Whitworth football hosted Willamette at the Pine Bowl during One Big Whitworth Weekend for the 2024 season’s homecoming game. With the home team’s advantage and the preparations leading up to the game, Whitworth took care of business and shut out Willamette 48-0.
Following the football team’s success last year as Northwest Conference (NWC) champions and playing in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division III playoffs, Whitworth football is embracing its “hunger” for success this season. “Adversity breeds toughness, and success breeds softness,” explained head coach Rod Sandberg in his reasoning for choosing “hungry” to be the theme for this year. Among the spiritual components involved, Sandberg wants the team “to be hungry for more and to not be satisfied.” The team is applying that hunger to their lives on and off the field, whether in the classroom, their own personal relationship with religion, or their desire to become better athletes.
“We approach every game the same. This week isn’t any different than last week or the week before,” said Coach Rod Sandberg regarding preparations for the game. Defensive Coordinator Coach Mac Shaw explained that as a team, “[we are] spending time studying our opponent, figuring out what their tendencies are and figuring out how we best can understand what they’re going to try and do to use and how we’re going to attack them.” Historically, Willamette hasn’t been a threat to Whitworth, but that doesn’t mean that the team is going to play down to their level. Whitworth Football planned to elevate the game play-by-play to take care of business.
The Whitworth football team had been looking forward to the game that weekend, and that momentum translated into the game. Ryan Blair, the senior quarterback, said, “I’m excited to have another opportunity to play…It’s the last time I’m going to play Willamette in the conference, and I want to leave it on a memorable note.” Blair was one of the game leaders against Willamette as he completed 17 of 22 passes for 304 yards and assisted in 4 touchdowns.
One Big Whitworth Weekend is special for the football team as many past players come together to support the team. Like many of the football coaches, Shaw is a Whitworth alum and was looking forward to seeing past players and old teammates. “I’m going to see people on campus that I haven’t seen in years come back and support [the team] …It’s a privilege and something that I think is truly special as a Whitworth alumni because this is my home.” Coaches and teammates are looking forward to reconnecting with each other. Coach Sandberg, who’s been the head coach for 10 years, explained that he’s looking forward to “seeing what [past players] are doing in their lives, but I love even the older generations that were before me, and hearing about their experiences and how it impacted them.”
With Whitworth hosting their annual One Big Whitworth Weekend and the culmination of events happening, the homecoming game was the focal point of the weekend. Over 2,400 fans filled the stands, including past alumni, students and their families, as well as prospective students who all showed their support and enthusiasm for the homecoming game. The crowd support helped elevate the team’s energy to their shut-out win against Willamette. Coach Shaw commented on crowd support, saying, “One thing that’s cool about Whitworth is that our university supports all of our athletic teams well.” He continued, “When you have good crowds and people attend your games, it gives you purpose and reason and [reminds you that] you’re part of something a lot bigger than yourself.” That deeper purpose is seen, especially during homecoming weekend, as different generations of students come together to show their support.
It’s a tradition that the Heritage Gallery Hall of Fame induction ceremony is presented during the homecoming game’s halftime ceremony every year. Funded and operated by the Whitworth Athletics Department, the Hall of Fame recognizes men and women who have represented the ideals of Whitworth University. This year, Kaimi Rocha, the volleyball player, George Valle, the basketball player, and Jo Ann Wagstaff, the tennis coach, were inducted into the 34th class of the Heritage Gallery and recognized for their success and legacies built during their time at Whitworth.
Whitworth football was 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference. The team had their eyes on the conference title, and they were taking it one game at a time. Whitworth played against Puget Sound next, on Oct. 19 in Tacoma, and then against Pacific on Oct. 26 in Forest Grove, Oregon.
