2008-09 Football News
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Video Features Willamette's 2008 Football Season
July 29, 2009SALEM, ORE. -- The Bearcat football team completed one of their most successful seasons ever in 2008. Full Access Sports has created a DVD that captures top moments from the record-breaking season. Top plays and interviews were combined in the video to recall the magic of the Bearcatsâ?? run to success. -
Former Bearcats Bennett and Forshey Take Football Indoors
July 10, 2009KENNEWICK, WASH. -- Former Willamette University offensive tackles Brandon Bennett '08 and Jake Forshey '09 were stellar performers for the Bearcat football team. Now they are combining their efforts beyond the college level as members of the Tri-Cities Fever in the Arena Football 2 League.
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Bevins is Chosen for Hampshire Honor Society
May 21, 2009SALEM, ORE. -- Senior football player Jack Bevins (Park City, UT/Park City HS) of Willamette University has been named to the third annual class of the Hampshire Honor Society, which was formed by the National Football Foundation in the spring of 2007. The honor recognizes college football players from all divisions of play who are seniors and maintain at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average.
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Bearcat Football Receives Award from United Way
March 16, 2009SALEM, ORE. -- Head Coach Mark Speckman and the Willamette University football team have received an award from the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley for the team's community service efforts the past five years during the Days of Caring. The football team and the City of Salem were Co-Winners of the Days of Caring Volunteer Team of the Year Award.
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Fowles Chosen NCAA Division III Coordinator Coach of the Year
January 06, 2009SALEM, ORE. -- Glen Fowles, offensive coordinator for the Willamette University football team, has been selected to receive the FootballScoop.com NCAA Division III Coordinator Coach of the Year Award for the 2008 season. Fowles coached the Willamette offense to a record-breaking season.
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Woo and Forshey Earn Second Team All-America Honors
January 06, 2009SALEM, ORE. -- Senior wide receiver Merben Woo (Salinas, CA/North Salinas HS/Hartnell College) and senior offensive tackle Jake Forshey (Santa Ynez, CA/Santa Ynez Valley Union HS) have been chosen Second Team All-America by D3Football.com. Woo and Forshey helped Willamette set school records with 498 points and 69 touchdowns during the season.
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Speckman Finishes Third in Fan Voting for Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award
January 05, 2009SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University Head Coach Mark Speckman finished third in the fan voting for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award for the 2008 season. Larry Kehres, head coach at Mount Union College in Ohio, won the award for NCAA Division III, after finishing second in the fan voting, and earning additional support in voting by members of the College Football Hall of Fame and the national media.
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Speckman Named Region 5 Coach of the Year by the AFCA
January 05, 2009SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University Head Coach Mark Speckman has been named NCAA Division III Region 5 Coach of the Year for the 2008 season, as selected by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). A total of 28 coaches from all levels of the NCAA and the NAIA were chosen for Regional Coach of the Year recognition.
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Five Bearcats Named to All-West Region Football Team by D3Football.com
December 15, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Five Willamette University football players have been named to the All-West Region Team for the 2008 season, as selected by D3Football.com. First Team selections for the Bearcats were senior Merben Woo at wide receiver, senior Jake Forshey at offensive tackle, and sophomore Jose Green at return specialist. Junior Deon Horne was named to the Second Team at running back, and senior Jack Bevins was selected to the Third Team at linebacker.
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December 11, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Head Coach Mark Speckman, who led the Willamette University football team to the NCAA Playoffs and to an overall record of 11-1, is one of five finalists for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award for NCAA Division III. The winner will be announced on ESPN at halftime of the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31.
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Willamette Rally Falls Short in 30-27 Loss to Defending Champion UW-Whitewater
November 29, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University trailed by three touchdowns at halftime, but put on a solid comeback in the second half, before falling to the defending national champions from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 30-27, in the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs, Saturday, Nov. 29 at McCulloch Stadium. WU trailed 21-0 after two quarters, but offset most of the deficit with a strong second half.
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Willamette and UW-Whitewater Set for Playoff Game on Nov. 29
November 26, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University (11-0) will host the University Wisconsin-Whitewater (10-1) in the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 29 at McCulloch Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PST). The game is one of eight second round contests, with the winner advancing into the quarterfinals.
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Willamette Hosts UW-Whitewater in Second Round of NCAA Playoffs
November 24, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University (11-0) will host the University Wisconsin-Whitewater (10-1) in the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 29 at McCulloch Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PST).
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Champion Bearcats Earn 10 First Team All-NWC Selections
November 20, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University won an undefeated Northwest Conference title this fall and the successful season has resulted in 10 Bearcat players being selected First Team All-Conference. In addition, Head Coach Mark Speckman was chosen NWC Coach of the Year after leading the Bearcats to a 10-0 regular season record and a 6-0 record in the NWC.
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Vote for Glen Fowles for NCAA Division III Coordinator Coach of the Year
November 19, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University football offensive coordinator Glen Fowles is one of four finalists for the FootballScoop.com NCAA Division III Coordinator Coach of the Year Award. Fans can vote for Fowles on-line until Friday, Dec. 5. A panel of former coaches and players will ultimately review the finalists, consider the fan voting, then determine the winning coordinator.
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Football Assistant Coach Josh Scott Receives Crystal Apple
November 18, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University assistant football coach Josh Scott, who also teaches mathematics at McNary High School, has been selected as one of 12 winners of the Crystal Apple Award, presented each year to top teachers in the Salem-Keizer School District. Scott also is a Willamette alum, who graduated in 1999 and played football during the 1996-98 seasons.
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Ford Selected NWC Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week
November 17, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior defensive end Marcus Ford (Marina, CA/Seaside HS/Monterey Peninsula College) has been named Northwest Conference Football Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts in the Bearcats' 28-3 victory over Menlo College on Saturday, Nov. 15. Ford recorded a total of seven tackles as the WU defense limited the Oaks to one field goal and 226 total yards.
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Willamette Football Playoff Information
November 17, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Tickets for the Willamette University versus Occidental College football playoff game will be on sale in the lobby of the Sparks Center on Wednesday, Nov. 19 and Thursday, Nov. 20 from 11:30 a.m. (PST) until 2 p.m., and on Friday, Nov. 21 from 11:30 a.m. (PST) until 5:30 p.m. All ticket purchases will require cash or a check.
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Willamette Set to Host Occidental in NCAA Football Playoffs
November 16, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University will open the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs by hosting Occidental College at McCulloch Stadium at 12 p.m. (PST) on Saturday, Nov. 22. Willamette is 10-0 on the season, while Occidental is 9-0 overall.
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Bearcats Finish Regular Season Undefeated at 10-0
November 15, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Grant Leslie (Sr., QB, Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) completed 9 of 11 passes for 162 yards in the first half, including a key touchdown pass to Scott Schoettgen (So., WR, Columbia, CA/Sonora HS) late in the second period, to lead Willamette University to a 28-3 victory over Menlo College on Saturday, Nov. 15 at McCulloch Stadium. WU led 21-3 at halftime, then added the final touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
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Willamette Holds at #9 in AFCA Coaches Poll
November 11, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University's football team remained #9 in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division III Poll. The new poll was released on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Willamette, which has clinched an NCAA Playoff berth and at least a tie for the Northwest Conference title, is 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the NWC.
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Bevins Earns ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Honors
November 10, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University linebacker Jack Bevins (Sr., ILB, Park City, UT/Park City HS) has been named First Team ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-District VIII in voting by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Bevins and other First Team Academic All-District selections are now eligible to be chosen for the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-America Team, which will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
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Bevins Named NWC Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week
November 10, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Senior linebacker Jack Bevins (Park City, UT/Park City HS) of Willamette University has been chosen Northwest Conference Football Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week for his performance in WU's 49-27 win over the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Nov. 8. Bevins led all players in the game with a career-high 18 tackles.
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Leslie is Selected NWC Football Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week
November 10, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior quarterback Grant Leslie (Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) has been chosen Northwest Conference Football Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts against the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Nov. 8. Leslie helped the Bearcats defeat the Loggers, 49-27, to clinch at least a tie for the NWC Championship and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
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Bearcats Remain #10 in D3Football.com Top 25
November 09, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University Bearcats remain at #10 in this week's D3Football.com Top 25. Willamette is 9-0 on the season, 5-0 in the Northwest Conference. With one week left in the regular season, the Bearcats have clinched at least a tie for the NWC Championships and have also clinched at automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
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Willamette Takes Over #9 in AFCA Coaches Poll
November 04, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- For the second week in a row, the Willamette University football team moved up three spots in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division III Poll. The Bearcats are #9 in this week's poll, released on Tuesday, Nov. 4, despite having an open date last weekend. Willamette is 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Northwest Conference.
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Bearcats Hit Top 10 in D3Football.com Top 25
November 02, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University had an open date this weekend, but that didn't prevent the Bearcats from improving their status in the D3Football.com Top 25. Willamette, 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Northwest Conference, moved up one spot this week to #10 in the NCAA Division III rankings. The D3Football.com voting panel includes coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.
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Vote for Mark Speckman for Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year
October 29, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- It is once again time to vote for Head Football Coach Mark Speckman of Willamette University for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. Fan voting makes up 20 percent of the selection process and also determines which 25 coaches in each of the NCAA's four football divisions advance to the next round.
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Willamette Rises to #12 in AFCA Coaches Poll
October 28, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University football team advanced three spots to #12 in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division III Poll released on Tuesday, Oct. 28. The Bearcats, who defeated arch rival Linfield College, 52-28, on Saturday, are 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Northwest Conference.
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Horne Receives NWC Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week Award
October 27, 2008SALEM, ORE. -- Deon Horne (Jr., TB, Issaquah, WA/Liberty HS) of Willamette University has been named Northwest Conference Football Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts on Saturday, Oct. 25. Horne helped the Bearcats win at Linfield College, 52-28, to improve to 8-0 on the season, 4-0 in the NWC.