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Bidwell brings his story to the Rogue Valley Former Oregon and current Green Bay Packer punter will spread his message Saturday at the Lithia Motors Challenge banquet at Stone Ridge Golf Club By TIM PYLE The way he sees it, Josh Bidwell has been blessed. And the easygoing current Green Bay Packer and former University of Oregon football standout feels compelled to tell his story to anyone who wishes to listen. Saturday night at the Youth for Christ Lithia Motors Challenge banquet at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Eagle Point, Bidwell will be the guest speaker, a role he plays often while spending his off-seasons in Oregon. "I feel I've been blessed a lot by God, with my cancer recovery and the success he's given me in life," says the Winston native. "My message is one of hope in Christ. If I can do it, anyone can - that's what I try to get across." After concluding an All-American punting career at Oregon and being drafted in the fourth round by the Packers in the 1999 NFL draft, Bidwell encountered the biggest test of his life. It was during Green Bay's training camp in September 1999 that Bidwell noticed a lump and reported it to the team physician. Following an ultrasound exam, Bidwell underwent surgery for testicular cancer and missed the entire season. With the example of world-champion cyclist Lance Armstrong's recovery helping spur him on, Bidwell rehabilitated in Eugene and returned to Green Bay, Wis., for Packers mini-camp in the spring of 2000. In his de facto rookie season in 2001, Bidwell averaged 38.5 yards per punt for Green Bay. Last season, fully recovered from the cancer, Bidwell boomed his punts an average of 42.5 yards and produced the NFC's second-best net average of 39 yards. He was named the NFL special teams player of the week for his performance in the Packers' wild-card victory over San Francisco and was honored as an alternate selection for the Pro Bowl. For Bidwell, who still makes Eugene his off-season home along with wife Bethany, a former Ducks softball player, it was a return to the form that made him an Autzen Stadium favorite. "I was really excited," says Bidwell, whose mother lives in Medford and grandfather resides in Jacksonville. "We came off a tough year the year before." A former football and basketball star at Winston's Douglas High, Bidwell still keeps up the high school health class visits he began during his initial cancer recovery in the winter of 1999-2000. He figures teenage boys are more likely to take testicular cancer and its early detection seriously when a survivor - and professional athlete - does the teaching. Just Thursday, Bidwell spoke to a class at Springfield High. Outside his teaching and speaking, Bidwell is, of course, training for this fall's NFL season. He says former Ducks Nathan Villegas, a place-kicker, and Kurtis Doerr, Bidwell's successor as Oregon's punter and a recent signee of the NFL's Cleveland Browns, are his primary workout partners. The trio receives some direction from Duck coaches, just like old times. "I've been working hard," says the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Bidwell, who is in the last year of his contract. Bidwell was originally approached about speaking at the YFC Lithia Motors Challenge a year ago, but it didn't work out. Brad Bills, executive director of Rogue Valley Youth for Christ/Campus Life, says he's happy to get Bidwell this time around. "We're an organization that works with kids from a Christian perspective," says Bills, noting the tournament, in its 14th year, raises about $30,000 annually for YFC/Campus Life. "We like to bring in athletes and speakers who share our ideals. "He's a local product, being from the University of Oregon. And he's got some family in the area, so that makes him a little easier to get." Past speakers include former Oregon State football coach Jerry Pettibone, former Ducks quarterback Danny O'Neill, new University of Washington men's basketball coach Lorenzo Romar, former NFL running back Christian Okoye, Ducks sports radio broadcaster Jerry Allen and former Olympic decathlete Dave Johnson. The tournament, a four-person scramble teeing off at 7 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., will feature more than 200 golfers, Bills says. Bidwell's appearance at the post-tournament banquet is scheduled to start around 6 p.m. Tournament cost is $95 and includes dinner and a shirt. There are still spots remaining. For those interested only in attending the banquet and listening to Bidwell, dinner is $7. Call 779-3275 for more information. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.