Free-for-all Friday -- Bugs, La Crosse Center ...

Free-for-all Friday -- Bugs, La Crosse Center ...

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area.  Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

WIZM - La Crosse

Mike Maier hosts

It's the world's shortest race, but it's been going on for a long time. Saturday is 95.7 the Rock's 21st annual St. Paddy's Day .01K down Pearl Street in La Crosse. Bags from the Rock stopped by to help preview the event and tell some stories of past races. This is the type of race anyone can do, and brag about getting a coveted shirt that proves you're a runner. Registration happens online here or beginning at 3 p.m. at Brothers. The race happens at 6 p.m. and ends around 6:01 p.m. — if you take your time.

It's the world's shortest race, but it's been going on for a long time. Saturday is 95.7 the Rock's 21st annual St. Paddy's Day .01K down Pearl Street in La Crosse. Bags from the Rock stopped by to help preview the event and tell some stories of past races. This is the type of race anyone can do, and brag about getting a coveted shirt that proves you're a runner. Registration happens online here or beginning at 3 p.m. at Brothers. The race happens at 6 p.m. and ends around 6:01 p.m. &mdash; if you take your time.

The world's shortest race is back Saturday in downtown La Crosse 

He has more receptions in college football history than anyone, he tried out for the Green Bay Packers, he won a European football championship playing both ways, and he might drive his Hall of Fame coach dad crazy with what he wants to do with the UW-La Crosse football team.

Michael Zweifel just took over the UW-L program and he joined Thursday as we relived some of his glory days and discussed how he’s going to approach the new gig as head coach. Zweifel has been with UW-L the past four years, including the last two as defensive coordinator.

As a player, Zweifel won what’s the Division III version of the Heisman (Gagliardi Trophy) with Dubuque, and led the nation in yards (1,915) and catches (140) back in 2011. He also graduated with 463 receptions, the most in college football history.

That earned him a tryout with the Packers, during the height of the Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordy Nelson days. Some years later Zweifel went on to play for the Vienna Vikings, winning a championship there.

Zweifel is also a sports science nerd and his approach to practices and utilizing time might come as a bit of a football culture shock — certainly to his dad, Stan Zweifel. While his father — who coached at UW-Whitewater and Dubuque and has written six books on coaching — believes in traditional "mental toughness," Michael is leaning into "chaos training." He plans to scrap "sterile" drills like hitting the sled or running through bags in favor of "small-sided games" that force players to be adaptable.

"If it doesn't move the needle forward, we're not gonna waste our time on it," Zweifel said, noting that improving weightlifting numbers "doesn't make you a better football player" and he'll eliminate things that don't help on Saturdays.

We also discuss taking over a program that’s been to the playoffs five consecutive years and just watched its rival, UW-River Falls, win the national championship last season. Zweifel is now tasked with rebuilding a defense that graduated eight starters as he looks to take the Eagles to the next level.

He has more receptions in college football history than anyone, he tried out for the Green Bay Packers, he won a European football championship playing both ways, and he might drive his Hall of Fame coach dad crazy with what he wants to do with the UW-La Crosse football team.
Michael Zweifel just took over the UW-L program and he joined Thursday as we relived some of his glory days and discussed how he&rsquo;s going to approach the new gig as head coach. Zweifel has been with UW-L the past four years, including the last two as defensive coordinator.
As a player, Zweifel won what&rsquo;s the Division III version of the Heisman (Gagliardi Trophy) with Dubuque, and led the nation in yards (1,915) and catches (140) back in 2011. He also graduated with 463 receptions, the most in college football history.
That earned him a tryout with the Packers, during the height of the Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordy Nelson days. Some years later Zweifel went on to play for the Vienna Vikings, winning a championship there.
Zweifel is also a sports science nerd and his approach to practices and utilizing time might come as a bit of a football culture shock &mdash; certainly to his dad, Stan Zweifel. While his father &mdash; who coached at UW-Whitewater and Dubuque and has written six books on coaching &mdash; believes in traditional "mental toughness," Michael is leaning into "chaos training." He plans to scrap "sterile" drills like hitting the sled or running through bags in favor of "small-sided games" that force players to be adaptable.
"If it doesn't move the needle forward, we're not gonna waste our time on it," Zweifel said, noting that improving weightlifting numbers "doesn't make you a better football player" and he'll eliminate things that don't help on Saturdays.
We also discuss taking over a program that&rsquo;s been to the playoffs five consecutive years and just watched its rival, UW-River Falls, win the national championship last season. Zweifel is now tasked with rebuilding a defense that graduated eight starters as he looks to take the Eagles to the next level.

From NCAA receptions leader to UW-L head coach — Michael Zweifel bringing modern approach to football

We talked some glory days and previewed the National Championships with Hall of Fame UW-La Crosse wrestling coach Dave Malecek.

That included the coach, in his 20th season, being brutally honest about what “college days Malecek” would do to the eight guys he has headed to Nationals this Friday and Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Malecek was a two-time state champ at Osage High School (91-9 career record) and went on to qualify for Division I Nationals four times at Northern Iowa, before participating in the USA Wrestling Team Olympic Trials in 1992 and 1996.

Aside from his wrestling days, we get into the eight from UW-L headed to Nationals this weekend and what makes each of those guys unique.

That includes one who graduated from UW-L as a two-time Nationals qualifier — where he took 2nd and 3rd — then went back home to coach his brother in high school for a year and is now back as a grad student and back at Nationals ranked with a 17-0 record.

Over Malecek’s career at UW-L, he’s coached 72 All-Americans, including 14 individual National Champions.

We talked some glory days and previewed the National Championships with Hall of Fame UW-La Crosse wrestling coach Dave Malecek.
That included the coach, in his 20th season, being brutally honest about what &ldquo;college days Malecek&rdquo; would do to the eight guys he has headed to Nationals this Friday and Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Malecek was a two-time state champ at Osage High School (91-9 career record) and went on to qualify for Division I Nationals four times at Northern Iowa, before participating in the USA Wrestling Team Olympic Trials in 1992 and 1996.
Aside from his wrestling days, we get into the eight from UW-L headed to Nationals this weekend and what makes each of those guys unique.
That includes one who graduated from UW-L as a two-time Nationals qualifier &mdash; where he took 2nd and 3rd &mdash; then went back home to coach his brother in high school for a year and is now back as a grad student and back at Nationals ranked with a 17-0 record.
Over Malecek&rsquo;s career at UW-L, he&rsquo;s coached 72 All-Americans, including 14 individual National Champions.

Mike Maier hosts

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