| Northwest Missouri State Bearcats | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| First season | 1908 | ||
| Athletic director | [[|Mel Tjeerdsma]] | ||
| Head coach | Adam Dorrel | ||
| Home stadium | Bearcat Stadium | ||
| Stadium capacity | 6,500 | ||
| Stadium surface | Field Turf | ||
| Location | Maryville, MO | ||
| League | NCAA Division II | ||
| Conference | MIAA | ||
| All-time record | – | ||
| Postseason bowl record | 0–0 | ||
| Claimed national titles | 3 (D-II, 1998, 1999, 2009) | ||
| Conference titles | 24 | ||
| Division titles | 0 | ||
| Heisman winners | 0 | ||
| Consensus All-Americans | 69 | ||
| Current uniform | |||
 | |||
| Colors | Hunter Green and Black | ||
| Marching band | Bearcat Marching Band (BMB) | ||
| Rivals | Missouri Western Griffons Pittsburg State Gorillas Truman Bulldogs | ||
| Website | NorthwestBearcats.com | ||
National football championship trophy room at Bearcat Stadium prior to its national title in 2009. The two trophies in the middle are national championships in 1998 and 1999. The four trophies on the left are for appearances in the title games in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. Northwest in 2009 made unprecedented fifth consecutive national title game in 2009 and won its third title. The stick in the middle left is the Hickory Stick in the contests with Truman State.
The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football team has appeared in seven NCAA Division II national title games (and won three) since going 0-11 in Mel Tjeerdsma's first season in 1994.
The Bearcats have made the playoffs in 15 seasons. They have also won or shared 23 MIAA titles.
Northwest plays its games at Bearcat Stadium, built in 1917, and the oldest NCAA Division II stadium still in use. The field was expanded to 6,500 seats and a video screen was added in 2003 after Tjeerdsma began his run.[1]
It plays its games with Pittsburg State University at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri in the Fall Classic at Arrowhead. Pittsburg has made four national title appearances since 1991. The Oct. 17, 2002 game was witnessed by 26,695—the largest number in MIAA history.[2]
Its best attended local home game was 10,805 on Oct. 2, 2010 against Missouri Western in the Northwest Missouri-Missouri Western football rivalry.
Conference[]
Northwest was one of the original 1912 organizers of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association. It has not played in any other conference. The conference headquarters until 1997 was in the Maryville, Missouri home of its first commissioner Ken B. Jones. In 1997 it moved to Overland Park, Kansas and has subsequently moved to Kansas City.[2] [2]
NCAA Division II championship games[]
1998[]
In 1998 the Bearcats won the NCAA Division II national football championship by going 15-0—the first time in history a Division II school won 15 games and the first time a Northwest school won a team national championship in any sport.
1999[]
In 1999 Northwest defeated Carson-Newman College 58-52 in four overtimes to defend the title. The game was the longest in NCAA football playoff history in number of extra periods, surpassing six contests that were extended by three overtimes. The broadcast analyst on ESPN called it the best college football game he'd ever seen. The game solidified ESPN's interest in Division II football, prompting ESPN to cover the semi-final games.
2005[]
In 2005 the Bearcats were a Cinderella team, ranked 22nd at the start of the playoffs, but they won all of their playoff games on the road until reaching the finals against Grand Valley State University. Northwest led the game until the closing minutes and still almost pulled the game out. The Cinderella nature of Northwest coming from 22nd to challenge the #1 team in the final has been evoked as a weakness of the Bowl Championship Series, where such a run would be impossible.
2006[]
In the 2006 regular season the Bearcats went undefeated at 11-0. It was during their third playoff game, a game played against Bloomsburg University, that ESPN-U televised the game live from Maryville. This was the first nationally televised game from Bearcat Stadium. The game was also the first time that temporary lights (provided by ESPN) were used at Bearcat Stadium, (its lights were removed in 1977.) The Bearcats went 3-0 in the playoffs, thus earning a rematch against the Grand Valley State University Lakers at the NCAA Division II National Championship Game in Florence, AL, on December 16, 2006. The Bearcats fell to GVSU 17-14 after turning the ball over four times during the game.
2007[]
In the 2007 regular season the Bearcats went 9-1. Their only loss was to the #1 University of Nebraska at Omaha, who went 12-0 in the regular season. The Bearcats received a first round bye. In the second round, they faced #3 West Texas A&M University at Bearcat Stadium, and won with a final score of 56-28. In the quarterfinals the Bearcats traveled to Chadron, Nebraska to face #1 Chadron State College. Xavier Omon lead the Bearcats to a 26-13 victory by rushing for a personal best 309 yards (283 m). The Bearcats faced their long-time post-season rivals Grand Valley State University in the semifinals. Both Grand Valley and Northwest were #2 seeds in their respective regions, but the NCAA stated that due to Northwest's strength of schedule, Northwest would receive the home game. The game was broadcast from Bearcat Stadium on ESPN2; this was the second nationally televised game from Bearcat Stadium. The game was close through the third quarter. At the beginning of the fourth quarter Northwest lead the close contest, 17-16. But after a Northwest interception that produced a touchdown, and a 98-yard (90 m) Xavier Omon touchdown run, the Bearcats prevailed with a final score of 34-16, ending Grand Valley's NCAA record-setting 40-game winning streak. The Bearcats lost to #8 Valdosta State University in the NCAA Division II national football championship at 12pm (Eastern) on Saturday December 15, 2007 in Florence, Alabama; the game was broadcast on ESPN2.
2008[]
- Main articles: 2008 NCAA Division II National Football Championship playoffs and 2008 NCAA Division II National Football Championship game
In 2008 the Bearcats played in their fourth consecutive national title game and lost to Minnesota-Duluth which had a 15-0 season. Northwest has never lost a championship by more than seven points.
2009[]
- Main articles: 2009 NCAA Division II National Football Championship playoffs and 2009 NCAA Division II National Football Championship game
In 2009 the Bearcats made its fifth consecutive national title appearance. No NCAA team in any division has ever done that. The Bearcats which were ranked #2 going into the playoffs received a first round bye. In the second round they avenged their only loss of the season by defeating Texas Abilene. In the closest game of the playoffs they defeated Central Washington University (ranked #1 at the time) in the quarterfinals by rallying in the second half and then blocking a Central Washington extra point in the closing seconds. In the semifinals it defeated University of California of Pennsylvania to qualify for its third meeting in the finals with Grand Valley.
Post season results[]
At the conclusion of the November 24, 2012, game Northwest is 36-14 in post season play. It has been in the playoffs every year since 2004 and is 25-8 in that string.
| Year | NW Rank | Venue | Opp Rank | Opponent | Score | W/L | Round | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | -- | Away | -- | Nebraska-Omaha | 15-28 | L | 1st Round | |
| 1989 | 18 | Away | -- | Pittsburg State | 7-28 | L | 1st Round | |
| 1996 | 2 | Away | -- | Nebraska-Omaha | 22-21 | W | 1st Round | |
| 1996 | 2 | Away | -- | Northern Colorado | 26-27 | L | Quarterfinal | |
| 1997 | 3 | Maryville | 16 | North Dakota State | 39-28 | W | 1st Round | |
| 1997 | 3 | Maryville | -- | Northern Colorado | 19-35 | L | Quarterfinal | |
| 1998 | 2 | Maryville | 16 | Nebraska-Omaha | 28-14 | W | 1st Round | |
| 1998 | 2 | Maryville | 6 | Northern Colorado | 42-17 | W | Quarterfinal | |
| 1998 | 2 | Maryville | 11 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 49-34 | W | Semifinal | |
| 1998 | 2 | Braly Stadium | 3 | Carson-Newman | 24-6 | W | Finals | |
| 1999 | 4 | Maryville | 9 | North Dakota State | 20-13 | W | 1st Round | |
| 1999 | 4 | Maryville | 3 | Northern Colorado | 43-35 | W | Quarterfinal | |
| 1999 | 4 | Maryville | -- | Indiana University (Pa.) | 20-12 | W | Semifinal | |
| 1999 | 4 | Braly Stadium | 1 | Carson-Newman | 58-52 | W | Finals | |
| 2000 | 1 | Maryville | 5 | North Dakota State | 17-13 | L | 1st Round | |
| 2002 | 4 | Maryville | 11 | Minnesota-Duluth | 45-41 | W | 2nd Round (first round bye) | |
| 2002 | 4 | Maryville | 7 | Northern Colorado | 12-23 | L | Quarterfinal | |
| 2004 | 4 | Maryville | 6 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 34-14 | W | 1st Round | |
| 2004 | 4 | Away | 1 | Pittsburg State | 36-50 | L | Quarterfinal | |
| 2005 | 21 | Away | 29 | Angelo State | 45-14 | W | 1st Round | |
| 2005 | 21 | Away | 12 | Washburn | 42-32 | W | 2nd Round | |
| 2005 | 21 | Away | 23 | Pittsburg State | 21-10 | W | Quarterfinal | |
| 2005 | 21 | Away | 13 | North Alabama | 25-24 | W | Semifinal | |
| 2005 | 21 | Braly Stadium | 1 | Grand Valley State | 17-21 | L | Finals | |
| 2006 | 2 | Maryville | 18 | Midwestern State | 27-0 | W | 2nd Round (first round bye) | |
| 2006 | 2 | Maryville | 8 | Chadron State | 28-21 | W | Quarterfinal | |
| 2006 | 2 | Maryville | 6 | Bloomsburg | 33-3 | W | Semifinal | |
| 2006 | 2 | Braly Stadium | 1 | Grand Valley State | 14-17 | L | Finals | |
| 2007 | 5 | Maryville | 4 | West Texas A&M | 56-28 | W | 2nd Round (first round bye) | |
| 2007 | 5 | Away | 2 | Chadron State | 26-13 | W | Quarterfinal | |
| 2007 | 5 | Maryville | 1 | Grand Valley State | 34-16 | W | Semifinal | |
| 2007 | 5 | Braly Stadium | 8 | Valdsota State | 20-25 | L | Finals | |
| 2008 | 3 | Maryville | 10 | Pittsburg State | 38-35 | W | 2nd Round (first round bye) | |
| 2008 | 3 | Away | 2 | Abilene Christian | 45-36 | W | Quarterfinal | |
| 2008 | 3 | Away | 5 | North Alabama | 41-7 | W | Semifinal | |
| 2008 | 3 | Braly Stadium | 6 | Minnesota-Duluth | 14-21 | L | Finals | |
| 2009 | 2 | Maryville | 16 | Abilene Christian | 35-10 | W | 2nd Round (first round bye) | |
| 2009 | 2 | Away | 1 | Central Washington | 21-20 | W | Quarterfinal | |
| 2009 | 2 | Maryville | 20 | California (Pennsylvnania) | 56-31 | W | Semifinal | |
| 2009 | 2 | Braly Stadium | 3 | Grand Valley State | 30-23 | W | Finals | |
| 2010 | 3 | Maryville | - | Missouri Western | 28-24 | W | 1st Round | Northwest trailed by 17 at half—it largest deficit that it had come back from.[3] |
| 2010 | 3 | Away | 4 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 35-31 | W | 2nd Round | Texas had defeated Northwest on opening day. Northwest won with 17 seconds remaining on Blake Bolles to Josh Baker pass. |
| 2010 | 3 | Maryville | 7 | Central Missouri | 37-20 | W | Quarterfinal | Northwest had won earlier game in Warrensburg on a field goal as time expired that was attended by 13,096—the biggest crowd at MIAA venue in history.[4] |
| 2010 | 3 | Away | 4 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 35-31 | W | 2nd Round | Texas had defeated Northwest on opening day. Northwest won with 17 seconds remaining on Blake Bolles to Josh Baker pass. |
| 2010 | 3 | Away | 1 | Minnesota-Duluth | 13-17 | L | Semifinal | Played during snow storm that collapsed the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome roof. Tempeatures were in the single digits and the wind blew at 30 mph. Northwest led most of the game until 4:12 left in the fourth quarter. |
| 2011 | 7 | Away | 17 | Missouri Western | 35-29 | W | 1st Round | Northwest lost earlier game in St. Joseph 31-28. Northwest rallied in second half with 21 unanswered points. Northwest had been down 16-0 in the first four minutes of the game.[5] |
| 2011 | 7 | Away | 1 | Midwestern State | 38-31 | W | 2nd Round (1 OT) | Midwest was ranked #1 going into the game and was one of only 3 undefeated D2 teams. Midwest led 28-10 in the second quarter - the biggest Northwest deficit since it began its dominance in 2004. The game was played in 30 mph winds. Midwest marched to the Bearcat 9 with 10 seconds remaining. Greg Saladino shanked a potential game winning field goal throwing it into overtime. Bearcat quarterback Trevor Adams hit Kyle Kilgore on a 13-yard wheel route for the overtime's only score by either team.[6] |
| 2011 | 7 | Away | 6 | Pittsburg State | 16-41 | L | Quarterfinal | Pittsburg had defeated the Bearcats earlier in the season in a game that broke Northwest's record 49 straight MIAA victory record (a game in which the Bearcats had led 21-0) and this was a rematch of MIAA teams. The game was played in a driving rain. Northwest led 10-0 at the end of the first quarter and it was tied at half. Pittsburg scored 31 points in second half. |
| 2012 | 10 | Maryville | 9 | Henderson State | 35-0 | W | First Round | |
| 2012 | 10 | Away | 2 | Minnesota State-Mankato | 35-38 (2OT) | L | Second Round | Northwest was down 0-21 but scored 28 points in the second half to force two overtimes in which Northwest ultimately lost after Mankato turned an intercepted pass into a field goal. |
Record[]
| Year | Coach | W | L | T | MIAA | NCAA D2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | Paul A. White | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 1916 | George Palfreyman | 2 | 5 | |||
| 1917 | George Palfreyman | 0 | 7 | |||
| 1918 | M.H. Simms | 1 | 1 | |||
| 1919 | Robert Rice | 0 | 4 | |||
| 1920 | Robert Rice | 0 | 3 | |||
| 1921 | Russell Sprong | 2 | 6 | |||
| 1922 | Eugene Maynor | 4 | 4 | |||
| 1923 | H.F. Lawrence | 3 | 3 | 1 | ||
| 1924 | H.F. Lawrence | 6 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1925 | H.F. Lawrence | 7 | 0 | 1 | X | |
| 1926 | H.F. Lawrence | 6 | 2 | |||
| 1927 | E.A. Davis | 1 | 7 | |||
| 1928 | E.A. Davis | 5 | 3 | 1 | ||
| 1929 | E.A. Davis | 3 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 1930 | E.A. Davis | 4 | 5 | 1 | ||
| 1931 | E.A. Davis | 9 | 0 | X | ||
| 1932 | E.A. Davis | 4 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 1933 | E.A. Davis | 1 | 8 | |||
| 1934 | E.A. Davis | 4 | 5 | |||
| 1935 | E.A. Davis | 3 | 5 | 1 | ||
| 1936 | E.A. Davis | 4 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 1937 | Ryland Milner | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 1938 | Ryland Milner | 9 | 0 | X | ||
| 1939 | Ryland Milner | 9 | 0 | X | ||
| 1940 | Ryland Milner | 7 | 2 | |||
| 1941 | Ryland Milner | 6 | 2 | 1 | X | |
| 1942 | Ryland Milner | 4 | 2 | 1 | X | |
| 1943 | Ryland Milner | 5 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1944 | Ryland Milner | 7 | 0 | |||
| 1946 | Ryland Milner | 4 | 3 | |||
| 1947 | Ryland Milner | 5 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1948 | Ryland Milner | 6 | 2 | X | ||
| 1949 | Ryland Milner | 5 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 1950 | Ryland Milner | 3 | 5 | 1 | ||
| 1951 | Ryland Milner | 2 | 6 | 1 | ||
| 1952 | Ryland Milner | 6 | 3 | X | ||
| 1953 | Ryland Milner | 3 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 1954 | Ryland Milner | 2 | 6 | |||
| 1955 | Ryland Milner | 2 | 5 | 1 | ||
| 1956 | Ryland Milner | 2 | 7 | |||
| 1957 | Ryland Milner | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||
| 1958 | Paul Turner | 0 | 8 | |||
| 1959 | Paul Turner | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1960 | Earl Baker | 5 | 4 | |||
| 1961 | Earl Baker | 2 | 7 | |||
| 1962 | Earl Baker | 0 | 9 | |||
| 1963 | Ivan Schottel | 3 | 5 | 1 | ||
| 1964 | Ivan Schottel | 6 | 3 | |||
| 1965 | Ivan Schottel | 6 | 3 | |||
| 1966 | Ivan Schottel | 4 | 5 | |||
| 1967 | Ivan Schottel | 3 | 6 | |||
| 1968 | Ivan Schottel | 0 | 9 | |||
| 1969 | Ivan Schottel | 3 | 6 | |||
| 1971 | Gladden Dye | 4 | 5 | |||
| 1972 | Gladden Dye | 7 | 3 | X | ||
| 1973 | Gladden Dye | 6 | 4 | X | ||
| 1974 | Gladden Dye | 8 | 2 | |||
| 1975 | Gladden Dye | 7 | 3 | |||
| 1976 | Jim Redd | 8 | 2 | |||
| 1977 | Jim Redd | 5 | 5 | 1 | ||
| 1978 | Jim Redd | 0 | 11 | |||
| 1979 | Jim Redd | 6 | 5 | X | ||
| 1980 | Jim Redd | 2 | 8 | |||
| 1981 | Jim Redd | 6 | 4 | |||
| 1982 | Jim Redd | 2 | 7 | 1 | ||
| 1983 | Vernon Thomsen | 5 | 6 | |||
| 1984 | Vernon Thomsen | 10 | 2 | X | 1st Round | |
| 1985 | Vernon Thomsen | 4 | 6 | 1 | ||
| 1986 | Vernon Thomsen | 2 | 9 | |||
| 1987 | Vernon Thomsen | 3 | 8 | |||
| 1988 | Harold "Bud" Elliott | 2 | 9 | |||
| 1989 | Harold "Bud" Elliott | 9 | 3 | 1st Round | ||
| 1990 | Harold "Bud" Elliott | 2 | 8 | 1 | ||
| 1991 | Harold "Bud" Elliott | 5 | 6 | |||
| 1992 | Harold "Bud" Elliott | 6 | 5 | |||
| 1993 | Harold "Bud" Elliott | 3 | 8 | |||
| 1994 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 0 | 11 | |||
| 1995 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 6 | 5 | |||
| 1996 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 11 | 2 | X | Quarterfinals | |
| 1997 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 12 | 1 | X | Quarterfinals | |
| 1998 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 15 | 0 | X | Finals-Champ | |
| 1999 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 14 | 1 | X | Finals-Champ | |
| 2000 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 11 | 1 | X | 1st Round | |
| 2001 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 7 | 4 | |||
| 2002 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 12 | 1 | X | Quarterfinals | |
| 2003 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 8 | 3 | X | ||
| 2004 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 11 | 2 | Quarterfinals | ||
| 2005 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 11 | 4 | Finals-Runner Up | ||
| 2006 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 14 | 1 | X | Finals-Runner Up | |
| 2007 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 12 | 2 | X | Finals-Runner Up | |
| 2008 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 13 | 2 | X | Finals-Runner Up | |
| 2009 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 14 | 1 | X | Finals-Champ | |
| 2010 | Mel Tjeerdsma | 12 | 2 | X | Semifinals | |
| 2011 | Adam Dorrel | 11 | 3 | Quarterfinal (3rd round) loss to Pittsburg which had unseated it as MIAA champ. | ||
| 2012 | Adam Dorrel | 11 | 3 | Second Round loss to Minnesota State-Mankato |
Coaching death[]
On June 5, 2011 Bearcats head coach Scott Bostwick died of an apparent heart attack in Maryville.[7] The 49-year-old Bostwick had been named head coach of the Bearcats in December, 2010 following the retirement of longtime coach Mel Tjeerdsma.[8] Bostwick had been on the Northwest coaching staff since 1994, and most recently had served as defensive coordinator under Tjeerdsma. In 2007 had been voted the American Football Coaches Association Division II Assistant coach of the year.[9]
Notable players and coaches[]
- Josh Baker - National Football League tight end for the New York Jets.
- Chris Greisen - Quarterback for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. NFL quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
- Tony Miles - Canadian Football League wide receiver; school's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
- Xavier Omon - NFL running back with the Denver Broncos.
- Michael Peterson - Undrafted free agent tight end. Former player with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.
- Jamaica Rector - National Football League wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals.
- Mel Tjeerdsma - Northwest's national champion winning coach, and most winning DII post-season coach with 22 victories.
- Dave Tollefson - National Football League defensive end for the New York Giants.
- Seth Wand - National Football League offensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders.
- Steve Williams - National Football League defensive tackle for the New England Patriots.
References[]
- ↑ Northwest Missouri State University Football Media Guide - nwmissouri.edu - Retrieved September 22, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Conference History". Themiaa.com. http://www.themiaa.com/information/about/history?dec=/printer-decorator. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
- ↑ http://www.ncaafootball.com/NEWS/tabid/1237/Article/216303/northwest-missouri-rallies-past-missouri-western-28-24.aspx
- ↑ "Field Goal as Time Expires Gives Title to NWMSU". The Miaa. 2010-11-06. http://www.themiaa.com/sports/fball/2010-11/releases/20101106epdxaa. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
- ↑ Sam Robinson St. Joseph News-Press (2011-11-19). "Northwest storms back in 2nd half to beat Western - Sports News Story - St. Joseph". Newspressnow.com. http://www.newspressnow.com/sports/29815627/detail.html. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
- ↑ Sam Robinson St. Joseph News-Press (1959-06-19). "Northwest Missouri continues comeback run with OT victory - College Sports News Story - St. Joseph". Newspressnow.com. http://www.newspressnow.com/college-sports/29863879/detail.html. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
- ↑ "NWMSU: Head Coach Scott Bostwick Has Died". KCTV 5. June 5, 2011. http://www.kctv5.com/sports/28137002/detail.html. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Coach dies from apparent heart attack". Associated Press via KTVO-TV website. 2011-06-05. http://www.heartlandconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=626355. Retrieved 2011-06-05.
- ↑ "Northwest Missouri State coach dies". USA Today. 2011-06-05. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/06/northwest-missouri-state-coach-dies/1. Retrieved 2011-06-05.
External links[]
Template:Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football coach navbox