2007-08 Football News

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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.

• Football
• 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
• 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.

• Football
• 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).

• Football
• August 21, 2007

SALEM, ORE. -- Head Coach Mark Speckman and the Willamette University football team were the focus of attention when a film crew recorded the action at preseason practices and the Days of Caring community service project, Aug. 16-18, in Salem, Ore. The footage will be part of the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year program, which will air this fall on the ABC television network.

• Football
• August 20, 2007

It started in early September when she ï¬?rst stepped into the Coaching Football and Soccer classroom. It culminated in mid October when she kicked her ï¬?rst extra point for Willamette Universityâ??s football team. Now, 10 years later, she still hasnâ??t seen the end of it.

• Football
• August 15, 2007

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University football team will participate in the United Way Days of Caring for the fourth consecutive year when more than 100 Bearcats work to beautify Bushâ??s Pasture Park on Saturday, Aug. 18. Willametteâ??s football players will open the Days of Caring, which are sponsored by the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley.

• Football
• August 12, 2007

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University has been picked to achieve a fourth place finish in the Northwest Conference football standings, according to the NWC Preseason Poll for 2007. Linfield College was chosen to win the NWC title, while defending champion Whitworth University was selected to finish second. The poll included votes from all seven NWC head coaches, with Linfield listed first on five ballots and Whitworth garnering two first place votes.