NCAA DIVISION III
Willamette Playoff History NCAA Division III Football Playoffs 1999 First Round
vs. Pacific Lutheran.............. 28-24 L 2004 First Round
vs. Occidental (Calif.)........... 28-14 L 2008 First Round
vs. Occidental (Calif.)........... 48-33 W Second Round
vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater... 30-27 L
NAIA Division II Football Playoffs 1968 First Round
vs. Troy State (Ala.)............... 63-10 L 1996 First Round
Willamette is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and competes in Division III, which has 447 members and is the largest NCAA division. Division III is about following your passions and discovering your potential. The college experience is a time of learning and growth. For student-athletes in Division III, this happens in the classroom, through athletics and, ultimately, by earning an academic degree. The Division III experience provides student-athletes with the opportunity to participate in a competitive athletic environment. Studen-athletes can push themselves to excellence. At WU, studentathletes are encouraged to pursue their full passions and find their potential through a comprehensive educational experience. Athletes in Division III do not receive financial aid related to athletic ability. Willamette and other NCAA Division III members encourage students to participate by maximizing the number and variety of athletic opportunities. An emphasis is placed on conference and regional play. Willamette often sends its teams to California, Idaho, Washington and Texas for in-region games.
Willamette and the other eight members of the Northwest Conference shifted their affiliation to the NCAA in 1998. In almost every sport, the winner of the NWC earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III national championship bracket. The WU football team has competed in the NCAA Playoffs three times: 1999, 2004 and 2008. In 2008, Willamette was the #1 seed in the West Region and defeated Occidental in the first round of the playoffs before falling to eventual national runnerup University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. WU reached the playoffs in the NAIA in 1968, 1996 and 1997. NCAA Division III members establish an environment with cultural diversity and gender equity among student-athletes and staff. In Division III, faculty and staff focus on the well-being of student-athletes.
Chuck Pinkerton was a starter at quarterback in 1997. He is now WU’s quarterback coach.
In 2008, Deon Horne ran with the ball 137 times for 988 yards and 12 touchdowns.
vs. Bethany (Kan.)................. 56-35 W Quarterfinal
at Western Washington......13-12 L 1997 First Round
vs. Western Oregon............. 26-20 W Quarterfinal
vs. Montana Tech................. 50-24 W Semifinal
vs. Sioux Falls (S.D.)............... 17-7 W Championship
vs. Findlay (Ohio)................... 14-7 L Played in Savannah, Tenn.
Willamette advanced to the NAIA Division II Championship Game in 1997. The Bearcats went 13-1 and did not lose until falling to Findlay (Ohio), 14-7, in the title game.
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