TACOMA, Wash. - Colleges and universities around the nation are celebrating the 150th anniversary of college football throughout the 2019 season. As part of the celebration, GoLutes.com will cover some of the greatest moments in the history of the storied gridiron program at Pacific Lutheran University. The seventh part of this series will cover the Lutes' 1999 season that culminated in winning the program's fourth national title and first at the NCAA Division III level. 
 
The late 90s was a time of transition for the Lutes, moving from NAIA Division II to NCAA Division III. Pacific Lutheran clinched its third NAIA title in 1993, was runner-up in 1994 and made two more playoff appearances, including the 1996 season which was the last year of NAIA Division II football.
 
Pacific Lutheran qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in 1998, setting the stage for a magical playoff run in 1999. 
 
The Lutes snuck by California Lutheran University 28-26 in the 1999 season opener before ripping off non-league wins over Southern Oregon University (47-23) and Eastern Oregon University (41-35). 
 
Pacific Lutheran would suffer its first and only blemish on the season in the NWC opener, falling 29-20 to Willamette University in Salem. The Lutes got back on track the following week with a 33-7 win over Whitworth University before smashing Lewis & Clark College 63-10. PLU piled on 56 points on Linfield College and closed the regular season with a 49-13 steamrolling of crosstown rival University of Puget Sound. 
 
Earning an at-large bid to the playoffs, the Lutes had the daunting task of having to win five games over five weeks. Making the task even more Herculean was the fact all five games would be played on the road. When the dust finally settled on the postseason on December 18 the Lutes had traveled over 15,000 miles and four time zones to win the program's fourth national title and first at the NCAA Division III level. 
 
PLU's first test in the playoffs was a rematch against NWC Champion Willamette in Salem. The  Lutes had their backs against the wall before rattling off 21 unanswered points in the final eight minutes for the 28-24 victory. A forced fumble on the opening possession set the tone for the Lutes in their second round triumph over host Wartburg College, cruising to a 49-14 win in Waverly, Iowa. 
 
The Lutes headed to Collegeville, Minnesota for the third round, using three fumble recoveries and two fourth quarter scores to escape with the 19-9 win over Saint John's University. In the semifinals in San Antonio, Texas, running back Anthony Hicks ran for four touchdowns while the defense collected 11 sacks in a 49-28 thrashing of Trinity University setting the stage for a Stagg Bowl showdown against east coast juggernaut Rowan University (N.J.) in Salem, Virginia. 
 
Singing Christmas carols during warmups, the Lutes raced out to a 27-7 halftime lead against Rowan on their way to a 42-13 victory to secure the program's first NCAA championship and becoming the first team to win five road games to earn the title.

Head Coach Frosty Westering was named American Football Coaches Association Division III Coach of the Year while the Lutes' 13 wins still stands as a school record. Hicks finished the year with a school record 1,633 rushing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 164 total points with 11 of those touchdowns coming during the Lutes' playoff run. Quarterback Chad Johnson, the grandson of Westering and ball boy for the 1987 and 1993 championship teams, averaged over 200 passing yards a game on the season, slinging 22 touchdown passes. Johnson would suit up for the Lutes again in 2000, winning the Gagliardi Trophy as the most outstanding player in Division III.  
 
The Lutes would qualify for the NCAA Division III playoffs two more times under legendary coach Frosty Westering before he stepped down after the 2003 season with an impressive 305 career wins, including a 261-70-5 record at PLU. Westering's accolades included winning four national titles and making 19 postseason appearances. In 32-years at the helm, he never endured a losing season and currently is just one of 13 coaches in the 150 years of college football history to eclipse 300 career wins.