ST. JOSEPH – As the 50^th Griffon Football team turns its attention to Emporia State, the celebration of five decades for the program focuses on the most successful 10-year period for the team: the 2000s.
 
Each week of the home season, we'll review a decade in Griffon Football history along with in-depth information on each concurrent All-Decade team as selected by Griffon Football alumni. All five home games this season will also bring blasts to the past as alumni from each decade enter Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium with the 2019 Griffons along with other historical recognitions and exciting throwback elements.
 
HONORING THE 2000s
The first season of the 2000s took Missouri Western back into the postseason and set the tone for what would become the most successful decade in program history, to date. Winning 78 games overall and 59 in the MIAA, the program was among the best in the nation for throughout the decade.
 
Four years in, the Griffons set a program record with nine wins and would do it four more times in the '00s. That season the team also shared the program's first-ever conference title, an MIAA
Co-Championship. From 2003 on, the team missed the postseason just one time, winning eight games or more seven times in the decade and making the postseason in each of those seven years. The 2005 season marked the beginning of eight-straight postseason appearances and in 2006 the program received its first-ever berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
 
Griffons in the decade received more than 80 All-MIAA honors and more than 30 All-American awards. The 2000s All-Decade team also has the distinction of having the most Chris Faros Scholarship winners of any other All-Decade team, with six members who were recognized as leaders on and off the field.
 
Quarterback Drew Newhart would become the program's all-time leading passer, breaking Kasey Waterman's record. The '00s also featured electric playmakers like Pierre Thomas, who broke an MIAA record and remains tied for the NCAA DII record with 14 interceptions in 2003. Speedsters Cedric Houston and Jarrett Brooks were a threat to score every time they touched the ball, be it catching a pass, punt or kick. Roger Allen became the first and still the only offensive lineman to be named MIAA Freshman of the Year. Gijon Robinson cut his teeth at MWSU before catching passes from Peyton Manning for four seasons with the Colts. To date, five members of the 2000s All-Decade team have been elected to the MWSU Athletics Hall of Fame with more surely to come.
 
THE 2000s ALL-DECADE TEAM
 
QB          Drew Newhart (2007-10)

• #1 Passing Yards – 10,691
• #1 Pass Completions – 817
• #1 Completion Percentage – 60.6
• #1 Total Offense – 10,594
• #2 Passing Touchdowns – 95
• 2007 MIAA Freshman of the Year
• 2007 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2009 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2010 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2010 3rd team CoSIDA All-District
• Chris Faros Scholarship Winner

 
RB          Jeremiah White (2005-06)

• #5 Rushing Yards – 2,973
• #1 Single Regular Season Rushing Yards – 1,669
• #7 Rushing Attempts – 534
• #9 Rushing Touchdowns – 20
• #1 Rushing Yards/Game – 123.9
• 2005 1st team All-MIAA
• 2005 1st team AFCA All-American
• 2006 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2006 2nd team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2006 H.M. Don Hansen All-American

 
RB          Thomas Hodges (2006-10)

• #4 Rushing Yards – 2,988
• #3 Rushing Attempts – 693
• T-#5 Rushing Touchdowns – 27
• #9 All-Purpose Yards – 3,260
• T-#9 Points Scored – 174
• T-#8 Touchdowns – 29
• 2008 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2009 H.M. All-MIAA

 
WR         Adam Ziesel (1999-02)

• #3 Receptions – 140
• #6 Receiving Yards – 2,154
• #7 Receiving Touchdowns – 24
• 2000 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2001 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2002 2nd team All-MIAA
• Chris Faros Scholarship Winner

 
WR         Andrew Mead (2005-10)

• #2 Receptions – 180
• #5 Receiving Yards – 2,335
• T-#5 Receiving Touchdowns – 25
• #4 Receptions/Game – 3.83
• 2007 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2008 2nd team All-MIAA

 
TE           Gijon Robinson (2003-06)

• 2004 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2005 1st team All-MIAA
• 2006 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2007 Texas vs the Nation participant
• Played in the NFL for six years
• Played in Super Bowl XLIV for the Colts
• Inducted into MWSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017

 
OL          Brett Mingee (2000-03)

• 2001 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2002 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2003 1st team All-MIAA
• 2003 H.M. D2football.com All-American
• Missouri Western's first-ever 3-time All-MIAA Offensive Lineman

 
OL          Nathan Martin (2006-09)

• 2008 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2009 1st team All-MIAA
• 2009 2nd team All-Region
• 2009 1st team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2009 H.M. Don Hansen All-American
• 2010 Valero Cactus Bowl participant

 
OL          Justin Montgomery (2002-05)

• 2004 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2005 1st team All-MIAA
• 2005 1st team All-Region
• 2005 H.M. All-American

 
OL          Roger Allen (2005-08)

• 2005 MIAA Co-Freshman of the Year
• 2005 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2006 1st team All-MIAA
• 2006 2nd team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2006 H.M. Don Hansen All-American
• 2007 1st team All-MIAA
• 2007 2nd team All-Region
• 2007 1st team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2007 H.M. D2Football.com All-American
• 2007 H.M. Don Hansen All-American
• 2008 1st team All-MIAA
• 2008 1st team D2Football.com All-American
• 2008 H.M. Don Hansen All-American
• 2008 1st team AP Little All-America
• 2008 1st team AFCA All-America
• Spent four seasons in NFL

 
OL          Earl Jack (2001-04)

• 2004 1st team All-MIAA
• 2005 Cactus Bowl participant

 
K             Dustin Strickler (2005-08)

• #1 Field Goals – 40
• #1 Extra Points – 122
• #3 Points – 242
• 2006 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2006 2nd team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2006 3rd team AP Little All-America
• 2006 H.M. Don Hansen All-America
• 2007 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2008 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2008 H.M. Don Hansen All-American
• 2008 1st team Academic All-America
• Chris Faros Scholarship Winner

 
KR/PR                  Cedric Houston (2007-10)

• #1 Receiving Touchdowns - 33
• #5 Receptions – 131
• #3 Receiving Yards – 2,485
• #3 All-Purpose Yards – 4,499
• T-#4 Points – 216
• T-#3 Touchdowns – 36
• #5 Punt Return Yards – 495
• #3 Kick Return Yards – 1,485
• #1 Punt Return Touchdowns – 3
• MWSU Record 87-yard Punt Return in 2007
• 2007 2nd team All-MIAA WR
• 2008 H.M. All-MIAA WR
• 2009 2nd team All-MIAA Returner
• 2009 1st team All-MIAA WR
• 2009 2nd team All-Region WR
• 2009 H.M. D2Football.com All-American WR

 
All-Purpose        Jarrett Brooks (2003-06)

• #7 Receiving Yards – 2,099
• #8 Receiving Touchdowns – 21
• #4 Receptions – 133
• #4 All-Purpose Yards – 4,408
• #10 Touchdowns – 27
• #3 Punt Return Yards – 541
• #2 Kick Return Yards – 1,675
• 2004 H.M. All-MIAA KR
• 2005 2nd team All-MIAA WR & KR
• 2006 1st team All-MIAA WR & KR
• 2006 2nd team Don Hansen All-Region
• Inducted into MWSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019

                                                           
DL          Michael Cobbins (2003-06)

• #3 Tackles for Loss – 213
• #6 Sacks – 20.5
• 2004 1st team All-MIAA
• 2005 1st team All-MIAA
• 2006 1st team All-MIAA
• 2006 1st team Daktronics All-Region
• 2006 2nd team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2006 H.M. Don Hansen All-American
• Inducted into MWSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016

 
DL          Jason Chancellor (2001-02)

• 2001 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2002 1st team All-MIAA
• 2002 3rd team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2002 H.M. D2Football.com All-American

 
DL          Soane Etu (2007-08)

• #8 Sacks – 17.5
• #1 Forced Fumbles – 7
• T-#2 Blocked Kicks – 4
• 2007 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2008 1st team All-MIAA
• 2008 H.M. Don Hansen All-American

 
DL          Eric McDowell (2000-03)

• #5 Tackles for Loss – 38.5
• #2 Sacks – 24.5
• 2001 1st team All-MIAA
• 2001 2nd team CoSIDA All-Regio n
• 2001 2nd team Don Hansen All-American
• 2002 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2003 1st team All-MIAA
• 2003 2nd team Don Hansen All-American
• Chris Faros Scholarship Winner
• Inducted into MWSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016

 
LB           Eric Walker (1999-02)

• #6 Tackles for Loss – 36
• #7 Forced Fumbles – 5
• 2000 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2001 1st team All-MIAA
• 2001 1st team CoSIDA All-Region
• 2002 1st team All-MIAA
• 2002 1st team CoSIDA All-Region
• 2002 2nd team CoSIDA All-American
• 2002 3rd team AP Little All-American
• 2002 2nd team D2Football.com All-American
• 2002 3rd team Don Hansen All-American
• Inducted into MWSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015

 
LB           Shawn Whiters (2007-10)

• 2008 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2009 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2009 3rd team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2010 1st team All-MIAA
• 2010 3rd team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2010 H.M. D2Football.com All-American

 
LB           John Matthew Fisher (2003-06)

• 2005 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2006 1st team All-MIAA
• 2006 3rd team Don Hansen All-Region

 
DB          Pierre Thomas (2000-03)

• #1 Interceptions – 23
• #1 Interception Return Yards – 528
• #1 Fumbles Recovered – 6
• T-#3 Passes Defended – 41
• #7 Punt Return Yards – 464
• Holds MIAA record & tied for NCAA DII record with 14 interceptions in 2003
• 2000 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2001 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2003 1st team All-MIAA
• 2003 1st team Daktronics All-American
• 2003 1st team Don Hansen All-American
• 2003 1st team AP Little All-American
• 2003 1st team AFCA All-American
• Inducted into MWSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013

 
DB          Desmond Polk (2000-03)

• #8 Kick Return Yards – 871
• #9 Interception Return Yards - 180
• 2001 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2002 2nd team All-MIAA

 
DB          Greg Carbin (2003-06)

• #10 Kick Return Yards – 794
• 2005 1st team All-MIAA
• 2006 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2006 3rd team Don Hansen All-Region

 
DB          J.R. Graham (2005-07)

• 2006 1st team All-MIAA
• 2006 3rd team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2007 1st team All-MIAA

 
*P          Jamie Hanson (2005-08)

• #2 Punt Average – 41.87
• #2 Punt Yards – 5,569
• 2006 1st team All-MIAA
• 2007 1st team All-MIAA
• 2007 2nd team Don Hansen All-Region
• 2008 1st team All-MIAA
• 2008 2nd team D2football.com All-American
• 2008 H.M. Don Hansen All-American

 
*P          Jay White (2004-05)

• #4 Punt Average – 40.97
• #7 Punt Yards – 3,646
• 2004 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2005 1st team All-MIAA

                             
SPECIAL MENTION
 
LB           Tony Matzke (2002-05)

• 2004 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2005 H.M. All-MIAA
• Chris Faros Scholarship Winner

 
RB          Derrick Pitts (2000-03)

• #10 Rushing Yards – 2,248
• #6 Rushing Attempts – 536
• 2002 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2003 H.M. All-MIAA

 
DB          Andre Burns (2001-06)

• 2005 1st team All-MIAA

 
OL          Patrick St Louis (2004-07)

• 2006 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2007 2nd team All-MIAA

 
DL          Leon Douglas (2002-06)

• 2005 H.M. All-MIAA
• 2006 2nd team All-MIAA
• 2006 Academic All-American
• Chris Faros Scholarship Winner

 
Look for more information on the final All-Decade team, the 2010s on Nov. 5.