Papageorgiou resigns from Bethel College

By Jeff Clark

Head football coach George Papageorgiou resigned from Bethel College Wednesday following a meeting with Bethel College President Doug Penner.

According to Penner, the reason behind Papageorgiou's withdrawal is "personal reasons and pressing family matters."

Papageorgiou's father has been ill and has been on Papageorgiou's mind all season and could be the family matters that were the cause for the resignation.

Controversy is surrounding the details of the situation especially relating to the timeliness of the decision. The Thresher football team has only two games left this season and is coming off a home victory last weekend.

During the team meeting at which the resignation was announced to the football team, it was said that the timing was what was best for everybody involved.

When asked if the resignation was a surprise to the Bethel Administration, President Penner hesitated before replying, "Yes...yes it was a surprise to us."

Bethel Athletic Director, Diane Flickner had no comment to the same inquiry.

Rumors surround the events leading to the departure. None of which were confirmed or denied by Penner or Flickner.

Due to policy legalities, neither Penner nor Flickner could comment about much concerning the details surrounding the abdication.

The Bethel football program was Papageorgiou's first head coaching job and this was his fifth year at the helm.

For his career, Papageorgiou held a record of 18-29, including the 2-8 season that was in progress at the time of his resignation.

Bethel's best season under Papageorgiou was in 1996, when the Threshers finished second in the conference with a 7-2 record. They held at top 25 NAIA national ranking for much of that season.

The head coaching vacancy will be filled by defensive coordinator Mike Moore for the remainder of the season.

Moore has been with the BC football program for three years and knows the system well.

He had no comment about the events that transpired.

As for a permanent replacement, no decisions have been made. Although, plans are in progress for getting a search committee to find a permanent replacement.

Bethel players have taken different attitudes about the situation.

"I'm very disappointed in the Administration at the whole situation, that we were not asked about out opinions or our feelings about this," said junior Mike Bortoletto, Sacramento, Cal. "It will be a true test to our team for the next two games."

"It's just bad timing. We have to take it like men and go out and play now," junior Jason Ward, Italy, Tex., commented. "I'm going to miss coach Pops. He believed in me when no one else did, but we just have to move on with it."

The resignation also terminated Papageorgiou's teaching responsibilities.

Bethel's final two games of the year are home games at Fischer Field against Southwestern Assemblies of God at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6, and against Ottawa University at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 13.