FB: Northwest Conference

[d-train]

70's, 80's have nothing to do with 2008. I know.

Neither does 1999.

Let's all just pull for Pacific to build a stadium and dilute the talent pool a bit more.
Parity. Everybody gets a chance.

At least we could drop Monmouth.

More parity and a less consistent national presence... I see where you are going (and I don't totally disagree), but I'd argue the talent pool was shifting/diluting already. By the mid-90's, Linfield and PLU had given up their strangle hold on the Northwest (and every-other-year 'slot' in the NAIA Div.-II title game). CWU was co-champ in '95, WWU was runner-up in '96, and Willamette was runner-up in '97 (with WOU also making the playoffs). Overall, I like the D3 structure and think it fits the NWC quite well. '99, '04, and titles in other sports (Lin. softball, G.Fox baseball) show what's still possible.

[d-train]

I think both NWC and SCIAC fans are getting a little overly optimistic.  How would an NWC or SCIAC runner up get one of 6 pool C bids when an 8-1 NWC champion gets left home?  Throwing another team from the west into the equation creates another flight that the NCAA has to pay for...does anyone really think that's gonna happen?

Let's just hope this year they stay true to seeding and give both Oxy and Willamette the first round home games they deserve...instead of matching them up first round.

An 8-1 Redlands is the only west coast team with an at-large prayer. I don't see how or why they'd be compared to last year's Whitworth team in deciding this year's Pool C bids   Also, there's no additional flight with Redlands in or out versus letting both Oxy and Willamette host a game...so there seems to be a double-standard in your thinking. 

[Sabretooth Tiger]

My uneducated view is that unless Redlands gets a pool C bid (as Willamette did about 3-4 years ago which brought them to Oxy in Round 1, Oxy to Concordia in round 2, and Oxy to Linfield in the regional final), then the NWC A will play the SCIAC A in round one regardless of seeds . . . simply economics . . . and the higher regionally ranked team at year end of those two will host.

ONLY realistic way they don't go head to head in round 1 is if Redlands gets in and travels up north, leaving Oxy to host a game if it remains undefeated . . .

DID YOU VOTE TODAY?

[MonroviaCat]

My uneducated view is that unless Redlands gets a pool C bid (as Willamette did about 3-4 years ago which brought them to Oxy in Round 1, Oxy to Concordia in round 2, and Oxy to Linfield in the regional final), then the NWC A will play the SCIAC A in round one regardless of seeds . . . simply economics . . . and the higher regionally ranked team at year end of those two will host.

ONLY realistic way they don't go head to head in round 1 is if Redlands gets in and travels up north, leaving Oxy to host a game if it remains undefeated . . .

DID YOU VOTE TODAY?

Or worse----Redlands plays against Oxy again in round one.....nothing like a rematch... 

[Sabretooth Tiger]

I know that can happen in hoops, but I don't think the NCAA would let that happen in football . . . otherwise Willamette would have opened against Linfield in 2004.

Of course, given the current economic issues, I suppose all bets could be off of the table.

[(509)Rat]

I don't see how or why they'd be compared to last year's Whitworth team in deciding this year's Pool C bids

Both teams only loss was to the eventual SCIAC champ, both are/were entering a pool with limited spots for a rather large number of teams around the country.  And if the NWC champ can't get in, how in the world would you justify the SCIAC's unranked,  runner-up get into the tourney field?  I'm all for the far west getting as much representation as possible I just don't see it happening.

Also, there's no additional flight with Redlands in or out versus letting both Oxy and Willamette host a game...so there seems to be a double-standard in your thinking.

You are right there is not an extra flight in having Redlands in versus letting Oxy and Willamette host.  Both scenarios would create two flights the NCAA has to pay for out west.  Exactly the reason I don't think either scenario is likely.  Also, since it my opinion that Redlands will not get a pool C bid then the only thing I can hope for is Willamette and Oxy getting the first round home games they have earned.  Again, I'm all for getting as many teams in the far west playoff bids...I'm just being realistic.  Maybe I'm bitter after last years snub  

[MonroviaCat]

I know that can happen in hoops, but I don't think the NCAA would let that happen in football . . . otherwise Willamette would have opened against Linfield in 2004.

Of course, given the current economic issues, I suppose all bets could be off of the table.

See 1999 (PLU vs. Willamette) and 2001 (PLU vs. Whitworth)

[speedybigboy]

My uneducated view is that unless Redlands gets a pool C bid ..., then the NWC A will play the SCIAC A in round one regardless of seeds

Or worse----Redlands plays against Oxy again in round one.....nothing like a rematch... 

I know that can happen in hoops, but I don't think the NCAA would let that happen in football

It could happen:

2008 DIVISION III FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HANDBOOK

Pairings and Site Selection

Once automatic qualifiers are identified and the Pools B and C teams are selected, the following guidelines should be followed:

• Once selected, teams will be grouped in clusters according to natural geographic proximity. Teams will then be paired according to geographic proximity. A team may be moved to numerically balance the bracket, if geographic proximity is maintained. Teams should be paired and eligible sites should be selected according to geographic proximity (within 500 miles).

• Teams may be seeded on a regional basis using the regional selection criteria. However, geographic proximity takes precedence over seeding.

• Teams from the same conference do not have to play one another in the first round, as long as geographic proximity is maintained.

• The highest-seeded team that meets all selection criteria will be selected as the host institution, provided geographic proximity is maintained.

Oxy will be happy to beat up on Redlands again.

OxyBob

Looks to me like the only criteria is GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY.

[DustySJU]

PPJ,
  I know exactly wht you mean., and those were the best of times.  Used to drive the Mrs crazy that on roadtrips I would only fuel up at pump #11 and we would put $11.99 in the tank.  At the games we would sit with The Higgins and sit in seat # 11 and 12.  It goes on and on from there-- you get it. sometimes I crack myself up
I wont be down this weekend, the Tides host a first round game here in Gig Harbor, so I will be at that game as my boys make their run.

Phone it in
GHC

GHC;  I stole your tag line for "Race is Now Four Way Tie" and also featured a spiffy Johnnie vs 'Cat & Johnnie vs Bulldog photo in Manic MIAC... all available at www.JohnnieFootball.com.

Developing....

[snoop dawg]

location, location,location.   It would be a shame to have UR not get in, it would be a bigger shame for Oxy to have to host them instead of a team from a differenct conference. I just think it diminishes the importance of the playoffs to have to play a team from your conference in the first round.

Most tourneys prohibit playing a conference team in the first round.

[d-train]

I don't see how or why they'd be compared to last year's Whitworth team in deciding this year's Pool C bids

Both teams only loss was to the eventual SCIAC champ, both are/were entering a pool with limited spots for a rather large number of teams around the country.  And if the NWC champ can't get in, how in the world would you justify the SCIAC's unranked,  runner-up get into the tourney field?  I'm all for the far west getting as much representation as possible I just don't see it happening.

No, I can see the similarities...I'm just saying that Redlands will be evaluated with this year's nationwide field of Pool C candidates - not compared to the Pirates of 2007 (but you know that...). We don't know for sure what that group will look like just yet. Last year's Pirates had a second loss that might have played into the minds of some selection folks, they would have been the first Pool B team to take a Pool C bid, the D-3 team they lost to was not undefeated, the most logical place to fly them was to that Redlands team (a rematch of week one), and their coach helped rate the field.   

Also, there's no additional flight with Redlands in or out versus letting both Oxy and Willamette host a game...so there seems to be a double-standard in your thinking.

You are right there is not an extra flight in having Redlands in versus letting Oxy and Willamette host.  Both scenarios would create two flights the NCAA has to pay for out west.  Exactly the reason I don't think either scenario is likely.  Also, since it my opinion that Redlands will not get a pool C bid then the only thing I can hope for is Willamette and Oxy getting the first round home games they have earned.  Again, I'm all for getting as many teams in the far west playoff bids...I'm just being realistic.  Maybe I'm bitter after last years snub  

Oh, I'd be bitter too. That was a heck of a snub. Even as I write possible thinking (above) I still feel they got totally hosed.

[bbaddict]

You should be bitter, Rat -- Whitworth got ripped off last year in the fb playoffs!

I also think it's premature to start making travel plans for playoff games based on the historical decisions of the NCAA.

[Foss]

the only thing I can hope for is Willamette and Oxy getting the first round home games they have earned.

In '05 Oxy was a top 10 ranked team heading into the playoffs (more important, I believe their regional ranking was high, too). They were undefeated and had gained national respect by defeating two teams from respected conferences in '04 before losing to the eventual national champ. Even with this in their favor, the committee STILL sent them on the road in the first round. And if that isn't bad enough, they made them play the defending national champs and the overall #1 seed in the tourney IN THE FIRST ROUND. The same time Oxy was playing Linfield, there were other teams in the dance (some with a loss) who were getting home games against weak teams.

If the committee would do that, and they did, rest assured they won't necessary give a team the "first round game they have earned."

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Yup . . . my recollection is that in going into round one in 2005, Linfield was ranked #1 and Oxy was ranked #2.

And we got spanked.

[roocru]

My uneducated view is that unless Redlands gets a pool C bid ..., then the NWC A will play the SCIAC A in round one regardless of seeds

Or worse----Redlands plays against Oxy again in round one.....nothing like a rematch... 

I know that can happen in hoops, but I don't think the NCAA would let that happen in football

It could happen:

2008 DIVISION III FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HANDBOOK

Pairings and Site Selection

Once automatic qualifiers are identified and the Pools B and C teams are selected, the following guidelines should be followed:

• Once selected, teams will be grouped in clusters according to natural geographic proximity. Teams will then be paired according to geographic proximity. A team may be moved to numerically balance the bracket, if geographic proximity is maintained. Teams should be paired and eligible sites should be selected according to geographic proximity (within 500 miles).

• Teams may be seeded on a regional basis using the regional selection criteria. However, geographic proximity takes precedence over seeding.

• Teams from the same conference do not have to play one another in the first round, as long as geographic proximity is maintained.

• The highest-seeded team that meets all selection criteria will be selected as the host institution, provided geographic proximity is maintained.

Oxy will be happy to beat up on Redlands again.

OxyBob

Looks to me like the only criteria is GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY.

Hardin Simmons, UMHB and Trinity have fought it out in the first two rounds of the "Texas Sub-Bracket" every year due to GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY .  Believe us, it is the number 1 criteria in seeding.