Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football

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Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football
Northwest Missouri State Bearcats wordmark.svg
First season1908 (1908)
Athletic director Andy Peterson
Head coach Rich Wright
6th season, 59–17 (.776)
Stadium Bearcat Stadium
(capacity: 6,500)
FieldMel Tjeerdsma Field
Year built1917
Field surfaceFieldTurf
Location Maryville, Missouri
NCAA division Division II
Conference The MIAA
All-time record59039933 (.593)
Claimed national titles6 (1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Conference titles30
Rivalries Pittsburg State
Missouri Western
Truman
Central Missouri
Consensus All-Americans69
ColorsBearcat green and white [1]
   
MascotBobby Bearcat
Marching bandBearcat Marching Band
Outfitter Adidas
Website www.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. Nwmsu-trophy.jpg
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.

The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football program represents Northwest Missouri State University in college football. They participate in Division II sports within the NCAA. The team plays their home games at Bearcat Stadium, located on campus in Maryville, Missouri.

Contents

They have appeared in ten 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 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

SeasonCoachSelectorsRecordBowl
1998 Mel Tjeerdsma NCAA Division II Playoff15–0Won NCAA Division II Championship
199914–1Won NCAA Division II Championship
2009Won NCAA Division II Championship
2013 Adam Dorrel 15–0Won NCAA Division II Championship
2015 Won NCAA Division II Championship
2016 Won NCAA Division II Championship
National Championships6

Conference championship seasons

YearConferenceCoachOverall RecordConference Record
1925 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association H. Frank Lawrence 7–0–13–0–1
1931 E.A. Davis 9–04–0
1938 Ryland Milner 5–0
1939
1941†6–2–13–1–1
1942†4–2–13–1
1948†4–16–2
1952†6–34–1
1972† Gladden Dye 7–35–1
19748–25-1
1979 James Redd 6–55-1
1984 Vern Thomsen 10–15–0
1996† Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Mel Tjeerdsma 11–28–1
199712–19–0
1998 15–0
199914–1
200011–1
200212–1
2003†8–37–2
200614–19–0
200712–2
200813–210–0
200914–19–0
201012–2
2013 Adam Dorrel 15–010–0
2014†11–210–1
2015 15–011–0
2016 15–0
2018† Rich Wright 10–39–2
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).

YearNW RankVenueOpp RankOpponentScoreW/LRoundNotes
1984-–Away-– Nebraska–Omaha 15–28L1st round
198918Away-– Pittsburg State 7–28L1st round
19962Away-–Nebraska–Omaha22–21W1st round
19962Away-– Northern Colorado 26–27LQuarterfinal
19973 Maryville 16North Dakota State39–28W1st round
19973Maryville-–Northern Colorado19–35LQuarterfinal
19982Maryville16Nebraska–Omaha28–14W1st round
19982Maryville6Northern Colorado42–17WQuarterfinal
19982Maryville11Texas A&M–Kingsville49–34WSemifinal
19982 Braly Stadium 3 Carson–Newman 24–6WFinal
19994Maryville9North Dakota State20–13W1st round
19994Maryville3Northern Colorado43–35WQuarterfinal
19994Maryville-– Indiana University (Pa.) 20–12WSemifinal
19994Braly Stadium1Carson–Newman58–52WFinal
20001Maryville5 North Dakota State 17–13L1st round
20024Maryville11Minnesota–Duluth45–41W2nd round (1st round bye)
20024Maryville7Northern Colorado12–23LQuarterfinal
20044Maryville6Texas A&M–Kingsville34–14W1st round
20044Away1Pittsburg State36–50LQuarterfinal
200521Away29 Angelo State 45–14W1st round
200521Away12 Washburn 42–32W2nd round
200521Away23Pittsburg State21–10WQuarterfinal
200521Away13North Alabama25–24WSemifinal
200521Braly Stadium1 Grand Valley State 17–21LFinal
20062Maryville18 Midwestern State 27–0W2nd round (1st round bye)
20062Maryville8Chadron State28–21WQuarterfinal
20062Maryville6 Bloomsburg 33–3WSemifinal
20062Braly Stadium1Grand Valley State14–17LFinal
20075Maryville4 West Texas A&M 56–28W2nd round (1st round bye)
20075Away2 Chadron State 26–13WQuarterfinal
20075Maryville1Grand Valley State34–16WSemifinal
20075Braly Stadium8 Valdsota State 20–25LFinal
20083Maryville10Pittsburg State38–35W2nd round (1st round bye)
20083Away2Abilene Christian45–36WQuarterfinal
20083Away5 North Alabama 41–7WSemifinal
20083 Braly Stadium 6Minnesota–Duluth14–21LFinal
20092Maryville16 Abilene Christian 35–10W2nd round (1st round bye)
20092Away1 Central Washington 21–20WQuarterfinal
20092Maryville20 California (Pennsylvania) 56–31WSemifinal
20092 Braly Stadium 3Grand Valley State30–23WFinal
20103Maryville- Missouri Western 28–24W1st roundNorthwest trailed by 17 at half—it largest deficit that it had come back from. [9]
20103 Away 4 Texas A&M–Kingsville 35–31W2nd roundTexas had defeated Northwest on opening day. Northwest won with 17 seconds remaining on Blake Bolles to Josh Baker pass.
20103Maryville7 Central Missouri 37–20WQuarterfinalNorthwest 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]
20103 Away 4 Texas A&M–Kingsville 35–31W2nd roundTexas had defeated Northwest on opening day. Northwest won with 17 seconds remaining on Blake Bolles to Josh Baker pass.
20103 Away 1 Minnesota–Duluth 13–17LSemifinalPlayed 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.
20117 Away 17 Missouri Western 35–29W1st 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]
20117 Away 1 Midwestern State 38–31W2nd 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]
20117 Away 6 Pittsburg State 16–41LQuarterfinalPittsburg 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.
201210Maryville9 Harding University 35–0W1st round
201210 Away 2 Minnesota State Mankato 35–38 (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.
20132Maryville5 Minnesota–Duluth 45–21W2nd round (1st round bye)
20132Maryville12 St. Cloud State 59–21WQuarterfinal [13] [14]
20132Maryville22 Grand Valley State 27–13WSemifinalGame was attended by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon who gave a pep talk to team at the beginning. [13] [14]
20132Braly Stadium13 Lenoir–Rhyne 43–28WFinalLenoir 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]
20146Away2 Minnesota–Duluth 21–25L1st roundNorthwest led 21–6 going into the 4th quarter. [15]
20151Maryville11 Humboldt State 54–7W2nd round (1st round bye)
20151Maryville18 Emporia State 38–17WQuarterfinal
20151Maryville7 West Georgia 38–23WSemifinal
20151Kansas City, Kansas7 Shepherd 34–7WFinal
20161MaryvilleEmporia State44-13W2nd round (1st round bye)
20161MaryvilleHarding35-0WQuarterfinalNW held Harding to just 119 total yard all coming on the ground.
20161MaryvilleFerris State35-20WSemifinalFerris State took a 13-7 lead in the 2nd quarter
20161Kansas City, KansasNorth Alabama29-3WFinalOver 4 inches of snow fell during the game and temperatures were at -5 with wind chill
201713 Away 9 Ashland University 18-21L1st roundBearcats 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
201818Away7Grand Valley State42-17W1st round
201818Away2Ferris State21-27L2nd round
20195Maryville85Harding7-6W1st round
20195Maryville26 Lindenwood 63-7W2nd round
20195Away1Ferris State3-25LQuarterfinal

Records

YearCoachWLTMIAANCAA D2
1908 Paul A. White 321
1916 George Palfreyman 25
1917George Palfreyman07
1918 M.H. Simms 11
1919 Robert Rice 04
1920Robert Rice03
1921 Russell Sprong 26
1922 Eugene Maynor 44
1923 H.F. Lawrence 331
1924H.F. Lawrence611
1925H.F. Lawrence701X
1926H.F. Lawrence62
1927 E.A. Davis 17
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
1937 Ryland Milner 252
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
1958 Paul Turner 08
1959Paul Turner332
1960 Earl Baker 54
1961Earl Baker27
1962Earl Baker09
1963 Ivan Schottel 351
1964Ivan Schottel63
1965Ivan Schottel63
1966Ivan Schottel45
1967Ivan Schottel36
1968Ivan Schottel09
1969Ivan Schottel36
1970Ivan Schottel28
1971 Gladden Dye 45
1972Gladden Dye73X
1973Gladden Dye64X
1974Gladden Dye82
1975Gladden Dye73
1976 Jim Redd 82
1977Jim Redd551
1978Jim Redd011
1979Jim Redd65X
1980Jim Redd28
1981Jim Redd64
1982Jim Redd271
1983 Vernon Thomsen 56
1984Vernon Thomsen102X1st round
1985Vernon Thomsen461
1986Vernon Thomsen29
1987Vernon Thomsen38
1988 Harold "Bud" Elliott 29
1989Harold "Bud" Elliott931st round
1990Harold "Bud" Elliott281
1991Harold "Bud" Elliott56
1992Harold "Bud" Elliott65
1993Harold "Bud" Elliott38
1994 Mel Tjeerdsma 011
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
2011 Adam Dorrel 113Quarterfinal (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
2017 Rich Wright 9301st 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

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Tjeerdsma</span> American football coach

Mel Tjeerdsma is a retired American football coach and athletic director at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. He served as the head coach at Austin College in Sherman, Texas from 1984 to 1993 and at Northwest Missouri State University from 1994 until his retirement after the 2010 season. In his 27 years as a head coach, Tjeerdsma compiled a career college football record of 242–82–4. He led the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats to three NCAA Division II Football Championship titles and four additional NCAA Division II titles games.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwest Missouri State Bearcats</span>

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The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats men's basketball team represents Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, in the NCAA Division II men's basketball competition. The team is currently coached by Ben McCollum, who has been at the helm since 2009. The Bearcats currently compete, and are one of two founding members remaining, of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The basketball team plays its home games in the Bearcat Arena on campus.

Steve Tappmeyer served 21 seasons as basketball coach of the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men's basketball team. Tappmeyer was the longest serving coach for the school and had the most wins. He served as the head coach for the University of Missouri–St. Louis Tritons from 2010 to 2013.

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The Northwest Missouri State−Pittsburg State football rivalry, also known as the Fall Classic at Arrowhead, is a college football game between Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) rivals Northwest Missouri State University and Pittsburg State University. From 2002 to 2013, the game was played at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. The games were played at the teams' home field, due to being unable to reach terms with the Kansas City Chiefs, from 2014 to 2018. The game is set to return to Arrowhead Stadium in 2019.

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Scott Bostwick was an American football player and coach. He served as the defensive coordinator at Northwest Missouri State University from 1994 to 2010 under head coach Mel Tjeerdsma, during which time the Bearcats captured three NCAA Division II Football Championships, in 1998, 1999, and 2009. In 2007, Bostwick was named the AFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year in 2007. He succeeded Tjeerdsma as head coach following the 2010 season, but died of a heart attack the following June.

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The 2013 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football team represented Northwest Missouri State University as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) during the 2013 NCAA Division II football season. Led by third-year head coach Adam Dorrel, the team finished the regular season with an undefeated 11–0 record. They won their fifth NCAA Division II Football Championship with a win over Lenoir–Rhyne in the NCAA Division II Championship Game by a score of 43–28. The Bearcats played their home games at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville, Missouri, which has been the Bearcats' home stadium since 1917.

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Trevor Hudgins is an American professional basketball player for Le Mans of the LNB Pro A and the Basketball Champions League (BCL). He played college basketball for the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats where he led the team to three consecutive NCAA Division II championships. Hudgins was named as the NABC Division II Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022.

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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 (July 9, 2014). "Crew Prepare to Install New Video Screen". Maryville Daily Forum. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Conference History". Themiaa.com. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  5. DeLassus, David (2015). "Northwest Missouri State Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  6. "football-quick-facts-2019 (PDF)" (PDF). Northwest Missouri State Athletics. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  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.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  9. http://www.ncaafootball.com/NEWS/tabid/1237/Article/216303/northwest–missouri–rallies–past–missouri–western–28–24.aspx [ bare URL ]
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