In case you missed it, former Duck and current Tampa Bay punter Josh Bidwell was on the 1320 “The Score”’s Sport Idol with Justin Myers today and talked about his fight against cancer, his football career at Oregon and in the NFL, and Brett Favre.
[audio:http://www.ducksportsnews.com/media/idol_josh_01.mp3]
Jay, here.
I’ve two quick reminders for you on Saturday. First, it’s time to “spring forward”. So, turn your clocks forward one hour Saturday night. Second, former Duck, Brett Favre teammate, and NFL All-Pro Josh Bidwell will be holding a book signing at the Moshofsky Center Duck Store in Eugene on Saturday, March 8, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.
Josh is a friend of DSN and I would encourage you to go to the book signing. He’s got a great story to tell. And with Brett Favre’s recent retirement, I’m sure he’s got some stories to share about that, as well. Plus, how often do you get to meet an NFL All-Pro player?
Here’s the news release from Harvest House Publishers:
Josh Bidwell, former UO football player, cancer survivor, to sign book in Eugene
EUGENE, OREGON—February 12, 2008—Former UO football player Josh Bidwell is a cancer survivor, husband, father, an NFL All–Pro punter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a man of deep faith. In 2007 he added yet another item to his list of accomplishments: author.
Bidwell, whose autobiography When It’s Fourth and Long chronicles his journey from testicular cancer to complete recovery, will be signing copies of his book at the Moshofsky Center Duck Store in Eugene on Saturday, March 8, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm (Autzen Stadium, MLK Blvd).
“I am very excited to finally get a chance to have a book signing in Eugene for the Oregon Duck faithful who have been a great encouragement to me for so long,” says Bidwell. “I hope to get a chance to see many of the people who have expressed interest in my story.”
Bidwell was living the dream—a blossoming career in the NFL, a loving and supportive girlfriend, and recognition. The good life was coming his way… and then the Big “C” came rushing in like a special teams blitz. Cancer. Make that aggressive cancer—right where it hurts a guy the most.
In his book Bidwell shares how, at 23 years old, he felt as if he were on the top of the world. A stellar college kicking career at the University of Oregon earned him a fourth–round NFL draft pick.
But everything seemed to fall apart at the Packers’ training camp when he received a diagnosis of aggressive testicular cancer.
Now Josh shares his gripping story of overcoming adversity and eventually becoming one of the NFL’s leading punters with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is a story filled with examples of a young man’s determination, commitment, and hard work that started at an early age and resulted in achievement both on and off the field.
From his insider’s view, Josh describes what life is really like in the high–pressure world of professional sports—and how he is able to maintain a vibrant faith in an often challenging environment. He offers an inspiring tribute to those who influenced him along the way, and he provides tremendous motivation to readers who seek to overcome their own adversity.
About the Publisher:
Harvest House is among the top ten Christian publishing companies, publishing more than 160 books each year and carrying a strong backlist offering more than 700 titles. Over 100 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels, and additional millions have sold in over 35 different languages.
You can also read the news release on Harvest House Publishers’ website.
Jay, here.
With Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre announcing his retirement yesterday, the first person I thought about was former Duck Josh Bidwell and what he thought about his former teammate.
Here are some of Josh’s thoughts on Favre’s retirement. If this isn’t enough for you, I’m sure Josh wouldn’t mind talking more about his career and his time with the Green Bay Packers at his book signing this weekend. Click here for more details.
Here’s Josh:
Now that Brett Favre’s career is officially over, I have to say that I am more excited than ever to be able to say that I played with one of the best players in NFL history. Brett was a lot of fun to watch during games for sure, but it was his personality off the field that made playing him so special. Not a lot of people got a chance to see just what a great guy he was off the field and got to interact with him in a non-football setting.
During my time as a Packer, I remember watching Brett make throws and improvise plays on a daily basis that I could only just laugh at and say, “Only Brett could have done that and got away with it.”
His off the field personality was just as candid as his on the field one. He never stopped joking around and had a story for everything, which made every golf round 3 hours of fun…I say 3 hours because Brett was the fastest golfer I ever have played with and he would get irritated if everyone else in the group was not as fast as he was.
I was a big fan watching Brett as I was growing up, and an even bigger fan as I was able to watch him in person. All good things must come to and end, but seeing Brett Favre retire makes me wish that it was not true. I will miss watching him play, but hang my hat on the fact that I can tell my children and my grandchildren that I got a chance to be a teammate of Brett Favre, one of the best the NFL has ever seen.
Josh Bidwell
Jay, here.
When it’s fourth long, there is no one better to turn to in the NFL than former-Duck Josh Bidwell.
Am I just saying that because Josh is a friend of DSN? Yeah. But it’s true, too.
And we try to do what we can to support our friends around here. That’s why I was glad to receive a news release from Dave over at Harvest House Publishers announcing that Josh will be holding a book signing at the Moshofsky Center Duck Store in Eugene on Saturday, March 8, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.
I would encourage you to go to the book signing to see Josh. How often do you get to meet an NFL All-Pro player? And while you’re there, ask him about the “Squirrel & the Power Line” story. It will change your life. It did mine.
Here’s the news release from Harvest House Publishers:
Josh Bidwell, former UO football player, cancer survivor, to sign book in Eugene
EUGENE, OREGON—February 12, 2008—Former UO football player Josh Bidwell is a cancer survivor, husband, father, an NFL All–Pro punter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a man of deep faith. In 2007 he added yet another item to his list of accomplishments: author.
Bidwell, whose autobiography When It’s Fourth and Long chronicles his journey from testicular cancer to complete recovery, will be signing copies of his book at the Moshofsky Center Duck Store in Eugene on Saturday, March 8, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm (Autzen Stadium, MLK Blvd).
“I am very excited to finally get a chance to have a book signing in Eugene for the Oregon Duck faithful who have been a great encouragement to me for so long,” says Bidwell. “I hope to get a chance to see many of the people who have expressed interest in my story.”
Bidwell was living the dream—a blossoming career in the NFL, a loving and supportive girlfriend, and recognition. The good life was coming his way… and then the Big “C” came rushing in like a special teams blitz. Cancer. Make that aggressive cancer—right where it hurts a guy the most.
In his book Bidwell shares how, at 23 years old, he felt as if he were on the top of the world. A stellar college kicking career at the University of Oregon earned him a fourth–round NFL draft pick.
But everything seemed to fall apart at the Packers’ training camp when he received a diagnosis of aggressive testicular cancer.
Now Josh shares his gripping story of overcoming adversity and eventually becoming one of the NFL’s leading punters with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is a story filled with examples of a young man’s determination, commitment, and hard work that started at an early age and resulted in achievement both on and off the field.
From his insider’s view, Josh describes what life is really like in the high–pressure world of professional sports—and how he is able to maintain a vibrant faith in an often challenging environment. He offers an inspiring tribute to those who influenced him along the way, and he provides tremendous motivation to readers who seek to overcome their own adversity.
About the Publisher:
Harvest House is among the top ten Christian publishing companies, publishing more than 160 books each year and carrying a strong backlist offering more than 700 titles. Over 100 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels, and additional millions have sold in over 35 different languages.
You can also read the news release on Harvest House Publishers’ website.
Tampa Bay Bucaneer’s punter, and former Duck, Josh Bidwell is in the unique position of having played for Oregon and currently living in the University of South Florida’s hometown. Exclusive to Duck Sports News, here’s what Josh has to say about this year’s Sun Bowl matchup:
The Sun Bowl this year pits the University of South Florida, which is here in Tampa, Florida, against the Oregon Ducks. Both teams’ seasons this year were eerily similar in that both teams were the number 2 ranked and most talked about teams at one point during the season, but both teams also drastically fell down the rankings by the end of the season. Unlike the Ducks though, the South Florida Bulls were not crippled by key injuries as the Ducks were and as such, the tone here in Tampa is one of great confidence. No one believes that a Dennis Dixonless Oregon team can hang with this, very healthy South Florida team. It is going to be a great match up and I know that the South Florida program, which has only been in existence for 7 years or so, is going to be very motivated and excited about this bowl game. There is a buzz here amongst the local fans that this could cap off, still, the greatest season in USF history…I hold quite a different opinion of course.
I have been asked about the bowl game by only two or three people from the local media here. I think they are tired of me telling them the same thing over and over. Oregon is a great team with whoever we put on the field to play. So, USF needs to watch out!
- Josh Bidwell
“When It’s Fourth and Long.”
August 1st was the release date of my first book, “When It’s Fourth and Long.” The book gives a detailed insight into my battle with Testicular Cancer and a look at some hard events I had to endure during my childhood. I was also able to put quite a bit of fun insights into actual life in the NFL during my experiences these past 9 seasons. There are fun stories of my days as a teammate of Brett Favre’s and my week in Hawaii during the 2007 Pro Bowl. The book is designed to entertain and inspire. I know all who read it will enjoy it.
You can visit joshbidwell.com to get more info on the book or you can get the book at any of the local Christian stores in the state as well as a select few Barnes and Nobles and Borders. This book can also be ordered on Amazon.com or any other major book stores website.
Josh Bidwell In The NFL
Remarkably consistent punter who is considered one of the NFL’s finest athletes at his position… Possesses one of the NFL’s strongest legs and is equally adept at displaying the necessary accuracy to pin opponents deep inside their own territory… Has been a steady performer over the past seven years despite having his 1999 rookie campaign dashed by a testicular cancer diagnosis late in training camp… Selected to first Pro Bowl in 2005… Appeared in 112 career regular season games and six postseason contests… Totaled 573 career punts for 24,277 yards (42.3 avg.) with a long of 68… Has placed 152 punts inside the 20-yard line in his career… For the postseason, punted 24 times for 956 yards (39.8 avg) with nine punts landing inside the opponents’ 20-yard line… 43.8-yard average as a Buccaneer is tops in team history… His 45.6-yard gross average in 2005 was the best single-season performance in team history… Signed by the Buccaneers as a free agent on March 13, 2004… Spent his first four professional seasons (2000-2003) with the Green Bay Packers as one of the NFC’s top punters despite often kicking in the NFL’s toughest weather conditions… Showed marked improvement in only second season in league, raising his gross average by a full four yards, jumping from a 38.5-yard average in 2000 to the 42.5-yard mark in 2001… Selected by the Packers in the fourth round (133rd overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft.
Selected by Green Bay in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft on April 18, 1999 … Signed by Green Bay on July 27, 1999 … Placed on Green Bay’s Reserve/Non-Football Illness list on September 4, 1999 … Activated from Green Bay’s Reserve/NFI list on February 7, 2000 … Became restricted free agent on February 20, 2003 … Re-signed by Green Bay as restricted free agent on April 30, 2003 … Became unrestricted free agent on March 2, 2004 … Signed by Tampa Bay as unrestricted free agent on March 12, 2004.
Josh Bidwell, the Bucs’ punter since 2004, owns the two best gross punting seasons in franchise history (2005, 2006), three of the top five net punting seasons in team annals (2005, 2006, 2004) and two of the top three punting yards seasons in team history (2005, 2006).