The premier multi-sport athlete in his era at Bowdoin, John
Theberge was a star on the school’s two highest-profile
teams, captained both football and hockey his senior year, and left
enduring marks in the record books of both programs.
A Maine native, Theberge graduated from Lewiston High School and
Hotchkiss School as a three-sport athlete and arrived at Bowdoin in
the fall of 1979. An immediate contributor on both the ice and the
gridiron, Theberge closed his career as the leading passer, top
rushing quarterback, and just the ninth player in school history to
accumulate 100 points for the men’s ice hockey team.
In football, Theberge took the reins in the 1980 campaign, leading
Bowdoin to their first outright CBB Championship in three seasons.
Establishing himself as a threat with his arm as well as his legs,
Theberge rushed for 322 yards and scored three touchdowns while
also tossing for 449 yards and four scores. As a team, the Polar
Bears slipped in the 1981 season, but the offense, led by Theberge,
was not the cause. As a junior, he accounted for 1,022 yards of
total offense and led the team with five touchdowns.
In a record-breaking senior season, Theberge enjoyed one of the
best years in the history of Bowdoin football. Leading the team to
another CBB crown, the signal-caller set career records for
completions (191), yards (2,534), and touchdowns (17). His nine
touchdowns that campaign marked the fourth-most in school history
as the squad averaged 304 yards per game. Throwing for 1,093 yards,
he also rushed for 452, rivaling Jim Soule’s 1977 campaign as
one of the top seasons ever for a Bowdoin offensive player.
He was twice rewarded with First-Team All-New England honors and
grabbed an Honorable Mention on the Division II/III All- American
squad following his senior campaign. But Theberge’s exploits
were not contained to the gridiron. A four-year contributor on the
rink, he captained Sid Watson’s final squad in the 1982-83
season. He scored 56 points in his first three seasons and
culminated his career with a spectacular 25-goal, 44-point 1982-83
season, notching the second-most goals by a senior and leading the
squad in scoring. As such, he became the first football player in
school history to join the 100-point club in ice hockey.
Born and raised in Lewiston, Maine, John has four children and now
lives in Sherborn, Massachusetts, with his wife, Nan.