Adrian, the 2010 non-conference opener for the Warhawks, has decided to break its contract with UW-Whitewater for the 2011 season opener, Whitewater announced. The game was scheduled to be played at Adrian in Adrian, Mich., on Saturday, Sept. 3.

The Warhawks have traditionally struggled to find NCAA Division III non-conference opponents. Athletic director Paul Plinske states, “This ties right in with what we have been saying for years: Few, if any, are willing to play UW-Whitewater, especially in our region. Here we are (again) searching for an NCAA Division III opponent.”

This past season, UW-Whitewater played Adrian and two NAIA teams for its three non-conference game

Adrian’s decision came a day after the Warhawks, the defending national champion and consensus No. 1 team all season in both polls, learned that they were seeded No. 2 in its bracket of the 2010 NCAA Division III Football Championships behind North Central (Ill.). The broadly discussed item that is of most concern to UW-Whitewater is the seeding criteria used by the NCAA Division III Football Championships Committee. This year, the committee enhanced its emphasis on the Strength of Schedule (SOS), which is why UW-Whitewater was seeded No. 2.

“I understand the criteria used by the committee, but it has been inconsistently applied for years. We continue to search for answers on how to find Division III schools in the West Region to play us. If we don’t, then I’m not sure how we can be accurately and fairly measured in the selection and seeding criteria.”

UW-Whitewater is now looking for a 10th game (home or away) in 2011.