Mike Shinn lettered four years as a quarterback, becoming the starter late in his freshman year. Shinn led the Bearcats to a 7-2 season in 1967 and a 9-1 campaign in 1968. The 1968 squad, which was ranked No. 3 in the nation and advanced to the NAIA semifinals, became the first team inducted into the Willamette University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. In an era when moving the football was still done primarily on the ground, the Bearcats went to the air with great success, despite Shinn being only 5-foot-8. He set four school records in passing by the time he graduated. In his four seasons, Shinn completed 315 of 633 passes for 4,725 yards and 43 touchdowns.