Written by Student Assistant Christian Bond
Hall of Fame Registration
TACOMA, Wash. - This is the first of six installments profiling the six individuals who will be inducted into the Pacific Lutheran University's Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 13 in the Chris Knutzen Hall at 11:30 a.m. Today's installment features football standout Judd Benedick.
During the 1990's, the Pacific Lutheran University football program played for three national titles. The backbone of the Lute defense from 1991-94 was Judd Benedick, who will be entering the PLU Athletics Hall of Fame in the fall of 2017.
A two-time NAIA Division II All-American Benedick started every collegiate football game he competed in, making 50 total starts. During that time, the program went 43-6-1, winning the NAIA Division II national title in 1993. The middle linebacker made 282 tackles, good enough for third all time in school history. He disrupted plays on a regular basis, accumulating 19 tackles for loss over four seasons. He also had 15 sacks. Despite outstanding individual accomplishments, Benedick looks back on the relationships built throughout the program as most impressive.
"The relationships we had with each other and our coaches," Benedick said. "The men that ran that program touched our lives and changed our lives forever. I am in part the man I am today because of men like Frosty Westering, Paul Hoseth, Craig McCord, Scott Westering, and Scotty Kessler. I grew more in that four years as a person than I have in my life."
Benedick remains in contact with several of his teammates from that time. During the summer, he made a trip to Seattle to visit old friends. He also went on to Oregon to meet with Jon Rubey, fellow class of 2017 hall of famer.
"Everything was just fun," Benedick said. "We turned everything into a game or entertainment. A bus ride, sitting and waiting somewhere, team meetings, it was always fun and entertaining. So many different characters on the team. So many different personalities."
Benedick has stayed involved in the game of football. He's currently coaching his eleventh year as the head coach at Mountain View High School in Idaho.
His desire to be involved in sports stemmed from his father. His dad spent 32 years as a middle school teacher and coach. Benedick's dad coached football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, and track. Benedick chose to follow the influences that had shaped his life.
"They lived out what they were talking about," Benedick said. "Their actions and words were exactly the same. It was a tremendous lesson in character and how to treat people the right way. Relationships are the most important. Whoever you meet, you have a chance to have an impact on them. That's what I'm trying to do with my own team. I'm trying to foster that same atmosphere and what my coaches taught me. I'm trying to pass that on."
The soon-to-be hall of famer learned valuable lessons from the people he came in contact with during his time at Pacific Lutheran University. Now, he's making the effort to pass those lessons to the next generation.
