As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the opening of Perkins Stadium, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Intercollegiate Athletics presents the "Perkins Stadium at 50" series Presented by UW Credit Union, a look at some of the most memorable moments and games in the history of the stadium.

Take a look back at all the stories from the entire series:
Perkins Stadium at 50 – In a Snowstorm, Warhawks Punch Ticket to NCAA Semifinal (2005)
Perkins Stadium at 50 – The Perk is Born (1970)
Perkins Stadium at 50 – Another Stagg Bowl Ticket Punched (2007)
Perkins Stadium at 50 – Late Comeback Defeats Eventual WIAC Champion (2002)
Perkins Stadium at 50 – Warhawks Top UW-Oshkosh Late In Front Of Record Crowd
Perkins Stadium at 50 – ESPN College GameDay Story Boosts Homecoming 2014
Perkins Stadium at 50 – Warhawks Complete Unbeaten Regular Season in 2005
Perkins Stadium at 50 – Strong Attendance Becomes a Staple at The Perk
Perkins Stadium at 50 – Thankful for Novembers at The Perk
Perkins Stadium at 50 – 2005 Warhawks Post First NCAA Postseason Home Win
Perkins Stadium at 50 – 2010 Warhawks Survive Second-Round Test
Perkins Stadium at 50 – Epic Comeback Sends Warhawks to 2014 Semifinals
Perkins Stadium at 50 – Warhawks Win Thrilling 2019 National Semifinal
Perkins Stadium at 50 – UW-Whitewater's Second Home (2005-14)
Perkins Stadium at 50 – Weighing in on The Perk
 
We wrap up our Perkins Stadium at 50 series Presented by UW Credit Union by hearing from a range of student-athletes, alumni, coaches and staff who've been a part of the history of Perkins Stadium over the last 50 years. They shared their thoughts on Perkins Stadium and the venue's unique gameday atmosphere.
 
Several of the quotes below come courtesy of the Inside Warhawk Athletics podcast.
 
Mackenzie Balanganayi (Palatine, Ill./Palatine), Defensive Lineman, 2017-present
"We were talking around amongst our roommates a couple of days ago and I don't think there is anything better than walking out to that dark side band. I get the chills every time. It's different anywhere else, you don't you don't get that anywhere else. You feel unbeatable, you feel unbeatable."
 
Bob Berezowitz, Head Coach, 1985-2006
"The idea of tailgating began when the late Tom Pattison and I developed the first Warhawk Football website to market tailgating at the Stadium. It was developed to get parents, former players and Quarterback Club members the opportunity to get together before a game. In 2020, it is a dream come true. I had to sell (former) Chancellor (Gaylon) Greenhill on the idea of allowing alcohol in the parking lot. Then we had a gravel lot and I worked with parking to blacktop the lot, and the rest is history. The opportunities to bring former players back and honor championship teams, as well as have Alumni Day, have helped bring people back. I feel UW-W has the best tailgating gathering in Division III football. I am so excited every Saturday to be at Perkins Stadium to see everyone getting ready for a great game. Attendance just keeps increasing each year."
 
Joe Carollo, Football Game Manager, 2001-present
"For the last 19 years, being a part of Warhawk Football games at Perkins Stadium has been incredible. As the Director of Game Management, I don't get to be a 'fan' as much as I would like, but I am able to get a great look behind the scenes at all areas of the UW-Whitewater gameday experience. Our staff is amazing and everyone really has a firm grasp on their responsibilities and area of the stadium, which helps us provide the best atmosphere for all. I really enjoy interactions with the tailgaters in the parking lot, watching the band drumline march into the stadium, greeting alumni on the field and in the press box, fan engagement activities at the gate and on the field and our amazing student section. The entire setup of Perkins Stadium provides an atmosphere that I have not seen rivaled anywhere less than big-time college or professional football. If I had to pick my one favorite thing, it would be standing by the entrance and experiencing our team bursting through the tunnel onto the field. I love seeing our great coaches over the years charge out with the Warhawks storming through the smoke, cannon firing, Willie the Warhawk and the cheer team with massive flags leading our players across the field through the band playing the Fight Song … it still gives me chills every time!"
 
Brady Grayvold, Defensive Back, 2012-14
"The thing that makes football special there is that football is important. I think that's something people get twisted. They say if football is important, then that's the only important thing and people must not care about anything else. That's not true. The reason why it's so special is that it's a staple. Athletics are the front porch to a university, and in Whitewater, they made it a priority to make athletics important and to make the student-athlete experience top notch. When you combine those types of things and the success that's been had, I think that creates a culture among the students, the boosters, the alumni, different fans and the kids that want to play there."
 
Gary Harms, Director of Recreation Sports and Facilities, 1985-2020
"What I enjoy the most about game day is the pre-game atmosphere and energy, including the music that can be heard from blocks away, the tailgating in all of the surrounding parking lots, the marching band coming into the stadium and the team taking the field. Once the game itself begins, our atmosphere is second to none with a dominating team, enormous crowds for Division III football, and an incredible venue in Perkins Stadium itself!"
 
Bob Lanza, Associate Athletic Director, 1985-2017
"That didn't just happen by accident. Coach Berezowitz, back in the early 2000s, was in to getting an atmosphere going. Tom Pattison, who has passed away, was a big supporter of that. We got support from our administration, and we worked with our police to start allowing tailgating, which is what people wanted. We went from having basically a couple hundred students and parents at the games, maybe a crowd of 2,000, to building a tremendous atmosphere. We started having reserved parking spots, people buying spots for the whole year, and the tailgating atmosphere became fantastic. Other schools came in and were envious of us. It was the work of a lot of people to put that together to create that atmosphere. Weather is always a factor, but we were fortunate in September and October to have a lot of beautiful days. A couple things worked out great across campus with our Homecoming committee and our Parents Day group. It's coordinated activities with them in the field house before the game, and then everyone would come out to the stadium after. It just snowballed into a big event. I think people look forward to it now, and even when their son or daughter is done competing here, they still come back for it. I think it's also something that attracts recruits on game day. They come in and see it, and their parents see it, and they want to be a part of it. It's continued to this day, and it's been a lot of fun."
 
Chris Lindeke, Assistant Athletic Director, 2014-present
"The atmosphere at Perkins Stadium is electric. The support for Warhawk football from the campus and the community is incredible, and I'm privileged to be a small part of it. The progressive thinking and vision from the athletic department and campus leadership in the 1970s and 1980s set the stage for one of college football's best gameday atmospheres. The combination of the football program's success and the numerous traditions built around game days over the past 50 years – the band, the cannon, the tailgating and all the others – is unparalleled in Division III football."
 
Mark McGrath (Lisle, Ill./Lisle), Defensive Back, 2017-present
"When you leave the SAC and you pound that rock on your way to the middle, and then you have someone break us out, go to the sidelines and then just get the opening kickoff. Everything. It is just incredible. The fans are so in tune to the game. I can sit on the bench when I've got on the field and know exactly what's going on with the offense if I just listen to the fans, which is pretty cool."
 
Marcus McLin, Defensive Back, 2011-14
"My favorite memory of The Perk is the fans. You don't know until you actually play there or actually go to those games. I go back home and people know about us, but it's like, with us being a Division III team, you don't expect that many people at games. You don't expect the loyalty, the crowd, the tailgating … those are memories you can't take away. When we leave that locker room, we pound the rock and we look out into the stands, and whether it's zero degrees or 80 degrees, we have fans out there. That memory could never be replaced. That's one thing that holds true. Any time I can go back, I go back, because of those memories. When we go back and walk out on the field, it brings back those glorious moments and glory days we had."
 
Quinn Meinerz (Hartford, Wis./Hartford Union), Offensive Lineman, 2017-20
"The fans and all of our families come to these games consistently, and they stay throughout any weather conditions. The cues from the fans when we score, when there's a big play … they're so in tune with what's going on in the game. I feel like some people kind of think of it as just kind of, 'hey, let's go hang out at the football game.' No, it's everyone's tuned into this game and you're not allowed to bring noise makers and stuff. I mean, hey, shake your keys. You got the keys with you and stuff like that. So, there's little things that are fans trying to get really into the game. It feels like it's always packed in there."

Mike Miller, Athletic Grounds Crew Lead
"Game day at Perkins Stadium is filled with football traditions that started decades ago. Tailgaters deliver familiar aromas of charcoal grills cooking meat to perfection. Alumni friends and family come together to reminisce about the old times and to share new times. Dr. (Glenn) Hayes leads his marching band into the stadium playing the Warhawk song to add more anticipation to the day. The excitement in the air is palpable. It is a wonderful experience to be a part of."

Douglas Pickar, Student Manager, 1968-72
"Having the new locker rooms ... it was a very special building. It had a big training room, a nice locker room for our team, visitors locker room and equipment room. The stadium was a great place to watch football. Coach Perkins was a very special man, and all of us very lucky to be part of that team."
 
Ryan Ponick (Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd), Running Back, 2018-present
"You're stepping into the office … that's our church. You go out there and you prepared all week long. I can't put words on it right now, but there's that kinetic feeling and it's very visceral. You respond to it in crazy ways. If I can pitch a tent and live out there, I certainly would. It's an awesome place to be. I love The Perk."
 
Michael Wozny, Former Football Student-Athlete, 1986-89
"In late fall of 1989 I played in my final game as a Warhawk after four seasons. While it ended in a tie against Oshkosh I didn't want to leave the field. I wanted to take in the sights and sounds for as long as I possibly could. The cool temps and overcast skies didn't deter me from just enjoying Perkins Stadium once last time as a player. Talking to teammates andcCoaches who had been and continue to be some of my best friends during my time there. As it finally came time to exit up the ramp one last time I was very proud of the accomplishments we made, the fun times we had and the battles we went through together as a team. We have lost several of our brothers since that day, but I will never forget them and that very last game."