Brett Kasper and the Titans are eager to step out of the shadows of their WIAC rival. Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com

By Josh Smith
D3sports.com

OSHKOSH, Wis. -- Experience is an important factor when it comes to postseason success.

And while there are only a handful of players from UW-Oshkosh’s 2012 national semifinal team still on the roster, this year’s team is benefiting from that playoff run.

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UW-O head coach Pat Cerroni and his coaching staff learned a lot from the 2012 season, and they hope that experience pays off when they rematch with WIAC rival UW-Whitewater in the NCAA quarterfinals.

“We only have three guys that were on that team, so these guys really don’t know what it’s about,” Cerroni said Saturday following the No. 3 Titans’ 42-7 win over Ohio Northern. “But as coaches, we’re definitely more relaxed about everything.”

In addition to gathering their own postseason experience three years ago, the Titans also added previous experience to the staff.

Jim Purtill was the head coach at St. Norbert for 15 seasons, guiding the Green Knights to the playoffs 10 times. Now the quarterbacks coach at UW-Oshkosh, Purtill brought former St. Norbert assistant coach Joe Leadley along to coach the tight ends.

“Having Coach Purtill from St. Norbert here has helped a ton. He’s suggested some things, and we’ve actually followed through with them,” Cerroni said. “So having his 10 years of (playoff) experience helped me a great deal because I talk to him about it all the time. Him and Coach Leadley are two guys that have went in the playoffs for 10 years.”

Cerroni added that the success outside linebackers coach Tom Taraska and special teams coach Duane Rogatzki have had in the postseason while coaching at the high school level has been valuable to UW-Oshkosh as well.

“I think we just got a good group of guys that get it,” Cerroni said. “A lot of the younger coaches that we have here were here back then too.”

Senior linebacker Kevin MacCudden – who attended the University of Wisconsin in 2012 – has listened to the advice offered by assistant coaches like Levi Kossow, who played for the Titans in 2012.  

“We’re focused a lot during practice because they know what it takes to get to where they got to – and, hopefully, further,” MacCudden said.

On offense, sophomore quarterback Brett Kasper has watched the way some of the remaining 2012 players have conducted themselves while preparing for postseason competition.

“I’ve talked to Sam Versnik or Zach Kasuboski – those guys that have been on that team. They’re just kind of leading by example, and just kind of expressing the importance of finishing drives and treating it just like any week,” Kasper said. “You can’t overhype it. It’s just another football game.”

While the UW-Oshkosh players try not to overhype their upcoming matchup with No. 5 UW-Whitewater, fans of Division III football – and the WIAC, specifically – will be focused on the rematch.

It will be the third time WIAC teams have met in the NCAA playoffs. The Warhawks beat UW-La Crosse in the second round in 2006, and La Crosse topped UW-River Falls in the second round (which were the quarterfinals of the 16-team field) in 1995.

Both teams enter with 11-1 records, with Oshkosh topping Whitewater in the regular season. The Titans blocked a late field goal attempt to preserve a 10-7 victory. 

“They’re a great program, and we’re excited to play them again. We always get a Whitewater week every year, and it’s a lot of excitement every year to play them. And this year, we just happen to get to play them twice,” Kasper said. “We’re really excited at the opportunity.”

Cerroni and his team know what to expect from UW-Whitewater, which will help the Titans prepare for this weekend’s tilt. But the Warhawks are familiar with UW-Oshkosh too.

“The pros are that we know who they are, and the cons are they know who we are,” Cerroni said. “They’re a great football team, a great program and they’re the defending national champions.”

Cerroni said with both programs earning a spot in the NCAA quarterfinals, they have demonstrated the strength of the WIAC. And after earning their second conference title in four seasons, the Titans know that they’re in for another battle.

“We’re just trying to play at a high level. We know what we’re up against, and it could end next week very easily,” Cerroni said. “I’d rather be here than at home, and I think these kids would rather be here than at home too.

“We’re excited about it. We’re a big-game team.”