FB: Northwest Conference

[bluenote]

  D3 isn't all about Mount Union

....I think they've won 10 Titles recently.....

[coco]

Ditto to Steel Curtain's and R&P's remarks about Linfield having an elite program.
You can't discount our history and the class of the school and players. No school is going to be in the playoffs every single year but Linfield is a team that has a solid reputation for a reason.

54 in '09!

[bluenote]

Ya Baby!.....we're going to be back in the thick of things this next year! I can feel it in my (trom)bones!

Leave No Doubt!!!

[D O.C.]

a solid reputation for a reason

True. True. TRUTH!

The question was elite.
That used to be Augustana. It is now Mount Union.
IMVHO.   

[coco]

Splitting hairs, D.O.C., splitting hairs.

[swede]

I would say Linfield is an elite program that has produced elite teams over the years. Having 53 consecutive winning seasons and numerous NWC Championships along with their National Championships places them in the top level.

54 in '09!

Well said

[bluenote]

That used to be Augustana. It is now Mount Union.
IMVHO.   

It looks like North Central and Wheaton have out "elited" Augustana lately. 

[bluenote]

I've been thinking about this elite thing and one thing I thought about was that when Linfield win the conference and gets in the playoffs they usually go pretty deep or win the Title....that isn't the case with other teams lately. They usually go 1 or 2 games and then they poop out. So I'd say Linfield is the best on the WestCoast!

[swede]

Looks like PLU is trying to build a elite status (west coast baseball)) Linfield was no match for them in todays games although the lutes managed only 16 runs in the second game   

[warthog]

I was reading your opinions on which teams are elite etc.
In my mind I was naming off the same teams most of you were.
I decided to enlist the help of our friends @ D3.  They give us the records of teams over the past ten years, so that is what I used as my time frame.  I assumed a good team over a decade would average 7 wins a season, so I looked for all the West Region teams with 70 wins since the 1999 season.  Then I realized you folks out far west often only get 9 games.  I modified my search and added some teams in your area codes with 60 wins since 1999.  Based on my calculations; over the past decade the following West Region teams have had the best winning percentage:

1) St. Norbert 91-16 = 85%
2) St. Johns 108-20 = 84.4%
3) Linfield 84-18 = 82.4%
4) Wartburg 89-20 = 81.7%
5) Central 85-24 = 78%
6) Occidental 71-25 = 74%
7) UW-Whitewater 87-33 = 72.5%
8] Bethel 77-30 = 72%
9) Ripon 70-31 = 69.3%
10) Whitworth 66-30 = 68.8%
11) Monmouth 70-33 = 68%
12) Redlands 60-32 = 65.2%
13) Pac Lutheran 64-35 = 64.6%

I'm not saying these are the elite teams.  I'm just saying they've done OK over a decade.

[bluenote]

That might not be the best way to formulate an "elite" program. St. Norbert hasn't done much in the Playoffs.....

[coco]

Hey, Warty! You're taking over for Lance. Nice work. I miss that guy.

That shows where SOS comes in, with the Midwest being a weaker conference. If you leave St. Norbert and Ripon out, the rest of it doesn't look too bad.

[criswyly]

and leave out Monmouth.....

[criswyly]

My elite DivIII football "Programs"

1 - Linfield....The only program to demonstrate the best winning continuity over 5 decades of football...which includes head coaching changes, coaching staff growth and coaching staff's ability to consistently win over the long haul...which includes overcoming much adversity.

2 - SJU...The school with one of the best winning records and programs since the advent of Coach Gagliardi.  However, since SJU's winning ways have only been proven under the big "G"....their program (and it is a great program) has not proven the ability to have a winning program after his retirement.  Summary:  SJU's success is due primarily to Gagliardi's success.

3 -  Mt. Union...Obviously the best head coached team of DivIII football over the last 15-20 years.  Kehres is the John Wooden* of all of college football and that's saying a lot.  However, we know what happened to UCLA after Wooden retired...so as SJU, the Mt. Union program's success is primarily due to Coach Kehres...

4 - PLU...another great program under the singular tutelage of an awesome head coach.

5 - Quite frankly, no other teams come to mind....there you have it....IMHO and ANB (Absolutely No Bias)

Until Mt. Union and the SJU's of the world prove "program" continuity with head coach changes over the decades then they fall short of Linfield's proven track record as the "Elite" football program of DivIII footall.

Up and coming programs, but not quite there yet....University of Wisconsin Whitewater and University of Mary Hardin Baylor:)

*John Wooden - For all you youngsters...The greatest DivI basketball coach of all time...winning 10 DivI NCAA National Championships....of which seven where straight.

[D O.C.]

Don't get carried away there, criswyly....by that raptor, I mean.