FB: Northwest Conference

[coco]

Don't include me, either, Rat! I'm behind our coaches 100% and always have been. They know how to take care of business and Joe Smith is one hell of a coach and a person.

[Pat Coleman]

Hosting beyond the first round or two would be huge for the Bearcats.

You've earned the right to use our stadium should you be fortunate to host a play-off game should you win the A bid.

That's true, actually. In fact, Linfield owes you one for bailing them out of a bad field situation in 2003.

[fwgis]

Hey guys... Long time lurker, first time poster. Too much bickering to resist.

You've earned the right to use our stadium should you be fortunate to host a play-off game should you win the A bid.

I can pretty much guarantee that the Bearcats would play at McCulloch any day...

I was at the game on Saturday, and here are my thoughts:
1) Willamette's Offensive Line DOMINATED the game. Linfield's d-ends are great athletes, and great players. However, the combo of Jake Forshey and Joe Penkala at tackle effectively shut them down. I'm not too sure about this stat, but I heard something to the effect of each of the D-Ends getting 1 tackle each? Being able to minimize the D-ends had a huge impact on the game. The rest of the line also did a great job. The interior 3 played solid all game: few if any missed assignment. Very physical play by the front 5.
2) SPECIAL TEAMS! 'Nuff said. (Actually I lied, that's not enough said. I should point out that when Linfield was able to get a punt off, it was usually a fantastic kick. Kick offs were also the deepest that Willamette has had to field all year.)
3) Willamette's corner's and outside linebackers did a great job for the most part. VERY physical play.
4) Linfield's QB (you might have heard of him) was a monster. Like someone said- if the receivers were locked up, he let his legs do the work. When the Bearcats spied him, he would find the open receiver down field.
5) Coaching. Mark Speckman for President. Glen Fowles (O.C.) for Secretary of VP. Nate Naggi (D.C.) for Secretary of Defense (what else?)
6) Linfield's LBs were impressive.

All in all, a great game. The momentum that Linfield had at the half carried them most of the way through the third quarter. Had they been able to keep it... whew, it would have been close.

As far as the student section... really people? It's a few drunk college kids. Regardless of whether or not their mother's would have approved of what they said, it's a reality of college sports.

[Tuxguy]

Any truth to the fact that the head ref was a Willamette Grad? 

Just heard it from a D3.com source that will remain anonymous  .

I don't believe I said that the outcome would have been different, just find it strange the league doesn't have another ref so that in such a big game we don't have any controversy.

Bearcatfan, just to let you know....you read way to much into my post, sorry for any mis-communication on my part. ( did I say that?)

Welcome fwgis, good points.

[Bearcat Press]

Alright folks, we're now up to four Willamette posters: myself, wukicker, BearcatFan, and fwgis.

Now stick around!

[wildcat11]

Alright folks, we're now up to four Willamette posters: myself, wukicker, BearcatFan, and fwgis.

Now stick around!

[gental ribbing so I don't have PC have to correct me]I'm sure if the outcome was differnet on Saturday that we would be just down to B-Press.  Front runners. [/gental ribbing so I don't have PC have to correct me]

[Pat Coleman]

Well, it's not like Linfield hasn't lost some posters in the last couple years, or had posters who have gone from regulars to less-than-occasional contributors.

[wildcat11]

Well, it's not like Linfield hasn't lost some posters in the last couple years, or had posters who have gone from regulars to less-than-occasional contributors.

Christsakes PC...did you see the wink icon as a universal symbol of joking around or do I need to have brackets to signal that so I don't have Pat coming in to touche me?  Here I'll go back and edit the post so I make myself clear so I don't have to have the guru come in and break my balls.

[D O.C.]

After this year's bye-week, the third game of the season, I counted 33 posters that were on board at the end of 2004 that had not posted this year. Two I see are on line at times and one I do not expect to post after a strong hint from Mr. Moderator several years ago.

[Pat Coleman]

11 -- you and I may understand that, but I am not sure the new posters do. That's all. Sometimes new posters are not as quick to pick up on the subtleties.

[buckj64]

In my defense I used to be a 1000 + poster but Life got REALLY busy.... To the Cat faithful I offer this...
1999 & 2001 saw 2 of the worst Butt-stompings I have ever been a part of.

1999 PLU came down to the dome and absolutely trashed us on their way to Salem my only memory of that game was Musser taking a knee at the end of the game; falling on our own sword so to speak. That loss laid the ground work for our program and behind Muss and Habby we reloaded and came back in 2000 with a pretty decent season until the $%#@ing miracle in the mud

2001 the first 3 weeks were rough, Trying to find a QB rotating Blake and Tyler. The 56 yards of total offense (minus 2 starters on the o-line, 3 if you count me playing Center)that game was surreal it was so god awful, PLU again came down and stomped our butts.... those 2 losses helped fuel the 2002 run,

If those losses and subsequent wins taught us anything; it taught us what needed to change in order for us to succeed. And in my opinion it's not coaches, it the mind-set that no matter what we will get it done.

[bbaddict]

Alright folks, we're now up to four Willamette posters: myself, wukicker, BearcatFan, and fwgis.

Now stick around!

You can add me as a Bearcat poster -- usually I have more to say about Basketball!  I was at the Linfield-WU game and got pretty nervous in the 3rd Qtr.  Wondered if the Bearcats would hold on.  That Linfield QB -- not sure which one it was, has quite an arm!  I might add I was also at WU last year when the Bearcats beat Linfield by 1 and the Linfield student fans got pretty ugly when they thought it was a "done deal" and they'd won.   Some drunk nasty Linfield students were sitting behind our bench and heckling the players -- to their credit, when I told them to quit being nasty & cheer for their team, they did!

So -- how does the playoff thing work?  Someone educate me.  Does the SCIAC get an automatic bid as well?  Where can I look to find out this stuff?  Also, does the poll really matter because it seems to me that they just set up the playoff games whenever & wherever and sometimes you get lucky -- but sometimes you don't!

Something about the "poor NCAA" and how DIII sports operate at a loss so they have to plan things geographically, etc.

[RedandPurple]

Any truth to the fact that the head ref was a Willamette Grad? 

Just heard it from a D3.com source that will remain anonymous  .

Unbelievable -  let's try for some clarity here, shall we?

You ask a question and phrase it as "Any truth to the fact that the head ref was a Willamette Grad?"

Facts ARE Truth - there should be no question. Posting as such in this forum without  corroboration is simply deflamatory.

So, Tuxguy - who in this list is a WU Alumni?:

Referee: Michael Batlan  •  Umpire: Paul Collard  •  Linesman: Jim Richards  •  Line judge: Rich Troyer  •  Back judge: Gerry Rasch  •  Field judge: Bob Rose  •  Side judge: T. Migchelbrink •  Scorer: Tom McFadden  • 

The Head Referee was / is the Willamette grad. You can read it here from WU own web page: http://www.willamette.edu/athletics/alumni/

An excerpt from their web site:
Willamette University Alumnus Michael Batlan
Listen to Michael Batlan

Listen to alumnus Michael Batlan talk about his football and officiating careers, as well as the unique opportunities Willamette University has provided him.

    * Listen to Michael Batlan talk about the opportunities Willamette University has provided him (mp3)
    * Listen to Michael Batlan talk about his football career at Willamette University (mp3)
    * Listen to Michael Batlan talk about how he started officiating football games (mp3)

[d-train]

Alright folks, we're now up to four Willamette posters: myself, wukicker, BearcatFan, and fwgis.

Now stick around!

You can add me as a Bearcat poster -- usually I have more to say about Basketball!  I was at the Linfield-WU game and got pretty nervous in the 3rd Qtr.  Wondered if the Bearcats would hold on.  That Linfield QB -- not sure which one it was, has quite an arm!  I might add I was also at WU last year when the Bearcats beat Linfield by 1 and the Linfield student fans got pretty ugly when they thought it was a "done deal" and they'd won.   Some drunk nasty Linfield students were sitting behind our bench and heckling the players -- to their credit, when I told them to quit being nasty & cheer for their team, they did!

So -- how does the playoff thing work?  Someone educate me.  Does the SCIAC get an automatic bid as well?  Where can I look to find out this stuff?  Also, does the poll really matter because it seems to me that they just set up the playoff games whenever & wherever and sometimes you get lucky -- but sometimes you don't!

Something about the "poor NCAA" and how DIII sports operate at a loss so they have to plan things geographically, etc.

Start here:

http://www.d3football.com/faq.php?question&category=Playoffs

Yes, the SCIAC also gets an auto-bid and will likely have their champ (or runner-up) sent to Oregon. There are a couple of scenarios in which they'd have an 8-1 runner-up hoping for one of the 6 at-large bids.

[Foss]

Linfield's 2008 offensive personnel are not suited to make up a large deficit with the play calling from the press box.   

That is not an accurate statement. After trailing 28-7, the 'Cats were able to come back and cut the lead to 3. Similar thing against Hardin-Simmons. Mistakes put them in a 14 point hole, yet they came back to actually take the lead. The offense gained over 450 yards against Willamette and was moving the ball most of the day. Even the Bearcat posters have commented on being impressed with Franklin's skills and what he was able to do. I am thrilled we have that kid & Boehme for the next couple of years at QB. Ford had another very solid game, and Masters several big plays. It wasn't the 'Cats offense "not being suited to make up a large deficit with the play calling" that hurt them, it was the special teams mistakes and giving up 10 yards/carry to the Willamette O.