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Whits Believe They Belong Pirates Will Give The Shirts Off Their Backs For A Winning Season

By Hilary Kraus hilaryk@spokesman.com

REPLAY: Sports, September 11, 1996: The Whitworth football team has not won a game on its home field in five attempts. Tuesday’s editions incorrectly reported the streak’s length.

Let’s play a game of word association, matching the inspirational message to its proper team.

One for the thumb.

Commitment to excellence.

Three-peat.

Refuse to lose.

If you don’t believe, you don’t belong.

Steelers, Raiders, Bulls, Mariners. … four out of five correct answers, right?

For the fifth, take a trip to the Whitworth College campus and check out the natty gray T-shirts worn by football players, coaches, and soon, if the faculty has its way, teachers.

Any day now, the student body might be placing its order for the shirts, which display a football helmet and the words “Whitworth Bucs” on the front and the catchy phrase in big, black letters on the back.

A bold statement turns fashion statement.

“The important thing (about the saying) is they like it and they believe in it,” second-year coach John Tully said of his players.

The team came up with the slogan last spring at a players-only meeting.

This, coming on the heels of an abysmal 1-8 season after an opening win over Eastern Oregon State College.

This, from a group of athletes who represent a school that has not won a game on its home field in 17 attempts.

But new seasons almost always are served up with generous doses of rejuvenation and hope. And Whitworth, a member of the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges, is heading into this year with a positive mental attitude.

“The players are better than a year ago,” said Tully, who inherited a program that will be shooting for its first winning season since the 6-3 year of 1990.

“When we came in, we did all the recruiting. And now, we have players.”

Tully is no stranger to coaching success. Prior to accepting the job at Whitworth, the former Azusa (Calif.) Pacific University quarterback guided Eureka (Ill.) College to the school’s first undefeated season (10-0) in 1991.

At Whitworth, he says he has a group of “emotional, physical players who love to play football.”

“And that’s a heck of a start,” he added.

For many, the season will be just that - the start of a collegiate career.

The Pirates’ experience begins with defensive back Travis Torco, tight end Travis Ernst, receiver David Glenn and nose guard Terry Borders. It ends with offensive linemen Keith Browning, Harry Suzuki, tackle Ryan Buxton and center Matt Meithe.

From there, Whitworth’s roster lists only six seniors and a slew of redshirt athletes.

The quarterback spot will be filled by either 6-foot-5, 202-pound Robert Leslie of Gig Harbor’s Peninsula High School or Casey Doyle (6-2, 185) from Tumwater High School in Aberdeen, Wash. Both are sophomores with freshmen eligibility.

Sophomore Josh Parbon, the starter last fall, will redshirt while continuing his recuperation from a shoulder separation he sustained at the end of last season.

Several others are fighting for spots to fill out the backfield and receiver positions.

The battle against opponents begins Saturday when the Pirates play Central Washington of the Columbia Football Association. Although it is Central’s home game, it will be played at Yakima because the Wildcats have not started school in Ellensburg.

Central, coming off a 10-3-1 season, is ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Division II Top 25 poll. The Wildcats and Finley (Ohio) tied in last year’s NAIA championship game.

“Our goal is to be in the upper echelon of our league,” Tully said.

Whitworth’s schedule

Sept. 14: vs. Central Washington at Yakima, 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 21: Eastern Oregon, 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 5: Western Washington, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 12: at Simon Fraser, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 19: Pacific Lutheran (homecoming), 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 26: at Willamette, 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 2: Lewis & Clark, 1 p.m.

Nov. 9: Puget Sound, 1 p.m.

Nov. 16: at Linfield, 1 p.m.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PIRATES AT A GLANCE Coach: John Tully, record 33-37-1, six years, 1-8 at Whitworth. Players to watch: DB Travis Torco (5-10, 170, Jr.), OG Keith Browning (6-3, 299, Jr.), OG Harry Suzuki (5-11, 219, So.), OT Ryan Buxton (6-3, 264, Sr.), C Matt Meithe (5-10, 239, So.), NG Terry Borders (5-11, 230, Jr), WR David Glenn (5-11, 177, Jr.), WR Brion Williams (5-8, 174, Sr.), TE Travis Ernst (6-5, 234, Sr.), DE Casey Clark (6-0, 175, Sr.). Key newcomers: QBs Casey Doyle (6-2, 185, Fr.), Rob Leslie (6-5, 202, Fr.), FB Brice Stanly (5-8, 198, So.), FB Julio Torres (5-10, 228, Fr.), FB D.J. Funk (6-0, 213, Fr.), TBs Damian Putney (5-11, 176, Fr.), Ben Vaday (6-0, 187, So.) Outlook: Win two games and Whitworth can call the season an improvement. But the Pirates are shooting for more and appear motivated enough to do it.

This sidebar appeared with the story: PIRATES AT A GLANCE Coach: John Tully, record 33-37-1, six years, 1-8 at Whitworth. Players to watch: DB Travis Torco (5-10, 170, Jr.), OG Keith Browning (6-3, 299, Jr.), OG Harry Suzuki (5-11, 219, So.), OT Ryan Buxton (6-3, 264, Sr.), C Matt Meithe (5-10, 239, So.), NG Terry Borders (5-11, 230, Jr), WR David Glenn (5-11, 177, Jr.), WR Brion Williams (5-8, 174, Sr.), TE Travis Ernst (6-5, 234, Sr.), DE Casey Clark (6-0, 175, Sr.). Key newcomers: QBs Casey Doyle (6-2, 185, Fr.), Rob Leslie (6-5, 202, Fr.), FB Brice Stanly (5-8, 198, So.), FB Julio Torres (5-10, 228, Fr.), FB D.J. Funk (6-0, 213, Fr.), TBs Damian Putney (5-11, 176, Fr.), Ben Vaday (6-0, 187, So.) Outlook: Win two games and Whitworth can call the season an improvement. But the Pirates are shooting for more and appear motivated enough to do it.