TACOMA, Wash. — Over the coming weeks, GoLutes.com will highlight the eight individuals from the 2024 Pacific Lutheran University Athletics Hall of Fame Class that will be inducted on April 6 as part of the 33rd induction class. Today's installment features football standout running back Aaron Binger.
Binger decided to attend PLU because of the football program, then led by legendary coach Frosty Westering, and a great financial aid package that included a Q Club Scholarship. The rest, as they say, is history.
Binger redshirted in 1999 where he had a front row seat for the Lutes' national championship run. Head Coach Frosty Westering turned the keys over to Binger the following season with the redshirt freshman scampering for 790 yards and nine touchdowns while racking up 229 receiving yards and six touchdowns, helping PLU return to the playoffs for the third straight season.
Binger would rush for 844 yards and 13 total touchdowns the following season, guiding the Lutes to a Northwest Conference title. The running back was instrumental in the Lutes' deep playoff run, rushing for 368 yards in playoff wins over Whitworth University and Central College (Iowa) before missing a 31-6 playoff loss to Saint John's University (Minn.) on Dec. 1 due to mononucleosis.
As a junior, Binger combined for 977 yards of total offense with 10 touchdowns before rushing for 790 yards and netting 229 receiving yards with 15 total touchdowns as a senior. Binger was the NWC Offensive Player of the Year his final season in 2003 while also earning Second Team All-West Region by Don Hansen's College Football Gazette.
Binger arguably saved his best for last, scoring a school record five touchdowns in a 41-14 romp of crosstown rival University of Puget Sound on Nov. 15, 2003 in what was legendary Head Coach Frosty Westering's last game at the helm.
Over his four years on the gridiron, Binger was a four-time All-NWC selection, rushing for a school record 3,101 yards with 56 total touchdowns. 37 of Binger's 56 touchdowns came on the ground while catching 113 passes for 1,612 yards and 19 touchdowns. Binger's 344 total points ranks second all-time while helping the Lutes make two NCAA playoff runs, earn one NWC title, and win 28 games.
While Binger has plenty of great memories on the field with his teammates, arguably some of the greatest moments came off the field, including the team's annual preseason breakaway trips.
"Every year the trips to Oregon with the team at the beginning of each football season was the most unique, fun, and memorable experience of my life. Frosty created a culture within the program that truly made the 'experience' more than just the game of football...it molded boys into men."
But even more than that, the memory that sticks the most is meeting his future wife Becky Binger (Franza).
"Meeting my wife...the love of my life. She is absolutely the best person I know. I first saw her working at Names Fitness Center, checking people in and having to wash all of the football players dirty laundry."
Binger graduated with a bachelor of science in 2003 and currently works as a project executive at Absher Construction. He has summitted Mount Rainier after graduation and along with his wife Becky— who is also being inducted into the PLU Athletics Hall of Fame— have three boys: Jack, Coen, and Griffin.
