FB: Northwest Conference

[bluenote]

If we do make the playoffs.... I'd like to be shipped to the North and play MUC in the first round. That would be awesome. Just think how great it would be to knock them out in the first
round when they think we aren't that good!

[pineconefan]

Linfield fans - according to the Wildcat starting line up announced over the radio Saturday, you have eight senior starters on offense (including all five linemen) and nine on defense.  That is a lot of guys to replace next season.

So on Saturday, maybe the coaching staff should consider playing the starters only a couple of series and letting the backups play the majority of the game as a kick off for next season's prep.  Just a thought, since its not like there is any way the back ups would be threatened in the game.

[pineconefan]

Hatchet and PSLBU, looking back now, that loss you gave away to PLU must sting more now than it did then.  Of course you know what you'd be playing for now if not for the big Lute comeback.

[coco]

WC11,

Good clip of the Wartburg game and Russell. That guy was a joy to watch, and you'll never meet a nicer kid.

[Foss]

pineconefan,

That sounds like too many seniors starting to me. I know on offense, only 1 WR is a senior (and he did not play against you guys), none of the RBs are seniors, and the QB is not a senior. The O-line is senior heavy, but that could not have made 8. There are a number of players on defense that are underclassmen, too. All of the seniors were announced before the game, since it was their last regular season home game. Also, some of the players are indeed seniors, but still have junior eligibility due to redshirting in the past.

Good luck in the playoffs....

[pineconefan]

Foss,

That must've been it.  Bob probably announced year in school, rather than year of eligibility.

[downtown48]

George, I answered your question about Montalvo on the top of page 754...

Easy bluenote...maybe two years ago but not this year, it wouldn't be pretty.   

[d-train]

Hatchet and PSLBU, looking back now, that loss you gave away to PLU must sting more now than it did then.  Of course you know what you'd be playing for now if not for the big Lute comeback.

Careful with that term "gave away". 

[hatchetman75]

Hatchet and PSLBU, looking back now, that loss you gave away to PLU must sting more now than it did then.  Of course you know what you'd be playing for now if not for the big Lute comeback.

It was a hard loss, but I think the guys on the team know they have something to prove. This year has simply been a great building-block for that program, and I think people are finally starting to take notice. A 7-2 season is nothing to sneeze at.

Oh and a big congratulation to Rory Lee. I think he's one of the first UPS players to ever make the Team of the Week. Congratulations to Clifton (sp) as well. I almost attended Whitworth, back in the day....

Here's the clip:

RB Rory Lee, Sr., Puget Sound
Lee rumbled for 310 yards on 28 carries, seven of which went for touchdowns, as Puget Sound won 48-7 over Menlo. His touchdown runs were for 21, 45, 8, 44, 20, 5 and 1 yards.

[d-train]

A 7-2 season is nothing to sneeze at.

Until one takes a second look at the 7 wins...who they came against, how much they won by, etc. I'd argue that this is one of the weaker 7-win teams in the country having played a very favorable schedule. 

Congratulations to Clifton (sp) as well.

I'll second that, Clifton was fun to watch on Saturday.

[desertcat1]

rubber tomhawk: aka hatchetamn

are you sure your name is not "RIVERS"  or aka muddy water , he would hit and run on good news ...

Go cats

[hatchetman75]

Nope, I'm not RIVERS or muddy waters, although the Puget Sound is looking that way at the moment. As far as the good news/bad news goes...I am fairly guilty of that. I was down in the dumps after the Linfield/PLU games, but I haven't left for good. It's easy to forget about the boards if your team isn't doing well.

To address the schedule, most of that has to do with money and travel scheduling than anything else. The reason why Linfield doesn't play any of the SCIAC teams (or so I've heard) is because the SCIAC teams won't play them anymore. UPS plays them (1) because they're in the region, therefore count as regional wins/loses, and (2) its cheaper to fly to Calif. and Colo. than any of the Wisconsin/Midwest schools. Remember that UPS is a growing program...they had 15 (or so) losing seasons before turning it around in 2004, then again in 2006. When you don't win, you don't get money, and when you don't get money, you don't travel.

From what I've heard, it was tight even getting enough money to schedule a 10th game this year. And again, why is the 7-2 season bad? So what if its favorable? We've gone over this time and time again, yes Puget Sound did play some weaker opponents, but they also played (will play) Whitworth, Linfield, PLU, Willamette, Menlo, and LC, just like everyone else. And they won.   

[desertcat1]

tomhawkman;
No disrespect to the NWC, but plu is Down , bearkitties were down, Or both  rebuilding .  Menlo is up and down each game and come on ,
  L& C we should all be  glad they finished this year my hats off to them.  So you still need to beat someone in a good year.. Pat  said,  " it's not who you lose to  it's who you beat that counts "...

Good luck this week but , don't look for Lee to run wild  again this week but who knows.  maybe snow?. .

Go Cats.

[MonroviaCat]

In defense if UPS's schedule, they've beat pretty much the same quality opponents as anybody else in the NWC this year.  Linfield played, what turned out to be, one of the harder schedules (but lost to most of the quality opponents).  Whitworth played teams that people thought would be good but ended up not being good (I think UPS and Linfield are going to be the best teams they play in the regular season this year).  What will really go a long way for UPS is to give the Rats a run for their money this weekend---and I think they can.  It's going to come down to the Logger D however.  I think their Offense is clicking pretty well and before you argu about the strength of their opponents lets point out they put 20+ pts more on Menlo than either Whitworth or Linfield and their D allowed the same one score.  They also scored more than Whitworth at PLU (but their D fell apart) and of course we know what happened against the PIOS.  My point, their offense can compete head to head against the better offenses in the league this year but they need to bring their A-game on D to compete this week.  This is where WW has the advantage as they run a pretty balanced offense which will likely give UPS some trouble.  But if the Logger D can keep them in the game, then I like their chances of making things interesting.  I'll give more specific predictions later but for now:

Rats beat Loggers in a close one
Cats beat Pios in a not close one (unless the Cats turnover 7 or 8 times)
Lutes beat Bearcats in a close (and pretty sloppy) one.  

I'll crunch the stats and give some numbers soon!

MC

[dawg gone it]

Is this bulletin board material or what??/


And it looks like a first round matchup between Whitworth and Oxy this year.<<

Exactly. Oxy is likely going to be playing the Pirates, not the Wildcats. The Linfield fans are all frustrated that their team got beat by Whitworth at home, knocking the Wildcats out of the playoffs, so they are flailing around all over the board crying, complaining, knocking, and pooh-poohing.

Oxy doesn't have to explain or apologize for anything. The Tigers are going to beat Whittier this Saturday, keep the Shoes, and complete their third straight undefeated conference season, with 26 straight regular season wins to boot. Then they'll get ready for the playoffs, while Linfield won't.

Too bad. So sad. Bye, bye, Linfield.

Oxy Bob