Football

2007-08 Football News

  • Five Willamette Football Players Named to Hampshire Honor Society
    May 16, 2008
    SALEM, OR -- Five Willamette University football players have been named to the second annual class of the Hampshire Honor Society, which was formed by the National Football Foundation in the spring of 2007. The honor goes to college football players from all divisions of play who were seniors and maintained at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average.
  • Bennett Chosen for A.P. Little All-America Second Team
    January 07, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior offensive tackle Brandon Bennett (6'2
  • Hynson Helps Western Washington as Offensive Coordinator
    January 07, 2008
    BELLINGHAM, WASH. -- Kefense Hynson ('03), a standout defensive back for the Willamette University football team from 1999-02 and the wide receiver coach for the Bearcats in 2003, is now the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Western Washington University. Hynson coached the Vikings' running backs and was the special teams coordinator in 2006, before moving into the offensive coordinator position prior to the 2007 season.
  • Bennett Named All-America by the AFCA and Chosen First Team All-Region by D3Football.com
    December 13, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior offensive tackle Brandon Bennett (6'2
  • Bennett Plays in Aztec Bowl
    December 08, 2007
    CHIHUAHUA, MEX.-- Willamette University senior offensive tackle Brandon Bennett (6'2
  • Bennett Selected by AFCA to Play in 2007 Aztec Bowl
    November 14, 2007
    WACO, TEX. -- Willamette senior offensive tackle Brandon Bennett (San Marcos, CA/La Costa Canyon HS) has been selected to play for the American Football Coaches Associationâ??s Division III all-star team that will represent the United States against the Mexican National Team in the 2007 Aztec Bowl on Dec. 8 in Chihuahua, Mexico. Bennett was named First Team All-Northwest Conference three consecutive seasons, after earning Honorable Mention All-NWC recognition as a freshman. He was selected for the AFCA All-America Team as a junior in 2006.
  • Six Bearcats are Chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference
    November 12, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Six Willamette University football players have been named First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2007 season, as selected by the NWC head coaches. An additional four Bearcats received Second Team All-NWC honors and seven WU players were chosen for Honorable Mention.
  • Pacific Lutheran Edges Willamette, 17-10
    November 10, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Pacific Lutheran University built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, then held off Willamette University for a 17-10 win on Saturday, Nov. 10, in a Northwest Conference game at McCulloch Stadium. PLU improved to 7-2 overall, 4-2 in the NWC. Willamette ended its season at 4-6 overall, 3-3 in the NWC.
  • Bicocca Named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District
    November 09, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior place-kicker Matt Bicocca (6'1
  • Alumni Spotlight: Controversy gives way to cheers for Willamette Alum Todd Simis
    November 07, 2007
    BOISE, IDAHO -- Almost four years ago, Capital High football coach Todd Simis ('90 BS, '91 MAT) was the subject of controversy.
  • Bicocca Honored as NWC Special Teams Player of the Week
    November 05, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Matt Bicocca (Sr., PK, San Andreas, CA/Calaveras HS) of Willamette University has been named Northwest Conference Football Special Teams Player of the Week for his place-kicking efforts in the Bearcats' 77-17 win over Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, Nov. 3 in Portland, Ore. Bicocca set a school record by connecting on 11 of 11 extra points against the Pioneers.
  • Willamette Gains 681 Total Yards in 77-17 Rout of Lewis & Clark
    November 03, 2007
    PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University ran the ball 59 times with 19 different players and never had to punt, as the Bearcats routed Lewis & Clark College, 77-17, in a Northwest Conference game at Fred Wilson Field on Saturday, Nov. 3. Willamette set school records for points in a game, touchdowns in a game (11), rushing touchdowns in a game (11) and rushing yards in a game (599).
  • Feature on Head Coach Mark Speckman will Air on ABC-TV on Sat., Nov. 3 (4 p.m. PDT on KATU)
    October 29, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University football Head Coach Mark Speckman will be one of three coaches featured this weekend on the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Spotlight on ABC-TV. The 30-minute show will air on Saturday, Nov. 3 and will be shown at 4 p.m. (PDT) on KATU-TV in Portland, Ore. Please check your local listings for the time of the show in your area. Also featured this week will be Art Briles, head coach at the University of Houston, and Dino Mangiero, head coach at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Whitworth Edges Willamette, 20-17, in Overtime
    October 27, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Whitworth University place-kicker Andy Largent kicked a 33-yard field goal in the first overtime period to give the Pirates a 20-17 victory over Willamette University on Saturday, Oct. 27 at McCulloch Stadium. Whitworth improved to 6-2 on the season and remained undefeated in the Northwest Conference at 4-0. Willamette fell to 3-5, 2-2 in the NWC.
  • Moran Chosen NWC Special Teams Player of the Week
    October 22, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior punter Clinton Moran (Mission Viejo, CA/Capistrano Valley HS) has been selected as the Northwest Conference Football Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in Willamette's 32-14 win at Menlo College on Saturday, Oct. 20. Moran placed two of his three punts inside the Menlo 20-yard line and averaged 36.7 yards per punt.
  • Willamette Defense Limits Menlo to 61 Yards in 32-14 Victory
    October 20, 2007
    ATHERTON, CALIF. -- Willamette University held Menlo College to just 61 yards and only 40 offensive plays, as the Bearcats defeated the Oaks, 32-14, in a Northwest Conference game on Saturday, Oct. 20. Willamette improved to 3-4 on the season, including 2-1 in the NWC. Menlo fell to 1-7 overall, 1-3 in the NWC.
  • Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year
    October 19, 2007
    The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award is again up for grabs, and Coach Speckman has an opportunity to win a $50,000 cash award to support his civic and charitable activities, as well as a $20,000 scholarship to be donated to the alumni association of the winning coach's school.
  • Liz Heaston's Memorable Day in Football Reaches 10th Anniversary
    October 18, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- For those who were on hand at McCulloch Stadium on Oct. 18, 1997 it may be hard to believe, but it is now the 10th anniversary of Liz Heaston becoming the first female to play and to score in a college football game when she competed for Willamette University against Linfield College a decade ago. Heaston, who also was a star player on Willamette's women's soccer team, kicked two extra points in the Bearcats' 27-0 Homecoming victory over the Wildcats. She also played against Southern Oregon University one week later, but missed two extra points against the Raiders.
  • Bearcats Fall to Loggers, 13-7, when UPS Offensive Lineman Recovers Fumble in End Zone
    October 13, 2007
    TACOMA, WASH. -- The University of Puget Sound edged Willamette University, 13-7, when UPS offensive lineman Cody Dean recovered a fumble in the end zone with 2:20 left in a Northwest Conference game at Baker Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 13. Dean came to the Loggers' rescue after teammate James Olcott fumbled at the Willamette 1-yard line on a 3rd-and-goal play that began three yards from the end zone. The timely recovery allowed UPS to improve to 3-3 overall, 1-2 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 2-4, 1-1 in the NWC.
  • Bicocca Named NWC Special Teams Player of the Week
    October 01, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior place-kicker Matt Bicocca (San Andreas, CA/Calaveras HS) has been named Northwest Conference Football Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in the Bearcats' 33-32 victory over 12th-ranked (D3Football.com) Linfield College on Saturday, Sept. 29. Bicocca scored the winning point in a 42-yard field goal with four seconds left in the game.
  • Bearcats Defeat Linfield, 33-32, on Bicocca's 42-Yard Field Goal
    September 29, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University place-kicker Matt Bicocca (Sr, San Andreas, CA/Calaveras HS) connected on a 42-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to send the Bearcats to a 33-32 victory over arch rival Linfield College, in the Northwest Conference opener for both teams, Saturday, Sept. 29 at McCulloch Stadium. Linfield, ranked #12 in NCAA Division III (D3Football.com), fell to 1-2 on the season, 0-1 in the NWC. Willamette improved to 2-3 overall, 1-0 in the NWC.
  • Yamashita Named NWC Special Teams Player of the Week
    September 24, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- James Yamashita (Jr., WR/KR, Walnut Creek,CA/Diablo Valley College) has been named Northwest Conference Football Special Teams Player of the Week for games played on Saturday, Sept. 22. Yamashita returned two kickoffs for 109 yards, including a second-quarter 89-yard touchdown, against Southern Oregon in a 34-27 loss.
  • Southern Oregon Slips Past Bearcats, 34-27
    September 22, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Southern Oregon University quarterback Bryan Lee-Lauduski completed 22 of 31 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns, and Shane Van Zant scored on a 2-yard run with 10:53 remaining in the game, as the visiting Raiders edged past Willamette University, 34-27, on Saturday, Sept. 22 at McCulloch Stadium. The non-conference win improved Southern Oregon of the NAIA to 2-2 on the season. The Bearcats, from NCAA Division III, fell to 1-3.
  • Bearcat Club Luncheon to Feature Three Hall of Fame Football Teams
    September 17, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- The first Bearcat Club luncheon of 2007-08 will take place Wednesday, September 19 at 12 p.m. (PDT) at the Mission Mill Museum's Dye House in Salem, Ore., and will feature three former Bearcats discussing their teams' championship seasons. All three teams are members of the Willamette Athletics Hall of Fame, with the 1997 team set to be inducted October 27, 2007.
  • Leslie and Washington Score Touchdowns, as Bearcats Defeat Kingsmen, 14-7
    September 15, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Junior quarterback Grant Leslie (Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) and senior running back C.J. Washington (Spokane, WA/Shadle Park HS) each scored a rushing touchdown, and the Willamette University defense allowed just 115 total yards, as the Bearcats defeated California Lutheran University, 14-7, Saturday, Sept. 15 at McCulloch Stadium. Willamette, playing its first home game of the season, improved to 1-2. California Lutheran fell to 0-2.
  • Gustavus Adolphus Rallies Past Bearcats in Fourth Quarter, 34-25
    September 08, 2007
    ST. PETER, MINN. -- Gustavus Adophus College scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally from a 17-13 deficit and defeat visiting Willamette University, 34-25, on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Hollingsworth Field. The win allowed the Gusties to open the season at 1-0, while Willamette fell to 0-2.
  • Get Ready Early to Listen to Bearcat Football Webcast
    September 06, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Remember to get an early start to your day if you want to catch Bearcat football on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Bearcats will play at Gustavus Adolphus College, with kickoff at 11 a.m. on the West Coast.
  • Bearcats Fall to Western Oregon of NCAA Division II by 23-9 Final Score
    September 01, 2007
    MONMOUTH, ORE. -- Western Oregon University built a 16-0 lead in the first half of its 23-9 win over Willamette University on Saturday, Sept. 1 at McArthur Field. Even so, Willamette outscored the Wolves 9-7 in the second half and ended the game with an impressive 10-play drive for the final touchdown of the night. The non-conference season opener matched the Bearcats, who compete in NCAA Division III, against WOU, which competes in NCAA Division II.
  • Football Games will be Broadcast on the Internet
    September 01, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- All of Willamette's football games this season will be broadcast on the Internet. Mike Allegre and Michael Plank will provide play-by-play and commentary of tonight's game at Western Oregon University.
  • Willamette Football Season Outlook for 2007
    August 27, 2007
    SALEM, ORE. -- Head Coach Mark Speckman and the Willamette University football team have set high expectations for themselves regarding the 2007 season. The players and coaching staff concentrated on quality during spring practices, remained focused throughout the offseason and arrived at preseason camp ready to practice and compete with great effort and determination. As a result, Speckman and his team anticipate great improvement over 2006, when the Bearcats finished 2-7, including 2-4 in the Northwest Conference (5th place).
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