Carver Memories – Dec. 21, 1996
 
Viking football enjoys unparalleled success in mid-1990s, reaching national playoffs three straight years
 
Culminates with Western's first national title game appearance
 
During the mid-1990s, Western Washington University enjoyed the best back-to-back-to-back football seasons in the 105-year history (1903-2008) of the program. In each of those years, the Vikings reached the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II national playoffs and were ranked among the top 10 nationally in the final poll.
 
How special was that achievement? Consider that Western made just five national playoff appearances in football overall and was ranked among the top 10 nationally in the last rating just those three times.
 
In 1996, the Vikings reached the national championship game, a school first in any sport. Played on Dec. 21 at Savannah, Tenn., the contest was telecast live on FOX Sports Northwest. In 1995, they were ranked No.1 nationally for five straight weeks before falling in the opening round of the playoffs to the eventual national co-champion. And in 1994, Western upset the No.1-ranked team on the road in the first round before losing in the quarterfinals to the eventual national runner-up.
 
Western was 11-2 in 1996, the most wins for a single season in school history, 9-1 in 1995 and 8-3 in 1994 for a combined record of 28-6, a winning percentage of 82.4. They were Columbia Football Association (CFA) champions in 1995 and 1996, the first time the program had won back-to-back league crowns in 72 years.
 
The trio of remarkable seasons came near the midway point of a 17-year career as head coach at Western by Rob Smith (bio located below after year-by-year reviews), who finished with a 109-61-1 record. He was named American Football Coaches Association College Division Region V and CFA Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996. Later Smith coached 10 seasons at Humboldt State, turning that program around with a 63-44 ledger.
 
Western began its playoff run in 1994, winning at No.1 ranked Linfield, 21-2, in the first round of nationals before suffering a 25-20 loss to Pacific Lutheran in the quarterfinals. The Lutes went on to reach the national title game.
 
Linfield, which entered the contest versus the Vikings averaging 33.3 points per game, was held without a touchdown for the first time in 31 games. And for the fifth time that season Western did not allow an opponent a touchdown.
 
In 1994, Western led the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 12.5 points per game. It was the first time in school history that the Vikings had topped the country in any statistical category. Western also was third nationally in rushing defense (76.0) and fifth in total defense (260.3).
 
Western was undefeated during the regular season in 1995, being ranked No.1 in the national poll for the last five weeks. The only other time the Vikings had been unbeaten during a regular season was in 1938.
 
Western's lone loss in 1995 was 28-21 in the first round of nationals to arch-rival Central Washington, a team it had beaten 19-16 during the regular season. The Wildcats went on to be the national co-champions as the title game ended in a tie. Their quarterback, Jon Kitna, played 17 years in the National Football League.
 
Western was led by first-team NAIA All-America cornerback Orlondo Steinauer, who made a school-record 10 interceptions, three off Kitna in the mid-season win over Central. Steinauer went on to a 13-year all-star career in the Canadian Football League as a safety with the Ottawa Rough Riders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts from 1996 to 2008. A two-time Grey Cup champion as a player, Steinauer finished his CFL career second all-time in interception return yards with 1,178.


Jon Kitna tackled by Rich Phillips (74), Coley Beaman (49) and John Wambaugh(13) 

Steinauer is now the head coach (began in 2019) at Hamilton, the first Viking athlete in any sport to become a professional head coach. Following a year as a broadcaster, he was a CFL assistant for eight seasons, being on a Grey Cup championship team as a defensive backs coach in 2012. In 2017, Steinauer was the defensive coordinator at NCAA Division I Fresno State, helping the Bulldogs perform one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in college football history (1-11 to 10-4).
 
In the 1996 national semifinals, the Vikings beat No.1-ranked and defending national champion Findlay (Ohio) on the road, 28-21, ending the Oilers' 24-game win streak. They then fell 47-25 to unbeaten Sioux Falls (South Dakota) in the championship game.
 
Western won by just one point at home in each of the first two playoff rounds that season, 21-20 over Pacific Lutheran and 13-12 over Willamette.
 
The Vikings and Pacific Lutheran went into overtime tied at 14-all. After Western took a 21-14 lead, PLU came back to score on a 4th-and-long, and went for the win on a two-point conversion, only to be stopped inches short of the goal line.
 
The next week, Western trailed Willamette, 12-10, late in the contest before a forced fumble and a fourth-down pass interference call set up a winning field goal with 1:45 remaining.
 
A huge presence offensively for Western was wide receiver Chris Nicholl, a NAIA first-team All-American and the CFA Offensive Player of the Year. He had arguably the finest offensive season in school history, setting school records with 82 receptions for 1,584 yards, and 12 touchdowns. In 23 games over the 1995 and 1996 seasons, Nicholl had 100 yards receiving in 19 of them.  
 
Defense was a key factor for the Vikings in each of those three seasons. Robin Ross was Western's defensive coordinator in 1994 and 1995. He had come from NCAA I Iowa State. The Vikings led the country in scoring defense in 1994 and were seventh (13.7) in 1995.
 
Tom Missel took over the defensive coordinator responsibilities in 1996 when Ross accepted a coaching position at Fresno State. The Vikings did not skip a beat, finishing seventh nationally in rushing defense (99.5) and allowing just 16.8 points per game while posting a pair of shutouts for the first time since 1970.
 
Serving as a Western graduate assistant coach in 1995 and 1996 was David Shaw, who went on to become head coach at Stanford. He is now in his ninth season directing the Cardinal, entering the 2019 campaign with an 82-26 record that includes two Rose Bowl victories.
 
Three other players on those mid-1990s' teams, besides Steinauer, went on to compete professionally. They included safety Greg Malo, who played for the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe from 1997 to 1999 (member of World Bowl championship team in 1997); defensive end Chad Rorabaugh, who played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL in 1998; and quarterback Jason Stiles, who played in Germany in 1996 for the Wolfsburg Blue Wings and two seasons (1996-97) in the Arena Football League with the Portland Forest Dragons.
 
Zach Tinker, a member of the Vikings' 1996 squad, is currently in his fourth season as head coach at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
 
Western was ranked No.9 nationally in the final 1994 poll, No.1 in 1995 and No.6 in 1996.
 
1996 Season Review (released on Jan. 17, 1997)
 
Vikings overcome injuries to reach school's first national title game


1996 WWU Football Team

Based on accomplishments alone, the 1996 season was one of unquestioned success for the Western football team. But above all the achievements was becoming the first team in school history to play for a national championship.
 
The Vikings posted an 11-2 record, setting a school standard for most victories in a season; they won three playoff games, two of them by one point, reaching the title contest of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II national playoffs; they won the CFA championship, claiming back-to-back league titles for the first time since 1924; and they had a record eight players named NAIA All-Americans.
 
But when one considers the hurdles Western had to overcome to reach those goals, the feats become truly remarkable.
 
The Vikings had more first-string players injured for extended periods of time than any season in recent memory, with nine of their 22 opening-day starters missing at least three games, In the playoffs they came from behind twice to win, beating Pacific Lutheran, 21-20 in overtime, and Willamette, 13-12; then traveled to Ohio and knocked off No.1-ranked and defending national co-champion Findlay, 28-21, ending the Oilers' 24-game unbeaten streak, before running into a buzz saw in undefeated Sioux Falls and falling, 47-25, in the title game at Savannah, Tenn.
 
"What made the season so rewarding was that our accomplishments were made despite having more injuries than in any other year," said Western head coach Rob Smith. He was named both the CFA and AFCA College Division Region V Coach of the Year for the second straight time. "We had many significant and even season-ending injuries, but we never allowed those to affect our on-field performance.
 
"They say that sometimes the war is won by the soldier who picks up a rifle when his comrade falls in battle. Maybe that's what happened with us."
 
The on-field performances were spectacular as Western broke 40 school records and tied two others. For the first time in school history, two players – wide receiver Chris Nicholl and placekicker Wade Gebers, both seniors, were selected as NAIA first-team All-Americans. Senior offensive guard Todd Walcker and junior linebacker Mark Spencer were named to the second team. Four others earned honorable mention, senior center Matt Cross, junior running back Ryan Wiggins, senior defensive end Coley Beaman and junior defensive end Chad Rorabaugh.
 
But it was the defense that carried the Vikings through almost every obstacle. It led the CFA in every team category, and was seventh nationally against the run (99.5 average). Western's stop unit posted a pair of shutouts in a season for the first time since having three in 1970, and was stellar in three playoff victories.
 
"When we needed it to, the defense stepped up," said Smith. "To shut down Pacific Lutheran and Willamette on consecutive weekends was quite an accomplishment. To win a championship, you have to play solid defense, and we did so."


Mark Spencer(28)

The heart of the defense was Spencer, who led the Vikings in tackles with 159, five short of the school record, and was the Defensive Player of the Game in both the Willamette and Findlay playoff victories.
 
 "He started to grasp what middle linebacker is all about and his performance in the last few weeks was an indication of that," said Smith. "He was a ball of fire, someone who got everyone else to play at a higher level."
 
Senior Tim Hanson was a steady force at linebacker, finishing second on the team in tackles with 78. A second-team all-league selection, he was the Defensive Player of the Game in the playoff win over Pacific Lutheran.
 
Beaman and Rorabaugh provided a devastating one-two punch on the defensive line. Rorabaugh had a school-record 18 quarterback sacks for losses of minus-121 yards; Beaman nine tackles for losses, including six sacks.
 
"They were the best pair of defensive ends not just in the league, but most likely in the country," said Smith. "Chad had the better stats because Coley played over the tight end, but together they caused problems for offenses because teams couldn't pick a side to attack."
 
In between them, freshman defensive nose guard Mark Bone had 13 tackles for losses, including eight sacks.
 
Three seniors led the secondary. Isaac Blum earned all-CFA honorable mention at free safety and had a team-high three pass interceptions, Michael Johnson was a second-team all-league performer at cornerback and led in passes defended with seven, and strong safety Randy Carter was a unanimous first-team all-league selection.
 
Of all the injuries suffered by the Vikings in 1996, Carter's may have been the most heartbreaking. Carter had arrived at WWU in 1993, started his first game as a true freshman, and had started every game after that. But he injured his knee early in the first playoff game, and missed the rest of the post-season run.
 
"It was very disappointing for Randy, he had given so much, yet he was denied the opportunity to reap the benefits," said Smith. "Of all the injuries, that one impacted us the most, because you just don't replace 40 consecutive starts."
 
Despite having minor burps late in the regular season and in the first two rounds of the playoffs, Western's offense was still 10th nationally in total yards at 421.7 per game and sixth in passing offense (258.5 avg.). The unit had a school-record 666 total yards against Whitworth, and came up with a great performance against Findlay, scoring touchdowns on its first three possessions, including one on a 99-yard drive.
 
"Against Findlay, we played as well as any offense I've ever coached, especially in terms of executing the game plan," said Smith.


Chris Nicholl (86)

Nicholl, the CFA Offensive Player of the Year, had perhaps the finest offensive season in Western history, setting school records with 82 receptions for 1,584 yards, also a CFA standard, and 12 touchdowns. Over his last two seasons, Nicholl had 100 yards receiving in 19 of 23 games, including 10 in 1996. He had the two biggest yardage days in school history, netting 191 yards on just three catches, all touchdowns, in a season-opening victory over PLU; then making eight grabs for 203 yards and a touchdown in the quarterfinal triumph over Willamette.
 
"He was a good as advertised," Smith said. "The determination he played with impressed me more than all the numbers. He's a competitor, that's what made him so good. The focus of every team was to shut him down, and none of them accomplished it."
 
Nicholl finished his career with 170 receptions for a Northwest small college record 3,268 yards and 30 touchdowns, all school records. He also became the first Viking to play in the Snow Bowl, in Fargo, N.D., the unofficial NCAA II all-star game, and caught a touchdown pass.
 
Nicholl wasn't the only talented pass catcher, however. As the "other" wide receiver, senior Mario Casello, made teams pay for focusing on Nicholl, catching 47 passes for 643 yards and four touchdowns to earn second-team all-league honors. He finished fifth in school history in career receptions with 111 for 1,356 yards. Tight end Erik Morin, a junior, also was a second-team all-league selection, making 37 grabs for 420 yards and three scores. He had at least one catch in every game, as did Nicholl.
 
Another second-team all-league pick, junior quarterback Darren Erath, had a record campaign, setting school single-season standards for passing yards (3,157), total yards (3,254), touchdown passes (24), pass completions (218) and 200-yard passing games (11). He ranked seventh nationally in both passing (242.9) and total offense (250.3). Erath was particularly effective in the last two games of the playoffs, earning Offensive Player of the Game honors for his 26-of-35 for 242 yards effort against Findlay, and passing for 350 yards, the fifth-best game in school history, against Sioux Falls.
 
"Erath gained experience and confidence in those last couple of weeks," said Smith.


Ryan Wiggins (30)
 
Wiggins put together back-to-back 200-yard rushing performances early in the year, becoming the first Western player ever to do so, amid a string of six 100-yard efforts. Slowed by an ankle injury at the end of the regular season and early in the playoffs, he still finished with 1,361 yards, the second-best mark in school history, on a school-record 302 carries.
 
"When Ryan was healthy, he was an outstanding back," Smith said.
 
The offensive line was composed of a talented group of veterans, with five seniors among the six players who saw extensive action. Four of them earned post-season honors, as Walcker was a unanimous first-team all-CFA pick, Cross was also on the first team, senior tackle Doug Mirkovich earned second-team honors and senior Chris Jaross received honorable mention.
 
"They were the backbone of our offense," Smith said of the line. They developed into a very confident group from top to bottom."


Wade Gebers (35) and Darren Erath (3)

Gebers headed a solid group of special-team members, becoming the first player in school history to twice be a first-team All-American. He was 19-of-29 on field goals and 36-of-37 on extra points, kicking four field goals, including a career-best 50-yarder, against Eastern Oregon; and hitting a game-winning three-pointer with 1:45 left in the playoff game against Willamette. For his career, Gebers was 47-of-80 on field goals and 126-of-146 on extra points, all being school and CFA records, and the 47 field goals tied him for third best in NAIA history.
 
"He (Gebers) was our most improved player, particularly in terms of the confidence he gained," Smith said. "He didn't allow things out of his control to affect him. The kick against Willamette showed his maturity, he knew he was going to make it."
 
Junior Matt Williamson, an honorable mention all-league pick, set a school record for punt returns with 36. Morin earned CFA honorable mention as a punter. WWU also had two kickoff returns for touchdowns, with Wiggins getting one and sophomore Scott Noteboom the other.
 
By season's end, the Vikings had clearly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, winning 28 of their last 34 games, and 17 of 18 regular-season contests over the last two seasons as they made their third straight national playoff appearance and fourth trip in the last five years.
 
Western's only regular-season loss in 1996 came at Central Washington, snapping a string of 15 regular-season triumphs and ending a 13-week run where it had been either first or second in the national poll.
 
Smith said the victory over Findlay was the highlight of the season.
 
"We played what was considered the best team, at their place, and beat them," he said. "From a coaching standpoint it was very satisfying, because of how we executed from start to finish. We were very focused, and the result showed that."
 
Perhaps the only goal left undone was that of a national title, but Western's championship game appearance was the school's first in any sport.
 
"We got beat by a better football team, at least on that day," Smith said. "There's no shame in being No.2, but our goal is still to win it. But you can't let that take away in any way from what this team accomplished."
 
1995 Season Review (released on Jan. 17, 1996)
 
Vikings' achievement unmatched in program history


1995 WWU Football Team

In the 80-plus years of football at Western, no Viking squad achieved the standard that the 1995 edition did.
 
Not even a loss in the opening round of the NAIA II National Playoffs could take the shine off a perfect regular season filled with accomplishments.
 
The Vikings were ranked No.1 nationally for the first time ever, holding that distinction for the last five weeks of the regular season, including the final poll.
 
Western's 9-1 record included the most wins in school history for a single season, and the nine consecutive victories tied a mark set during the 1937 and 1938 campaigns. It was also the fifth straight winning season for the Vikings, another school record.
 
Western won the CFA Mount Rainier League (MRL) championship with a 5-0 record, its first league title since 1971.
 
And the Vikings broke or tied nearly 50 school game, season and career records.
 
The lone blemish on Western's season came in a 28-21 playoff loss to Central Washington, which went on to be national co-champions. Earlier in the season, the Vikings defeated the Wildcats, 19-16.
 
"What this team accomplished in 1995 was phenomenal," said Western head coach Rob Smith, who received MRL and AFCA College Division Region V Coach of the Year honors. "An undefeated regular season is a tremendous accomplishment, just look at how few teams do it. It's important not to allow the disappointment of the playoff game to diminish that."
 
Leading the way for Western were two players who earned first-team NAIA All-American honors, and five others who received honorable mention recognition.
 
On the first team were senior cornerback Orlondo Steinauer and junior placekicker Wade Gebers.
 
Honorable mention went to running back Jon Brunaugh, offensive lineman Travis Cruse and quarterback Jason Stiles, all seniors, and a pair of juniors, offensive lineman Todd Walcker and wide receiver Chris Nicholl.
 
It was the first time two Vikings had ever been named to the first team, and the seven players recognized were the most since 1971.
 
Four of the All-Americans – Brunaugh, Cruse, Steinauer and Stiles – were seniors who had been starters since their freshman seasons of 1992. They left Western with three national playoff appearances and an overall record of 30-10. Two other seniors – wide receiver Kevin Palmore and offensive tackle Joe DeShaw – were three-year starters who earned all-MRL honors the last two years.
 
"What our seniors did for the program was unbelievable," Smith said. "They're the reason our program is as highly thought of and respected as it is now. They've set the standard for other classes to attain."
 
Steinauer, who also earned first-team AFCA college division and second-team Associated Press Little All-American honors, was the lone senior starter on a defense that ranked sixth nationally against the rush (88.4 avg.) and seventh in scoring defense (13.7).
 
"The last three or four years, we've been near the top in every defensive category," said Smith. "Defense does win championships and we've built a national reputation as a very strong defensive football team."
 
Steinauer, who was the MRL Defensive Player of the Year, set school and Columbia Football Association (CFA) records with 10 pass interceptions, finishing his career with 20. He had three thefts in a mid-season victory over Central, for which he gained NAIA National Player of the Week honors. He also was a force on special teams, placing ninth nationally in punt return average (11.6), returning a punt for a touchdown, and blocking a kick.
 
His performance was made all the more remarkable by the fact that he had major knee surgery during the off-season.


Orlondo Steinauer (2)

"Orlondo had as fine a year as any player I've coached," Smith said. "What is most incredible is that it came off an injury. There were questions if he would play at all. He's an example we'll use about coming back from an injury. He never had any doubts; he knew he'd be back."
 
Both of WWU's defensive ends were first-team all-league choices. Sophomore Chad Rorabaugh was third in the CFA with eight quarterback sacks, and had 11 tackles for losses overall. Junior Coley Beaman added eight tackles for losses, including four sacks, and tied for the CFA lead in fumble recoveries with three.
 
"They both developed into solid players who put a lot of pressure on the quarterback," said Smith. "They're as fine a pair of ends as any in the league."
 
Rorabaugh's development at end allowed sophomore Mark Spencer to move to linebacker, where he led Western in tackles with 79, including five sacks, and earned first-team all-MRL honors. Alongside Spencer was junior Tim Hanson, a second-team all-league pick, and junior rover John Wambaugh, who was second on the team in stops with 61. Adding further depth was senior Chris Bishop, a four-year letter winners who started four games and had 35 tackles.


Chad Rorabaugh (54) and Tim Hanson (42)

In the secondary, junior free safety Isaac Blum, was named NAIA National Player of the Week for his performance in a 20-13 triumph over then No.1-ranked Linfield. Junior strong safety Randy Carter led the team in passes defensed with eight and was third in tackles (45). Blum was a second-team all-MRL pick and Carter received honorable mention.
Junior cornerback Michael Johnson, a second-team all-league selection in 1994, had another fine year until an injury in the sixth game ended his season.
 
The offense, led by the five honorable mention All-Americans, ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense (37.0), seventh in passing (277.7) and eighth in total yards (453.9), all school-record figures. The Vikings had a balanced attack, being the only team ranked among the CFA's top five in both rushing and passing yardage.


Jason Stiles (14) 

Stiles completed his career as the most prolific passer in Wesern history. In 1995, he passed for 2,297 yards and 17 touchdowns, completing a school-record 61.0 percent of his passes.
 
Stiles virtually rewrote Western's career record book with totals of 585 completions in 1,052 attempts for 7,854 yards and 67 touchdowns. He threw for 200 yards or more in 22 games, earned NAIA National Player of the Week honors in a season-opening 30-26 victory over then No.5-ranked Pacific Lutheran, and was the starting quarterback for 30 victories, nearly double any other signal caller in school history.
 
"He was probably our most improved player," Smith said of Stiles. "He was much more confident this year. Just look at what he accomplished, how he led the team; he certainly was a big reason we were so efficient offensively."
 
Sophomore Darren Erath, who Smith called, "the best backup quarterback in the league," saw action in every game, completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 399 yards and four touchdowns.
 
Stiles and Erath had a talented receiving corps to work with, led by Nicholl, who became the first Western player to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a single season, making 52 catches for 1,064 yards and 11 touchdowns. The touchdown mark also was a record, the reception total being just one short of the school standard.
 
"He has great size, speed and strength," Smith said. "That's a combination that's hard to find. For the first time, we really tried to feature a receiver. He was our big play guy."
 
Defenses could not afford to key on Nicholl, however. Palmore grabbed 37 passes for 459 yards and four touchdowns, and became only the fifth Viking to have 100 career catches, finishing with 106. Casello had 36 catches for 453 yards. Tight end Ryan Lahmann, a junior, stepped in for injured senior Christian Evans and had 20 receptions for 282 yards and three TDs.



Jon Brunaugh (26)
 
Western also had a formidable running attack, led by Brunaugh. He ran for 1,127 yards and 13 touchdowns, and had seven 100-yard rushing games. He also caught a career-high 16 passes for 127 yards and completed 2-of-2 passes for 50 yards and one touchdown.
 
Brunaugh became only the third player to be a four-time, first-team Little All-Northwest pick since that all-star squad was first selected in 1966 and just the fifth player to receive first-team all-MRL recognition four years. He finished his career with 4,073 rushing yards, a school record and the second-best total in northwest small college history. Brunaugh had three 1,000-yard seasons, two more than any player in Viking history, and 20 100-yard games.
 
"I don't know if people realize how rare it is to run for 4,000 yards," said Smith. "He was an extremely dependable back. What stands out is how competitive he was. No player was more prepared to play on Saturdays than Jon Brunaugh."
 
Brunaugh's backup was junior John Frazier, but the pair were often on the field together. Frazier, a first-team all-league selection in 1994, overcame early-season injury problems, rushing for 335 yards and three touchdowns to earn second-team honors. When Western did use a true fullback, sophomore Ryan Wiggins, who had been moved over from defense, proved very effective, rushing for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Making all those marks possible was a talented and experienced offensive line. At the tackle spots were Cruse, a three-time Little All-Northwest choice who started for four seasons; and DeShaw, twice Little All-Northwest, who started the last three. Walcker was a unanimous all-league pick and center Matt Cross, a junior, earned second-team all-league honors.
 
Special teams have always been a high priority at Western. Gebers tied for the national lead in kick scoring (7.0), making 37-of-43 extra-point attempts and 11-of-19 field goals.
 
Erik Morin, a sophomore, averaged 39.4 yards punting, the best mark in the last seven seasons, and was a second-team all-league selection. Steinauer returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown and Wiggins had a 92-yard kickoff return for a score.
 
"Our cover and return teams were outstanding," said Smith. "A lot of players on those teams are younger players who will step into starting roles next year. It's indicative of the depth of the program."
 
For Smith, the biggest highlight in a season filled with them came in the opening game, a triumph over Pacific Lutheran, the Vikings' first since 1976. In many ways, it was also Western's most important victory.
 
"PLU was the one team no one in the program had ever defeated," Smith said. "That victory set us up for the remainder of the year to relax and play in a confident manner, which is what we did. We had beaten Central and Linfield before, but we hadn't beaten PLU."
 
The Vikings, who were No.6 in the NAIA Preseason Poll, moved up to No.1 following a 54-6 win over Southern Oregon that improved their record to 5-0.
 
"It speaks volumes in terms of the level of respect this program has attained nationally," Smith said of the No.1 ranking. "Other teams that were undefeated weren't ranked No.1. It's another step on the ladder, but the ultimate prize of winning a national championship is still out there."
 
1994 Football Review (released on Jan. 18, 1995)
 
Top-ranked defense, explosive offense lead to unparalleled season


1994 WWU Football Team 

The 1994 football season was probably the best in Western history up to that time. Consider the Vikings' accomplishments.
 
An 8-3 record, the eight victories tying a school record set in 1951.
 
The first NAIA II national playoff victory in school history, that on the road over the country's No.1-rated team.
 
Ranked No.9 in the final national poll and rated as high as No.5 during the regular season, both school bests.
 
The nation's leader in scoring defense, the first time Western had topped the NAIA in any team statistical category.
 
And having a player named first-team NAIA All-American for only the third time in program history, with 22 players selected to the CFA all-star team and nine picked to the Little All-Northwest squad, both program highs.
 
"We accomplished a great deal," acknowledged Western head coach Rob Smith. "From the beginning to end this team made a lot of progress … We also know that we were maybe as good as any team in the country."
 
Making only its second national playoff appearance (the first was in 1992), Western defeated top-ranked Linfield, 21-2, in the first round, then lost to eventual national runner-up Pacific Lutheran, 25-20, in the quarterfinals.
 
"The Linfield win was very gratifying for a number of reasons," said Smith. "We beat the No.1 team in the nation on its home field in a playoff setting, and beat a team that handled us rather easily earlier in the season. That gave us a good gauge on how the team progressed from beginning to end."
 
The Vikings, who placed second (4-1) in the Mount Rainier League standings, lost only two other games, those to defending national champion and No.2-rated Pacific Lutheran, 35-15; the other to then No.6-ranked Linfield, 25-12.
 
Western's biggest strength was its defensive unit, which ranked first nationally in scoring defense (12.5 avg.), third in rushing defense (76.0) and fifth in total defense (260.3). Under first-year defensive coordinator Robin Ross, previously the top assistant at NCAA I Iowa State, the Vikings led the CFA in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense (184.3) and was second in rushing defense.
 
"Our defense had a phenomenal year," Smith said. "When you look at the fact that in five out of 11 games we held our opponents without a touchdown, and this is a very offensive league – that's a tremendous accomplishment."


Bill Christensen (33), Tim Hanson (42) and Michael Johnson (10) 

Leading that unit was Rover Bill Christensen, a first-team NAIA All-American and Little All-Northwest selection, and the MRL Defensive Player of the Year.
 
"Bill had a very solid year, and he's very deserving of the recognition he received." Smith said. "He's not a spectacular player, but he makes the plays, he's always around the ball, and he's always going full speed. When you go full speed, good athletes turn into great athletes."
 
Christensen, tackle Scott Easley and free safety Greg Malo, all seniors, were first-team all-CFA and Little All-Northwest choices, with Christensen and Easley being unanimous CFA picks. Senior linebacker Mike Sweat was a first-team CFA all-star and second-team Little All-Northwest. Easley and Sweat also were honorable mention All-Americans.
 
On offense, Western scored a school-record 326 points, lighting up the scoreboard for 40 or more points in a school-best four straight games. The Vikings, whose 45-point victory margins over Puget Sound (48-3) and Whitworth (45-0) were their highest since 1952, ranked third in the CFA in scoring offense (29.6) and fourth in rushing offense (141.9).
 
"Offensively, I don't think that we performed up to our expectations, considering all the talent and personnel we had returning," Smith said. "At times we played to the level we were capable of, but other times we struggled."
 
Pacing the offensive unit were four first-team all-CFA choices – running backs Jon Brunaugh, a junior, and John Frazier, a sophomore; and junior tackles Travis Cruse, an honorable mention NAIA All-American, and Joe DeShaw. Brunaugh and Cruse were unanimous CFA selections. Brunaugh, Cruse and DeShaw also received first-team Little All-Northwest honors, while Frazier was a second-team pick.
 
Two other key figures were junior quarterback Jason Stiles and senior wide receiver Eric Meek. Both were second-team all-CFA picks, Meek for the third time and Stiles for the second time.
 
Brunaugh, a three-time all-league and Little All-Northwest choice, led Western for the third straight season in rushing and scoring as did Stiles in passing and Meek in pass-receiving.
 
The Viking defense, which had strings of 13 and eight quarters without allowing a touchdown, helped Western to a CFA-leading turnover-takeaway ratio of plus-24, with 42 takeaways, intercepting 26 passes (one short of school record) and recovering 16 fumbles.
 
Five Western players earned MRL Defensive Player of the Week accolades, the honor going to a Viking four of five weeks during mid-season.
 
Western held Whitworth to 51 total yards in a 45-0 shutout, the Vikings' best effort since limiting PLU to 48 yards in 1950, and set a school record by holding Puget Sound to minus-1 yard rushing.
 
Christensen had 73 tackles, including 11 for losses of 40 yards, knocked away eight passes and had three interceptions.
 
Easley topped the CFA in tackles for losses with 20 for 98 yards, forced three fumbles and recovered three. Nine of those tackles for losses were sacks, also a team high.
 
"Scott (Easley) usually required two offensive players to block him, so he really solidified our middle and opened things up for our linebackers and defensive ends," said Smith. "He really picked things up in mid-season, and that allowed our defense to become that much more successful."
 
Sweat, a transfer from NCAA I East Carolina, led Western defenders in tackles with 100, including 10 for losses, and earned Defensive Player of the Game honors in the national playoff win over Linfield.
 
"Mike (Sweat) became our presence in the middle, which was something we lacked," Smith said. "Once he became comfortable our defense really started to click, and we started to see the results statistically."
 
Malo tied for the CFA lead and ranked fifth nationally in pass interceptions with seven, defensed 12 others and blocked three kicks. He intercepted a pass in four straight games during one mid-season stretch.
 
"It was good to see how well Greg did during the season," Smith said. "Basically, we challenged him and told him what we needed, and he responded."
 
"In previous years, we've had defensive backs lead the team in tackles, and you don't want that. "It's much more gratifying to see one of our defensive backs be among the national leaders in interceptions."
 
Junior cornerback Orlondo Steinauer, bothered by a knee that was seriously injured in the season's second game, ranked fourth nationally (15 for 196, 13.1) in punt returns. He was a first-team all-CFA pick and second-team Little All-Northwest choice, both for the second time, and set a school record against Western Oregon by returning punts for 115 yards.
 
On offense, the Vikings had two rushers gain over 600 yards for the first time in the school's history and had two pass receivers make 40 or more catches for the first time since 1985.
 
Stiles passed for 1,964 yards and 17 touchdowns. He became the Vikings' career leader in yards passing (5,557) and touchdown passes (50), and moved up to second among Western career leaders in total plays (900), total yards (5,252), pass completions (424), pass attempts (788) and completion percentage (53.8).
 
"Jason had a very solid year, and he continued to grow in the offense throughout the season," Smith said. "During the Linfield (playoff) game he really took command and showed the kind of poise that we expected out of a three-year starter."
 
Backup quarterback Darren Erath, a redshirt freshman, completed 30 of 53 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Brunaugh, bothered most of the campaign by a severe ankle sprain, and Frazier rushed for 846 (4.5 apc, 10 TDs) and 650 (5.0 apc, 7 TDs) yards, respectively. Brunaugh, who climbed to third among Viking career leaders in both rushing with 2,946 yards and points scored with 174, was named Offensive Player of the Game in the playoff win over Linfield, running for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
 
"It was a frustrating season for Jon (Brunaugh)," Smith said. "He wasn't 100 percent for most of the season, but when he was healthy … You saw what he's capable of in the Linfield win when he really took control of the game,"
 
"The plus side of Jon's injury was that it enabled John Frazier to step forward and show his talents," Smith added. "It's a luxury to have two first-team, all-league running backs."
 
Meek made 47 catches for 550 yards and five TDs. He finished his career second among Western's reception leaders with 122 for 1,619 yards and 16 touchdowns, one TD catch short of the school record.
 
Meek tied a school record with three scoring grabs versus Whitworth and caught 10 passes (107 yards) against Simon Fraser, the first time a Western player had double-figure catches in a game since 1989.
 
Meek also was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America District VIII Football Team.
 
Junior Kevin Palmore had 43 catches for 491 yards and five TDs, and was named second-team all-CFA. Chris Nicholl, another junior, caught 24 passes for 379 yards and four TDs. In all, eight Western players had 10 or more receptions.
 
Sophomore Wade Gebers, also a second-team all-league choice, tied for eighth nationally and led the CFA in kick scoring with a 5.3 average (58 points). He established Viking season records by making 34-of-39 PATs. Gebers also was successful on 8-of-15 field goals, connecting from 44 and 37 yards in the PLU playoff game.
 
"Wade showed a great deal of improvement throughout the year, culminating in the PLU playoff game where he showed his capabilities by hitting two critical field goals," Smith said.
 
Rounding out Western's second-team all-CFA selections were senior kick returner Stacy Avila, sophomore strong safety Randy Carter, sophomore cornerback Michael Johnson and freshman defensive end Mark Spencer.
 
Avila averaged 23.9 yards on 14 kickoff returns, including a long of 69 yards. Carter was credited with 55 tackles and four pass interceptions, and Spencer 36 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
 
Honorable mention all-CFA recognition went to five seniors, center Chad Johanson, linebacker Chris Keeffe, defensive tackle LaMarco Mitchell, cornerback Mike Rillo and defensive tackle Paul Selle.
 
Rob Smith Bio

 
Rob Smith

Smith was the head football coach at Western for 17 years (1989 to 2005), following two seasons as the Vikings' top assistant. Three years after resigning at WWU, he returned to the sidelines at Humboldt State (Arcata, Calif.), rebuilding a program over a 10-year span before stepping down in February of 2018.
 
In all, Smith coached football for 34 years, five as an assistant at Renton (Wash.) High School, two as an assistant at WWU and the last 27 as a collegiate head coach. He finished with a combined record of 172-106-1 (.618). He was 109-62-1 (.637) at Western and (63-44) (.589) at Humboldt State.
 
Smith was the most successful football coach in the history of WWU, setting records for victories and winning percentage. At the time of his departure, he ranked third in collegiate gridiron wins in the state of Washington, trailing only Pacific Lutheran's Frosty Westering and Washington's Don James.
 
Smith arrived at Western as an assistant coach in 1987 and immediately helped a program that had suffered through nine consecutive losing seasons post two winning campaigns. He became the head coach in 1989, leading the Vikings to a 7-2 record, at the time their best in 38 years.
 
Over his 17 years in charge of Western's gridiron program, Smith earned conference Coach of the Year honors seven times, five (1989, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000) in the Columbia Football Association and two (2001, 2003) in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. He was the American Football Coaches Association College Division Region V Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996.
 
Smith led Western to five national playoff berths, the only ones in school history, and its first playoff victory in 1994. The Vikings reached the NAIA Division II national championship game in 1996, the school's first national title appearance in any team sport, and won a school-record 11 games that year. In 1995, Western was 9-0 in the regular season, its first undefeated regular season since 1938, and was ranked No.1 in the NAIA II National Poll for five weeks, including the final poll.

In 1999, just one year after becoming a member of NCAA Division II, Smith's Vikings reached the first round of the national playoffs, losing 27-24 in overtime to Northeastern State (Oklahoma).

In his 17 seasons, Smith led Western to 12 winning records. For some perspective, prior to his arrival as an assistant, the Vikings had just 12 winning seasons in 37 years. Smith directed 12 consecutive non-losing seasons from 1991 to 2002, 10 of them winning campaigns. The longest such streak previously for Western was just seven years, immediately following World War II.

Western won six league titles under Smith, nearly half of its total of 13.

In 2000, Smith was named Western's co-Football Coach of the Century, sharing the honor with NAIA Hall of Famer Charles Lappenbusch, who coached the Vikings for 20 years. Smith was inducted into the WWU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.

At Humboldt State, Smith was a four-time GNAC Coach of the Year (2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015). He led the Lumberjacks to a pair of GNAC championships (2011, 2015) and guided the program to its first postseason appearance since 1968 and first home playoff game since 1960. HSU earned a national ranking in every season he coached there after 2010.

Smith attended Hoquiam High School and is a member of the Grizzlies Roll of Honor (along with his father and grandfather). As a senior, he led the state in football touchdowns with 20 and was the state hurdles champion in track and field. Smith went on to earn three letters in football as a fullback at the University of Washington, seeing action in the 1978 Rose Bowl and graduating in 1981. In 1989, he was the first Don James-coached Husky to become a collegiate head coach after being the first signee of the historic James' era at Washington.

The 62-year-old Smith and wife Wendy (formerly Larion) have been married for 28 years. They have two grown children: daughter Alison, who was a three-time track & field All-American and 2017 NCAA Division III national champion in the 100 meter hurdles at the University of Redlands (Calif.) and obtained her master's degree in athletic administration from Concordia University Irvine (Calif.); and son Jared, who is competing in football at Southern Oregon University.

Prior to taking the head football coaching position at Humboldt State, Smith served one year as Director of Athletics at Grays Harbor College.

WWU MEN'S TEAM OF THE CENTURY (1900-1999)

July 21, 1999

By Jim Carberry

1996 football squad reaches ultimate game

BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- It was a team born of frustration and a team that expired in disappointment.
 
Yet in between, the 1996 Western Washington University football team produced a life of unrivaled glory, becoming the first Western team in any sport to reach a national championship game.
 
For that unprecedented accomplishment - a feat that would be equaled by the women's fastpitch national championship team two years later - the Vikings gridders were named the Western men's team of the century.
 
"It's a great honor to be the greatest team of all time," said head coach Rob Smith. "Everybody who was affiliated with that team should take great pride in it. The only negative was that there were some seniors who played critical roles in the rise of our program from those previous teams, and they didn't get to experience it."
 
Ah yes, the "seniors." Their names head both the record books and the school's all-time greatest football team: quarterback Jason Stiles, running back Jon Brunaugh, cornerback Orlondo Steinauer, offensive tackle Travis Cruse, etc.
 
They were the foundation of a Western program that was built from the rubble of the late 1980s and culminated in a No.1-ranking and unbeaten regular season in 1995. Their expectations of a championship, however, were blown apart with a first-round playoff loss to Central Washington.
 
"Ninety-five left a bitter taste in our mouth," said middle linebacker Mark Spencer. "We knew the potential we had; we knew we could have won it in '95. The next year, we knew that we were going to go out and do it. From the beginning, the goal was the national championship."
 
The '96 crew was one team that did not need to be motivated.
 
"They had a swagger, based on the confidence that had been developed over the '94 and '95 years," said Smith. "It was built on the successes that we had and the failures that we had."
 
Ironically, it was one of the "seniors" of '95, who became the key player for the '96 squad. Wide receiver Chris Nicholl, an honorable mention All-American, was thought to have used up his eligibility after the '95 season, but later he was given an extra season.
 
"We lost some great players (to graduation), but the one we thought we lost was Chris Nicholl," said Smith. "Knowing we had him coming back gave us confidence. It was a very confident group and one that felt there was some unfinished business."
 
The unfinished business began in the very first game against another rival, Pacific Lutheran. The Lutes had knocked Western out of the playoffs in 1994 and had been a thorn in the Vikings' side for decades.
 
But in '96, Western proved to be a pain to PLU. With Nicholl catching three long touchdown passes from first-year starter Darren Erath for a school record 191 yards, the visiting Vikings blew away the Lutes, 34-17.
 
"We weren't so certain how good we were; I wasn't sure how good we were," said Nicholl. "Maybe we weren't as mature as the team before, but our team was special. With all the close wins, we showed we had a lot of character."
 
That character was exposed after that very first game. In what would become a reoccurring nightmare, the good news of a victory was clouded by the bad news of an injury. After just one game, running back John Frazier and defensive lineman Greg Bell were lost for the season.
 
"We had to deal with adversity right off," said Smith.
 
In all, nine opening-day starters missed at least three games that season, and several key players were hurt during the playoff run.
 
If anything, however, the flood of injuries showcased the depth of talent that the '96 team had.
 
*With the departure of all-time passer Stiles, junior Erath stepped in at quarterback and promptly set school records with 3,157 yards passing, 24 touchdown passes, 218 completions and 11 200-yard passing games. He finished seventh in the national rankings in passing (242.9 yards a game) and total offense (250.3).
 
*With the loss of all-time rusher Brunaugh to graduation and former all-leaguer Frazier to injury, senior Ryan Wiggins ran the ball a school record 302 times for 1,361 yards, the second best in school history. He also had the first back-to-back 200-yard games by a Viking. Only an ankle injury at the end of the season slowed him down.
 
Then there were the returnees.
 
*Nicholl had 82 receptions for 12 touchdowns and a league-record 1,584 yards to finish with every school season and career receiving record, including a Northwest small college career mark of 3,268 yards. For his career, he had 170 receptions for 30 touchdowns with 100-yard games in 19 of his last 23 contests.
 
*Place kicker Wade Gebers had an equally remarkable season, if that is possible. A first-team All-American in 1995, the senior made 19 of 29 field goals and 36 of 37 extra points. He finished his career making 47 of 80 field goals and 126 of 146 in extra points, all league records. His 47 field goals also was the third-best in NAIA history.
 
But the statistical stars weren't the only ones who made the Western offense sixth best in the nation in passing yards (258.5 per game) and 10th best in total yards (421.7 per game).
 
Senior wide receiver Mario Casello had 47 catches for 643 yards and four TDs, and junior tight end Erik Morin had 37 catches for 420 yards and three TDs. And, all the yardage was made possible because of an outstanding offensive line anchored by returning returning starters Todd Walcker at guard and Matt Cross at center, and first-year starters Doug Mirkovich at tackle and Chris Jaross at guard.
 
As outstanding as the offense was, it had to tip its helmet to one of the greatest defenses in school history. The Vikings led the Columbia Football Association in every team category, finished seventh nationally in rushing defense (99.5 yards) and posted two shutouts in a season for the first time since 1970.
 
First in the Vikings' "hit parade" was Spencer, who led the team with 159 tackles, five short of the school record. But he was far from the only star.
 
Junior defensive end Chad Rorabaugh had a school-record 18 quarterback sacks for minus-121 yards; senior defensive end Coley Beaman had nine tackles for losses, including six sacks; freshman nose guard Mark Bone had 13 tackles for losses, including eight sacks; and senior linebacker Tim Hanson had 78 tackles, second best on the team.
 
The defensive backfield, though not as spectacular, was just as punishing. Three all-leaguers led the way - senior free safety Isaac Blum; senior cornerback Michael Johnson and senior strong safety Randy Carter, who started every game of his four-year career at Western before being injured in the playoffs.
 
"They were just a bunch of good kids that worked their tails off and were motivated," said Smith. "They had fun at practice, and they played with a great deal of emotion."
 
That emotion - and the team's balance between explosive offense and stifling defense - could be seen in their next four games.
 
In their second contest and home opener, the Vikings swamped Puget Sound, 40-0. They topped that the next week with a school record 666 total yards in a 56-13 victory at Whitworth. Then, in what was normally a severe test for any Western team, the Vikings clobbered Linfield, 32-14, at home before traveling to Southern Oregon for a hard-fought 21-14 triumph.
 
If the Vikings were looking past Southern Oregon to a showdown with Central, it did no good. The Vikings went to Ellensburg confident, but were outplayed on both sides of the ball, losing 34-20.
 
The loss ended the Vikings' 15-game regular-season winning streak and ended a 13-week run where Western had been either first or second in the national poll.
 
"The loss to Central was the best thing to happen to us," said Spencer. "It happened for a good reason. We learned that if you don't execute, that's what happens. We were focused after the Central game." Smith agreed. "We stumbled at Central, but that may have been a blessing in disguise," he said. "We realized we can get beat."
 
It would be a long time before the Vikings were beat again. They trounced Eastern Oregon at home, 25-6, thanks to four Gebers field goals, including a career-best 50-yarder; stuffed Simon Fraser at home, 22-0; and finished the regular season with a 28-20 victory at Western Oregon.
 
That left the Vikings with some impressive credentials: an 8-1 record, a No.6 national ranking and the CFA championship, Western's first back-toback league titles since 1924. But that unfinished business remained.
 
"We knew we had a great team, but we knew the regular season wasn't important," said Nicholl.
 
What was important was the postseason, where the Vikings found themselves for the third straight year. Unfortunately, their opponent was an all too familiar one - Pacific Lutheran. The matchup brought back memories of the 1995's first-round disaster against Central, a team Western had beaten earlier that season.
 
"When we drew PLU that was a real concern," said Smith. "It was the same situation as the year before."
 
And at halftime, it looked like the same tragedy was in store as the Lutes held a 14-3 lead. But at least one Viking still had faith: "I knew even when we were behind we were going to win," said Spencer.
 
With the defense shutting out the potent Lutes in the second half, the Western offense finally got untracked, scoring a touchdown, a two-point conversion and a field goal to tie the game at 14. Still, the Vikings had to hold their breath as the Lutes missed a short field goal attempt just before the end of regulation.
 
"To get to the championship game, you have to be lucky as well as good," said Smith.
 
But the excitement wasn't over. The Vikings scored first in overtime and went ahead 21-20. The Lutes came right back with a touchdown of their own, and then decided to try a winner-take-all two-point conversion.
 
PLU quarterback Dak Jordan rolled right. Finding no receivers open, he turned up field. Just as it appeared he would score, Johnson and Jeremy Hader stuffed him inches short of the goal line, preserving a 21-20 overtime victory.
 
"That two-point conversion," said Spencer, "it built our confidence. That is the first time that I can remember winning in the last second."
 
"That was the most exciting game I'd ever played in or even seen," said Nicholl.
 
The excitement wasn't over thanks in part to Nicholl. Against Willamette in the second round, he broke his own school record with 203 receiving yards and, more importantly, caught a touchdown pass on Western's opening play from scrimmage.
 
Unfortunately for the Vikings, that was the only touchdown they would score. Fortunately for the Vikings, their defense was up to the task of stopping the CFA's best offense.
 
"Willamette had the No.1 offense and we had the No.1 defense so we took it as a challenge," said Spencer. "We studied them so much that we knew their plays even before they ran them."
 
Still, with time running out, Western trailed, 12-10. But Spencer forced a fumble and with the help of a pass interference call on first dowm, the offense got the ball within Gebers' range, and the senior kicker booted the game-winning field goal with 1:45 left for a 13-12 victory.
 
"We caught some breaks beating Willamette," said Nicholl.
 
They would catch no breaks in the next round. Even before leaving the stadium, they were told who their semifinal opponent would be: No.1-ranked and defending national champion Findlay of Ohio.
"I won't tell you what I said when I heard that," said Smith. "I remember watching the (1995) championship game and coming back and saying we couldn't beat Findlay. Then we came back and beat them."
 
Findlay had the reputation and the homefield advantage, but the Vikings were not intimidated. Erath led Western to scores on its first three possessions, including a 99-yard scoring drive. He finished 26 of 35 passing for 242 yards.
 
The defense, led by Spencer, was just as impressive, stopping the bruising Findlay wishbone and forcing the defending champs to play catchup. And they never did as Western rolled to a 28-21 victory.
 
"We played probably our best game against Findlay," said Nicholl, "maybe the best game in Western history."
 
There would be no argument from Smith.
 
"I think we shocked a lot of people," said the coach. "They were a smashmouth Midwest football team, but our defense stepped up. And Darren had his best game as a college player. We played solid football in all aspects.
 
"It was the biggest win that I'd been a part of."
 
A perfect ending to Western's incredible season would have had the biggest win come in the final game, the NAIA Division II championship contest against the University of Sioux Falls (South Dakota) at Savannah, Tenn.
 
But the perfect ending was not to be. Despite being on regional television, getting 350 yards passing from Erath (the fifth highest total in school history) and reaching a level no Western team had ever reached, the Vikings lost, 47-25.
 
"That championship game still stings," said Smith. "It took me a long time to recover from that loss. I still have not recovered. Everybody says what a great accomplishment it was to get there and it was, but we came up short."
 
Not all the players, however, harbor the same disappointment.
 
"I wear my national championship game ring and I remember it every day," said Spencer, who ironically was knocked out early in the contest and still can not remember any of it despite playing the whole game.
 
"I was bitter for a while that we didn't win it, but two years later, just being there and playing was great. I just wish I could go back and enjoy the three days before the game and be with the guys again."
 
Despite the loss in the season finale, the accolades rained down upon the 11-2 Vikings.
 
Gebers and Nicholl were named first-team All-Americans, Gebers becoming the first two-time first-teamer in school history. Nicholl was also named the CFA Offensive Player of the Year. Six other Vikings earned All-America honors: second-teamers Walcker and Spencer, and honorable mention picks Cross, Wiggins, Beaman and Rorabaugh. Those eight, as well as Carter and Johnson, were Little AllNorthwest selections.
 
Smith was named the CFA and American Football Coaches Association College Division Region V coach of the year for the second straight year.
 
In all, the team broke 40 school records and tied two more, outscoring its opponents 28.1 to 16.8. But all the individual awards and numbers pale when compared to the ultimate team accomplishment: reaching the championship game.
 
"The team's legacy? That it is possible," said Smith. "Now we know we can accomplish any goal that we set. We can win a national championship. The '96 team proved it."
 
For Spencer, it was an almost perfect season.
 
"I wouldn't change anything," he said, "except maybe the score of the final game."


Presented by Paul Madison who served 48 years as sports information director at WWU from 1966 to 2015. He is now in his fourth year as the school's Athletics Historian.