September 8, 2005

Centennial Bowl won't be just another game
by Jerome Boettcher

With the oldest traveling trophy in NCAA Division II play on the line, the "Hickory Stick" football game between Northwest and Truman State University is always competitive.

But this year's contest, which gets underway at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, in Bearcat Stadium, should be something really special.

In honor of Northwest's 100th year, the game has been dubbed the Centennial Bowl, and the Bearcat players will wear throwback uniforms with white-striped green jerseys and gray or white pants. Their all-green helmets will be stripped of the Bearcat paw.

All Northwest coaches will wear red baseball caps during the game with "Northwest Normal" printed on the front and "1905-2005" on the back. The caps honor the school's original colors and name. Founded by legislative decree in 1905, Northwest was originally called the Fifth District Normal School of Missouri.

"(The uniforms) are nice, and it will be interesting to see what they're like," said senior captain Jordan Wilcox. "They're a little different style than we normally wear. They look a little baggy, but it will be fun."

In keeping with the centennial spirit, the Athletics Department's media relations team has assembled a list of 100 memorable moments in Northwest sports history. Highlights include national championship football seasons in 1998 and 1999 and the undefeated 1930 basketball squad, which posted 31 wins under legendary Coach Henry Iba.

Other sporting milestones include the Bearcats' first conference basketball title in 1973, the first electric gymnasium scoreboard (1940), and the 1984 women's basketball squad that achieved a No. 1 national ranking.

The entire list of great moments in Northwest sports will be released Saturday in conjunction with the game.

When play begins Saturday, the Bearcats will be attempting to hold on to the Hickory Stick for the fourth straight year. Northwest has won eight out of its last nine games against the Bulldogs, who last took the stick in 2001 after a 24-23 win in Maryville.

"It's a big, big deal in Kirksville," Northwest Offensive Coordinator Bart Tatum said.

This is a game in which no one takes anything for granted. Last year, for example, the teams met when Truman was 0-8 and Northwest was undefeated. The Bulldogs, however, played tough and led with less than a minute left before surrendering a late touchdown and losing 45-42.

"It's not just another game with Truman. It never is. ... It's always been close," Wilcox said. "It's not just another game for us from that standpoint, and it's always nice to get the Hickory Stick back."

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