Sept. 27, 2000
Truman Plays Host to Defending National Champion and No.1
Ranked Northwest Missouri
The Game: Truman State University Bulldogs (Mid-America Intercollegiate
Athletics Association/NCAA Division II) vs. Northwest Missouri State University
Bearcats (MIAA/NCAA DII)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 30, 2000
Time: 1:30 p.m. (CDT)
Location: Kirksville, Mo.
Field (Capacity): Stokes Stadium (4,000)
Broadcast: KRES 104.7 FM, Moberly, Mo. Ken Kujawa, play-by-play, and Brad Boyer and Hank Janssen, commentary. The Pregame show begins approximately 30 minutes before the game.
Team Line: Live KRES broadcast by calling 1-800-846-4700. Access Code: 6350
Truman: Saturday at Truman will be an eventful day as the No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats come to town to battle for the "Old Hickory Stick", the oldest trophy game in NCAA Division II.
The game will also feature a tribute to the Truman 1900-1999 All-Century Football Team, and serve as Community Appreciation day, Take A Kid To The Game day and spirit group day.
During halftime, as well as throughout the "Old Hickory Stick" game, members of the 1900-1999 Truman All-Century Football team will be recognized. A picnic for the community will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Red Barn Park at a cost of $3 a person and will feature activities for kids.
Take a kid to the game day is sponsored by the National Football Coaches Association. Kids 12 and under who are accompanied by an adult will receive free admission to the game.
The game will also feature a number spirit groups in attendance who will be vie for a $250 award which will be donated to a charity of the winner's choice.
Not lost in the activities of the day is the fact that the "Old Hickory Stick" is on the line. The "Stick" has been the cause of many exciting games between Truman and Northwest Missouri. This year, the two-time defending national champion Bearcats come to town ranked No. 1 in the nation and bring the "Stick' with them, the owners since snapping the Bulldogs' 11-game skein in 1996.
Truman is sitting in second-place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association with a 3-1 overall record and 2-0 mark in conference action, while Northwest Missouri tops the league with a perfect 4-0 mark.
The Bulldogs are currently averaging a league-leading 437.3 total offensive yards a game and are 14th in NCAA Division II. The 'Cats sit in second-place in the MIAA at 418.0 yards per game, good for 20th in DII. Truman is also tied for eighth in the nation with an average of 40.5 points a game, while NWMS, at 39.5 point a game, is in 11th-place.
Truman quarterback Eric Howe (West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling) is rated fourth in the nation this week with an efficiency rating of 177.7, and is 19th in total offense (241.5 ypg). He is now eighth in Bulldog career passing yards (4,297), and needs 278 yards to tie Chris Livingstone (1991-93) who is in seventh, and another 71 yards on top of that to tie for sixth. Howe has thrown for four touchdowns in three of the 'Dogs' four games this year, and has a total of 13 this year.
Junior wide receiver Kevin Collins (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) has been a prime target for Howe, leading the team in receiving (16 for 319). With 1,344 yards in the last three seasons, Collins needs just 11 more to surpass Bulldog associate head coach, and All-Century Team member, Matt Copeland on the University's career receiving yardage list. Collins also has 15 career touchdowns, just seven away from the school record and one away from fourth-place all-time where fellow All-Century Team member Rich Otte sits.
Sophomore wide receiver Alfonso Pugh (Galesburg, Ill.) leads the nation with 40.2 yards per kickoff return, and is ninth in DII with 19.2 yards per punt return this week.
Northwest Missouri quarterback Travis Miles is currently ninth in NCAA Division II pass efficiency (158.9), and 20th in total offense (235.0 ypg).
Senior wide receiver Tony Miles is fifth among Division II leaders with 20.9 yards per punt return and 29th in all-purpose yards with 146.25 a game.
The Bearcats began the season with a pair of non-conference wins over Nebraska-Omaha 24-17 and Minnesota State, Mankato 34-28, and tallied MIAA wins over Pittsburg State 35-28 and Southwest Baptist, 65-10.
With nine starters back offense and six on defense Northwest Missouri will be looking to break the MIAA record for consecutive league wins. They have won their last 29 MIAA games, as did Pittsburg State from 1993-96.
Series Record: Truman leads 53-22-4
First Meeting: 1908 (Truman won, 63-0)
Last Meeting: 1999 (NWMSU won, 32-42)
Last Truman Win: 1995 (44-10)
Last NWMSU Win: 1999 (32-42)
Biggest Truman Win: 1916 (92-0)
Biggest NWMSU Win: 1996 (52-22)
Bulldogs In The MIAA: Howe is first in passing (245.8 ypg) and total offense (241.5 ypg), and second in pass efficiency (177.7).
Collins is fourth in receptions (4.0 rpg) and receiving yards per game (79.8), and ninth in all-purpose yards (97.8 ypg).
Sophomore Andrew Blakley (St. Joseph, Mo./Central) is fifth in receptions (3.75 rpg) and eighth in receiving yards (59.3 ypg), while sophomore wide receiver Geoff Jensen (Grinnell, Iowa) is seventh in receptions (3.67 rpg) and fifth in receiving yards (70.0), despite missing last weekend's game with Missouri-Rolla.
Sophomore wide receiver Pugh is first in kickoff returns (40.2 ypr), fourth in punt returns (19.2 ypr), second in MIAA all-purpose yards (138.3 ypg) and fifth in scoring (7.5 ppg).
Sophomore Austin Lepper (Ames, Iowa/Gilbert) is first in punting (43.8 ypp), ninth in scoring (6.5 ppg), fourth in scoring by kicks (6.5 ppg), tied for fourth in field goals (0.75 fgpg) and tied for seventh in field goal percentage (60.0).
Senior defensive tackle Curt Cira (St. Louis/Vianney) is tied for first in the MIAA in forced fumbles after charting two in the SBU game. Senior cornerback Toko Nguyen (Quincy, Ill./Notre Dame) is tied for fourth in passes defended (4).
Bearcat Statistical Leaders
Rushing: David Jansen, 66 for 293 yards, 2 TDs
Passing: Travis Miles, 56 of 101 for 962 yards, 3 interceptions, 9 TDs
Receptions: Tony Miles, 15 for 214 yards
Receiving Yards: J.R. Hill, 13 for 274 yards, 1 TD
All-Purpose Yardage: Tony Miles, 585
Total Offense: Travis Miles, 113 plays, 940 yards
Field Goals: Andy Timmerman, 2 of 5
Punt Returns: Tony Miles, 7 for 146 yards, 1 TD
Kickoff Returns: Tony Miles, 7 for 170 yards
Interceptions: Brian Williams, 1 for 42 yards
Scoring: Andy Timmerman, 24 points
Tackles: Wes Simmons, 32
Coaches records: Truman head coach John Ware is in his sixth season at the helm for the Bulldogs, and has a record of 33-25 (.569) in his first stint as a collegiate head coach. In MIAA action, his teams have posted a record of 32-15 (.681). Ware enjoyed the first non-conference win of his career in the season opener, defeating Northern Michigan, now coached by Bulldog all-century team member Eric Holm, 35-24.
Mel Tjeerdsma is in his sixth season with the Bearcats, posting a record of 62-20 during that time. He is 122-58-4 during 17 years as a collegiate head coach, and has led the 'Cats to four consecutive MIAA championships and two straight national titles.
Truman vs. Missouri-Rolla on 9-23-00: After the Miners at away more than seven minutes on the opening drive of the game, it took just two plays for the the Bulldogs to take an early 7-0 lead. On the 'Dogs' second play from scrimmage, Howe hit Blakley who took the ball 72 yards for the score. It was the longest pass reception of the year for the team so far, and the longest of Blakley's career. For his usual four TDs, Howe also connected with Collins early in the second period with a 41-yard aerial, with Pugh just before the half for 16 yards, and true freshman Colin Shaw (Naperville, Ill./North) with a 1-yarder in the last four minutes of the third quarter.
Sophomore tailback Mike Redding (Lake Zurich, Ill.) scored his third touchdown of the year at 8:06 in the second quarter. He also recorded his first game with more than 100 yards rushing, finishing with 114 on the day. Senior fullback Steve Wilson (Mexico, Mo.) sealed the win with his fourth TD of the season on a 2-yard run with 4:11 left to play.
Senior tight end Chris Sauer (Hannibal, Mo.) caught his first three career passes against UMR for a total of 43 yards with a long of 15 yards.
The 'Dogs racked up 621 yards total offense with 320 passing and 301 rushing. It was the team's highest rushing total since the 1997 season finale against Missouri Southern when Truman had 304 yards on the ground.
Truman Coaches' Players of the Week For 9-25-00:
Offensive Line: Sophomore center Nick Ruud (Moline, Ill.)
Offensive Back: Howe
Receiver: Collins
Defensive Line: Cira
Linebacker: Sophomore Judd Leinhard (Louisiana, Mo.)
Defensive Back: Senior John Naeve (Camanche, Iowa)
Special Teams: Freshman linebacker Derek Kent (Lucas, Iowa)
Big Hit: Collins
Special Effort: Sophomore defensive back Justin Walter (Chillicothe, Mo.),
Junior defensive back Tayton Fain (St. Louis, Mo.) and freshman wide receiver
Colin Shaw (Naperville, Ill.)
Offensive Scout Teams: Freshman Ben Wilson (San Diego, Calif.)
Defensive Scout Teams: Freshman Mark Boston (Greenfield, Ill.)
Truman vs. Northwest Missouri on Oct. 2, 1999: A focused Truman offense, knew the task at hand and drew first blood on the first play from scrimmage. Howe connected with Collins on an 80-yard touchdown strike to give the 'Dogs their only lead of the game. Naeve came up with the interception on the Bearcats' first drive.
Truman then went three-and-out and NWMS missed a 52-yard field goal. Northwest blocked a Bulldog punt in the next series, leaving the 'Cats on Truman's 24-yard line. It took only one play, a 24-yard pass, to even the score at seven. The last possession of the first quarter saw Northwest punch in a 6-yard run for the go-ahead. Klee booted a 37-yard field in the first drive of the second quarter and that would be the only scoring before intermission.
Both teams came out swinging in the second half. NWMS scored on a 25-yard run in the first series, while Truman answered with a 62-yard bomb from Howe to Blakley on the 'Dogs' first play of the half. The Bearcats' David Jansen then broke free for a 67-yard TD run to put the score at 28-17 in favor of Northwest.
Blakley would again redeem the 'Dogs with a 24-yard touchdown catch from Howe in the next drive. The Bearcats had to punt on their next drive and the 'Dogs inched closer when Klee kicked his second field goal of the game, a 40-yarder, to give Northwest just a two-point margin.
The Bearcats then piled on a 5-yard TD run and ran back the a Bulldog punt 78 yards to give Northwest its 42 points for the game. Blakley added the 'Dogs final tally on a 39-yard blocked punt return with 2:13 left to play. Northwest Missouri retained the "Old Hickory Stick" for fourth straight year by a final score of 42-32.
Truman All-Century Football Team: This past summer a group of former Bulldog lettermen, Truman Athletic department administrators, a few knowledgeable citizens, former sports information director Bill Cable and current head football coach John Ware, set about the task of naming a Truman All-Century Football Team for the 20th century.
Bulldog football began in 1900 and over the first 100 years produced some of the most outstanding athletes at the NCAA Division II level. While many more were worthy of the honor, the committee tried to narrow the list down to an elite group of men whose marks on Bulldog football left a lasting impression. The group of 95 men, include six quarterbacks, 19 offensive linemen, seven tight ends, wide receivers, defensive backs and linebackers, 14 running backs and defensive linemen, three special teams players, eight punters/place kickers and four coaches.
Eric Holm was the only member named twice to the team, once each as a receiver and coach. The earliest team member to be named is Jim Rouse, a standout offensive lineman for the Bulldogs who was first-team all-state in 1906 and 1907. The most recent selection is Jeff Klee who earned all-America status for Truman last year as one of the most prolific place kickers in school history. Special teams selection Charles Blakley is the only member with a legacy currently playing for the team in all-MIAA wide receiver Andrew Blakley.
Fifty-three of the men on the team have been inducted into the Truman Athletics Hall of Fame, while offensive linemen Darrell Buffington and Jim Burchett, and quarterback Jeff Frost are scheduled to be inducted Nov. 4.
At least 30 members of the team have since died, including offensive lineman Rich Rhodes, a casualty during the Vietnam war.
Though not a lot is known about the teams prior to World War II, a considerable effort was made to include those whose impact on the team in those early years lived on in newspapers and yearbooks from the era.
Football was not played at the University from 1901-1902, 1912-13, 1918 and 1942-44. However, in the second half of the century alone, more than 700 men earned letters as contributors to Bulldog football. At halftime, Truman will honor a little more than 30 members of the team who are in attendance.
History of the Old Hickory Stick: In 1930, President U.W. Lamkin of Northwest Missouri State University sent a 30-inch piece of hickory to President Eugene Fair of Truman State University.
At that time, neither man could have envisioned the impact of the "Old Hickory Stick" on the two teams during the next 67 years.
President Lamkin found the "coveted trophy" on a farm in the Northwest Missouri State district, where Dr. Fair was born, and the two schools started playing for its possession in 1931.
It may not have the prestigious and familiar name of say, the "Little Brown Jug" (Michigan versus Minnesota), but observers of the annual 'Cat-'Dog fuss feel the "Stick" should not be underrated.
The two-and-one-half-foot piece of wood has been the prize for the oldest traditional trophy game in NCAA Division II.
Seemingly, this trophy has played a significant role in many unpredictable finishes. Perhaps, the small piece of hickory stimulates the adrenaline flow in the athletes. But whether it's the "Stick", many seasons of rich tradition between the Bulldogs and Bearcats or some intangible explanation, the players appear to perform a little harder.
Truman has a decided edge in "Old Hickory Stick" meetings, capturing 41, losing 20 and tying NWMS on four occasions. Moreover, the Bulldogs have dominated the entire series, dating back to 1908. They have posted 53 triumphs, against 22 setbacks and four deadlocks (see series scores on page 2).
Defensive tackle Steve Stock performed the Truman heroics in a, 26-20, victory in 1960 by storming through the forward wall and intercepting a NWMS screen pass. Without hesitation, he rambled the remaining 15 yards unmolested for a TD with 1:45 showing on the clock.
The Bearcats' speedy Joe Spinello virtually defeated the Bulldogs by himself in 1966, catching a touchdown pass and returning two punts for scores. Spinello made an electrifying 72-yard return after Rick Gorzynski's kick bounced off teammate John Newcomb's helmet. He also scampered 86 yards on another punt return to make the score, 21-14. The 'Cats eventually won, 24-21, on a Mickey Thompson field goal with 1:02 left.
The following year, the Bulldogs had victory within their grasp, 7-6, with 1:54 remaining, only to see fullback Wayne Woolsey snatch a 44-yard touchdown aerial from quarterback Don Orlowski.
However, the 1968 Purple and White recovered the "Stick" in a 9-7 thriller at Maryville. Quarterback Don Cummings kept the ball and ran 30 yards in the first quarter for the Bulldogs' only TD. Bob Levy added a 30-yard field goal a few minutes later, and Truman spent the rest of the game protecting the slim margin. In the second half, the Bearcats attempted four field goals, the first hitting the uprights. NWMS's final three-point trys, coming with 1:32 to go, was short.
The 1980 Bulldogs trailed the 'Cats, 10-7, early in the fourth quarter on a homecoming afternoon. But then, they moved from their 30-yard line to the NWMS five on 12 plays. Quarterback Craig Towbin, spotted flanker Eric Holm in the end zone for a 5-yard TD pass, and the PAT by Greg Dolence made the final score, 14-10.
The 1990 'Dogs were forced to rally from a 10-point deficit in the third quarter and a three-point deficit in the fourth period to pull out a, 34-31, homecoming victory over the Bearcats. Eight seconds into the fourth quarter, quarterback Jeff Frost heaved a 59-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Randy Corbin for the winning score. The Bulldog defense halted a NWMS drive at the Truman 21 with only 3:27 to go.
In 1992, with his team leading by a mere point (21-20) early in the fourth quarter, Bulldog defensive tackle Geoff Hiddleston recovered a fumble and hauled it 46 yards for a TD. That made the score, 28-20, and it held up the remainder of the game. However, the 'Dogs needed a couple of strong defensive series late in the fourth. The final threat was halted with 1:19 remaining, as Truman defensive back Robert Merriman intercepted a pass on his 13-yard line.
Truman's 11-year ownership of the stick came to a heart-wrenching end when Northwest came to Kirksville in 1996. The Bulldogs scored first, but the Bearcats rolled by Truman in the first half, taking a 28-16 lead into intermission. The eventual MIAA co-champion and NCAA second-round playoff participant would score four more TDs in the third quarter before Harlon Hill winner Jarrett Anderson scored the final points of the game with 1:40 left. Northwest Missouri snapped the longest winning streak since the sticks inception, beating the 'Dogs, 52-22.
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