[ Football Team sets new record, places second in NAIA No one had done it in more than 10 years. Everyone said it couldn't be done. Everyone said that we would lose. The 1989 Bison football team proved them wrong. According to many players and fans, the highlight of the season came on Nov. 16, when the Bisons beat the UCA Bears on their home field. The Bears had been unbeaten at home for 12 years and had not lost a conference game in four years, but Harding changed all of that. Not only had Harding defeated the number one team in the conference, they had reserved a berth in the NAIA playoff's for the first time in Harding's history. Bison punter Mark Thomas said, "The coaches and team knew that whoever scored first would control the game. We won two battles that night, one was on the field and one in the fans." It was estimated that · there were more than 3,000 Harding fans at the game. Head Coach Larry Richmond, who took the Bison's to the playoffs in only his second season, took the team from last year's last place to this year's first place tie for the AIC title. 54 Endless ·Activities The Bisons were ranked eighth in the NAIA Division I poll. Thomas said, "Coach always . put us in our place. He said we were not out there to impress, but to do a job." Though Richmond stressed team play, several of the players did very well individually. Chris Hill and Darrell Biggers both rushed for more than 500 yards each. Quarterback Tad Niblett passed more than 1400 yards in 11 games. Mike Alexander received passes totalling 521 yards, including a 50 yard pass from Niblett. Barry Bowens received passes totalling over 550 yards. Thomas punted over 2700 yards, including a 51-yard punt. Sophomore Pat Gill must not be forgotten. In January of 1990 he was named to the 1989 NAIA Division I All-American first team. That came after he received All-AIC honors and earned NAIA District 17 Defensive Player of the Week three times. Gill had an outstanding year with 102 solo tackles and 96 assists. He cost the opposition more than 50 yards in losses, recovered two fumbles, and caught one interception. -Wayne Westerholm
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