Quote from: MonroviaCat on November 02, 2012, 12:15:09 PM

Quote from: desertcat1 on November 02, 2012, 12:09:59 PM

Quote from: MonroviaCat on November 02, 2012, 12:07:15 PM

Quote from: desertcat1 on November 02, 2012, 11:47:17 AM

Quote from: d-train on November 01, 2012, 07:06:47 PM

Quote from: BearcatChatter on November 01, 2012, 06:43:33 PM
This year was our year to make some noise.

I've heard that as well.

Quote from: BearcatChatter on November 01, 2012, 06:43:33 PM
Unfortunately a little rain, bad timing, and and little bad luck at Sparks proved to be the difference.

[/b]
Wow, that's it?  Really?  I think there was more going on than a minor bad break or two in those losses.

What about only 96 yds passing ?  and just over the c-note for total O ?

Go Cats
GO BIG D  

I could be wrong--but I think BearCatChatter was only trying to make excuses for the loss to PLU......

see above this is the year?   not just plu  but , a little rain game too maybe ? 

Go Cats
Go Big D

I think they had "a little rain" at Sparks---we had a lot of rain at the Cat Dome last week......  Either way---you cold try to make excuses for the PLU loss but the game last weekend was total domination by the Linfield D.

If you go back a few pages on the board, you'll see that I already illustrated Linfield's domination in great detail. Didn't seem necessary to go into it again. Jeeze guys, don't get your purple and red panties up in a bunch.

I should also have mentioned our tendency to turn over the ball against PLU as a factor. And if you guys really need to hear it again, yes. Your Linfield defense is really good.

Quote from: FightBearcats on October 31, 2012, 12:23:14 AM

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.

FightBearcats, I think we have the right system in place, but I also think we were incredibly lucky to have Shepard come in when he did, with a loaded senior class. Having Malley and Pollard back didn't hurt either. Now we're losing 4 of 5 starters on O-line, both starting receivers as well as a lot of our depth (unless Malley uses his last year of eligibility, which I don't think he will). Furthermore, we're losing our entire D-line (all three of em), all of our LB corps besides Nelson (who may actually just be able to record 40 tackles a game) and all of our secondary expect Galvan (who's playing basically without one of his fingers).

Shepard came in and gave us the element of surprise off the bat, which is why I think our offense was so dynamic early on. If we had played PLU and Linfield earlier on in the season (definitely before the 'Cats had as much time to gel as they did) I have no doubt they would have been a very different kinds of games.

Now, we're almost barren of experience, save Dean and Jones. I think it will be a two years or so before we're back in serious contention. Speck brought a big recruiting presence in California that we depended on (given Linfield's stranglehold of D3 in Oregon. I'm also cautious about how long a coach with Shepard's talent and immediate success will stay coaching at a D3 program. He has connections in college and the NFL.

I'll always have the best hope for my Bearcats, but the state of things in Salem isn't looking entirely optimal. This year was our year to make some noise. Unfortunately a little rain, bad timing, and and little bad luck at Sparks proved to be the difference.

Represent us well, Linfield. I'll probably be back around the time of All-NWC/West/America postings, hopefully get to see a few of my boys on there.

I know it's Monday, but I needed to collect my thoughts before making a Linfield/WU posting. And wow, did your boys take it to us.

Rain or shine, there's no excuse for the way Willamette played, and that's largely due to excellently coached players with a ton of skill on LC's side. People had been talking all season about how Linfield's injuries were going to level the playing field, but it really didn't make a difference.

My one complaint is to maybe advocate for some coverage for the opponents bleachers. Come on, guys, we live in the PNW with 300 or so days of rain a year 

The biggest battle all day was on the line, the Wildcats took care of business. I've never been a fan of our three down lineman scheme, especially against a team that can block that well. I thought Mickey Inns probably had time to sit down and do his homework on some of those plays. You can't win (or even compete in games like that). And on the other side of the ball, I don't know what you feed those interior DT's up there, but it's working.

It saddens me to have never witnessed a Willamette victory in my four undergrad years, but guess I'll just have to become a regular poster after the fact like the rest of you  . In all sincerity, I've never liked Linfield for the sake of our rivalry, but I have nothing but respect for your program. Best of luck in the playoffs, if nothing else show those east coast pricks how to play football.

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.

Bluenote, if you're insinuating that Willamette is not a team of Unified players with one goal simply because they have players who deliver outstanding performances, than you really don't understand football very well. Every play made when the Bearcats are on the field is for the good of the team, and to complete the goals they set out to accomplish at the beginning of the season.

But we can go on and on about this on the message boards. The real play will be settled on the field. One game at a time. Bearcat Pride.

Congrats to Mickey Inns for getting NWC Student Athlete of the Week! But wait, let's compare numbers...

Mickey Inns: 261, 5TDs, 71.9 completion percentage.
Josh Dean: 359 Yards, 5TDs (to break the Willamette single season record) 77.8 completion percentage. (He also sat out the last drive)

Granted, WU was playing L&C's abysmal defense, and Linfield was up against the much more compentent Whitworth. But before you Wildcats go yapping on about Linfield's more "balanced attack," noted that WU racked up 300+ yards on the ground (shout out to Dylan Jones)

My conclusion? SID's are getting tired of giving Dean the NWC Honors every week. Gotta make it fair for everyone I guess!

Hey everyone, dropping back in for a quick second. I've always been a big Bearcat fan, and it's nice to see Willamette crack the D3football top 25 at number 22 (a poll I think we should have cracked several weeks ago). Not just on a Bearcat-centric level, but to see multiple NWC teams competitive and getting recognition on the national level.

Looking forward to traveling up to watch Willamette take on PLU this Saturday, but we all know I've had October 27th saved on my calendar for some time now. In my undergrad career, I haven't gotten the chance to see my beloved Bearcats beat the Wildcats, so now that I'm a senior, it's make or break.

Bearcats forever, and I'll try to stop by a bit more often.

--Chatter

As a West Coast fan, I want to reiterate the common argument that West Coast teams get screwed out of the playoffs every year. Because the selection committe will almost automatically pass up at large bids anywhere west of Minnesota, teams rarely even having a chance to compete in the playoffs unless they're Linfield (who routinely wins conference on an incredibly easy 10-game schedule). But that isn't really the point, more just highlighting the "unlevel playing field" for teams to even have a shot at the playoffs, where I'd venture to say many West coast teams are more deserving than the east coast counterparts they get shafted for.

I've always wondered if UW-W and Mount Union had ever considered a move to either NAIA or Division II. I know size of school is the ultimate deciding factor, but if they really have no competition other than each other at this level, why not go seek bigger fish? They'd have a chance for scholarships, more exposure, etc. Look at European soccer, where the whole idea is to keep moving up divisions. I would hate to think two programs with the traditions like UW-W and Mount Union are complacent crushing teams at the D3 level. Look at University of Sioux Falls, who was destroying any and all competition at the NAIA level. They moved up to DII. Why can't the purple powers do the same, or why don't they want to?

Let it be said that I'm ALL about our 1st Team P/K Mitch Rowan. However, I would've LOVED for Josh McCay to have stayed in Salem. Wow.

Quote from: D O.C. on November 15, 2011, 01:40:34 PM
BCChatter, you beat me to it....sorta.  I was going to solicit opinions of who the Player of the Year will be.

That is an interesting debate...Obviously Inns from Linfield had a good season stat-wise. I just think that L&C's resurgence this year (which was almost entirely thanks to Welch) will warrant Welch POY. Near the top in the conference in passing AND rushing.

My post got caught inside the debate of who "deserves" to be seeded where. Again, any idea when All-NWC teams will be coming out?

Any idea when the All-NWC results will be published? I've already heard from some of the football guys who was placed where, but I'm excited to see it in total.

Ah, the life of a fan/reporter for a team who doesn't make the playoffs. All we have to talk about is All-NWC/West Region....sad.

Two things to mention.

1. I listened to the podcast WC11 posted where Bearcat commentator Mike Allegre claims the Willamette D is better "man for man" than any player on the Linfield D. I love my D, and they're superb, but you can't do disrespect to Drew Fisher (probably several others) like that. We have a great D, but that's not a fair claim to make. Allegre was in the wrong.

2. Any of the Linfielders traveling to Forest Grove should plan on stopping at "Pizza Schmizza," a local pizzeria just a block off campus. ITS REALLY REALLY GOOD. Definitely worth a visit. Here's a link

http://www.schmizza.com/index.php/companies/5/16/Pizza-Schmizza---Forest-Grove/d,locations

Quote from: Bluenote on October 04, 2011, 09:56:18 PM

Quote from: BearcatChatter on October 04, 2011, 08:57:40 PM
Especially the called holding on 4th-and-3 (which, lets be honest, the refs weren't even sure about).

From what I understand, you can't tackle a receiver before he gets the ball or if the ball is on it's way, which is what happened. It was a screen pass to #7 who was tackled while the ball was in the air.

The one I didn't understand was the personal foul on the sack of the Willamette qb. All four of the Linfield defenders all held up, and released the guy after the whistle blew before he flopped to the ground, yet the penalty flag still came out. It's on video if anyone wants to see it...catdomealumni.com

Bluenote, from what I understand, such a penalty should have been called as PI, not holding. All the talk up in the box was to the effect that PI can't be applied when the play is completely behind the line of scrimmage (which it was). I'm not an expert on the details here, so if someone could inform me I'd appreciate it. All I know if that the refs conferred for quite awhile (and if i remember, it was a pretty late flag).

On that note, also addressing GHC, I think we all know that the WU-Linfield game brings out the best and worst emotions of the players and fans. I'm sorry to hear that #11 (Harmon Bruno) was acting that way towards your fans. The game got chippy pretty quickly, which took a lot away. I've never thought of Harmon as a guy who takes plays off (trust me, there are those guys on our team), but who's to say what happened.

Quote from: Bluenote on October 05, 2011, 12:19:20 AM
If you watched the game...you know that Linfield pretty much manhandled Willamette the entire game other than one drive by the Bearcats. The end score could easily have been 34-10. LOL!

Bluenote, come on. If you ACTUALLY watched the game, you'd know that Linfield was by-in-large shut down by the Willamette D save the first drive of each half. Like I said, Inns' 329 passing was deceptive because your team dropped just as many balls as ours did. They were just as sloppy (if not more) with fumbles. I'll say this: Josh Hill stepped up in a really big way, and Inns got completions when he needed to. Also, our offense shot itself in the foot (dumb miscues and suspect playcalling) at the end of the day. Credit to your D for forcing 0-10 on third downs (I'm still shaking my head) but we also didn't put ourselves in the position to convert those very often.

Just as "easily" as the score could've been 34-10, it could have been 27-24, or any other score. Last year I would call a "manhandling." This year was simply Linfield making less untimely mistakes than Willamette.

Quote from: Gig Harbor Cat on October 02, 2011, 12:51:27 PM
And then there was the story of the WU #11,  anyone that attended knows what I saw with him....not much !!!

Gig, just out of curiosity, what was the story behind #11?

When I saw the final stat sheet, I could hardly believe Inns had 329 yards passing. Credit to him and Linfield's offensive staff for going at us in the air (especially with the rain the way it was). Man though, that was a really sloppy game on both sides. I wish our reciever's hands had been as proficient as our media crew apparently is.

To be honest, I was really hopeful when we got the score to 17-10 with 8+ minutes left. We had a chance to get a stop and get the ball back (who knows what would've happened from there). Unfortunately, the Bearcat D just lost their cool. Three penalties on the drive alone kept giving you guys new chances for first downs. Especially the called holding on 4th-and-3 (which, lets be honest, the refs weren't even sure about).

Either way, we didn't come out to take care of business, and you guys did. Congrats (through clenched teeth ). Looking forward to that L&C-Linfield game....

Quote from: Bearcat Press on September 20, 2011, 10:24:18 PM

Quote from: D O.C. on September 20, 2011, 11:47:50 AM
I just revel in the optimism of the Wu crew, like a couple of guys  sitting down at a blackjack table having just checked in the hotel.

I'm optimistic because I can see that we're getting better every week.  We were awful against Stevens Point, we were better against Hardin-Simmons, and we looked good against SOU.  Plays like this are now happening on a regular basis. 

The $64,000 question is, are we getting better fast enough to beat Linfield?  I sure hope so, but I don't know.  We'll find out on October 1.

Press, I'll have you know that Giza's hit got 50,000 hits on youtube in a week (it's a different video that the one you posted).

Also, I love the upside of Knecht, but I just don't know how much he'll be able to do against Linfield's secondary. Yikes. Hope we don't become one dimensional in a bad way.