Molalla alumnus selected for Western Oregon University football hall of fame

It always feels nice to have accomplishments recognized as an athlete.

All-league, all-state, whatever the accolade may be, it’s proof that one’s efforts weren’t futile. That someone somewhere took notice.

It’s especially rewarding when the honor is unexpected, such is the case for Molalla alumnus Chris Bentley, 46, who’s being inducted into Western Oregon University’s football hall of fame on Saturday, Sept. 28, during halftime of the Wolves’ game against West Texas A&M at McArthur Field in Monmouth.

“It was never anything I ever expected being a punter,” Bentley said. “When I was in college, I wasn’t really thinking about that — I just enjoyed what I did. I was pretty good at what I did, but I never thought that was ever going to be a possibility being a punter/kicker, because not a lot of times you see those guys getting into any kind of hall of fame.”

Bentley, who played football at WOU between 1997-2000, said he was overwhelmed when he received the news, calling it totally unexpected. A multiple-time all-conference athlete, including a 1999 first-team NAIA All-American selection, Bentley engraved his name in the history books during his tenure, setting new career records in most punts, most yards punting and longest punt.

His individual achievements speak for themselves, but his success as part of the 1997 team, which finished 7-3, won the Columbia Football Association conference title and were ranked as high as No. 12 in the nation, will make Bentley a two-time hall of famer as the entire team is being inducted as well.

“I absolutely rub that into my buddies (faces),” Bentley said with a laugh.

“College was the best time of my life,” he continued. “I’m still really good friends with a lot of those guys I played football with. We didn’t have so much text messaging back then, but as the years went on (with Facebook and social media) we’ve all been able to reconnect again.”

With his name about to be immortalized, it’s a bit amusing that things could’ve gone so differently for Bentley, who now resides in Oregon City and is a branch manager in Parkrose for Platt Electric Supply.

Upon graduating from Molalla in 1996, where he was an all-league, all-state punter and placekicker and all-league honorable mention selection at wide receiver his senior year, football appeared firmly out of his life.

“I didn’t go straight from high school to Western to play football, because I was a baseball guy,” Bentley said. “I was drafted in 1996 by the Chicago Cubs and my thought was (to go to) Clackamas Community College for a year, play baseball and then possibly try and get into the minor leagues after that.

“By about October of fall baseball, I was like, ‘Man, I really miss playing football.’”

Bentley was drafted in the 53rd round, 1,506 overall. Al Geddes, a former Molalla teacher and the Cubs local northwest area scout for decades, took notice of his play on the mound. Although Western Oregon recruited Bentley out of high school for both sports, he initially passed on the opportunity.

He soon regretted it, reconnecting with the staff at WOU and joining the football and baseball teams the following year.

“I could never pick between the two,” Bentley said. “I loved being on the mound and being in control of the game … there’s nothing like standing up on the hill and knowing that nothing can happen until I throw the ball. That to me was exhilarating.”

“But then also, the rush and the highs and lows of a football day – not even just the game. In college you’re up at 9 o’clock for breakfast, you have some team meetings, you’re out walking around the field,” Bentley continued. “After the game, the parties and whatever, depending on whether you won or lost. It’s a whole day of emotions and that part of it I loved as well.”

While he wasn’t forced to choose between his two passions, it did mean that Bentley was never quite afforded the time to fully dedicate to either craft. Football began the first week of August, culminating with the season’s final game around the first week of November. There was a short break between November and December, but winter workouts for pitchers usually began the first week of January once classes resumed.

The baseball season ended in May, but then Bentley was in Portland playing in a wood-bat league through June and mid-July, returning to campus for football once August rolled around again.

It was a busy schedule, but it’s hard to decisively say it ultimately hindered his performance in either sport. Sure, maybe he could have been a better punter or pitcher with the time spent juggling both, but c’mon. The man’s a hall of famer after all.

“I was playing basically year-round. I loved it.”