“Hard work, commitment, success, teammates, lifetime relationships, memories… That’s what it means to be a Bearcat!”
the “What sold Northwest to me was t den stu the and s yer way that the pla y The in! all e wer y The body believed. to es um vol ke spo t bled green. Tha ted me. The other schools that I visi a not but ff, stu re mo sometimes had ce.” stan sub re mo one of them had
Jason Melnick WR 1993-1996
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Tony “Tiger” Miles WR 1996-20
“To me, being a Bearcat is being a part of something bigger than yourself, there are tons of people who would love to do what you are doing. Enjoy being with your teammates, enjoy being with your coaches. Nobody loves practice, but without it you can’t win championships.” Brian Sutton FS 1994-1998
“When I was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the end of the 2009 season, the coaching staff, players, trainers and fans here could not have been more supportive of me and my family. I found out that people will bend over backwards for you here.”
“Simply stated, I did not only learn my work eth ic in my everyday life by being a Bearcat, but I learned how to be a man.” Ben Harness LB 2002
-2006
Joel Osborn QB 2005-2008, GA 2009-2010 Assistant Coach 2011-present
changed my “Being a Bearcat has started with all It . life in many ways greatest one man giving me the play college to : life opportunity of my team and best football for the best coaches in Division II.”
04-2007, Jared Erspamer LB 20 GA 2008-2010
“At the end of the day, being a Bearcat has mostly meant acting like a champion in everything I do, even if no one is watching. The character and integrity developed among my teammates and I led us to win national championships in 1998 and 1999.” Ryan T. George WR 1996-2000
e is not at being averag th d an st er nd “U work and y through hard nl O . le ab pt ce ac pion’s develop a cham sacrifice do we towards e riv st arcats we Be s A y. lit ta en m ch day. improvements ea lf se e bl ra su ea m mentors om my Bearcat fr d ne ar le I is Th and sors, teammates (coaches, profes alumni).” . 1978-1981 Dr. Al R. Cade Jr
“They [Northwest coaches] pushed me to become the first person ever in my family to earn a college degree, which in turn set an example for five younger brothers and sisters that eventually graduated college.” Andy Creger LB 1999-2003
“A Bearcat will dedicate himse lf to team before himself. This is the difference betw een Northwest and other programs that may even ha ve more talent. Be ing a selfless-pl ayer is one of the be st lessons I lear ned from being a Be arcat.” Nick Inzerello W
R 1994-1997
“Some of your best friends will be those you share the field with. Those of you courageous enough to dedicate yourselves, to persevere through challenges, will become a part of a great brotherhood. Once a Bearcat, always a Bearcat!” Greg Teale QB 1992-1996
“Your time as a footba ll player is very shor t but your time as a Bearc at is forever.” Kevin Singletary 1994 -1997 First Recruiting Class of the Championship Era
Adam Dorrel Head Coach
Adam Dorrel has been a Bearcat all his life. When his opportunity came to lead his alma mater in 2011, Dorrel and the Bearcats did not miss a beat. Dorrel was named head coach at Northwest Missouri State University after the passing of long-time assistant coach Scott Bostwick on June 5, 2011. Bostwick never had the chance to lead the Bearcats onto the field after he was named head coach, following Mel Tjeerdsma’s retirement following 17 seasons at Northwest, a program that the two helped build. Being one of the first players to start on the offensive line under Tjeerdsma in 1994, Dorrel continued the Bearcat excellence in his first season as head coach, returning the Bearcats to the playoffs for an eighth straight season, the longest current streak in NCAA Division II football. The Bearcats advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals, falling to the eventual national champion for the second season in a row. Additionally, the Bearcats led the nation in scoring, averaging more than 50 points per game during the regular season and scoring the second most points in college football. Prior to being named head coach, Dorrel was no stranger to Bearcat football or its expectations. He was the offensive coordinator at Northwest from 2007 to 2010, helping the Bearcats to an unprecedented five consecutive NCAA Division II Championship appearances and their third national title in 2009. In Dorrel’s eight seasons with the Bearcats since returning in 2004, they have a 98-17 record and added five MIAA Championships. Impressive team and individual accolades have become the norm rather than the exception under Dorrel. The Bearcats have averaged more than 40 points per game three times and more than 400 yards of offense per game five times in Dorrel’s seven seasons as the offensive coordinator. In addition, 14 offensive stars have been named All-Americans under Dorrel and three of the last five MIAA offensive MVPs have been Bearcats. Jeremy Davis (’08), Brett Grozinger (’09 and ’10) and Cody Johnson (’11) have been named finalists for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year
Award under Dorrel. Currently, there are two Northwest players in the NFL who played for Dorrel. Xavier Omon (’07) is a running back for the Denver Broncos, and Josh Baker (’10) is a tight end for the New York Jets. Omon was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft and has played for the Seattle Seahawks as well. Baker was an undrafted free agent, signed by the Jets in 2011 and has been with the team since. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Northwest in 1998, Dorrel spent a year as a graduate assistant at Northeastern State in Oklahoma. He returned to Northwest as a graduate assistant in 1999 when the team won the second of its back-to-back national titles and completed his master’s degree at Northwest in 2000. Dorrel served coaching stints at Dakota State University in South Dakota and William Jewell College in Missouri before being appointed offensive line coach at Northwest in 2004. He was promoted to offensive coordinator prior to the 2007 season and then to assistant head coach after Scott Bostwick was named head coach in December 2010. During the summer of 2008, Dorrel was one of six American football coaches to lead clinics overseas to further strengthen the sport beyond the United States. During the summer of 2007, he served as offensive line coach for Team USA as it competed and won the IFAF World Championships in Japan. Dorrel himself is a former Northwest AllAmerican, having played under legendary head coach Mel Tjeerdsma. Dorrel was a three-year captain for the Bearcats during his collegiate career as an offensive lineman from 1994 to 1997 and earned All-MIAA honors in 1995, 1996 and 1997. A Maryville native, he also was a two-time All-District and All-Conference lineman at Maryville High School. Additionally, Dorrel’s family has long ties to Bearcat football, beginning with his greatgrandfather, Ross Alexander Scott, who was a fullback on the first Bearcat football team in 1908. Dorrel’s grandfather and a great uncle also played in the program during the 1940s.
The Dorrel File Birthdate: December 2, 1974 Hometown: Maryville, Mo. High School: Maryville High School College: Northwest Missouri State University Graduate School: Northeastern State University, Northwest Missouri State University Recruiting Area: Northwest Missouri, Kansas City (Mo.)
AT NORTHWEST National Titles: 1999, 2009 National Championship Berths: 6 Playoff Berths: 9 Conference Titles: 6
YEAR-BY-YEAR 1999 MIAA NCAA 2004 2005 2006 MIAA 2007 MIAA 2008 MIAA 2009 MIAA NCAA 2010 MIAA 2011
14-1 11-2 11-4 14-1 12-2 13-2 14-1 12-2 11-3
Dorrel and his wife, Erin, live in Maryville with their twin daughters, Allie and Sam. j
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10th All-America defensive lineman to play under Wright. The 2011 season also saw his defensive unit hold opponents under 100 yards rushing four times and under 100 yards passing three times.
Richard Wright
Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator • Seasons: 9 • College: Dana College • Recruiting Area: Eastern IA, Chicago Richard Wright enters his second season as defensive coordinator after serving as Northwest’s defensive line coach and coordinator of special teams since 2004. In his first season as the defensive coordinator, Josh Lorenson became the
Charlie Flohr
Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks • Seasons: 7 • College: Dakota State University • Recruiting Area: Central and Eastern Missouri Charlie Flohr enters his seventh season at Northwest and second as offensive coordinator after pacing the Bearcats to a record setting year offensively in 2011. Regarded as one of the top offensive minds in NCAA Division II, Flohr has also earned the reputation as a winner going 53-2 during conference play in six seasons at Northwest. The Bearcats also claimed the program’s third national title in 2009 and earned three national runner-up finishes from 2006 to 2008. Under Flohr, Northwest has ranked 10th, 32nd, 17th, 3rd and 5th nationally in pass efficiency and led the nation in scoring during the 2011 season at 48.64 points per game.
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Northwest tied for the most sacks in the nation in 2009 when 19 Bearcats combined for 48 sacks. The Bearcats have finished in the top 10 nationally in quarterback sacks in three of the last four seasons. Kendall Wright enjoyed one of the most decorated seasons in 2008 as a return specialist also earning All-America accolades. During Wright’s tenure 10 Bearcats have combined to earn 14 AllMIAA honors as either a lineman or return man. Two former players have been on NFL rosters, Dave Tollefson currently with the Oakland Raiders and Steve Williams, who has spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots. Tollefson is a two-time Super Bowl Champion earning his first ring with the Giants in 2007 and again
following the 2011 season. Wright got his first taste of Bearcat football when he served as a graduate assistant at Northwest in 1995 and 1996 where he was the tight ends coach. Before coming back to Northwest in 2004, Wright served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at St. Ambrose (Iowa) University from 2000-03. During that time, the Fighting Bees won four straight conference titles and set the league record for consecutive wins. Prior to St. Ambrose, Wright made stops at William Penn (Iowa) College and Central Methodist College (now University) and Dakota State University. Wright began coaching during the 1991 season at Cortland State before spending time at Dana College from 1993-94. Covering several facets of coaching, Wright has been an offensive coordinator, linebackers coach, wide receivers coach and special team’s coordinator. A native of Hamilton, N.Y., Wright earned his bachelor’s degree at Dana (Neb.) College in 1995 and his master’s at Northwest in 1996. Wright resides in Maryville with his wife, Sarah, who is also a Northwest alum and their daughters, Grace and Kate. j
The 2011 season also saw the Bearcats average more than 50 points per game during the regular season and share the lead in total offense most of the season before finishing fourth at 495.07 yards per game. The MIAA leader in passing efficiency, Trevor Adams also finished ranked 11th in NCAA Division II as Northwest set school records for points scored in a season with 681. The 681 points was also the second most in college football regardless of division and was only surpassed by NCAA Division I Houston by nine points in their bowl game win. Flohr served as a graduate assistant with the Bearcats in 2002 and 2003 and was placed in charge of tight ends. After obtaining his master’s degree in health and physical education at Northwest, Flohr was hired at conference-rival Truman, where he served as the Bulldogs’ wide receivers and recruiting coach. A native of Gillette, Wy., Flohr is a 2002 graduate of Dakota State University in Madison, S.D., where he earned a degree in health and physical education
and earned his master’s at Northwest in 2003. Flohr was a four-year letterwinner in football at his alma mater and was a twotime honorable mention all-conference selection at wide receiver. He graduated as the program’s all-time leader in punt returns. Flohr resides in Maryville with his wife, Amy who is also a Northwest alum, and their children Adam, Austin and Alec. j
Ken Gordon
Defensive Backs / Special Teams • Seasons: 2 • College: Northwest Missouri State University • Recruiting Area: St. Louis, East Texas, Dallas Ken Gordon enters his second season at Northwest as the secondary coach and special team’s coordinator. Gordon, who also played at Northwest, returned to his alma mater after four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Emporia State. Prior to his time at Emporia, Gordon served as the defensive coordinator at Minnesota State-Mankato from 2005-2006
Joel Osborn
Wide Receivers / Recruiting • Seasons: 2 • College: Northwest Missouri State University • Recruiting Area: Kansas City (Mo. & Kan.), Eastern Kansas, Central Iowa Joel Osborn enters his second season as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater. Osborn has been at Northwest since 2004 as a player, graduate assistant, and now coaching the wide receivers. During his tenure, Northwest has won five MIAA Championships and one national championship. Since arriving at Northwest the offensive side of the ball has seen
and Pierce Junior College in California from 2003-2004. During his time as a coordinator, Gordon has coached seven All-Americans and 26 AllConference players. Gordon was a linebacker at Northwest in 1995 and 1996 and was a FirstTeam All-MIAA performer as a senior. He was a graduate assistant at Northwest in 1998 and 1999, working with the linebackers. He played at Blinn Junior College in Texas prior to coming to Northwest. A native of Quitman, Texas, Gordon earned his bachelor’s degree at Northwest in 1996 and his master’s in 1999. Gordon resides in Maryville with his wife, Jessica and their children, Dominik and Addisyn. j
unparalleled heights including setting a school record for points in a season in 2009 and breaking that record again in 2011. In three seasons on the sidelines six players combined to earn eight All-MIAA accolades and two All-America honors. After throwing passes to Jake Soy, he helped groom Soy into the 2009 National Wide Receiver of the Year after the sophomore led the nation with 27 touchdown catches and 1,559 yards receiving. Both of those marks set conference and school records as he would go on to earn First-Team All-MIAA honors and become the recipient of the Ken B. Jones MIAA Student-Athlete of the Year Award during the 2010-11 school year. As a player, Osborn was the 2008 MIAA MVP after throwing for 3,249 yards and 24
Chad Bostwick Linebackers
• Seasons: 2 • College: Northwest Missouri State University • Recruiting Area: Nebraska, Western Iowa Chad Bostwick enters his second season at Northwest as the linebackers coach where he was an All-MIAA linebacker from 2000-2004. The 2011 season saw the end of one of the most prolific linebackers in Northwest history in Chad Kilgore, who was signed by the Oakland Raiders. Kilgore earned All-America accolades by every publication that covers Division II football.
touchdowns and helped lead the Bearcats to four-straight national championship games and four MIAA Championships. He is also the only quarterback in Northwest history to start in two national championship games (2007 and 2008). A native of Harlan, Iowa, Osborn earned his bachelor’s degree at Northwest in 2008 and received his master’s in 2011. Osborn and his wife, Audrey who ran track and field at Northwest, reside in Maryville. j
Bostwick served as the linebackers and special teams coach at the University of Central Missouri during the spring of 2011. Prior to his time at UCM, he spent four seasons as the offensive line coach at Colorado School of Mines. Bostwick is the brother of Scott Bostwick, who was named Northwest’s 18th head football coach in December and died June 5, 2011, of a heart attack. A native of Omaha, Neb., Bostwick earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwest in 2005 and received his master’s in 2006. Bostwick resides in Maryville with his wife, Kelli who is also a Northwest alum, and their daughters, Geordynn and Ryleigh. j
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Meet the Bearcats NUMERICAL ROSTER No. Name Pos. Ht. 1 Brandon Dixon DB 6-0 2 Brian Dixon DB 6-0 3 Tyler Seals QB 6-2 4 Tyler Shaw WR 6-0 5 Jordan Simmons RB 5-9 6 Travis Manning CB 6-0 7 Jason Jozaites WR 6-3 8 Clint Utter WR 6-3 9 James Franklin RB 5-9 10 Brady Bolles QB 6-3 11 Sony Theodate DL 6-5 12 John Hinchey WR 6-2 13 Jeff Howeth S 5-11 14 Jared Fox DB 5-10 15 Trevor Adams QB 6-1 17 Gordi Metezier DB 6-2 18 Bryce Young WR 5-10 19 Vincent Defeo TE 6-2 20 Kohlman Adema-Schulte RB 5-9 21 Nate DeJong S 6-2 22 Billy Creason RB 5-10 23 Clarke Snodgrass S 6-0 24 Robert Burton III RB 5-11 25 Tyshaan Alleyne CB 6-0 26 Denver Lohnes RB 5-11 27 Dylan Chadwick S 5-10 28 Alex Taylor RB 5-11 29 Jordan Akers S 5-10 30 Tim Martinez CB 5-11 31 Darreus Caston CB 5-10 32 Matt Massey LB 6-1 34 Stacy Whitaker DB 6-2 35 Colby Bowles QB 6-5 36 D.J. Gnader LB 6-2 37 Preston Bostwick LB 6-0 39 Matt McLeay QB 6-1 42 Bryant Hummel FB 6-2 43 Creighton Morris TE 6-4 44 Ricky Bailey DE 6-3 46 Kyle Kleeman FB 6-0 47 Cody Matthewson LB 6-2 48 Josh Swanson FB 6-1 49 Todd Adolf K 6-1 50 Zach Maloley LB 6-1 51 Eric Reimer LB 6-2 52 Jayron Robinson LB 6-1 53 Robert Stough OL 5-11 54 Tevin Jackson-Mitchell DL 6-2 55 Cole Dafft OL 6-3 56 Chet Meneely LB 6-2 57 Brock Sherman LB 6-0 58 Bryce Johnston DT 6-2 59 Ryan Meyer DT 6-2 60 Jake Scarbo OL 6-2 61 Mickey Russell LB 6-0 63 Kolten Cline DE 6-3 65 Cole Chevalier OL 6-3 67 Daniel Kempf OL 6-3 68 Collin DeBuysere LB 6-4 71 John Petroff OL 6-3 74 CJ Keeney OL 6-6 75 Rod Williams OL 6-5 76 Shane Smith OL 6-4 77 Savontae Brown OL 6-3 78 Cody Carlson OL 6-3 79 Adam Vanderpool OL 6-6 80 Dylan Watts TE 6-3 81 Kyle Goodburn P 6-0 HS) 82 Mike Kastel DE 6-7 83 James Cairney WR 5-10 84 Nehemiah Wilkins WR 6-0 85 Alex Visk TE 6-3 86 Joel Gantz TE 6-5 87 Kevin Arnold DE 6-4 88 Dearis Flint WR 6-3 89 Montay Simmons DE 6-3 90 Willie Dyson DL 6-2 91 Zach Williams DE 6-3 92 Marcus Wright TE 6-3 93 Tristan Patterson DT 6-2 94 Jordan Chrisman DE 6-2
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Wt. 195 195 210 180 195 190 190 200 185 180 280 210 205 190 200 200 185 230 185 210 200 205 190 180 200 195 190 180 185 175 230 185 230 225 215 215 240 210 235 245 230 230 185 220 225 225 275 260 280 225 225 270 270 275 210 230 285 260 230 290 280 300 280 285 275 275 230 180
Yr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Jr. Jr. RS Fr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. RS Fr. So. So. RS Fr. RS Fr. So. RS Fr. Sr. So. RS Fr. So. Sr. RS Fr. Jr. RS Fr. Jr. Jr. So. RS Fr. Sr. RS Fr. So. So. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. RS Fr. Jr. Sr. Jr. RS Fr. RS Fr. So. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. RS Fr. So. Jr. So. So. So.
Hometown/Previous School Margate, Fla. (Joliet JC) Margate, Fla. (Joliet JC) Bellevue, Neb. (Bellevue West HS) St. Louis, Mo.(Lutheran North HS) Kansas City, Mo. (Lee’s Summit North) Belleville, Ill. (West HS) Westmont, Ill. (Downers Grove South HS) Bloomfield, Iowa (Ottumwa HS) Olathe, Kan. (Olathe North (UNO) Lincoln, Neb. (North Star HS) Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Cerritos CC) Kearney, Mo. (Kearney HS) Dallas, Texas (Highland Park) St. Joseph, Mo. (Central HS) Odessa, Texas (Permian HS) Margette, Fla. (Texas Southern) Chillicothe, Mo. (Chillicothe HS) Greenwood, Mo. (Drake) Omaha, Neb. (Millard West HS) Rock Rapids, Iowa (Central Lyon HS) Grain Valley, Mo. (Grain Valley HS) Chesterfield, Mo. (Parkway Central HS) Marin City, Calif. (San Francisco JC) Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs HS) Council Bluffs, Iowa (Lewis Central HS) Hamilton, Mo. (Penney HS) Kansas City, Mo. (Center HS) Lawson, Mo. (Lawson HS) Bettendorf, Iowa (Pleasant Valley HS) Fort Dodge, Iowa (Fort Dodge HS) Kearney, Mo. (Kearney HS) Jacksonville, Texas (Tarleton State) Richmond, Mo. (Richmond HS) Council Bluffs, Iowa (Lewis Central HS) Omaha, Neb. (North HS) Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep) Clarinda, Iowa (Clarinda HS) Lincoln, Neb. (North Star HS) Wentzville, Mo. (Wentzville Holt HS) Lemont, Ill. (Joliet Catholic HS) Madrid, Iowa (Madrid HS) Gering, Ill. (Gering HS) Omaha, Neb. (Millard North HS) Kearney, Neb. (Kearney HS) Menomonee Falls, Wisc. (Sussex Hamilton HS) Kansas City, Mo. (Staley HS) Liberty, Mo. (Liberty HS) Bakersfield, Ca. (Bakersfield CC) Prosper, Texas (Prosper HS) Atlantic, Iowa (Atlantic HS) Crete, Neb. (Crete HS) Clarence, Mo. (South Shelby HS) Omaha, Neb. (Millard West HS) Blue Springs, Mo. (South HS) Council Bluffs, Iowa (St. Albert HS) Pleasant Hill, Mo. (Pleasant Hill HS) Lee’s Summit, Mo. (West HS) Boonville, Mo. (Boonville HS) Geneseo, Ill. (Geneseo HS) Chesterfield, Mo. (Parkway Central HS) Smithville, Mo. (Smithville HS) Grandview, Mo. (Grandview HS) Shelbine, Mo. (South Shelby HS) Lincoln, Neb. (North Star HS) Eudora, Kan. (Eudora HS) Kansas City, Mo. (Southern Illinois) Camdenton, Mo. (Camdenton HS) Roeland Park, Kan. (Shawnee Mission North
225 185 185 230 245 230 195 230 260 275 225 250 240
RS Fr. Jr. RS Fr. So. Jr. So. RS-Fr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. RS Fr. So.
St. Charles, Ill. (Delaware) Harlan, Iowa (Harlan Community HS) Raleigh, N.C. (Boys Town Omaha HS) Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley West HS) Perry, Kan. (Perry-Lecompton HS) Iowa City, Iowa (Regina HS) Kansas City, Mo. (Park Hill HS) Kansas City, Mo. (Lincoln Prep HS) St. Louis, Mo. (Minnesota) Kansas City, Mo. (Center HS) Kansas City, Mo. Columbia, Mo. (Rock Bridge HS) Blue Springs, Mo. (Central Arkansas)
No. Name 95 Matt Meinert 96 Matt Longacre 97 Gary Brunt 98 Travis Chappelear 99 Brandon Yost True Freshmen Daniel Ajuzie Ryan Auer Brock Behrndt Kevin Berg Colby Bowers Steven Butler Jr. Zach Callahan Brad Dinwiddie Joshua Falk Cole Forney Chris Foster Justin Fulks Trey Graf DJ Griffin Luke Guenther Zach Hilsabeck Phil Jackson II Quanzee Johnson Cole Jones Zach Kallman Carson Klocko Cale Kobelik P.T. Mahoney Robert Mann Kyle Meyer Dylan Morris Sean O’Connor Preston Pedersen Trey Randle TJ Schieber Chase Sherman Logan Stark Casey Sudhoff Jamie Thieman DeAndre Thomas Joseph Traylor Ben Trewyn Will Twadle Jordan Van Roekel Kole Vittetoe Jacob Vollstedt Austin Weaver Cass Weitl Michael Wickham Connor Wilson Jack Young Connor Zech Kyle Zimmerman
Pos. DE DE DE DE DT
Ht. 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-2
Wt. Yr. 240 Sr. 240 So. 250 Jr. 270 Sr. 280 RS Fr.
Hometown/Previous School Easton, Kan. (Pleasant Ridge HS) Omaha, Neb. (Millard West HS) Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Chaffey JC) Urbana, Mo. (Missouri State) Omaha, Neb. (Millard West HS)
WR FB TE S LS DB OL RB DE LB DE RB TE LB OL OL RB WR WR WR DB S DE CB OL OL LB WR DT TE OL DE LB OL DB WR K S LB OL LB K DT WR LB CB OL QB
6-3 5-10 6-5 5-11 6-0 5-7 6-3 6-0 6-5 6-0 6-5 5-11 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-7 6-0 5-9 5-8 6-3 6-2 5-8 6-5 5-10 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-0 6-1 6-0 6-4 6-2 6-4 5-11 5-10 6-3 6-4 6-2 5-7 6-4 6-3 6-1 5-10 6-3 6-1
180 230 240 185 230 160 270 195 205 210 220 175 215 200 265 320 220 165 165 200 185 175 230 165 245 270 200 185 275 240 270 230 220 260 195 170 195 175 195 250 225 150 240 190 210 170 183 185
Jefferson City, Mo. (Jefferson City HS) St. Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell HS) St. Louis, Mo. (Lafayette HS) Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst HS) Richmond, Mo. (Richmond HS) Mesquite, Texas (West Mesquite HS) Shawnee, Kan. (Mill Valley HS) Eldon, Mo. (Eldon HS) Joliet, Ill. (Joliet Catholic Academy) Maryville, Mo. (Maryville HS) Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley HS) Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley HS) Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Southwest HS) Kansas City, Mo. (O’Hara HS) Altoona, Iowa (Southeast Polk HS) Barnard, Mo. (South Nodaway HS) Carol Stream, Ill. (Glenbard North HS) Shawnee, Kan. (Bishop Miege HS) Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs HS) Omaha, Neb. (Kansas State) Norwalk, Iowa (Norwalk HS) Omaha, Neb. (Millard North HS) Belton, Mo. Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Park) Versailles, Mo. (Morgan County R-2 HS) Lawson, Mo. (Lawson HS) Prairie City, Iowa (PCM HS) Leon, Iowa (Central Decatur HS) Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst HS) Hamilton, Mo. (Penney HS) Crete, Neb. (Crete HS) Lee’s Summit, Mo. (Lee’s Summit West HS) Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs South HS) Concordia, Mo. (Concordia HS) Gladstone, Mo. (Winnetonka HS) Tyler, Texas (Winona HS) Bettendorf, Iowa (Pleasant Valley HS) Maryville, Mo. (Maryville HS) Monroe, Iowa (Prairie City-Monroe HS) Grain Valley, Mo. (Grain Valley HS) Iowa City, Iowa (Iowa City Regina HS) Canyon, Texas (Canyon HS) Carroll, Iowa (Kuemper HS) Bennington, Neb. (Bennington HS) Omaha, Neb. (Millard North HS) Jefferson City, Mo. (Jefferson City HS) Liberty, Mo. (Liberty HS) Overland Park, Neb. (Millard West HS)
Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. RS Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. RS Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. RS Fr. Fr. RS-Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.
Bearcats on National TV YEAR 1998 1999 2005 2005 2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009 2010
CARRIER ESPN ESPN ESPNU ESPN ESPNU ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 CBS C CBS C ESPN2 CBS C
OPPONENT SCORE Carson Newman (National Championship) 24-6 Carson Newman (National Championship) 58-52 (4 OTs) North Alabama (National Semifinal) 25-24 Grand Valley (National Championship) 17-21 Bloomsburg (National Semifinal) 33-3 Grand Valley (National Championship) 14-17 Grand Valley (National Semifinal) 34-16 Valdosta St. (National Championship) 20-25 North Alabama (National Semifinal) 41-7 Minnesota Duluth (National Championship) 14-21 Abilene Christian 14-19 California PA (National Semifinal) 56-31 Grand Valley (National Championship) 30-23 Minnesota Duluth (National Semifinal) 13-17
Fall Classic at Arrowhead One of the premiere and highly anticipated sporting events in all of Division II football is the Fall Classic at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. What started as a one-time event has now completed its eleventh contest. The Bearcats defeated the #1 ranked Gorillas 31-21 on October 13th, 2012. Northwest scored 31 unanswered points in the second half to take control of the game. The annual game between national powerhouses Northwest and Pittsburg State attracts more than 20,000 fans on average to the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. The first game in 2002, dubbed
“The Clash of the Champions,” brought in a series-record 26,695 fans. The magnitude of the Northwest-Pittsburg State rivalry is something all college programs aspire to be a part of. In nine of the eleven Fall Classics, both teams were ranked in the top 20 and five times both teams were ranked in the top 10. The 2004 Classic pitted the nation’s top two teams against one another in a regular season finale for the first time in Division II history.
DATE ATTENDANCE SCORE Oct. 27, 2002 26,695 29-7 Nov. 15, 2003 20,324 20-19 Nov. 6, 2004 25,542 17-21 Oct. 29, 2005 21,044 35-56 Nov. 4, 2006 22,561 41-14 Oct. 6, 2007 19,103 37-34 (OT) Oct. 4, 2008 21,316 35-10 Sept. 12, 2009 20,813 30-10 Nov.12, 2010 16,504 22-16 Oct. 1, 2011 15,106 35-38 Oct. 13, 2012 15,349 31-21
Northwest has won six of the last seven Fall Classic games and leads the Arrowhead series 8-3.
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It’s hard to find a more beautiful and more accommodating facility in Division II football than Northwest Missouri State’s Bearcat Stadium. Labeled “the crown jewel of the MIAA” by the Kansas City Star, Bearcat Stadium is the longestrunning continuous site for football in all of NCAA Division II. Dating back to 1913, no other stadium has played host to its team’s games for so long.
significant improvements since 2000. The east grandstand was completely rebuilt starting in 2000. In 2003, the new-andimproved stadium was unveiled, which included an increased seating capacity on the west side, chairback and railback seating, 10 luxury suites, a spacious and functional press area and a new scoreboard, complete with video board – one of few in a Division II football facility.
First named Memorial Stadium in 1917, and then Rickenbrode Stadium from 1961-2004, Bearcat Stadium has seen
The summer of 2007 saw the installation of FieldTurf and permanent lighting. Contributors for the project requested
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the new playing surface be named after former head coach Mel Tjeerdsma. On June 28, 2007, the Northwest Board of Regents unanimously approved the proposal. From 2004 to the start of the 2012 season, the Bearcats are 48-3 at the facility which includes 17-, 13- and 10-game winning streaks. The facility has seen 12 NCAA playoff contests since its renaming in 2004 – all Northwest wins.
Locker Room Amenities
• Newly renovated in 2005 • 120 full lockers • Lockers include six storage areas • Two 37-inch LCD flat panel HDTVs
• DVD/VHS player with surround sound • Overhead projector with pull-down screen • Stereo system
Training Room Amenities • Remodeled in 2010 with new flooring, carpeting and painting • Six-person, Jacuzzi-style whirlpool • Nine split-leg, cabinet-style treatment tables • Two LeMond Fitness spin-style stationary bicycles • Custom cubby units for studentathlete personal storage • New offices for full-time staff members
Weight Room Amenities • 6,000 square feet of space • 10,000 square feet of agility area • Full-time strength/conditioning coach • Indoor track • Dumbbells from 5 to 150 lbs. • 10 power racks • 5 Hammer Strength Jammer machines • 1 Force Treadmill • Recovery shake available after each workout
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1998
1999
Northwest Missouri State quarterback Chris Greisen threw two touchdown passes and Derek Lane ran for one touchdown to lead the Bearcats to a 24-6 win against Carson-Newman and the program’s first national title. Greisen threw an NCAA record 13 touchdown passes during the playoffs. Northwest became the first Division II program to 8finish a season 15-0.
Four Overtimes
Northwest (15-0) 24 Carson-Newman (12-2) 6
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Northwest (14-1) 58 Carson-Newman (13-1) 52 Northwest Missouri State’s 58-52, quadruple overtime win against CarsonNewman has been described as “the greatest college football game ever played.” Northwest scored 30 points in the fourth quarter and 15 points in the final three minutes to reach overtime, successfully completed a two-point conversion to force a fourth overtime,
and then recovered a Carson-Newman fumble to win its second national title in as many years. Bearcat quarterback Travis Miles threw for 298 yards and five touchdowns including a 13-yard strike to J.R. Hill to give the Bearcats a 58-52 lead. Hill had 120 yards receiving and caught three touchdown passes during the game including a 34 yarder with 10 seconds left in regulation. Ryan George then made “the catch” in the back of the end zone for two points and a 44-44 tie.
Northwest Missouri State has won three national championships in the last 14 seasons and competed in the national championship game seven times since 1998. The Bearcats won back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999 and added their third trophy in 2009. Northwest’s three titles are tied for the third-most in Division II history (since 1973).
2009
Northwest (14-1) 30 Grand Valley State (13-2) 23 Northwest Missouri State used a 21-0 halftime lead to hold off Grand Valley State 30-23 and win the program’s third national championship. Bearcat quarterback Blake Bolles threw a 26-yard touchdown strike to Jake Soy on a 4th-and-4 play with 10 minutes remaining that gave Northwest a 30-20 advantage. The Bearcats later
recovered an onside kick and stopped a final Laker drive before hoisting the trophy. LaRon Council ran for 172 yards and two first-half touchdowns for Northwest. Soy caught nine passes for 118 yards. Northwest scored touchdowns on its first three possessions en route to the win.
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Playoff Appearances 1984 1989 1996
1997 1998 1999
2000 2002 2004
2005 2006 2007
2008 2009 2010
2011
Northwest Missouri State has advanced to the Division II playoffs 14 times in the last 16 seasons and 16 times overall. Since 1996, the Bearcats are 34-11 in the postseason with three national titles and seven championship-game appearances. The 34 victories are the most ever in Division II history. In 2009, Northwest became the first Division II program to compete in five consecutive championship games. The Bearcats have participated in the playoffs every season since 2004, the longest active streak in NCAA II. Since 1996, Northwest is 13-1 in opening games of the postseason, 19-3 at home and 7-1 in the semifinals. ESPN has broadcast nine Northwest playoff games in the last seven seasons.
MOST APPEARANCES 1. UC Davis 2. North Dakota State 3. North Alabama 4. Pittsburg State 5. Northwest
18 17 17 17 16
MOST VICTORIES 1. Northwest 2. North Dakota State 3. North Alabama 4. Grand Valley State 5. Pittsburg State
34 30 29 28 24
MOST TITLES 1. Truman 2. Northwest 3. SE Missouri State 4. Pittsburg State 5. Central Missouri
26 24 17 12 8
Conference Championships 1925 1931 1938 1939
1941 1942 1948 1952
1972 1974 1979 1984
1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2002 2003 2006
2007 2008 2009 2010
Northwest Missouri State has won 12 MIAA championships in the last 16 years and 24 overall. Nine of the last 11 titles were earned with unblemished 9-0 records. In fact, twice since 1997 have the Bearcats won more than 40 conference games in a row. The most recent streak lasted 49 games from 2005-2011. From 1996 to the start of the 2012 season, Northwest has posted a 132-11 record in MIAA play (.923).
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Bearcat All-Americans AP Little All-Americans 1939 1984 1985 1989 1991 1996 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999 1999 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008 2009
Marion Rogers Steve Hansley Steve Hansley Jason Agee Erik Petersen Matt Uhde Adam Dorrel Twan Young Aaron Becker Aaron Crowe Chris Greisen Steve Coppinger Twan Young Sherman Wilderness Tony Miles David Purnell Chad Thompson Tony Miles Aaron Becker Andy Erpelding Brian Williams Seth Wand Jamaica Rector Seth Wand Jamaica Rector Jamaica Rector Dave Tollefson Mike Peterson Xavier Omon Mike Peterson Reid Kirby Jared Erspamer Jeremy Davis Myles Burnsides LaRon Council Brett Grozinger
OL WR WR DB DE DL OL DB DL LB QB OL DB OL WR K OL WR DL OL LB OL WR OL WR WR DL TE RB TE OL LB OL DB RB OL
1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st 1st 2nd 1st 3rd 1st 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd 3rd 1st 1st 3rd 1st
2009 2009 2010 2011 2011
Jake Soy Myles Burnsides Ryan Jones Chad Kilgore Rod Williams
WR DB DB LB OL
AFCA All-Americans 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Matt Uhde Chris Greisen Chris Greisen Tony Miles Tony Miles Seth Wand Seth Wand Jamaica Rector Jamaica Rector Dave Tollefson Mike Peterson Xavier Omon Jeremy Davis Myles Burnsides Ryan Jones Chad Kilgore
DL QB QB KR WR OL OL WR WR DL TE RB OL DB DB LB
Daktronics/CoSIDA All-Americans 1995 1996 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998
Ezra Whorley Matt Uhde Adam Dorrel Twan Young Steve Coppinger Aaron Crowe Chris Greisen Twan Young Aaron Becker
DB DL OL DB OL LB QB DB DL
2nd 2nd 1st 1st 2nd
1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
2nd 1st 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd
1998 1999 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2002 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2011 2011
Sherman Wilderness Chad Thompson David Purnell Aaron Becker Brian Williams Steve Comer Andy Erpelding Tony Miles Seth Wand Seth Wand Adam Long Jamaica Rector Brad Schneider Steve Williams Dave Tollefson Reid Kirby Mike Petersen Thomas Smith Xavier Omon Reid Kirby Jared Erspamer Jeremy Davis LaRon Council Sean Paddock Myles Burnsides Kendall Wright Jake Soy Brett Grozinger LaRon Council Myles Burnside Chad Kilgore Ryan Jones Chad Kilgore Rod Williams Cody Johnson
OL OL K DL LB TE OL WR OL OL LB WR OL DL DL OL TE LB RB OL LB OL RB DL DB RS WR OL RB DB LB DB LB OL OL
2nd 1st 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd
MIAA Player of the Year 1974 1998 2000 2000 2004 2005 2007 2007
Randy Baehr Chris Greisen Tony Miles Brian Williams Adam Long Dave Tollefson Jared Erspamer Xavier Omon DII Player of the Year
DB QB WR/KR LB LB DL LB RB
2008 2008 2009 2010
Joel Osborn Myles Burnsides DII Player of the Year LaRon Council Ryan Jones DII Player of the Year
QB DB RB DB
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Photo courtesy of Evan Pinkus
Since 1996, the Bearcats have sent 17 players to NFL camps and currently have four players on NFL rosters heading into the 2012 training camp season. The Bearcats also saw the highest draft pick of any MIAA school when Seth Wand was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft.
Dave Tollefson (2004-2005)
After breaking the Northwest single season sack record and leading the Bearcats to the first of five consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship games, Tollefson was chosen by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He spent his first season on the Packers’ practice squad before signing with the Oakland Raiders before the 2007 season. Halfway through the 2007 season, while Tollefson was a member of the Raiders practice squad, the New York Giants signed him to a contract and activated him immediately. During Tollefson’s five seasons with the Giants, he won two Super Bowls (2007, 2011), started games on special teams and at defensive end, and recorded a careerhigh 5.0 sacks during the 2011 season. Because of his performance during the 2011 season, the Oakland Raiders signed him to a multi-year contract during the 2012 offseason.
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In his two seasons playing at Northwest, the Bearcats made it to the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal (2004) and National Championship (2005) games. Tollefson was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 while earning NCAA Division II First-Team All-America accolades. During the 2005 season, he recorded a then Northwest single-season record 12.5 sacks. Tollefson is married to Megan (Stalder), a former Northwest softball player. They reside in Omaha, Neb., with their sons, Tucker and Cade.
Photo courtesy of Ha Gre
Xavier Omon (2004-2007)
After breaking numerous Northwest, MIAA and NCAA records, Xavier Omon was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Omon made the 53-man roster for the 2008 and 2009 seasons as the third-string running back behind Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. Since the end of the 2009 season, Omon’s stops have included the Seahawks, Jets, 49ers and Browns. Currently, he is a member of the Denver Broncos organization. In his four seasons at Northwest, he led the Bearcats to the playoffs four times including three consecutive national championship games (2005-2007). He was the first running back in the history of college football to rush
Omon resides in St. Joseph with his girlfriend, Lauren Williams, a former Northwest basketball player, and their two daughters, Emery and Eva.
Josh Baker
Other Bearcats in the NFL (Since 1996)
(2010)
Although his time at Northwest was short, Josh Baker’s impact was felt immediately. After transferring from the University of Delaware, Baker showed his versatility, which in turn landed him a free agent contract with the New York Jets.
armann Studios een Bay Packers
for more than 1,500 yards for four consecutive years. One of his most memorable rushing touchdowns came during the 2007 NCAA Division II National Semi-Finals against Grand Valley State on ESPN. Using the JumboTron scoreboard to elude a pursuing defender, Omon raced 98 yards to score the deciding touchdown during the fourth quarter. The touchdown sent Northwest to the NCAA Division II National Championship game for the third consecutive year. Omon was named the NCAA Division II and MIAA Offensive Player of the Year during his senior season at Northwest. He was a four-time NCAA Division II All-American.
A native of Chesapeake, Va., Baker would catch 66 passes for more than 800 yards in his lone season with the Bearcats. His nine touchdowns were second only behind Northwest All-America wide receiver Jake Soy, and he added three more touchdowns on the ground. In 11 attempts, Baker rushed for over 100 yards including a memorable touchdown run in a playoff win more than rival Missouri Western on a fake punt. Since joining the Jets, Baker has worked his way onto the special team’s squad, securing a spot on the 53-man roster. In his rookie season, he also saw action as a backup tight end and scored his first NFL touchdown in a week 16 loss to the eventual Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.
Jesse Haynes, RB – Kansas City Chiefs (1998) Chris Griesen – Arizona Cardinals (1999-2001), Washington Redskins (2002), Dallas Cowboys (2010-11) Maurice Douglass, RB – St. Louis Rams (2001) Curt Lessman, OL – Atlanta Falcons (2001) Seth Wand, OL – Houston Texans (2003-05) Tennessee Titans (2006), Oakland Raiders (2007-09, 2011) Alex Tuttle, OL – San Diego Chargers (2003) Jamaica Rector, WR – Dallas Cowboys (2005-06), Arizona Cardinals (2007) Steve Williams, DL – Kansas City Chiefs (2006), Carolina Panthers (2007-08), New England Patriots (2009, 2011) Mike Peterson, TE – Green Bay Packers (2008) Tom Pestock, OL – Arizona Cardinals (2009-2011), Indianapolis Colts (2009) LaRon Council, RB – Minnesota Vikings (2010) Blake Bolles, QB – Minnesota Vikings (2012) David Mosley, WR – Chicago Bears (2012) Chad Kilgore, LB – Oakland Raiders (2012)
Baker currently lives in New York.
Photo courtesy of Harmann Studios Green Bay Packers
13 Photo courtesy of James D. Smith Photo courtesy of Vikings
Photo courtesy of New York Jets
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From tailgate parties to tearing down the goalposts following a playoff win, nothing beats the game-day atmosphere at Northwest. Catch free entertainment at the Bearcat Zone in College Park next to the stadium prior to each home game. Come tailgate with Northwest fans, get your picture taken with Bobby Bearcat and join the marching band, cheerleaders and dance team in a pep rally prior to each game. The “March to the Stadium” caps the celebration prior to each kickoff.
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During the game, listen for the Phi Sigma Kappa cannon shot after each Northwest score and keep count while Bobby Bearcat does pushups. Spend halftime with the Bearcat Marching Band: “The Musical Pride of Northwest.” Celebrate each Bearcat victory down on the field with coaches and players where you can get autographs, take pictures and play on the field.
Northwest home win streaks
Rank Streak Dates 1 22 Sept. 5, 1998 - Nov. 4, 2000 2 17 Oct. 22, 2005 - Aug. 30, 2008 3 13 Sept. 6, 2008 - Sept. 2, 2010 4 12 Oct. 4, 2003 - Oct. 1, 2005 5 11 Oct. 10, 1930 - Nov. 24, 1932 6 10 Nov. 12, 1937- Nov. 10, 1939 7 10 Oct. 2, 2010 - current* * through the start of the 2012 season
Attendance records (capacity - 6,500) Attendance 1. 10,805 2. 10,073 3 9,500 4. 9,346 5. 9,250
Opponent Missouri Western Washburn Truman Missouri Western Pittsburg State
Date Oct. 2, 2010 Oct. 22, 2011 Oct. 20, 2001 Sept. 13, 2008 Sept, 16, 2000
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In addition to the parade, the court and all of the festivities, there are two special traditions during Homecoming week at Northwest, which was established by all known records in 1946. The first is the induction of the latest M-Club Hall of Fame class, which includes 111 individuals and 42 teams in 2012. The second is the naming of the Don Black Homecoming Most Valuable Player Award. Don Black was a running back for the Bearcat football team from 1951 to 1953 and helped lead Northwest to an MIAA title in 1952. In 1972, the Don Black Award was presented for the first time to the most valuable player in the annual Homecoming contest. Since 1972, 40 athletes have received the honor. Below is a look at past Don Black Award winners and the Bearcats all-time record in homecoming games.
Don Black Award Winner Breakdown BY CLASS: Freshman Sophomore
3 4
Junior Senior
12 21
BY POSITION: Lineman Kicker/Punter Linebacker Defensive Back
2 2 3 3
Safety Receiver Quarterback Running Back
3 7 11 9
Alma Mater
Let your voices loudly ringing, Echo far and near; Songs of praise thy children singing To the memory dear. Years may dim our recollections, Time its change may bring; Still thy name in fond affection Evermore we sing.
Chorus
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Alma Mater! Alma Mater! Tender, fair and true, Grateful ones with love unfailing, All their vows renew.
Bearcat Fight Song Come on Bearcats fight, (you Bearcats fight!) on to victory. Hail the Green and White, best in history.
Come on Bearcats fight, (you Bearcats fight!) proud, brave and strong we will stand. Our glorious colors raised up triumphantly, across Missouri land.
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Student Athlete Success Program For more than a decade, Northwest’s student-athletes have had a higher cumulative grade-point average than the rest of the Northwest student body. Much of that academic success is attributed to Northwest’s nationally-renowned Student Athlete Success Program (SASP). The goal of the program is to provide an environment in which student-athletes can experience their fullest personal, social and academic growth. The following is a list of resources available to student-athletes through the SASP:
Advising All academic advising is provided through the individual college and academic departments.
Academic Progress During each trimester, the SASP surveys the professors of each student-athlete three times. In this grade check, the instructors are asked to comment on: the level of work the student is maintaining, the student’s attendance and attentiveness, the need for tutorial help, and any general comments.
Mentoring The SASP provides individualized mentoring sessions for interested studentathletes. The goal is to help students avoid academic-related difficulties and to develop opportunities for improvement of skills, rather than merely avoiding academic crises. It also provides for more individual monitoring of the student’s academic progress.
Supplemental Instruction The SI program offers extracurricular peer tutoring groups for traditionally tough classes. Study sessions are led by students who have completed and earned high grades in the courses covered by the study group. SI’s provide three regularlyscheduled study review sessions a week.
Tutoring Free tutoring is available in the relaxed environment at the Talent Development Center. Students can find a tutor for almost all of the general education courses and every effort will be made to find a tutor for an upper-level (300/400) course if needed. Tutoring sessions incorporate university-level study skills strategies, targeted testtaking advice, and content review of general studies and foundation-level courses in many majors. Tutoring sessions are designed to meet every individual’s needs.
Graduation Rates Northwest Missouri State football players and Northwest student-athletes in general continue to boast higher graduation rates than the national average. Seventy-seven percent of Northwest football players graduate within six years, which leads the MIAA in graduation rate. The federal graduation rate is 58 percent. In addition, 83 percent of Northwest student-athletes graduate within six years. All 11 Northwest sports programs graduate student-athletes at a higher percentage than the national average.
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Academic Excellence Northwest Missouri State football players display their talents on the field and in the classroom. Northwest football boasts four Ken B. Jones Award winners, nine Academic All-Americans and in 2009 featured Myles Burnsides, the National Scholar-Athlete of the year. The Bearcats strive for perfection on the field, but our coaching staff’s top priority is to prepare men for life after football with a college degree.
Ken B. Jones Award Winners The award is named for the MIAA’s first full-time commissioner, who retired in 1997 after 16 years of service to the conference, and passed away in May 2004 at age 74. Nominees are judged on their athletic and academic accomplishments, along with any campus/community service during each year as well as their career. 2001-2002 2005-2006 2009-2010 2010-2011
Tucker Woolsey Josh Lamberson Myles Burnsides Jake Soy
FB QB DB WR
Draddy Award Finalist Often referred to as the “Academic Heisman,” the Draddy Award is given to the nation’s top scholarathlete and awards a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. 2003
John Edmonds
Division II National Scholar Athlete of the Year 2009-2010 Myles Burnsides
DB
Academic All-Americans 1981 2004 2004 2005 2008 2009 2009 2010 2011
Robert Gregory Josh Lamberson Troy Tysdahl Josh Lamberson Myles Burnsides Sean Paddock Myles Burnsides Jake Soy Trevor Adams
LB QB LB QB DB DL DB WR QB
LB
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Members of the Northwest football team are leaders on the field and in the community. Whether it is helping senior citizens with home improvements, cleaning up local highways or reading stories to elementary students, Maryville counts on its Bearcats and they deliver. Northwest has participated in a spring clean-up for Maryville community members annually since 1996. The team assisted Hy-Vee in moving products into its new store and can be found moving furniture for offices across campus. Many players donate their time to reading in classrooms to Horace Mann, St. Gregory’s and Eugene Field students. The Bearcats also read
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to students in Florence, Ala., during the week leading up to their nation championship game. During the summer of 2012, the Bearcats participated in the Nodaway County Relay for Life at Bearcat Stadium playing games with kids to help raise money for Cancer. Head strength and conditioning coach Joe Quinlin and 18 Bearcat football players helped a Habitat for Humanity project in a neighboring community, Skidmore. In all, the group spent five hours helping improve the front yard and drainage of the home.
MIAA SCHOOL Central Missouri Emporia State Fort Hays Missouri Southern Missouri Western Northwest Pittsburg State Washburn Southwest Baptist Lincoln Lindenwood Nebraska-Kearney Northeastern State Central Oklahoma
CITY Warrensburg Emporia Hays Joplin St. Joseph Maryville Pittsburg Topeka Bolivar Jefferson City St. Charles Kearney Tahlequah Edmond
STATE MO KS KS MO MO MO KS KS MO MO MO NE OK OK
JOINED 1912 1991 2006 1989 1989 1912 1989 1989 1986 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012
Northwest’s student body is more than 7,100 students who come from every region of the U.S. and around the world, representing 44 states and 30 countries. Northwest students are traditional, with an average age of 20. Most live on campus or within a small radius from campus. Their average ACT score is 22, and 79 percent of them rank in the upper half of their high school graduating class. The 370-acre campus is complemented by 315 acres of rural lakefront just outside Maryville and a 750-acre laboratory farm north of campus.
For more information contact: Joel Osborn Wide Receivers, Recruiting Coordinator 660.562.1088 josborn@nwmissouri.edu www.northwestbearcats.com