FB: Northwest Conference

[johnnie_esq]

...and such a nicely textured overcoat!

SJU seems like to be the second team in the West.  While the Johnnies have had several close calls, they did play a tough nonconference slate and found success in taking down two WIAC teams.  This gives the Jays the narrow edge over Linfield, who has also survived several close calls but is hampered by fewer regional wins in comparison to SJU.  And the NWC is significantly hurt by Willamette’s loss to Concordia-Moorhead.

River Falls (2,5) (0-4) and Eau Claire (3-4) (1-3) 
Surely , thou jest.
I count 4 close games that the better team won, you.
The LINFIELD - Occidental game was not close. It WAS on the road as was UWEC.

I like your term 'bands' like on a worm from "Dune."

LINFIELD was not ranked at the beginning of the season. You were and have not really lost that place. That's fair, sort of.

I would like to see Willamette get in and you have to play us the following week. That would put some grit in yer gums.

Anytime. Anywhere.

By that logic, the UST-SJU game wasn't close either.

As I mentioned several times, Willamette's loss to Concordia-Moorhead (1-4 in the MIAC) really, really hurts the NWC.  And when Linfield narrowly pulls one out over Willamette...well...you get the drift.

The NCAA always gives a lot of credit to WIAC teams.  While it is probably undeserved, it still seems to happen each year.  So two WIAC squads on the nonconference is about as tough as you're going to find in Minnesota.  Ask UST-- whose nonconference includes UMAC-like Macalester and UMAC middler Northwestern (MN).

But I would not be surprised to see 2-4 go in any order of SJU/Linfield/Central-- all three of them deserve to be up there. 

[Nihon Tiger]

Occidental game was not close.

Really?  I don't think I've ever heard someone call a game where they trailed at the half and won by 4 points "not close".  I don't care if it was on the road, at home, or on the moon.

Here's something I've been thinking about after Saturday's game: '08 Willamette smokes '09 Linfield.  Probably not even very close.

Point 2:  '04/'05 Linfield wipes the floor with '08 Willamette.  Therefore any comparison of this year's Linfield team to either of those teams is null.

I welcome feedback/rebuttal/karma hits

(PPJ, this is what happens when you tell my mom I don't post on the NWC board enough  )

[MonroviaCat]

Occidental game was not close.

Really?  I don't think I've ever heard someone call a game where they trailed at the half and won by 4 points "not close".  I don't care if it was on the road, at home, or on the moon.

Here's something I've been thinking about after Saturday's game: '08 Willamette smokes '09 Linfield.  Probably not even very close.

Point 2:  '04/'05 Linfield wipes the floor with '08 Willamette.  Therefore any comparison of this year's Linfield team to either of those teams is null.

I welcome feedback/rebuttal/karma hits

(PPJ, this is what happens when you tell my mom I don't post on the NWC board enough  )

Interesting points:  My thoughts are that Willamette 08 and Linfield 09 fight it out much like the two teams did this year for a couple of reasons.  1.  Linfield played Willamette closer than the score indicates (though they still got thumped) with an offense that never got going do to injuries to the QB who is back this year and playing well.  2.  Willamette 08 was better than 09 primarily because they had a passing QB, however, their main receiver still had a great game in 09 and I'm not sure a better passing QB would have made much of difference in the 09 game.....maybe have been enough to beat Linfield but not enough to 'smoke them', IMO.

As for point 2---I agree that the 04-05 team was probably better than the 09 team has been so far (with the exception of the 09 team having a better running game) but comparing the 2 is useless since every other team we will play is also different from 04-05...so could this team go all the way?  maybe...it wasn't easy in 04 and it won't be easy this year..but it is a possibility.

[George Thompson]

Another exclusive from your friends out east!

Find out now where JohnnieEsq lists your team in his first preview of the west region rankings....

Get it at www.JohnnieFootball.com

No pink sweaters here, it's just football.

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DustySJU,

That analysis of the West Region is pretty accurate.    This clearly shows the uphill battle that Willamette has to make the playoffs.    Personally, I think the Bearcats are a very good team and can beat some of those teams.   Those two losses in region really hurts their chances.   But, there are three weeks to go and there could be some surprises.

Looking forward to seeing these West Region teams, especially St. John's (in McMinnville).

GO CATS! GO!

[Nihon Tiger]

Good points.  I also didn't mention where the hypothetical game would be.  Although I don't know historically how home and away games affect Linfield and Willamette... I mean your fans do travel well, you both have mini-jumbotrons (oxymoron from an Oxy moron) and tin "domes".   

I also think there might be a bigger difference between the '08 and '09 Bearcats than the QB, I think they lost what was a hell of a huge O-line, and the fly sweep guy who was all everything, right?

Also, does WU win on Saturday if their #1 QB hadn't gone down AGAIN?  Linfield guys should know how much losing your QB can hurt.  Sorry to torture WU posters with this hypothetical.

Yeah of course it's a useless conversation, doesn't mean it's not fun!

[George Thompson]

Greetings to a disgruntled Bearcat:

"Linfield didn't beat WU, WU shot themselves in the foot many times over."

Never did WU control the game, or the score, hence does the spoils of victory belong to LINFIELD. Perhaps you "suck," as one should in "sucking it up" after a loss. The game was played... accept the fact your team was defeated, was beaten, was run over by a better team... the LINFIELD COLLEGE WILDCATS!

CATS SHINE IN 09

Not disgruntled, maybe disappointed.   There have been multiple references on this board recently to the idea that "WU sucks" by Linfield fans.  I'm just trying to point out that if you use Logic, you'll understand that you'd better beat a team that you maintain "Sucks" by MORE than 3 points!  That's my point.  Nothing more, nothing less.   Otherwise, by the rules of Logic, you're not that great either!!  So, either admit that WU is a worthy opponent that you defeated --- or that Linfield is a mediocre team that wins over teams like WU & L&C "that suck."  You just don't get to have it both ways!!  And all I can do as a Bearcat fan is concede that your team won on Saturday.  They did not run over, beat or whatever verbs you want to use.  They won by a very small margin.  A good football game played by two very fine teams with a less than desirable outcome (from my perspective).

From Linfield's own SID,  Kelly Bird on the Linfield athletic site, "The Wildcats never trailed in the game, yet had to fight for all 60 minutes to put the game away. The yardage totals for each team were nearly dead even, with Linfield leading the final tally 422-411. But the Wildcats forced two Willamette turnovers while refusing to yield a single turnover themselves."
So, apparently he watched the same game I did.

BTW--the Linfield QB rocks.  He made a lot of things happen on Saturday and without his speed and quick thinking . . .

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bbaddict,

As a strong and long time Linfield fan, I have to agree with you.    Trash talk is just that.     Just ignore it and do not respond in kind.  I have never had a bad experience at WU home games, Whitworth, or any others.   The vast majority of fans and students are ladies and gentlemen.    Sure, there are some bad apples.   But, I have nothing but respect for all of these teams Linfield plays.   

Yes, WU was every bit as good as I expected.   Although the Wildcats never trailed, they never were able to put WU far away.   Right to the end the Bearcats showed toughness and kept coming back.   And that fly offense has always scared me!

I do hope WU gets into the playoffs; they can beat some other West Region playoff teams.    I am sure that next year's year game with LC will be another battle royal.

GO WILDCATS! GO!

[MonroviaCat]

Good points.  I also didn't mention where the hypothetical game would be.  Although I don't know historically how home and away games affect Linfield and Willamette... I mean your fans do travel well, you both have mini-jumbotrons (oxymoron from an Oxy moron) and tin "domes".   

I also think there might be a bigger difference between the '08 and '09 Bearcats than the QB, I think they lost what was a hell of a huge O-line, and the fly sweep guy who was all everything, right?

Also, does WU win on Saturday if their #1 QB hadn't gone down AGAIN?  Linfield guys should know how much losing your QB can hurt.  Sorry to torture WU posters with this hypothetical.

Yeah of course it's a useless conversation, doesn't mean it's not fun!

Ah yes--I forgot about Woo---that guy made things happen last year for sure.....as for losing their #1 QB...I dunno, it seemed that he was primarily a running QB and maybe (Willamette guys would know better than I do) losing him opened up the passing game more which was where a lot of the Bearcats' success against Linfield was on Saturday...

[MonroviaCat]

As Oxybob pointed out on the SCIAC board, the REgional rankings don't mean too much since in all likelyhood the winner of the SCIAC will play the winner of the NWC regardless of ranking (Though homefield advantage beyond that game will be related to rankings I guess).  Nonetheless,  does anybody know when the rankings come out or is it a surprise?

[OxyBob]

Occidental game was not close.

Really?  I don't think I've ever heard someone call a game where they trailed at the half and won by 4 points "not close".  I don't care if it was on the road, at home, or on the moon.

Nihon, you have to forgive D O.C. He wears an old, faded cotton Linfied hat, and unfortunately it's shrunk too much and squeezed all of the blood from his brain. You Linfield posters please pitch in and buy Den a new hat, preferably adjustable to allow for swelling.

OxyBob

[wildcat11]

Occidental game was not close.

Really?  I don't think I've ever heard someone call a game where they trailed at the half and won by 4 points "not close".  I don't care if it was on the road, at home, or on the moon.

Nihon, you have to forgive D O.C. He wears an old, faded cotton Linfied hat, and unfortunately it's shrunk too much and squeezed all of the blood from his brain. You Linfield posters please pitch in and buy Den a new hat, preferably adjustable to allow for swelling.

OxyBob

Does that mean that you two are not going to be hanging ten this weekend? 

[d-train]

As Oxybob pointed out on the SCIAC board, the Regional rankings don't mean too much since in all likelyhood the winner of the SCIAC will play the winner of the NWC regardless of ranking.

True, the first round is predictable.

(Though homefield advantage beyond that game will be related to rankings I guess). 

Exactly.

Nonetheless,  does anybody know when the rankings come out or is it a surprise?

Late Wednesday, I believe.

[D O.C.]

The NCAA always gives a lot of credit to WIAC teams.  While it is probably undeserved, it still seems to happen each year.  So two WIAC squads on the nonconference is about as tough as you're going to find in Minnesota.  Ask UST-- whose nonconference includes UMAC-like Macalester and UMAC middler Northwestern (MN).

But I would not be surprised to see 2-4 go in any order of SJU/Linfield/Central-- all three of them deserve to be up there.

DustySJU, your analysis was as good as it's going to get. I can tease it but I have no argument against it. Much like at Occidental several years ago, Willamette embarrassed the NWC and themselves by losing to C-M. ( do not respond bbaddict or GEORGE)
6-7 years ago - (when current players were in 7th grade) the WIAC was known by us to be large plodding machines that could be had by quickness. UWW changed all that.  I have not seen the rest of the league so maybe that stinging criticism still holds?

As for point 2---I agree that the 04-05 team was probably better than the 09 team has been so far (with the exception of the 09 team having a better running game)

As I remember it the '04 team had Stagg MVP Riley Jenkins who ran to my great satisfaction but ticked me off with his personal decision not to come back in '05. Imagine that!

Mr. Nihon, we can talk up how close that game was Saturday night. True, it was the best you did out of three but if we did not give it away, you were not going to take it.
I'll be sitting with the drum corp.

[MonroviaCat]

As Oxybob pointed out on the SCIAC board, the Regional rankings don't mean too much since in all likelyhood the winner of the SCIAC will play the winner of the NWC regardless of ranking.

True, the first round is predictable.

(Though homefield advantage beyond that game will be related to rankings I guess).  

Exactly.

Nonetheless,  does anybody know when the rankings come out or is it a surprise?

Late Wednesday, I believe.

Thanks.  

As I remember it the '04 team had Stagg MVP Riley Jenkins who ran to my great satisfaction but ticked me off with his personal decision not to come back in '05. Imagine that!

True enough Dens--though we're averaging about 50 more yds/game this year than that year (I believe that's only using regular season stats).  I think I was probably thinking of the 05's team lack of a running game against WW that lead to the loss....

[D O.C.]

Exactly. Scoring was so quick there was not much running. Even short yardage was a pass. But it did bite us in the end   .

[MonroviaCat]

Exactly. Scoring was so quick there was not much running. Even short yardage was a pass. But it did bite us in the end   .

I like the balance we've got this year but it would be nice to see less dropped passes and/or less off target passes....especially when the line gives QB time to throw and WRs time to get open...hopefully we can improve on this in the next two weeks and roar into the playoffs!