Greg Peters

This week's column may remind you of a 1980's sitcom "flashback episode." Cue the "Family Ties" episode when Elyse and Steve Keaton told young Andy stories from previous seasons on the couch. It was still a good episode because they were "reminiscing" the best scenes from the shows in previous seasons, but in reality, the writers likely needed a week off or were in contract negotiations.

There isn't one story to focus on this week; there are many. Have a seat on the couch, prop your feet up, and let’s reminisce.

The electricity surrounding the UW-River Falls homecoming football game this past Saturday could have powered every building in Pierce County. I live 1/2 mile west of Ramer Field and, in my 20 years living in River Falls, I’ve never seen cars parked by Rocky Branch Elementary for a Falcon football game. The saying is true, a crowd attracts a crowd.

You could feel the University pride strolling through the parking lot. Smoke from grilled brats was wafting in the air. People in lawn chairs were laughing and smiling. The colors on the trees announced it was autumn but the shorts and beads of sweat felt like summer. It was as college football as college football can get. 

A huge pat on the back goes out to Head Football Coach Matt Walker and his staff for building their program to the fifth-ranked team in the country this year, but another huge pat on the back should go to University Chancellor Dr. Maria Gallo.

To have a great college football game you obviously have to have top notch coaching and highly talented players, but there was a key element to the college football "atmosphere" factor at UWRF that had been missing for a long time until this season: The Band. Drums and horns go together with college football like brats on a warm bun. Falcon football was missing the rally cry and the vibe. It was missing the passion in the stands. Well, that passion is back in a big way.    

Another kudos goes to UW-River Falls Professor Tom Barnett for lobbying and directing the band and Gallo for approving it. The Falcon drum major is none other than former River Falls Wildcat John Harworth. In football terms, Harworth is a 5-star recruit, having helped lead the River Falls Wildcat band to three straight marching band state championships. 

However, every great organization starts from the top and Dr. Gallo has been like a shot of adrenaline for UW-River Falls and the western Wisconsin community. College athletics is the front porch for the University and Dr. Gallo existentially understands this.

Celebrity softball!

After the Falcons' 27-16 win over UW-Platteville on Saturday, the River Falls Baseball Council hosted the Second Annual Celebrity Softball Showcase at First National Bank of River Falls Field. Team Heroes took home the trophy behind a host of River Falls Fire Department volunteers in Ryan Ross, Adam Gierl, and Harm Bents. Westside Elementary Principal Chris Kamrath is also on the R.F.F.D. but he played for Team River Falls School District. River Falls State Bank President Todd Schultz took home the Powerade Player at the Plate honors. Pierce County Journal Sportswriter Joe Peine led off for Team Westsiders. Peine had a ton of speed on the basepaths and he's going to need it, as PCJ Editor Sarah Nigbor will be all over him like a pack of wild dogs on a three-legged cat, to quote a catch phrase from River Falls Sports YouTube Broadcaster Kevin Westhuis.

One millionth viewer!

Speaking of the River Falls Sports YouTube Channel, they have received over one million viewers since its inception in the fall of 2018 on the YouTube platform. The one-millionth viewer was JoAnne DeBriyn from Appleton, Wis. She is the grandmother of Wildcat football lineman Tanner Zepczyk.

When DeBriyn received her $200 prize courtesy of on-line viewer donations she replied, "Oh my gosh, thank you so much, I needed groceries!"

Many other online high school streaming services charge viewers to watch (see Woodbury High School). The non-profit volunteer-run River Falls Sports Broadcasting team is dishing out donated money to grandmothers across the state.   

Wildcat Athletic Booster Club Membership Drive

The first River Falls Wildcat (formerly The Westsiders) conference championship on record was in 1934 by the boys' basketball team. Since 1934, including all sports, River Falls has garnered 188 conference championships, but 31 of those have come since 2016, including 15 state tournament appearances in the last seven years. It's tough to argue at least some of the wins during the last seven years correlates to the outstanding job by the Wildcat Athletic Booster Club raising over $250,000 during the same span. It is amazing how much good so few people do in this organization.

The Wildcat Athletic Booster Club is currently having their fall membership drive from now until the end of October. For more information, go to rfhsboosters.org. As is the case with likely every volunteer effort in country, it's a thankless job.

This reporter over-heard one Hudson-based business owner who had donated to the Wildcat Athletic Booster Club complaining he didn't receive enough appreciation from the volunteer board members for his $250 business sponsorship. He offered ways for the volunteers to better quench his thirst for appreciation.

This fella has his pants on backwards. The appreciation one receives from supporting high school athletics (whether it's donating, sponsoring, or just buying a ticket to go see a game) is supporting our schools and kids. Funds go towards everything from better equipment to better training (ETS) to better high school athletic experiences. If more wins are also a byproduct, that is icing on the cake. The appreciation a donor receives should be more well-rounded student-athletes receiving better experiences in high school and possibly a little extra pride in the conference titles, not how much swag they receive for their donation and how they receive it.

To quote a line from USA Olympic Hockey Coach Herb Brooks, “The name on the front of your jersey is a hell of a lot more important that the one on the back.”