I don't post on here all the time but do watch and listen.  These are some thoughts about the NWC this year.

One thing that is interesting is the mobility, up and down, in the NWC this year.  Pacific beat PLU which should not be too surprising as they gave Willamette a very tough game toward the end of the season last year.  I felt then that they are a true up-and-comer and have to be taken seriously.  Whitworth, with a new coaching regime, beat Willamette this year.  We have to see what progress they make over the next few years.  PLU seems to be in a holding pattern but they played a very strong game against Willamette.  Willamette played a bad game against PLU (but refer to the previous sentence) but beat Linfield.  Linfield has cruised through its season but came out on the short end against an inspired Willamette.  Willamette, with a fairly young team, has been up and down this year but [I have to say it again ] won at Linfield.  UPS has won three games but two were against Lewis and Clark and George Fox.  L&C has made no progress in wins although they took Pacific to overtime and scored 42 points against them.  George Fox is in the first year of a new program and we'll see if, over the next few years, they can match the progress Pacific has made.  I wouldn't count them out.

Here are my points:  No team in the NWC is immortal and most teams in the conference can play strongly against any other.  We know that the new teams will contend.  (GF is still a few years out but Pacific is there now).  It would be great if L&C and UPS could get their programs going well.  Why?  League members are still going to finish seasons ranked 1-8.  Somebody will be first and somebody will be last.  But if NWC teams schedule intersectional games against uniformly strong opponents and consistently win those games it will raise the profile of the conference and make it possible to get more than one team in the playoffs.  The best result, though IMO, will be that games between league members will be more competitive and more entertaining.  That's good for everybody.

Quote from: bbaddict on October 30, 2012, 04:58:02 PM
Still haven't recovered from the game on Saturday.   Was a good first half.  Can't believe our O Line melted down like that!  Defense still looked pretty good, but you wouldn't know it by the score -- probably since the Linfield D kept taking it from our Offense & either scoring or setting it up.  Bearcats will still probably have a good season, but getting beat by the Lutes one week & Linfield the next -- somebody needs to work on that scheduling.

Linfield will represent the NWC well in the playoffs.  They seem to be clicking on all cylinders.  I doubt the Lutes will get in -- that's just the way of the West.

My one complaint from the game was that the announcer didn't seem to know who from WU was who especially when it came to kickers.  We have #22 & #29 and he kept saying "Kyle Derby (29)" with whatever kick or punt it was.  It IS nice to be able to hear the announcer, however.  Nice sound system.

I'm going to go drown my sorrows in Hurricane news coverage on CNN.   Really thought this was going to be a different year for the Bearcats!

The game last Saturday was disappointing but you're right, bbaddict, this is still going to be a season with a lot of good vibes (assuming the Bearcats don't get rolled by Pacific or UPS).  I have to think they will come out and make sure that doesn't happen. 

An important question needs to be answered and that is can the Bearcats consistently challenge Linfield and PLU and win at least as often as it doesn't.  Winning more is better.  That actually has been answered and very emphatically in the past.  Both Linfield and PLU lead WU in head to head wins and losses over the history of our competition.  But, to use one example, from 1993 through 1997, the Dan Hawkins era, the records were, against Linfield 4-1-0, and against PLU 3-1-1.  The year before Hawkins came we were 1-8-0.  What changed?  There was a new, energetic coach, a new system, a fresh attitude and lots of intangibles.  I loved Mark Speckman and all that he brought to the program during his tenure as head coach.  His overall record speaks for itself.  But, in my opinion, it was time for a new direction.  The program had become too predictable and too one dimensional.  Everybody knew how to defend against the Fly.  Linfield and PLU were especially successful.  What do we have now?  A new, energetic coach (and offensive coordinator), a new, more balanced system, a fresh attitude, and, hopefully, lots of those intangibles.  Recruiting is going to have to be a big part of the mix.  Because of the university's academic standards it isn't easy to recruit for WU and bring in players in the numbers needed to compete at the top of the NWC but we know it can be done.  The next few years will tell the tale but I am very encouraged with the direction the program is going and see only good things for the future.

Quote from: Bluenote on October 16, 2012, 11:27:58 PM
Linfield doesn't have individual stars...they have a TEAM OF UNIFIED PLAYERS WITH ONE GOAL.

Ah, the silly season begins.  Thanks to Blue for kicking it off.

Give the Pirates credit, they always play WU tough.  Last year they won in 2 OTs.  I say, again, more forcefully, those two goal line stands were huge.

Bearcats are going to give me heart failure in the first half but pull off a great comeback in the second, shutting the Pirates defense  down and getting the offense moving.  Got to control the turnovers and get the ball in the end zone when we have golden chances.  Could have gotten a couple more TDs to go with 598 total yards.  Give the Pirates credit for a couple of great goal line stands.  Another good win for WU to stay undefeated.  It isn't getting any easier now we're in the NWC.

Actually, I like the new uniforms - new coach, new system, fresh attitude, etc....

Quote from: (509)Rat on September 27, 2012, 05:59:01 PM

The players should get to make the call. If the young pups like it, good for them. We had our moment. It's their turn. All I ask is that they play hard and represent the school and program well off the field. Simple enough.

....But well said Rat, and I'm sure all the players at all the schools in the league are doing just that.

Tonight's game was a tale of two halves.  The Bearcats played lights out for the first half and ETBU was terrible (turnovers, mistakes).  I'd have to check but I don't think WU had a penalty in the first half and everything was clicking.  ETBU caught fire in the 3rd quarter and WU was subbing.  I give ETBU credit for not quitting.  They made a real run and got to where they had a chance to win.  But, the Bearcats didn't fold either and, in spite of their own mistakes, two fumbles giving ETBU a short field leading to TDs for instance (and that's not all), kept their heads and controlled the ball through much of the 4th quarter.  So, a win's a win and a lot better than a loss.

The Bearcats are a work in progress but I'm really encouraged.  They need to learn to keep the pedal down and not let the other team get back in the game when they have them beaten.  I believe that will come.

Quote from: RedandPurple on September 14, 2012, 11:49:34 PM

Quote from: FightBearcats on September 14, 2012, 05:45:26 PM

Quote from: river on September 14, 2012, 03:01:38 PM

Quote from: Bearcat Press on September 14, 2012, 01:32:32 PM
.... as part of the game crew at McCulloch Stadium this year (running the play clock ), ...

. . . speaking of " and "  . . . found in the ETBU preview story
yet another way of mispronouncing "Willamette" --

"Willamette, pronounced Will – lamb – ett, ..."

Well, the sports commentator came close.  He just needed to put the em-PHAS-sis on the second syl-LAB-ell.

"It's Willamette, Damn It!"

You know where that came from, don't you?  Willamette was on College Bowl.  Those of us of a certain age will remember the show.  The Willamette team coach corrected the host's pronounciation by saying "Willamette, as in damn it."  (That's a very close paraphrase).  I don't know how the administration received that one but the students thought it was great and it has gone down in WU lore.  Willamette lost to DePauw University which went on to be a five time winner.

Quote from: river on September 14, 2012, 03:01:38 PM

Quote from: Bearcat Press on September 14, 2012, 01:32:32 PM
.... as part of the game crew at McCulloch Stadium this year (running the play clock ), ...

. . . speaking of " and "  . . . found in the ETBU preview story
yet another way of mispronouncing "Willamette" --

"Willamette, pronounced Will – lamb – ett, ..."

Well, the sports commentator came close.  He just needed to put the em-PHAS-sis on the second syl-LAB-ell.

Quote from: Steel Curtain on March 13, 2012, 06:04:12 PM

Quote from: FightBearcats on March 12, 2012, 07:51:42 PM
I'm bicycling across the country and today reached Brawley, California on the way to Florida.  In the local newspaper there was an article about the recent track meet between Brawley and Yuma high schools which was won by Brawley High School.  The headline was "Wildcats defeat Criminals."  Ah, those Wildcats.  They don't shirk from any challenge. 

This got me to wondering about other "unusual" team names.  The Richland, Washington high school teams are "Bombers."  Any others?

Man, you've have a ton of courage to attempt this feat with the horrible drivers on the road today. Good luck.

As for unusual team names, the one for me which takes the cake belongs to a rugby team in Missoula, Montana. The Missoula Maggots.

Thanks, Steel Curtain.  My ETA back in Salem is the end of May.  Hopefully, by that time, Willamette will have it's football schedule up.

There are quite a number of lists online.  Google "Unusual High School Mascots."

Here's one list and "Criminals" is on it.

http://www.koco.com/high-school-playbook/24471228/detail.html

I'm bicycling across the country and today reached Brawley, California on the way to Florida.  In the local newspaper there was an article about the recent track meet between Brawley and Yuma high schools which was won by Brawley High School.  The headline was "Wildcats defeat Criminals."  Ah, those Wildcats.  They don't shirk from any challenge. 

This got me to wondering about other "unusual" team names.  The Richland, Washington high school teams are "Bombers."  Any others?

Here we go again.

Quote from: ExTartanPlayer on November 02, 2011, 02:00:32 PM

Quote from: bbaddict on November 02, 2011, 01:33:05 PM
...so the toughest non-conference opponents we can find are LaVerne, Cal Lu & Menlo, while the Bearcats play two ranked D3 teams, a D1 & a D2 team in the same season...

1) Cal Lutheran is ranked 9th in the nation.  That's not a tough enough nonconference opponent for you?

2) The Bearcats played two ranked D3 teams?  Which ones?  UW-SP and HSU are tough teams, to be sure, but neither is currently ranked; Cal Lutheran is almost certainly better than those two.

3) The D2 you reference, presumably is Southern Oregon.  Linfield beat Southern Oregon eight straight times from 2002 to 2009.  I'm pretty sure that Linfield wasn't exactly "scared" of them.  In fact, I'm guessing that the "no one will play use cuz we're soooooo good" excuse is exactly the reason that they are no longer playing; perhaps Southern Oregon was tired of LOSING to Linfield, so they filled the gap with an easier D-III game?

But, yeah, whatever.

UW-SP and HSU were both ranked when the games were scheduled and later were in the pre-season top 25.  They're both also in very strong leagues.  You have no way of knowing whether Cal Lu is better than either of them unless they play.  Southern Oregon is a scholarship NAIA program. 

Quote from: Jack Parkman on November 02, 2011, 01:59:54 PM

Quote from: bbaddict on November 02, 2011, 01:33:05 PM

Quote from: LuavilleCat on October 31, 2011, 08:17:13 PM
I love this season....  2) A Bearcat diatribe given after every loss. You guys have a whole lot of talent and a great coaching staff, but excuses are good for only those people who make them.

Not like the perennial favorite excuse that "no one will play us cuz we're soooooo good" so the toughest non-conference opponents we can find are LaVerne, Cal Lu & Menlo, while the Bearcats play two ranked D3 teams, a D1 & a D2 team in the same season -- but man they make excuses for injuries & losses.    No one is excusing the mistakes made by WU, especially not the coaches & players, but give them credit for having played worthy opponents this year -- not some cream-puff, off every other week before the conference starts schedule.

Sorry man, but I am not seeing all of this.  USO is NAIA, Portland is D-I FCS, which is a hell of a lot different than D-I (my opinion) and I do not see the 2 ranked teams.  A 4-4 UWSP and a 5-4 Hardin-Simmons team???  Can somebody help me here???

If you want to pick about whether Portland State is D I FCS or BCS to imply they aren't tough for a D III team to play is astonishing.  I guess 63 or so scholarships versus no scholarships doesn't count . . .

Yeah.  Whatever.

Quote from: (509)Rat on October 29, 2011, 07:59:39 PM
Well, Willamette was definitely the more talented team. But that's why they play the game, ball definitely rolled the Pirates way...

On a different note, look who's 7-0    PLU really blew it...Willamette should handle them next week.

You might say the ball rolled the Pirates' way but they played a good game and deserved the win. 

The Pios are definitely on the way up.  They won't be a pushover for the Bearcats this coming week.  PLU is never easy to beat so I wouldn't assume WU will win - even at home.

Congrats to Pacific on their first win.  Look for them to be making noise in the league next year and particularly the year after.

Quote from: Bearcat Press on October 29, 2011, 07:45:14 PM
Lewis & Clark should be favored by at least 10 in the Wagon Wheel game next week.  Huge win for them today and an ugly loss by Willamette.  Credit to Tully: went for it three times on fourth down (got them all), called two trick plays, and went for two in OT.  The Bucs played to win and deserved it.  Willamette played flat out awful - the offensive line in particular.

I couldn't agree more, BP.  10 penalties for 71 yards.  Lining up offside.  Inelligible receiver downfield that negates a long, momentum building pass catch.  Etc.  We won't win games when we make those kinds of preventable mistakes.  It's disappointing.