form of payment.^[4] Another story is that a local team, named the Quakers, provided the jerseys.^[5] Regardless of how the name came to be, the student body would come to accept it as their own. It was not long before a mascot, who represented the new Quaker identity, started showing up to parades and other athletic events. The mascot’s face also soon appeared on signs at sporting events and on the homes of students and fans.

Despite the new nickname and mascot’s popularity, the school did not officially recognize the symbol of the Quaker as a mascot. With growing dissatisfaction with the passive symbolism associated with Quakers, students and staff alike were interested in adopting a mascot that had a fighting spirit.^[7] In the late 1950s, a contest was held in hopes of bringing upon a name the school could officially adopt.^[8] Four students, August Revoy, Ron Hall, John Rabata, and William Jolly, came up with the name “Warhawks”.^[9] The name was then officially approved by the school’s president at the time, Robert C. Williams.^[10] While the student body is no longer known as the Quakers, both the name and mascot hold a unique place in UW-Whitewater’s history.

[1] Vasna Brajkovic, “Evolution of Willie the Warhawk,” Royal Purple, November 19, 2014, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.35002026; Minneiska, 1934, 93, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Archives & Area Research Center; “Purple Debate Team Wins from La Crosse,” Royal Purple, March 4, 1929, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.32490933.

^[2] “Win in a Victory Over Platteville,” UW-Whitewater Scrapbook, 1927 - 1930, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.35161232; “Historical Timeline,” University of Wisconsin Whitewater, 2018, https://www.uww.edu/150/timeline.

^[3] Steven Balistreri, “Why are we the Warhawks?,” University Center Blog, February 12, 2018, https://blogs.uww.edu/ucinfo/2018/02/12/why-are-we-the-warhawks/.

^[4] “What’s In a Name? President, 1918 Grad Solve Mystery of ‘Quaker’ Origin,” Royal Purple, February 11, 1958, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.32716927.

^[5] Steven Balistreri, “Why are we the Warhawks?,” https://blogs.uww.edu/ucinfo/2018/02/12/why-are-we-the-warhawks/; Vasna Brajkovic, “Evolution of Willie the Warhawk,” Royal Purple, November 19, 2014, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.35002026.

^[6] Steven Balistreri, “Why are we the Warhawks?,” https://blogs.uww.edu/ucinfo/2018/02/12/why-are-we-the-warhawks/.

^[7] “From the Editor: ‘Quakers’ is Too Peaceful Say WSC Athletic Leaders,” Royal Purple, February 18, 1958, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.32716928.

^[8] “Contest to Replace ‘Quaker’ Announced by Royal Purple,” Royal Purple, February 25, 1958, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.32716929.

^[9] Parker Olsen, “Did you know UW-W once had an Indigenous logo?,” Royal Purple, February 13, 2022, https://royalpurplenews.com/35380/sports/did-you-know-uww-had-a-indigenous-logo/.

^[10] Haney, Campus Cornerstones, 111.

Warhawk Almanac: Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium - Home of Warhawk Baseball

09/05/2024

Melanie Jones

0 Comments

Written by Jacob Ober

Warhawk baseball at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has a long and storied history, dating back to the 1870s with the organization of the first baseball club on campus.[1] It wasn’t until 1957 that the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) organized the first regular baseball season between the member schools.[2] Whitewater was a co-champion of that first season, tying with Eau Claire for the title.

Since 1977, the UW-Whitewater baseball team has qualified for the Division III National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament 25 times, advancing to the World Series eight times and coming away as World Series champions twice, in 2005 and 2014.[3] Through all the success of the baseball program at UW-Whitewater, they’ve called one place home: Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

Aerial view of Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium — Aerial View of Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium. [4]

Prucha Field, built in 1957, coinciding with the beginning of the organized baseball program, is named after professor Rudolph “Rudy” W. Prucha, who taught physics at the university from 1932-1967.[5] Prucha was a highly respected professor, earning the first Excellence in Teaching Award in 1932, and again in 1965 shortly before his retirement. In addition to teaching physics, Prucha also took an interest in the university’s athletics, serving as the faculty athletic representative during his tenure at Whitewater.[6] Following his retirement, the Rudolph W. Prucha Memorial Scholarship for Physics Education was established in his honor, given to students on an annual basis who are pursuing a career in physics education.[7]

Professor Prucha (right) demonstrating a physics principle to students.[8]

As the Warhawk baseball team gained prestige, Prucha Field required updates and improvements. During the tenure of James “Jim” B. Miller from 1987-2003, the stadium underwent major changes, adding new features such as batting cages, permanent dugouts, a press box, additional seating, and more.[9] During his sixteen years as UW-Whitewater’s head baseball coach, Miller and his Warhawk baseball team compiled a 416-226-4 record, making seven NCAA Division III appearances and one World Series appearance in 1989.[10] At the time of his retirement, Miller’s 416 wins were the most in program history, only surpassed by John Vodenlich, the current head baseball coach.[11] On May 7^th, 2011, Prucha Field was renamed to Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium in honor of Miller's success.[12]

James “Jim” B. Miller's portrait in the UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame.[13]

Today, Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium remains the home of Warhawk baseball. The stadium’s amenities have made it one of the premier venues in NCAA Division III baseball for it has served as the host of the NCAA Regional tournament nine times since 2004.[14]

[1] M. Janette Bohi, A History of Wisconsin State University – Whitewater, (Whitewater State University Foundation Inc., 1967), 49.

[2] “WIAC Baseball Team Champions,” WIAC, https://wiacsports.com/documents/2010/6/22/BaseballTeamChamp.pdf?id=107.

[3] “Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, https://uwwsports.com/sports/2017/8/29/prucha-field.aspx.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Bohi, A History of Wisconsin State University-Whitewater, 262.

[6] Ibid.

[7] “Scholarships and Awards Within UW-W Physics Department,” Department of Physics, Univeristy of Wisconsin - Whitewater, https://www.uww.edu/cls/departments/physics#scholarshipsandawards%23scholarships-and-awards.

[8] Minneiska, 1958, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Archives & Area Research Center.

[9] “Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, https://uwwsports.com/sports/2017/8/29/prucha-field.aspx.

[10] “Athletics Hall of Fame, Jim Miller,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, https://uwwsports.com/honors/athletics-hall-of-fame/jim-miller/245.

[11] “Baseball Coaching Records,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, https://uwwsports.com/sports/2024/4/1/baseball-coach-history.aspx.

[12] “James B. Miller Stadium Dedication,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, 8 April 2011, https://uwwsports.com/news/2011/4/8/BSB_0408112109.aspx.

[13]“Athletics Hall of Fame, Jim Miller,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, https://uwwsports.com/honors/athletics-hall-of-fame/jim-miller/245.

[14] “James B. Miller Stadium Dedication,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, 8 April 2011, https://uwwsports.com/news/2011/4/8/BSB_0408112109.aspx.

Recent Posts

Warhawk Almanac: A Quaker Beginning

Written by Riley SmithToday, the students and athletes at UW-Whitewater are fondly known as the Warhawks and are accompanied by a hawk mascot named Willie. Though, that was not always the case. Throughout the university’s early years, the student body had no real nickname or mascot to call their own. They did, however, have a school color- purple. “The Purple” was a common way to refer to school teams, whether athletic, for the football team, was referred to as “The Purple” in the 1934 Minneiska, the university’s yearbook, as well as other student organizations, such as the debate team.[1] Yet, as early as 1929, the football team also used the moniker of the “Quakers.”[2] As students were trying to determine a mascot or symbol that represented them, the Quakers won out as the unofficial school mascot. It would be used in reference to the school’s athletic teams for the next couple of decades. “Evolution of Willie the Warhawk”, Royal Purple (Whitewater, Wisconsin), November 19, 2014, 7. https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.35002026 Faculty Dames Directory, Whitewater, Wisconsin: Whitewater State Teachers College, 1957-1958. Baseball_quakers_nd., undated, still image, University of Wisconsin -Whitewater, Whitewater, Wisconsin. Many stories exist as to how the name came to be. One story states that a traveling baseball team came to Whitewater to play a game and left their jerseys here, which had “The Quakers” printed on the back.[3] A variation of said story claims the baseball team was bankrupt and unable to pay for a hotel, so they left the aforementioned jerseys as a form of payment.[4] Another story is that a local team, named the Quakers, provided the jerseys.[5] Regardless of how the name came to be, the student body would come to accept it as their own. It was not long before a mascot, who represented the new Quaker identity, started showing up to parades and other athletic events. The mascot’s face also soon appeared on signs at sporting events and on the homes of students and fans. “Evolution of Willie the Warhawk”, Royal Purple (Whitewater, Wisconsin), November 19, 2014, 7. https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.35002026Despite the new nickname and mascot’s popularity, the school did not officially recognize the symbol of the Quaker as a mascot. With growing dissatisfaction with the passive symbolism associated with Quakers, students and staff alike were interested in adopting a mascot that had a fighting spirit.[7] In the late 1950s, a contest was held in hopes of bringing upon a name the school could officially adopt.[8] Four students, August Revoy, Ron Hall, John Rabata, and William Jolly, came up with the name “Warhawks”.[9] The name was then officially approved by the school’s president at the time, Robert C. Williams.[10] While the student body is no longer known as the Quakers, both the name and mascot hold a unique place in UW-Whitewater’s history. [1] Vasna Brajkovic, “Evolution of Willie the Warhawk,” Royal Purple, November 19, 2014, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.35002026; Minneiska, 1934, 93, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Archives & Area Research Center; “Purple Debate Team Wins from La Crosse,” Royal Purple, March 4, 1929, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.32490933. [2] “Win in a Victory Over Platteville,” UW-Whitewater Scrapbook, 1927 - 1930, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.35161232; “Historical Timeline,” University of Wisconsin Whitewater, 2018, https://www.uww.edu/150/timeline. [3] Steven Balistreri, “Why are we the Warhawks?,” University Center Blog, February 12, 2018, https://blogs.uww.edu/ucinfo/2018/02/12/why-are-we-the-warhawks/. [4] “What’s In a Name? President, 1918 Grad Solve Mystery of ‘Quaker’ Origin,” Royal Purple, February 11, 1958, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.32716927. [5] Steven Balistreri, “Why are we the Warhawks?,” https://blogs.uww.edu/ucinfo/2018/02/12/why-are-we-the-warhawks/; Vasna Brajkovic, “Evolution of Willie the Warhawk,” Royal Purple, November 19, 2014, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.35002026. [6] Steven Balistreri, “Why are we the Warhawks?,” https://blogs.uww.edu/ucinfo/2018/02/12/why-are-we-the-warhawks/. [7] “From the Editor: ‘Quakers’ is Too Peaceful Say WSC Athletic Leaders,” Royal Purple, February 18, 1958, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.32716928. [8] “Contest to Replace ‘Quaker’ Announced by Royal Purple,” Royal Purple, February 25, 1958, https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.32716929. [9] Parker Olsen, “Did you know UW-W once had an Indigenous logo?,” Royal Purple, February 13, 2022, https://royalpurplenews.com/35380/sports/did-you-know-uww-had-a-indigenous-logo/. [10] Haney, Campus Cornerstones, 111....

Warhawk Almanac: Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium - Home of Warhawk Baseball

Written by Jacob OberWarhawk baseball at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has a long and storied history, dating back to the 1870s with the organization of the first baseball club on campus.[1] It wasn’t until 1957 that the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) organized the first regular baseball season between the member schools.[2] Whitewater was a co-champion of that first season, tying with Eau Claire for the title. Since 1977, the UW-Whitewater baseball team has qualified for the Division III National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament 25 times, advancing to the World Series eight times and coming away as World Series champions twice, in 2005 and 2014.[3] Through all the success of the baseball program at UW-Whitewater, they’ve called one place home: Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.Aerial View of Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium. [4]Prucha Field, built in 1957, coinciding with the beginning of the organized baseball program, is named after professor Rudolph “Rudy” W. Prucha, who taught physics at the university from 1932-1967.[5] Prucha was a highly respected professor, earning the first Excellence in Teaching Award in 1932, and again in 1965 shortly before his retirement. In addition to teaching physics, Prucha also took an interest in the university’s athletics, serving as the faculty athletic representative during his tenure at Whitewater.[6] Following his retirement, the Rudolph W. Prucha Memorial Scholarship for Physics Education was established in his honor, given to students on an annual basis who are pursuing a career in physics education.[7]Professor Prucha (right) demonstrating a physics principle to students.[8]As the Warhawk baseball team gained prestige, Prucha Field required updates and improvements. During the tenure of James “Jim” B. Miller from 1987-2003, the stadium underwent major changes, adding new features such as batting cages, permanent dugouts, a press box, additional seating, and more.[9] During his sixteen years as UW-Whitewater’s head baseball coach, Miller and his Warhawk baseball team compiled a 416-226-4 record, making seven NCAA Division III appearances and one World Series appearance in 1989.[10] At the time of his retirement, Miller’s 416 wins were the most in program history, only surpassed by John Vodenlich, the current head baseball coach.[11] On May 7th, 2011, Prucha Field was renamed to Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium in honor of Miller's success.[12]James “Jim” B. Miller's portrait in the UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame.[13] Today, Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium remains the home of Warhawk baseball. The stadium’s amenities have made it one of the premier venues in NCAA Division III baseball for it has served as the host of the NCAA Regional tournament nine times since 2004.[14] [1] M. Janette Bohi, A History of Wisconsin State University – Whitewater, (Whitewater State University Foundation Inc., 1967), 49. [2] “WIAC Baseball Team Champions,” WIAC, https://wiacsports.com/documents/2010/6/22/BaseballTeamChamp.pdf?id=107. [3] “Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, https://uwwsports.com/sports/2017/8/29/prucha-field.aspx.[4] Ibid. [5] Bohi, A History of Wisconsin State University-Whitewater, 262.[6] Ibid.[7] “Scholarships and Awards Within UW-W Physics Department,” Department of Physics, Univeristy of Wisconsin - Whitewater, https://www.uww.edu/cls/departments/physics#scholarshipsandawards%23scholarships-and-awards. [8] Minneiska, 1958, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Archives & Area Research Center. [9] “Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, https://uwwsports.com/sports/2017/8/29/prucha-field.aspx.[10] “Athletics Hall of Fame, Jim Miller,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, https://uwwsports.com/honors/athletics-hall-of-fame/jim-miller/245.[11] “Baseball Coaching Records,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, https://uwwsports.com/sports/2024/4/1/baseball-coach-history.aspx.[12] “James B. Miller Stadium Dedication,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, 8 April 2011, https://uwwsports.com/news/2011/4/8/BSB_0408112109.aspx.[13]“Athletics Hall of Fame, Jim Miller,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, https://uwwsports.com/honors/athletics-hall-of-fame/jim-miller/245.[14] “James B. Miller Stadium Dedication,” University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics, 8 April 2011, https://uwwsports.com/news/2011/4/8/BSB_0408112109.aspx. ...