Augustana College Athletics

It would have been a pretty good bet that Bill Benson’s track exploits along would have gained him inclusion in the Augustana Tribe of Vikings Hall of Honor. It also would have been an equally safe wager that Benson’s football talents would have gained him consideration. But the combination of those skills made him an absolute rock-solid choice to be inducted in 1981.

Benson was actually a three sport standout during his undergraduate days at Augustana, competing for four years in basketball and for three years each in football and track. But, it was on the Augie track that Benson was most widely acclaimed. A sprinter and long jumper, Benson was the team’s leading scorer and twice served as team captain. He was a school record holder in the long jump and gained national recognition with a second place finish in the long jump at the prestigious Drake Relays while competing against athletes from both the university and college divisions. He later went on to place 10th in the NCAA national meet, which in those days was just one division – college and university.

On the gridiron Benson starred as a halfback despite being a seldom used reserve in high school. He led the Vikings in rushing twice and led the College Conference of Illinois in rushing and scoring once. He was Augustana’s most valuable player and an all-conference selection in 1952.

He also played guard for four years on Augie’s basketball squad and helped the Vikings to a four year record of 42-37, including a 13-5 mark in 1952-53, the school’s best record of the 1950’s.