FB: Northwest Conference

[speedybigboy]

Contrast Menlo with UW-Stevens Point, wins by

2
38
1
lost by 6
3
10
1
1 (OT)
1

Man they are living on the edge, give up 11 more points at the wrong time and they are 3-6 (Menlo's record) instead of 8-1 and looking at a conference title and playoff berth.

[speedybigboy]

Well since you guys are all happy I'd thought I'd chime in. Foss can back me up on this one.....when Linfield went up to UPS......Foss and I snuck a peek at at the WOU/Humbolt State game to get a scouting report so to speak (I had my radio listening to the 'cats up at UPS....) anyway, during halftime a dog ran out on the field....and I kid you not, it took a dump right on the 40 yard line.....ask Foss! It was the most hilarious thing I had seen in at least 2 hours!  

What I want to know is what happened 2 hours before that!!!

[wildcat11]

Yes, football.  Why won't anyone talk about Menlo and how they only lost to Whitworth by 2 and they held Linfield to 3 field goals?  Has there been another game all season, or even last season where Linfield didn't score a TD?   Is Menlo that good, or were the Wildcats just having an off day?  It was a home game for Linfield?  Don't know, just asking?

Bbaddict,

Linfield was starting their 3rd string QB (Bixenman) and it was his first ever start.  Bix has improved as the season has moved along but the staff was VERY conservative that game. 

(509),

I think the whole conference is on an upswing next season.  Willamette is going to be nail tough again, you stated your case for Whitworth, Linfield is bring a load of back next season (plus we'll have Boehme back) , I expect PLU and Menlo to continue to make strides, and if Williams comes back for UPS next season they could be one of those "on any given Saturday" teams.  I think the NWC's top 4 maybe 5 teams next season are going to be good to very good.

[bbaddict]

I agree wildcat.  The NWC is getting more competitive.  I've been surprised by some of the teams this year.   UPS was having a good first 1/2 at WU.  That's why I was asking about Menlo.  Haven't seen them play this year and their close scores against good teams kind of make me nervous!!

I expect the Bearcats to win at home.  Just wondered if Menlo has some secret weapon or something.

I did assume there was some story to the Linfield/Menlo game because it's unusual for Linfield to only score field goals.  I thought their QB against WU was good.

[(509)Rat]

(509),

I think the whole conference is on an upswing next season.  Willamette is going to be nail tough again, you stated your case for Whitworth, Linfield is bring a load of back next season (plus we'll have Boehme back) , I expect PLU and Menlo to continue to make strides, and if Williams comes back for UPS next season they could be one of those "on any given Saturday" teams.  I think the NWC's top 4 maybe 5 teams next season are going to be good to very good.

Agreed.  Willamette will most likely be picked to finish third in the conference (they lose a good number of starters and we all know Linfield will be picked 1st, and with Whit returning almost their entire team I think they'll be picked 2nd by the coaches) but could very well go undefeated again.  Menlo looks like they'll lose a couple WR, a TE, a couple DB's, an LB, a DL, and an OL or two.  But who knows, they could end up losing half their team as fluid as their program has been as of late.  If all these guys stick around they will be tough.  PLU can only get better after graduating 20-something seniors a year ago.  And I'm sorry but UPS will once again be at the bottom of the conference regardless of whether Williams comes back.  His only threat at WR was a Sr and most of the time he couldn't make the throws anyways.  Hopefully LC can pick up another win next year with a W against CMS or Pamona.  It'll hurt losing Brown at QB but they can't get any worse, can they? 

[Tuxguy]

Speedybigboy,

.
I was just remembering the good old days, PLU vs. Linfield almost every year for the NWC crown. And the teams/games were so good, many times we would end up playing each other in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.

Just a few of the scores from back in the day.....1974..Lin 15-PLU14....1975..Lin 20-PLU 19....1978 Lin18- PLU17...1979..Lin 6-PLU 7....1983..Lin 30- PLU27.....1988...Lin 35-PLU 33....1991...Lin 8-PLU 9.....and let's not forget 1993..Lin 20-PLU 20 for just a few great games over the Years.

Anyway, both Schools had sayings during the hay days of the Ad and Frosty era, plus,I don't have my shirt any more....oops 

GO WILDCATS 

[criswyly]

Nothing personal against Menlo...but I hope to see Willamette give them a good ole fashion "monkey stomp" to make a statement for the playoffs....and no injuries please.  Here's hoping that Willamette represents the NWC deep into the playoffs and makes some heads turn with "respect" towards our conference...The only conference to win two national championships during Mounts reign of terror....  And why should the Empire 8 get 3 participants last year...and the NWC champ sets at home...Where's the fairness to that?  Poetic justice says that Willamette beats the Mount in the Stagg Bowl....with a "repete" type "monkey stomp" that the Johnnies handed to them in 2003....that would make my football season.

[D O.C.]

Lose and you're CANNED HEAT.

Hey!   That reminds me,  I saw Canned Heat at the Salem Armory. How ironic.

[criswyly]

bbaddict
Having listened to the Menlo Cat came on the webcast...my impression was that the game was only close on the scoreboard.

[MonroviaCat]

bbaddict
Having listened to the Menlo Cat came on the webcast...my impression was that the game was only close on the scoreboard.

Correct--I even recall stating in the middle of  the game that the game seemed more like a 35-0 game despite the close score.  I think the Linfield D looked so good that day (Menlo only crossed midfield 3 times) that the Offense was able to stay conservative with the inexperienced QB.  This certainly killed some of our drives (one drive ended on downs at the Menlo 9) and then of course, there were turnovers.  A fumble at the Menlo 9, an INT at the Menlo 26, plus another missed FG.....and you can see how the game could have been much different.  Still, I think Menlo is a better team this year than they were last year and a better team now than they were earlier in the season.  I would not be surprised to see them hold close with Willamette for a while and maybe even force the Bearcats to put the ball in the air more than they'd like (of course it could be like last week where almost every pass is a TD).......should be an interesting game.

[Foss]

Bluenote, did they bother to pick up the poo off the field? I don't remember them doing it, but I left not long after the incident. Knowing WOU, they probably just hoped it would "blend in" with the rest of the surroundings.

I agree the conference definately appears to be looking up the next couple of years with so many good young players on a number of teams.

[speedybigboy]

Speedybigboy,
I was just remembering the good old days, PLU vs. Linfield almost every year for the NWC crown. And the teams/games were so good, many times we would end up playing each other in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.
Just a few of the scores from back in the day.....1974..Lin 15-PLU14....1975..Lin 20-PLU 19....1978 Lin18- PLU17...1979..Lin 6-PLU 7....1983..Lin 30- PLU27.....1988...Lin 35-PLU 33....1991...Lin 8-PLU 9.....and let's not forget 1993..Lin 20-PLU 20 for just a few great games over the Years.
Anyway, both Schools had sayings during the hay days of the Ad and Frosty era, plus,I don't have my shirt any more....oops 
GO WILDCATS 

Tuxguy,
Did not mean to imply that I was offended.  Those were definitely good games and great teams.  Win and you are heading to the playoffs, and a likely contender for the National Championship.

GO LUTES

[OxyBob]

Lose and you're CANNED HEAT.

Hey!   That reminds me,  I saw Canned Heat at the Salem Armory. How ironic.

Were you there with Amphetamine Annie?

OxyBob

[Bearcat Press]

Nothing personal against Menlo...but I hope to see Willamette give them a good ole fashion "monkey stomp" to make a statement for the playoffs....and no injuries please.  Here's hoping that Willamette represents the NWC deep into the playoffs and makes some heads turn with "respect" towards our conference...The only conference to win two national championships during Mounts reign of terror....  And why should the Empire 8 get 3 participants last year...and the NWC champ sets at home...Where's the fairness to that?  Poetic justice says that Willamette beats the Mount in the Stagg Bowl....with a "repete" type "monkey stomp" that the Johnnies handed to them in 2003....that would make my football season.

Cheers!

[downtown48]

Here's hoping that Willamette represents the NWC deep into the playoffs and makes some heads turn with "respect" towards our conference...The only conference to win two national championships during Mounts reign of terror....Poetic justice says that Willamette beats the Mount in the Stagg Bowl....with a "repete" type "monkey stomp" that the Johnnies handed to them in 2003....that would make my football season.

Just a quick question, er, comment then question.  I've been reading all the Willamette love on here all year and watched them play Linfield and no doubt they play good, fundamentally sound football that you need to play to win in the playoffs.  I like their coach and their team, but, and here's the question...Has Willamette beaten any team that could be considered even above average let alone a playoff caliber team this year?  I can't count CaLu, Linfield or Concordia as playoff caliber teams and it would take some convincing to make me think those three were even above average.  The rest of their games, they should have won and did.  What makes everybody think they are equipped to make a run deep into the playoffs let alone challenge the Mount.

If they had beaten any of the Linfield teams from 2000 to 2005, I'd be on board with the deep run talk but I just don't think they are the juggernaut that everybody thinks they are.  They beat up on an average at best NWC this season.