1984 Linfield Wildcats football team

The 1984 Linfield Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented Linfield University and won the national championship during the 1984 NAIA Division II football season. In their 17th season under head coach Ad Rutschman, the Wildcats compiled a perfect 12–0 record and won the Northwest Conference (NWC) championship. They participated in the NAIA Division II playoffs, defeating Saint Ambrose (26–0) in the quarterfinals, Hanover (55–14) in the semifinals, and Northwestern (IA) (33–22) in the NAIA Division II Championship Game.^[1]

1984 Linfield Wildcats football
NAIA Division II national champion NWC champion
NAIA Division II Championship Game, W 33–22 vs. Northwestern (IA)
Conference	Northwest Conference
Record	12–0 (4–0 NWC)
Head coach	Ad Rutschman (17th season)
Home stadium	Maxwell Field
Seasons ← 1983 1985 →

1984 Northwest Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Linfield $^	4	–	0	–	0			12	–	0	–	0
Pacific Lutheran	3	–	1	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Lewis & Clark	1	–	3	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
Willamette	1	–	3	–	0			2	–	5	–	2
Pacific (OR)	1	–	3	–	0			2	–	6	–	1
$ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Division II poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 15	at Puget Sound*	Tacoma, WA	W 30–24		^[2]
September 22	Southern Oregon*	Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR	W 14–12		^[3]
September 29	Western Oregon*	Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR	W 21–6		^[4]
October 6	at Oregon Tech*	Klamath Falls, OR	W 10–7		^[5]
October 13	at Whitworth*	Spokane, WA	W 25–12		^[6]
October 20	Pacific Lutheran	Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR	W 24–10		^[7]
October 27	Pacific (OR)	Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR	W 2–0		^[8]
November 3	at Lewis & Clark	Portland, OR	W 28–14		^[9]
November 10	Willamette	Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR	W 55–0		^[10]
November 17	Saint Ambrose	Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR	W 26–0		^[11]
December 1	Hanover	Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR	W 55–14		^[12]
December 8	Northwestern (IA)	Wortman Stadium McMinnville, OR	W 33–22		^[13]
*Non-conference game

References

1. "1984 Football Team". Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
2. "Linfield 30, Pacific 24". Statesman-Journal. September 16, 1984. p. 5F – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Linfield holds off SOSC, 14-12". Statesman-Journal. September 23, 1984. p. 7E – via Newspapers.com.
4. Debbie Howlett (September 30, 1984). "WOSC has its chances, but Linfield gets the win". Statesman-Journal. p. 4F – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Interception helps Linfield protect win". Statesman-Journal. October 7, 1984. p. 8E – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Linfield stymies Whitworth rally". Statesman-Journal. October 14, 1984. p. 8E – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Linfield tips PLU, now 6-0". Statesman-Journal. October 21, 1984. p. 1E – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Linfield sacks Pacific for 2-0 NWC victory". Statesman-Journal. October 28, 1984. p. 1F – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Linfield goes 8-0". Statesman-Journal. November 4, 1984. p. 4F – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Linfield blanks Willamette, 55-0, in finale". Statesman-Journal. November 11, 1984. p. 1F – via Newspapers.com.
11. Debbie Howlett (November 18, 1984). "Linfield routs St. Ambrose, 26-0". Statesman-Journal. pp. 1E, 2E – via Newspapers.com.
12. Debbie Howlett (December 2, 1984). "Linfield one win from NAIA title". Statesman-Journal. pp. 1E, 6E – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Linfield rallies to win NAIA title". Statesman-Journal. December 9, 1984. pp. 1E, 5E – via Newspapers.com.