Building off the momentum of the previous season was no longer an option for the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh football team as it headed into the 2019 season.
After three straight seasons of deep National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) runs—which included a Stagg Bowl appearance, a semifinal appearance and reaching the quarterfinals—the Titans missed out on postseason play in 2018.
This year’s seniors were determined to get the tradition-rich program back to the playoffs, and they knew that meant starting fresh and focusing on the tasks placed in front of them to construct a new framework for success.
“The seniors met after the season last year and just talked about how we needed to stop living off the past and we needed to start our own new thing,” senior defensive end Brady Heimer said. “We took on the mantra ‘Brick-by-Brick’. Last season is when we got torn down a little bit and this year we wanted to start rebuilding. With a renewed emphasis on the little things, we knew it would get us to where we wanted to be.”
It was a big goal for a team that only boasted 13 seniors and a total of 33 upperclassman with 29 first-year players. But practice-by-practice, game-by-game—and brick-by-brick—the Titan foundation became stronger and the wins started to add up.
“All year long we’ve talked about how to build a team,” said Pat Cerroni, UWO head football coach. “We have just gotten better and better and closer and closer.”
A big part of the success is attributed to the trust the seniors have instilled in the team’s underclassman.
“Starting in preseason we took them (freshman) under our wings and tried to teach them the plays. We watched them each repetition and if they made a mistake, we gave them tips and tricks along the way,” said senior offensive tackle Alex Wipperfurth. “It was showing them we have trust in them and knowing they can produce for our team.”
Wipperfurth believes the underclassman taught the seniors something as well.
“They have showed us how we can play looser and have showed us it is still a game and to have more fun with it,” Wipperfuth said. “We are a more laidback and relaxed group, and I think you are seeing it translate to how we play.”
A crucial turning point
The new-look Titans rattled off five wins in their first six games, including opening the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with three-straight (WIAC) victories.
A crack in the foundation happened at UW-La Crosse with an uncharacteristic 31-3 loss.
With three games left in the regular season and knowing another loss would keep the Titans out of postseason action, the team rallied.
“The loss to UW-La Crosse solidified our team; we all felt the pain together, we all knew how much that hurt and the next week we all came out and played really well,” Heimer said.
Wipperfurth added that the team took on a ‘playoff mentality’ after the loss to UW-La Crosse.
“We were fighting for our lives in every game. If we didn’t win, our season would be over. We realized what was ahead of us and focused in,” he said.
The Titans went on to upset then-13th ranked UW-Platteville, 24-20, with freshman quarterback Kobe Berghammer masterminding a winning eight-play, 75-yard drive in the final two minutes that was capped off by a 10-yard touchdown pass to classmate Peter MacCudden with 18 seconds left in the game.
They then defeated UW-River Falls, 41-20, and shocked third-ranked UW-Whitewater 27-20 this past Saturday to win a share of the WIAC Championship.
The victory over the Warhawks also propelled the Titans back into the postseason.
“Feels pretty great to be back in the NCAA playoffs.”
Hoping for a run
UW Oshkosh now focuses its attention on Central College (Iowa), its first-round opponent in the NCAA Division III Championship. The Titans play at Central College Saturday, Nov. 23 at noon.
Heimer and Wipperfurth are both thankful to put on the Titan uniform for at least one more week.
“I have loved every minute of my time at UWO,” Wipperfurth said. “I think coming here was the best decision I could have made. I have really enjoyed the team and I don’t want it to end anytime soon.”
Heimer agrees.
“Now that I am a senior, it means a little more,” Heimer said. “I am hoping we make a little run here.”
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