FB: Northwest Conference

[criswyly]

In fact, I can't remember off the top of my head the last team in the Stagg Bowl that did NOT wear purple.
[/quote]

Mr. Ypsi...you must be a young pup....PLU wore gold and black in their 99 Stagg Bowl win....where Rowan was mauled starting with the first play....PLU another NWC Stagg Bowl winner...The ONLY conference on this board to have done so...the operative words are "this board."

[speedybigboy]

Well, coming out of the WIAC, (D3 football's #1 toughest conference in the country,)  a 9-1 team is still pretty good.  Without that one slip to UW-STP, they would, more than likely, have your #1 seed.
I am somewhat surprised at what seems to be a little over confidence on this board.  Don't get me wrong, Willamette appears to absolutely be the real deal this year, quite improved from the 4 win season last year and the 2 wins in 05 but despite the Hawks youth and inexperience, many players have seen what it takes to play in big games. I expect them to be ready.  Maybe they aren't, "as good as normal," but normal the last few years is being the reigning national champ and 2-time runner up.  I expected a drop off from that with the graduation of 24 seniors, 17 of them starters, but it remains to be seen just how far that drop off will be.   

I'm not seeing it as overconfidence but a natural respect that most of us on this board have for the team that wins our conference.  If you look back over the years our champion, primarily PLU or Linfield, would regularly go on to play in the Championship game.  This started in the NAIA in the early 80's and then continued with PLU's d3 victory in '99 and Linfield's in, what, '04?  We figure if Willamette can run the table in the NWC they must be pretty damn good.  The attitude I get on here is if, IF, Willamette gets by Whitewater we should see them in the other Salem.  You gotta love the Salem to Salem story line though don't ya?

They say Speed Kills so I think a big factor will be if your guys can match Willamette's speed and stop those breakaways at 15-20 yards instead of 50-70 and if so does Willamette have the wherewithal to sustain numerous long drives.

[criswyly]

The sad sorry thing about that 99 playoff is that it could have been an All NWC regional game...IMO...the top two teams in all D3 that year was:
#1 PLU
#2 Willamette with coach Speckman

[criswyly]

What other conference has had two teams win the national championship since life started on D3football.com and one other that could of, would have, should  have......  Now hopefully, they've got their chance.

[criswyly]

And the NWC supporters are excited about it.....

Overconfidence?
No!

Confident?
Yes!

[criswyly]

I love D3football.com...it has totally redifined football fans and rivalries....There are actually human beings on the other end.

[BoBo]

Interesting to see many on this board talking about a trip to Texas. Seems a bit premature to me. Although comparing scores of common opponents is a frivolous exercise., comparing entire season statistics may or may not be. That being said, here is an analysis of the upcoming game. I don't know if there is anyone who has seen both of these teams play in person, so obviously this analysis is statistical and subjective . Keep in mind I am a UWW backer and don't claim to be neutral... 

I, too, am a Warhawk backer, but why do you give the advantage to WU in the only two areas you readily admit you've only read about? Maybe I'm more cynical, but that's really trusting what you read.

I've read where statistics are like bikinis.  What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.  This game is going to be won/lost like most game, who capitalizes on turnovers, and line play - whoever controls the line of scrimmage, wins, IMHO.

[wucatwu]

Question for the Bearcat faithful...now you've played the Wildcats and the Tigers in the same season and won both.....Which was the tougher team to face the Cats or the Tigers?

Here's my answer from before.

Watching both Linfield and OXY play WU, I'd say Linfield gave WU much more of a scare...31-28 halfway through the 3rd.  OXY never got closer than 2 TDS after halftime.

Also, Franklin wreaked havoc on WU's defense.  OXY's QB was tough to get to, but it seemed like every time he tried to scramble he stumbled over himself, making him much less of a dual threat.  His 2 picks didn't help either...

[criswyly]

wucatwu
Didn't we also handicap you guys about 14-21 points to start the game off:)

[bbaddict]

Question for the Bearcat faithful...now you've played the Wildcats and the Tigers in the same season and won both.....Which was the tougher team to face the Cats or the Tigers?

I can't answer for the team, but as a fan, definitely Linfield.   There was that overwhelming sense of "oh no, not again" until the Bearcats finally took over in the last 10 minutes of the 4th quarter.  Before that, I wasn't feeling super confident! 

Probably was more nervous about the Oxy game before game day --- because I'd heard so much about their team.

Now -- it's on to win over UWW -- and I'm still trying to figure out why we're the "underdogs" if we have home field?!  I know all about their past success, but really, it's about this year -- what are you doing this year?

Does UWW travel with a lot of fans?  If so, maybe the Linfield fans could wear more red this week so we don't get confused with all the purple?

wucatwu
Didn't we also handicap you guys about 14-21 points to start the game off:)

Yep, I remember something about that!

[wucatwu]

wucatwu
Didn't we also handicap you guys about 14-21 points to start the game off:)

I think it was something like that.  You Linfield folk were quite hospitable that day.  I don't expect the same treatment any time in the near future.

[speedybigboy]

I love D3football.com...it has totally redifined football fans and rivalries....There are actually human beings on the other end.

I'm gonna quote Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and "I second that emotion" !

[criswyly]

bbaddict
Is that baseball addict or basketball?

[criswyly]

Thanx speedybigboy
Weren't you a Lute?

[speedybigboy]

Thanx speedybigboy
Weren't you a Lute?

D-line, class of '84.

EMAL