Bearcat Football Builds Trail at Wallace Marine Park during United Way Days of Caring

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University football team created a pathway linking two trails at Wallace Marine Park as part of the United Way Days of Caring on Saturday, Aug. 22. Approximately 130 players worked to move bark chips and bark dust from large piles onto the new connecting trail.

The Bearcats set aside the morning for the project. By providing a significant number of volunteers, the Bearcats were able to quickly build the path to a level between four and six inches thick. It was the sixth consecutive year that the Willamette football team has contributed to the Days of Caring.

"Our guys did an awesome job. They put in a trail that's about half a mile long," said Willamette Head Coach Mark Speckman. "It looks great."

It was the second consecutive year that the Bearcats have completed a project at Wallace Marine Park. Last year, the team cleared brush and removed trash from various walking and hiking trails in the park.

The Days of Caring are sponsored by the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley. Volunteers complete single-day service projects in order to clean up and improve building and landscapes at public locations and health and human service organizations in the Salem area.

This year, the Days of Caring are scheduled for Sept. 7-12. The Bearcats participated earlier than other groups due to the team's practices and game schedule. Last year, a total of 1,200 corporate and civic volunteers were involved in the Days of Caring.

Willamette will open the 2008 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 with a road game at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. Game time is set for 11 a.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will play their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 12 against California Lutheran University at 1:30 p.m. (PDT).

NOTE: Photos by Khela Singer-Adams from the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley.