REGISTER
EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University and the Warriors' football program mourned the loss of Bill Bergen, a Hall of Fame defensive end and 1980 graduate of ESU, who passed away suddenly in October 2018.
In his memory, head coach Jim Terwilliger, along with members of the Warrior Football Club and staff, are excited to announce the second annual Bill Bergen Memorial Golf Tournament will take place on Saturday, July 2, 2021 at the beautiful Skytop Lodge.
"My Uncle Bill held a leadership role in the Warrior Football Club for over 20 years," Terwilliger said. "He helped run the golf tournament that provided opportunities for hundreds of student-athletes to come to East Stroudsburg University. Uncle Bill was the epitome of a TRUE WARRIOR, and I am honored to name the tournament in his memory."
Additional information, including pricing, registration and sponsorship opportunities, is available by clicking the link at the top of this release.
The Warrior Football Club Golf Outing is the top fundraiser for the football program, and has helped raise half a million dollars towards athletic scholarships. Terwilliger feels the change will help build an already successful foundation.
"We are blessed to have the greatest alumni support in the land," he said. "I speak from experience. The guys who wore the red shirts are proud of our tradition and heritage. I am excited for a new look, new beginnings, and at the same time to honor the foundation in which Warrior Football was built on."
The Bill Bergen Memorial Golf Tournament replaced the fall outing that had been in existence since the mid 90's. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit Warrior Football scholarships.
"Berg was the ultimate team player," Terwilliger said. "His vision of this tournament was to benefit the entire Warrior Football Program through scholarship fundraising. This will be a great opportunity to bring together the alumni, community and Warrior supporters for a day of fun. That is who my Uncle Bill was, a Warrior that bought people together!"
A Closer Look at Bill Bergen:
Hall of Fame induction in 2000. He was recognized for a career that included three All-PSAC East honors – twice on the first team – and three PSAC championships while playing on teams that had a four-year record of 35-3-1 from 1975 through 1978.
He was a senior on the Warriors' 1978 team that led NCAA Division II in both rushing defense and total defense. The 1975 and 1978 teams won outright PSAC titles with records of 10-0 and 10-1, respectively. The 1976 team shared the PSAC title with Shippensburg, going 9-0-1.
Bergen was credited with 254 career tackles on the defensive line for the Warriors, including 80 stops and eight of the team's 47 sacks on the 1978 team that allowed just 76 points (6.9 per game) and won the State Game, 49-4 vs. Clarion.
Bergen is survived by his wife, Lori, and their three children, Max, Sam and Hanna. Hanna played volleyball at ESU from 2013 through 2016, and Max and Sam played football at Stanford and Rutgers, respectively.
