FB: Northwest Conference

[Bubs1856]

Not as of yet...it appears as though they are taking some steps to ensure it doesn't complete go away.  Big step was putting Linfields former president on the committee to study the football program and whether or not it can sustain itself.

[redman04]

Ironically, it's been rumored that Linfield's tradition actually hurts them in filling their schedule as (again, rumors) some teams refuse to play them.  Also, since the NWC is isolated from the rest of D3, it takes a lot of money for travel compared to schools in the midwest and east.

Thanks for the added info.  Are there a lot of d3 California schools?  Think they'll have trouble getting a 9th or 10th next year, with one less conference opponent?

[cawcdad]

Thanks for the added info.  Are there a lot of d3 California schools?  Think they'll have trouble getting a 9th or 10th next year, with one less conference opponent?

The SCIAC (Southern Califonia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) is composed of 7 schools and then there is Menlo (the only northern CA D-III school) which will become a football only member of the Northwest Conference next season. Most of the SoCal schools have a 9 or 10 game schedule. Some are against NWC schools.

[back2back]

In case you haven't picked up your NY Times yet today:

A couple of winning streaks ended Saturday for one Division III program, but another powerhouse continued its winning ways.

Mount Union's 110-game regular-season winning streak and 99-game Ohio Athletic Conference winning streak ended Saturday when the Purple Raiders, of Alliance, Ohio, fell to visiting Ohio Northern, 21-14.

The defending Division III national champion and top-ranked Linfield College (Ore.) keeps on rolling out West. The Wildcats (7-0) have outscored their opponents by an average of 49-13 and have won 18 consecutive games.

"This makes us the favorite now if we weren't before," Linfield quarterback Brett Elliott said in a phone interview yesterday. "We like that. We like knowing that teams have a little bit of fear in facing us."

Elliott has thrown 26 touchdown passes with 4 interceptions this season after throwing 61 touchdown passes last season. Elliott is a transfer from Utah, where he beat out Alex Smith, the No. 1 pick in the N.F.L. draft this year, for the starting job two years ago. (Elliott lost his role after breaking his wrist and transferred after failing to regain his spot.)

Earlier this season, Linfield clinched its 50th consecutive winning season, the longest such streak of any football program. The way this year is headed, Linfield is also the favorite for back-to-back national titles.

[catback4]

Man it's been a while since I've been back to this board!  Finally got down to a game and watched the cats overpower the loggers.  I guess that's what they get for talking all that smack, but you really don't NEED to be intimidated to get your butts kicked right???  I thought the Linfield attack looked pretty dang good and their defense was lights out the whole game!  Would like to see a few more traditional running plays to keep teams out of dropping 8 but I thought ol' Kotler did a pretty good job with his touches I think he does a little more too if he hangs on to the two dropped passess.  Big ups to Kaluza for having a heck of a game as well as the rest of the crew.  Hopefully they get more of a test versus the Oaks of Menlo because I just don't see Willamette being much of a game and they need a tough test before this long playoff journey.   It was good to see all of those fellas keeping the work ethic going and really playing hard on every play.  Keep up the good work cats 

[Tuxguy]

#4......good to hear from you! 

[scandihoovian]

Catback-

I understand why you're looking for a test but I fear you won't get it from Menlo - they're having a tough year.

[wildcat11]

Thanks for the added info.  Are there a lot of d3 California schools?  Think they'll have trouble getting a 9th or 10th next year, with one less conference opponent?

Redman,

Down in the So. Cal there is the SCIAC.  It's a seven-team conference that has the current #7 team in the country Occidental and long time SCIAC top team, Redlands.  Linfield has played SCIAC teams in the past and pretty much pasted them left and right....now they want nothing to do with the 'Cats when it comes to the regular season, even if it makes pretty sense from a travel standpoint.

So we just have to sit here and watch Oxy schedule Colorado College and Lewis and Clark, and listen to RFB say that Redlands isn't ducking Linfield because they are playing Whitworth and Trinity, Tx.  Even though Redlands doesn't return Linfield's phone calls*.

*(RFB, that was a sarcastic dig on our prior conversation about phone bills and the Redlands athletic department.)

[Wildcat'64]

Does anyone know if the Cats are bussing to Menlo or going by air???It seems like they should take ALL 105 players if possible and give the young Cats some playing time. 

[spiritof86]

I highly doubt that all 105 will go to Menlo regardless of air or bus. If you fly, extra ticket money. Bus, extra bed money. No, the 1st string will get to do the beating personally. At least for the first quarter.

[RFB]

WC11,

Good post, it gave me a good chuckle. Who would want to schedule the USC of DIII football right now? I can't blame any of the SCIAC schools for avoiding Linfield. Maybe that will change when Elliot and company graduates, but I just forsee the Cats reloading year after year with the type of success they are having right now. Good for them and their alumni, hopefully one day us Redlands alums will get to experience it.

[Foss]

Kaluza's performance is an example of why a lot of teams have had to seek psychiatric help after playing the 'Cats the last two years. They are just so loaded and deep across the board. I remember last year some teams would focus on George Carter, and guys like Casey Allen killed them. Now it seems they may be putting more of an emphasis on Casey, which means guys like Kaluza are just going to step up and hurt them. And if you want to drop everyone back, they don't have a problem handing it off and getting chunks of yardage there, too.

Offensively, the 'Cats are scoring about the same number of points as this time last year. But the salty D is giving up exactly half as many points as they were to the same teams by this point in the '04 season. Not to mention how many more turnovers they've created.

[d-train]

Re: Travel Squad size

Assuming the Wildcats plan to spend the night somewhere before or after the Menlo game, they are limited to 53 players per the NWC.


Re: This week's NWC games

With Menlo and Colorado Colleges on the schedule for Linfield and UPS, the de facto NWC game of the week will be played in Salem. The Lutes are taking much better care of the ball. They've won two straight after putting themselves in a major hole with 18 turnovers in their first 4 games. Similarly, a very young Willamette squad started 0-3 before winning 3 straight. But rather than getting a chance to build on that momentum, the Bearcats have had consecutive bye weeks. What will be the impact of the long Bearcat lay-off...rested or rusty? Is PLU a different team from the one that lost to Cal. Lu and UPS? Predictions?

[Tuxguy]

Foss, I agree, when a team looks at the films of the Cats they must just scratch there heads and wonder what to do.

       It was a nice quote by Casey Allen in the oregonian about the receiving record. I'll just have  to get it next week! would have been nice to see him get it in front of the Homecoming fans. He just needs 1 more to break Carters record!!!!!

       Saw Allen, Ort and some of the other players supporting the Soccer team yesterday. Good to see them at the game. GO CATS!

         D.... thanks, I was wondering if there was a limit on player numbers to away games!

          And the smite bandit strikes again!

[d-train]

Tux,

It's not an 'away game' issue...but rather an 'overnight trip' issue. You guys could bring the whole squad to Tacoma or Salem, but only 53 to Spokane, or Cali.** I think the playoffs force both teams to limit their squads to 50-some suiting up.

**Lewis & Clark had no problems limiting their travel squad for two Cali. trips this year.