WHITEWATER (WMSN) -- They battled a tough opponent, and even had to compete with the weather, but in the end, the UW-Whitewater football team won the Stagg Bowl this weekend, 38 - 28, beating out the Mount Union Purple Raiders.



Even with the semester coming to an end, students, faculty and players family members lined city streets Sunday night to welcome home the champs.



It isn't everyday they shut down Main Street for a parade of champions.



"It's just wonderful because I've lived here all my life," said Marcie McCulloch of Whitewater. "It's just great."



Standing atop city of Whitewater fire trucks, players proudly hoisted their trophy, horns sounding, sirens blaring, fans cheering.



"It's hard to fathom," said Brent Saugstad, UWW freshman. "It's unreal right now. We put the state on the map down here, so it's pretty cool."



For many of these fans, it's more than a celebration, it's a reunion. The blizzard in the northeast stopped tsome Warhawk faithful from seeing the game in person. So, they had to watch their team from a restaurant in Indiana.



"They were great -- waiters and waitresses were chanting, the band was playing. It was pretty impressive," said Wesley Jahnke, UWW freshman. "It was awesome."



Members of the UW-Whitewater marching band didn't even get a chance to play for their team, because they got stuck in the snow, too, but they made up for it Sunday, by welcoming home the champions.



And for players family members, well, let's just say watching your grandson play and win a national championship really fills you with emotion.



"Nervous, a lot of fun though, the end was really nice," said Frank McCulloch, whose grandson, Mathew McCulloch, is a defensive back. "Might even have a tear coming down my eye. It's quite an experience."



Online reporting by Jeff Angileri

UW-Whitewater fans welcome home champion Warhawks