Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football

The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football team has appeared in nine NCAA Division II national title games – winning six – since going 0–11 in Mel Tjeerdsma's first season in 1994. The Bearcats have made the playoffs in 20 seasons and have also won or shared 30 MIAA titles.

Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football
First season1908 (1908)
Athletic directorAndy Peterson
Head coachRich Wright
4th season, 31–8 (.795)
StadiumBearcat Stadium
(Capacity: 6,500)
FieldMel Tjeerdsma Field
Year built1917
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationMaryville, Missouri
NCAA divisionDivision II
ConferenceThe MIAA
All-time record59039933 (.593)
Claimed national titles6 (1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Conference titles30
RivalriesPittsburg State
Missouri Western
Truman
Consensus All-Americans69
ColorsBearcat Green and White[1]
         
MascotBobby Bearcat
Marching bandBearcat Marching Band
OutfitterAdidas
Websitewww.bearcatsports.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, and 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.

Northwest Missouri State 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.[2] This screen was replaced in 2014 by a 20-foot by 40-foot high-resolution screen with the scoreboard attached underneath.[3]

Previously, Northwest Missouri played its games with Pittsburg State University at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri in the Fall Classic at Arrowhead. The series was discontinued in 2013, games are now played on campus sites. Pittsburg has made four national title appearances since 1991. The October 17, 2002 game was witnessed by 26,695—the largest number in MIAA history.[4]

Conference

Northwest was one of the original 1912 organizers of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The school 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.[4]

Championships

National championship seasons

Season Coach Selectors Record Bowl
1998Mel TjeerdsmaNCAA Division II Playoff15–0Won NCAA Division II Championship
199914–1Won NCAA Division II Championship
2009Won NCAA Division II Championship
2013Adam Dorrel15–0Won NCAA Division II Championship
2015Won NCAA Division II Championship
2016Won NCAA Division II Championship
National Championships 6

Conference championship seasons

  • Conference Championships (30)[5][6]
Year Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1925Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationH. Frank Lawrence7–0–13–0–1
1931E.A. Davis9–04–0
1938Ryland Milner5–0
1939
1941†6–2–13–1–1
1942†4–2–13–1
1948†4–16–2
1952†6–34–1
1972†Gladden Dye7–35–1
19748–25-1
1979James Redd6–55-1
1984Vern Thomsen10–15–0
1996†Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics AssociationMel Tjeerdsma11–28–1
199712–19–0
199815–0
199914–1
200011–1
200212–1
2003†8–37–2
200614–19–0
200712–2
200813–210–0
200914–19–0
201012–2
2013Adam Dorrel15–010–0
2014†11–210–1
201515–011–0
201615–0
2018†Rich Wright10–39–2
2019†12–210–1
Total Conference Championships: 30
† Denotes co-champions

NCAA Division II championship games

1998

In 1998, the Bearcats won the NCAA Division II football national championship by going 15–0. It was the first time in history a Division II school won 15 games and the first time a Northwest athletic program 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. In their third playoff game, a game played against Bloomsburg University, ESPNU 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 having been removed in 1977. The Bearcats went 3–0 in the playoffs, thus earning a rematch against the Grand Valley State University Lakers in the NCAA Division II National Championship Game at Florence, Alabama, 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 football national championship at 12pm (Eastern) on Saturday December 15, 2007 in Florence, Alabama; the game was broadcast on ESPN2.

2008

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

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 Abilene Christian. 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 California University of Pennsylvania to qualify for its third meeting in the finals with Grand Valley.

2013

Northwest won its fourth title in 2013 defeating the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears 43–28. It was the first Bearcat national championship game not coached by Mel Tjeerdsma, who retired after losing in the semi finals in 2010. He was succeeded by Scott Bostwick who had been with Tjeerdsma during his entire tenure at Northwest including Tjeerdsma's initial 0–11 team in 1994. Bostwick passed died 6 months later, before coaching a game as a head coach. Adam Dorrel, the offensive coordinator, became the head coach. Tjeerdsma came out of retirement in 2013 to become Northwest's athletic director. The Bearcats were undefeated 11–0 in the regular season and won the 4 playoff games. The game was the last title game at Braly Stadium in Alabama. The MIAA, sparked by the success of Northwest and Pittsburg, successfully bid to host the championship games starting in 2014 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas about 100 miles south of the Northwest campus.

2015

Northwest took on the Shepherd Rams at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas on December 19. The game was the Bearcats' ninth appearance in the national title game and first at its new site in Kansas City. Northwest took home their fifth national title since 1998, second under head coach Adam Dorrel, defeating Shepherd 34–7.[7]

2016

Northwest played the University of North Alabama for the 2016 Division II Championship in a snowstorm. This was the Bearcats' 10th appearance in the national title game and its second trip to the title game in Kansas City. Northwest Missouri State picked up its sixth title when the Bearcats defeated North Alabama, 29-3.[8]

Post season results

At the conclusion of the 2018 season Northwest is 52–18 in post-season play. It has been in the playoffs every year since 2004 and is 41–12 in that string and been in the national title game eight times (winning four).

Year NW Rank Venue Opp Rank Opponent Score W/L Round Notes
1984-–Away-–Nebraska–Omaha15–28L1st Round
198918Away-–Pittsburg State7–28L1st Round
19962Away-–Nebraska–Omaha22–21W1st Round
19962Away-–Northern Colorado26–27LQuarterfinal
19973Maryville16North Dakota State39–28W1st Round
19973Maryville-–Northern Colorado19–35LQuarterfinal
19982Maryville16Nebraska–Omaha28–14W1st Round
19982Maryville6Northern Colorado42–17WQuarterfinal
19982Maryville11Texas A&M–Kingsville49–34WSemifinal
19982Braly Stadium3Carson–Newman24–6WFinal
19994Maryville9North Dakota State20–13W1st Round
19994Maryville3Northern Colorado43–35WQuarterfinal
19994Maryville-–Indiana University (Pa.)20–12WSemifinal
19994Braly Stadium1Carson–Newman58–52WFinal
20001Maryville5North Dakota State17–13L1st Round
20024Maryville11Minnesota–Duluth45–41W2nd Round (1st Round bye)
20024Maryville7Northern Colorado12–23LQuarterfinal
20044Maryville6Texas A&M–Kingsville34–14W1st Round
20044Away1Pittsburg State36–50LQuarterfinal
200521Away29Angelo State45–14W1st Round
200521Away12Washburn42–32W2nd Round
200521Away23Pittsburg State21–10WQuarterfinal
200521Away13North Alabama25–24WSemifinal
200521Braly Stadium1Grand Valley State17–21LFinal
20062Maryville18Midwestern State27–0W2nd Round (1st Round bye)
20062Maryville8Chadron State28–21WQuarterfinal
20062Maryville6Bloomsburg33–3WSemifinal
20062Braly Stadium1Grand Valley State14–17LFinal
20075Maryville4West Texas A&M56–28W2nd Round (1st Round bye)
20075Away2Chadron State26–13WQuarterfinal
20075Maryville1Grand Valley State34–16WSemifinal
20075Braly Stadium8Valdsota State20–25LFinal
20083Maryville10Pittsburg State38–35W2nd Round (1st Round bye)
20083Away2Abilene Christian45–36WQuarterfinal
20083Away5North Alabama41–7WSemifinal
20083Braly Stadium6Minnesota–Duluth14–21LFinal
20092Maryville16Abilene Christian35–10W2nd Round (1st Round bye)
20092Away1Central Washington21–20WQuarterfinal
20092Maryville20California (Pennsylvania)56–31WSemifinal
20092Braly Stadium3Grand Valley State30–23WFinal
20103Maryville-Missouri Western28–24W1st RoundNorthwest trailed by 17 at half—it largest deficit that it had come back from.[9]
20103Away4Texas A&M–Kingsville35–31W2nd RoundTexas had defeated Northwest on opening day. Northwest won with 17 seconds remaining on Blake Bolles to Josh Baker pass.
20103Maryville7Central Missouri37–20WQuarterfinalNorthwest 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.[10]
20103Away4Texas A&M–Kingsville35–31W2nd RoundTexas had defeated Northwest on opening day. Northwest won with 17 seconds remaining on Blake Bolles to Josh Baker pass.
20103Away1Minnesota–Duluth13–17LSemifinalPlayed during snowstorm that collapsed the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome roof. Temperatures 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.
20117Away17Missouri Western35–29W1st RoundNorthwest 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.[11]
20117Away1Midwestern State38–31W2nd 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.[12]
20117Away6Pittsburg State16–41LQuarterfinalPittsburg 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.
201210Maryville9Harding University35–0W1st Round
201210Away2Minnesota State Mankato35–38 (2OT)L2nd RoundNorthwest 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.
20132Maryville5Minnesota–Duluth45–21W2nd Round (1st Round bye)
20132Maryville12St. Cloud State59–21WQuarterfinal[13][14]
20132Maryville22Grand Valley State27–13WSemifinalGame was attended by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon who gave a pep talk to team at the beginning.[13][14]
20132Braly Stadium13Lenoir–Rhyne43–28WFinalLenoir set a record for most offensive rushing yards in any NCAA division in one season however it was held in check by Northwest which jumped to a 17–0 lead in the first quarter. The game was the last Division II championship at Braly Stadium. Northwest's home conference MIAA won a bid the week before the game to host future championships 100 miles from Maryville in Kansas City at Sporting Park .[13][14]
20146Away2Minnesota–Duluth21–25L1st RoundNorthwest led 21–6 going into the 4th quarter.[15]
20151Maryville11Humboldt State54–7W2nd Round (1st Round bye)
20151Maryville18Emporia State38–17WQuarterfinal
20151Maryville7West Georgia38–23WSemifinal
20151Kansas City, Kansas7Shepherd34–7WFinal
2016 1 Maryville Emporia State 44-13 W 2nd Round (1st Round bye)
2016 1 Maryville Harding 35-0 W Quarterfinal NW held Harding to just 119 total yard all coming on the ground.
2016 1 Maryville Ferris State 35-20 W Semifinal Ferris State took a 13-7 lead in the 2nd quarter
2016 1 Kansas City, Kansas North Alabama 29-3 W Final Over 4 inches of snow fell during the game and temperatures were at -5 with wind chill
2017 13 Away 9 Ashland University 18-21 L 1st Round Bearcats had their 39 game winning streak broken earlier in season with 2 MIAA losses and lost its #1 ranking which it held for the first half of the season
2018 18 Away 7 Grand Valley State 42-17 W 1st Round
2018 18 Away 2 Ferris State 21-27 L 2nd Round
2019 5 Maryville 85 Harding 7-6 W 1st Round
2019 5 Maryville 26 Lindenwood 63-7 W 2nd Round
2019 5 Away 1 Ferris State 3-25 L Quarterfinal

Records

Year Coach W L T MIAA NCAA D2
1908Paul A. White321
1916George Palfreyman25
1917George Palfreyman07
1918M.H. Simms11
1919Robert Rice04
1920Robert Rice03
1921Russell Sprong26
1922Eugene Maynor44
1923H.F. Lawrence331
1924H.F. Lawrence611
1925H.F. Lawrence701X
1926H.F. Lawrence62
1927E.A. Davis17
1928E.A. Davis531
1929E.A. Davis323
1930E.A. Davis451
1931E.A. Davis90X
1932E.A. Davis441
1933E.A. Davis18
1934E.A. Davis45
1935E.A. Davis351
1936E.A. Davis441
1937Ryland Milner252
1938Ryland Milner90X
1939Ryland Milner90X
1940Ryland Milner72
1941Ryland Milner621X
1942Ryland Milner421X
1943Ryland Milner511
1944Ryland Milner70
1946Ryland Milner43
1947Ryland Milner522
1948Ryland Milner62X
1949Ryland Milner521
1950Ryland Milner351
1951Ryland Milner261
1952Ryland Milner63X
1953Ryland Milner341
1954Ryland Milner26
1955Ryland Milner251
1956Ryland Milner27
1957Ryland Milner161
1958Paul Turner08
1959Paul Turner332
1960Earl Baker54
1961Earl Baker27
1962Earl Baker09
1963Ivan Schottel351
1964Ivan Schottel63
1965Ivan Schottel63
1966Ivan Schottel45
1967Ivan Schottel36
1968Ivan Schottel09
1969Ivan Schottel36
1970Ivan Schottel28
1971Gladden Dye45
1972Gladden Dye73X
1973Gladden Dye64X
1974Gladden Dye82
1975Gladden Dye73
1976Jim Redd82
1977Jim Redd551
1978Jim Redd011
1979Jim Redd65X
1980Jim Redd28
1981Jim Redd64
1982Jim Redd271
1983Vernon Thomsen56
1984Vernon Thomsen102X1st Round
1985Vernon Thomsen461
1986Vernon Thomsen29
1987Vernon Thomsen38
1988Harold "Bud" Elliott29
1989Harold "Bud" Elliott931st Round
1990Harold "Bud" Elliott281
1991Harold "Bud" Elliott56
1992Harold "Bud" Elliott65
1993Harold "Bud" Elliott38
1994Mel Tjeerdsma011
1995Mel Tjeerdsma65
1996Mel Tjeerdsma112XQuarterfinals
1997Mel Tjeerdsma121XQuarterfinals
1998Mel Tjeerdsma150XFinals-Champ
1999Mel Tjeerdsma141XFinals-Champ
2000Mel Tjeerdsma111X1st Round
2001Mel Tjeerdsma74
2002Mel Tjeerdsma121XQuarterfinals
2003Mel Tjeerdsma83X
2004Mel Tjeerdsma112Quarterfinals
2005Mel Tjeerdsma114Finals-Runner Up
2006Mel Tjeerdsma141XFinals-Runner Up
2007Mel Tjeerdsma122XFinals-Runner Up
2008Mel Tjeerdsma132XFinals-Runner Up
2009Mel Tjeerdsma141XFinals-Champ
2010Mel Tjeerdsma122XSemifinals
2011Adam Dorrel113Quarterfinal (3rd round) loss to Pittsburg which had unseated it as MIAA champ.
2012Adam Dorrel113Second Round loss to Minnesota State Mankato
2013Adam Dorrel150XFinals-Champ
2014Adam Dorrel1020X1st Round
2015Adam Dorrel1500XFinals-Champ
2016Adam Dorrel1500XFinals-Champ
2017Rich Wright9301st Round
2018Rich Wright1030X2nd Round
2019Rich Wright1220XQuarterfinal

Coaching death

On June 5, 2011 Bearcats head coach Scott Bostwick died of an apparent heart attack in Maryville.[16] The 49-year-old Bostwick had been named head coach of the Bearcats in December 2010 following the retirement of longtime coach Mel Tjeerdsma.[17] Bostwick had been on the Northwest coaching staff since 1994, and most recently had served as defensive coordinator under Tjeerdsma. In 2007, Bostwick had been voted the American Football Coaches Association Division II Assistant Coach of the Year.[18]

Notable players and coaches

References

  1. Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Athletics Graphic Standards (PDF). February 8, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  2. Northwest Missouri State University Football Media Guide – nwmissouri.edu – Retrieved September 22, 2009
  3. Brown, Tony. "Crew Prepare to Install New Video Screen". Maryville Daily Forum. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  4. "Conference History". Themiaa.com. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  5. DeLassus, David (2015). "Northwest Missouri State Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  6. https://bearcatsports.com/documents/2019/7/9/FootballQuickFacts19.pdf
  7. McDowellsmcdowell, Sam (December 19, 2015). "Northwest Missouri State beats Shepherd 34–7 to win Division II national championship | The Kansas City Star". Kansascity.com. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  8. DII Football Championship: Northwest Missouri State defeats North Alabama to win national championship NCAA. December 17, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  9. http://www.ncaafootball.com/NEWS/tabid/1237/Article/216303/northwest–missouri–rallies–past–missouri–western–28–24.aspx
  10. "Field Goal as Time Expires Gives Title to NWMSU". The Miaa. November 6, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  11. Sam Robinson, St. Joseph News–Press (November 19, 2011). "Northwest storms back in 2nd half to beat Western – Sports News Story – St. Joseph". Newspressnow.com. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  12. Sam Robinson, St. Joseph News–Press (June 19, 1959). "Northwest Missouri continues comeback run with OT victory – College Sports News Story – St. Joseph". Newspressnow.com. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  13. "DII College Football Rankings – Regional Rankings". NCAA.com.
  14. Archived October 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  15. "Northwest Missouri State University – Bearcats fall to UMD in NCAA first round". Bearcatsports.com. November 22, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  16. "NWMSU: Head Coach Scott Bostwick Has Died". KCTV 5. June 5, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  17. "Coach dies from apparent heart attack". Associated Press via KTVO-TV website. June 5, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  18. "Northwest Missouri State coach dies". USA Today. June 5, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
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