'Grief and unity': Arrowhead HS football team takes field for first time since legendary former coach Taraska died

MUKWONAGO, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Arrowhead football team took the field Friday night, Oct. 20, for the first time since legendary former coach Tom Taraska died in a car crash Sunday, Oct. 15.

Taraska is a Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Famer who led Arrowhead for 29 seasons. He won four state titles and was runner-up another five times.

Arrowhead played at Mukwonago Friday night, and both schools honored the man who took the program to new heights.

Once the game kicked off, the pads, band, and fans were loud.

But the game started much differently. Players, coaches, and fans from both teams joined in a moment of silence.

Arrowhead Activities Director Ryan Mangan said, "Different generations of people who have been touched by Coach Taraska. Young people that know about him, but multiple generations."

Taraska died Sunday in a car crash near Hartland.

His career record of 265-96 and four state titles cemented his legendary status.

He retired in 2010 after 29 years on the Arrowhead sideline but remained with the program as an assistant and mentor.

Matthew Cochrane is a 2019 Arrowhead HS graduate. He told us Taraska was "Just a highly valued and respected fella."

Cochrane worked alongside Taraska after he stepped down. "If you were struggling and you needed help, he would always come and ask and be more inviting and bring you in and make you better as a person overall."

Despite being on the road Friday, Taraska's presence was felt throughout the stadium.

Arrowhead players wore a special sticker on the back of their helmets, and the coaching staff wore special hats.

Mangan said they were "Brand new today. Obviously we came up with these for Coach Taraska. The colors, but the 'T'."

Mangan said there's been an outpouring of support this week from former players and students. Like Cochrane, who said, "You hear all the accomplishments he had, and everyone wanted to be a part of what he brought to Arrowhead."

And former Pewaukee opponent JJ Watt and friend and former Badgers head coach Bret Bielema were among those to share their condolences over the past week, a sign of Taraska's lasting legacy.

Mangan told us, "In some ways it's unifying to say, 'Look how long we've been doing this. Look at all the people that are still involved, that were involved back then and still connected.'"

Taraska's funeral visitation will be held Saturday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m. at St. John Vianey Catholic Church in Brookfield.

The internment will be private.