Pacific football has a long-standing tradition, regardless of its twenty-year layoff in the 1990’s through the 2000’s.
That tradition is persistence.
Newly reinstated in 2010, the football program at Pacific has struggled. Such results were expected, but now it is time for a change. This team has proven to the student body that it is capable of winning.
The Boxers won their first game, 44-25 against Puget Sound, in a packed Lincoln Stadium for the 2011 homecoming game.
Boxer fans rushed down onto the field after the game to celebrate with their classmates and team.
Now that the first win has been achieved though, an expectation has been set. A pressure, even.
The Boxers had eight players selected for the All Northwest Conference Team last year.
The then sophomore, Jordan Fukumoto, led them as the first All NWC First Team selection for the Boxers since 1984. Sports Information Director Blake Timm refered to Fukumoto as “the spark plug of the Boxers’ offense” in an article last year.
The other seven selections to the All NWC Team were Honorable Mentions, including starting quarterback T.C. Campbell who threw for a record-tying five touchdown passes in the win over Puget Sound.
All eight selections were from the offensive side, which has shown vast improvement since the team was reinstated in 2010.
Even so, the Boxers have room to improve.
Head coach Keith Buckley, 1-17 in his career at Pacific, has assured fans in the past that the team will only get better. He said they are still young and they need time to mature in order to improve.
The Boxers will have a number of juniors starting for them this fall, including wide receiver and punt returner “Sparky” Fukumoto and quarterback Campbell.
Like every year, Boxer fans want to see a competitive team. out on the football field.
After many close games, fans are hoping to see the Boxers hang on and pull out a few come-from-behind wins.
This 2012 Pacific University Football Team has the potential to put together a string of victories that can bring honor and a greater respect to the program and the community.
The Boxers’ first home game is against Simon Fraser at 7 p.m. on Aug. 30, at the Lincoln Park Stadium.
There will also be an inter-team scrimmage in part with the Friday Night Lights event at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 24, at the Lincoln Park Stadium. A tailgate barbeque open to students will be held outside the stadium prior to the scrimmage.
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