FB: Northwest Conference

[T_Unit14]

Oh my...
Well Linfield is back in the playoffs and you fans are going right back to the old ways.  Beating Linfield is no easy task and their period of Dominance is enviable.  But, the past is indeed the past. Speck may be 3-8 against you guys but he has been working with some hindrances that have never existed at Linfield.  We don't have your tradition and don't have your level of support and can't get the recruits you get to be admitted to our school. It kind of sucks sometimes and we are jealous of it, but we respect it and we overcome it. I for one have seen how much WU has changed behind the scenes, allowing us to be more competitive in the recruiting realm.  As many of you noted after last years game.  It is a what have you done for me lately world and as I see it right now both Willamette and Linfield are strong and thriving.  Coach Smith is 2-2 against Willamette and last year at this time you were calling for his head and his job.  Don't be scared of your little brother just cause he grew up and can now put a whoopin into you every now and again. Because he is still your brother,  In the end we benefit eachother and the conference when we are both strong. I played against you guys I know the history, but things change and tides turn.  It seems that WU has finally taken the next step as a program and will continue to piss you guys off even when you have bigger fish to fry. It cracks me up.  And I would rather have a couple rude fans than a d-line coach who tells our starting tackle that his d-ends are going to embarrass him right before the game. That isn't class. So just chill with the Bearcat Bashing cause none of us is without imperfection. Focus on Whitewater they are the enemy, I am a friend of Linfield and the NWC but don't slip back to the blind arrogance which once made me hate you so... please.

While I obviously can't speak for everyone, I know that most of the Linfield regulars here have always been supportive of Coach Smith. Please don't paint all of us with the same broad brush.

Of course we want the conference to be strong. It makes us all look better, and I think it's clear that Speckman is greatly respected by the Wildcat faithful. But if you can't tease your brother, who can you tease? Are we going to talk smack with UO? I don't think so.

On another note, ABC news started their coverage tonight from Madison, WI about the weather there. Not a good sign. They said even the salt on the roads could freeze.

ahh nothing to worry about...do what everyone else (drunk college kids) do in Wisconsin in this kind of weather!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1grCwOWYTU

http://www.younewstv.com/areas/wkowtv/78878217.html?c=n

[coco]

That beats the heck out of studying.

[coco]

CatDad and CatMom are flying out Friday at noon to the frozen tundra.... actually we are looking forward to the heat wave that is 31 degrees in WI... a far cry from the 8 degrees I had driving in this morning...

The boys are excited, focused and ready to put the road warrior garb back on.... this will be a GREAT game.....

See all you Cat fans on Saturday!!

GO CATS!!!

The Cats may have gotten a break with the weather, as no snow is predicted for Saturday, and winds will be 6 mph. The temps will peak in the 20s, with partly sunny skies.
Interesting fact about Wisconsin-Whitewater, they were not always known as the Warhawks. The football program was first known as the Purple, then Quakers. I wonder if purple and silver weren't the original color scheme, many schools have switched to black later, like Northwestern. When Dennis Green("They were who we thought they were") coached NW, black wasn't part of the Wildcats uniform.

Didn't Whitewater change from Quakers to Warhawks during the tenure of Coach Perkins, for whom the stadium is named? I thought I heard that somewhere.

Just now on the local Portland news there was coverage of the college kids in Madison and their giant snowball. They failed to mention that it was likely fueled by alcohol.

[bleedpurple]

A look "Inside the Numbers" of the Linfield-UWW game is posted on my blog:

http://uwwfootball.blogspot.com/2009/12/statistics-that-separate.html

[Las Vegas Wildcards]

A look "Inside the Numbers" of the Linfield-UWW game is posted on my blog:

http://uwwfootball.blogspot.com/2009/12/statistics-that-separate.html

Interesting read, a very good article. The Linfield QB is Aaron, not Brian Boehme, though. I think another factor which may be evident in this game is clutch play in the fourth quarter, have the Warhawks had to convert key plays in crunch time since last years Stagg Bowl? It seems as though WW has put away everyone by the third quarter this season, Linfield has been in more tight games, and on the road as well. The unknown part of this matchup is how well WW will respond in a unexpected tight game at home, Linfield wasn't supposed to be in this position in 2009, so WW could feel more pressure in this type of situation.   

[FarAwayCat]

A look "Inside the Numbers" of the Linfield-UWW game is posted on my blog:

http://uwwfootball.blogspot.com/2009/12/statistics-that-separate.html

Nice write up BP.  Very well researched.  I didn't realize the Cats lead the nation in Take-aways.  Good to know.  thanks.  Hopefully they can get those stingy warhawks to be a little more generous than they're used to this season.  Time to really step up big D!

[bleedpurple]

A look "Inside the Numbers" of the Linfield-UWW game is posted on my blog:

http://uwwfootball.blogspot.com/2009/12/statistics-that-separate.html

Interesting read, a very good article. The Linfield QB is Aaron, not Brian Boehme, though. I think another factor which may be evident in this game is clutch play in the fourth quarter, have the Warhawks had to convert key plays in crunch time since last years Stagg Bowl? It seems as though WW has put away everyone by the third quarter this season, Linfield has been in more tight games, and on the road as well. The unknown part of this matchup is how well WW will respond in a unexpected tight game at home, Linfield wasn't supposed to be in this position in 2009, so WW could feel more pressure in this type of situation.   

Thank you for the correction on Aaron. I've edited the blog. There are absolutely more factors to the game than I listed. I just wanted to look at some categories that might be interesting to research and see what the numbers said. Last week was the closest thing to 4th quarter adversity they have faced all year. They definitely responded better to that situation than I did!  UWW led 14-13 with around 19 minutes left in the game. They then drove for a TD to extend the lead to 21-13. They then got a stop and then drove to a FG. They then got a pick returned to the 12 for the 31-13 final.

One of the great things about D3 semi-finals. Both teams will have to answer questions. The one you cite is definitely one UWW has to answer if the Cats pressure them in the 4th quarter!

[bleedpurple]

A look "Inside the Numbers" of the Linfield-UWW game is posted on my blog:

http://uwwfootball.blogspot.com/2009/12/statistics-that-separate.html

Nice write up BP.  Very well researched.  I didn't realize the Cats lead the nation in Take-aways.  Good to know.  thanks.  Hopefully they can get those stingy warhawks to be a little more generous than they're used to this season.  Time to really step up big D!

Thanks FarAway..glad you enjoyed it.

Is it Saturday yet!?   

[D O.C.]

Just another WILDCAT connection to a great big family...
any of you folk from the 1984 NAIA Championship team remember this teammate?

http://longbeachpolyfootball.com/index.php/features-mainmenu/coaching-staff/110?sectionid=110

'CAT Craig Howard down in Florida had Tim Tebow in high school and Raul is doing alright.

[cougs]

Quick question for the regular posters...

What's going on at L&C and UPS that they can't pull it together and have a decent team every year?

I've been to UPS, they have a nice campus and nice facilities.  What gives???

[bluenote]

Quick question for the regular posters...

What's going on at L&C and UPS that they can't pull it together and have a decent team every year?

I've been to UPS, they have a nice campus and nice facilities.  What gives???

L&C is getting better. UPS is getting a new coach. They both could be good teams....we'll see.

[Bubs1856]

Seriously Brig....you are going to try and play the Notre Dame "can't admit the guys they do" card?  Were not talking Willamette vs WOU. 

[wildcat11]

Brig,

First off, Speck was in the news and that just led to some good-natured ribbing.  B-Press had his fun last year so I'm just returning the favor.  I think B-Press understands that however I need to address a few items.

Coach Smith is 2-2 against Willamette and last year at this time you were calling for his head and his job.

Like Coco said the great majority of posters on this board never said that.  Linfield has always been the most supportive fans on this board even when the 'Cats went three years in a row without winning the NWC crown and blood was in the water.  We've always have had the 'Cats and Coach Smith's back. 

And I would rather have a couple rude fans than a d-line coach who tells our starting tackle that his d-ends are going to embarrass him right before the game. That isn't class.

No, don't lecture us about the class of Linfield's staff.  I've always liked Speck but when I saw the Bearcats 2008 Linfield game highlight that the WU staff put together it gave me a little pause.  At the :23 second mark, the creator of the video photoshopped "oser" onto the "L" of the Linfield logo and  photoshopped "Linfield" onto a gravestone.  Yeah, I know WU was excited about that game but that writing "Loser" on the 'Cats Logo is and remains garbage.  I could be 100% wrong but I would think that Speck has seen this clip when it was first made and it surprises me that the WU staff was OK with it.

[Bearcat Press]

No, don't lecture us about the class of Linfield's staff.  I've always liked Speck but when I saw the Bearcats 2008 Linfield game highlight that the WU staff put together it gave me a little pause.  At the :23 second mark, the creator of the video photoshopped "oser" onto the "L" of the Linfield logo and  photoshopped "Linfield" onto a gravestone.  Yeah, I know WU was excited about that game but that writing "Loser" on the 'Cats Logo is and remains garbage.  I could be 100% wrong but I would think that Speck has seen this clip when it was first made and it surprises me that the WU staff was OK with it.

That video was not made by the staff, and the "WUCATS" channel is not affiliated with the university.  Everything made by staff is either on the athletics website or on Vimeo.  We don't have a fan blog like ADvantage Catdome.  Yet.

Look, I know there's a trash-talking poll up at the top of this page, but seriously ... why are we doing this?  This week should be about two major victories for the NWC.  First, the impending Linfield win over Whitewater.  Second, Willamette retaining Speckman - which I think we can all agree will keep Willamette competing at a high level.

And for the record, let's define classy once and for all right now.

[criswyly]

"A look "Inside the Numbers" of the Linfield-UWW game is posted on my blog:"

Dittos on the article BP...very savy analysis.  It definetly demonstrates UWW's superior statistics.  However, I think many of us watched Texas vs. Nebraska last week.   According to the sports pundits and pregame analysis, the Huskers were in for a drubbing.  This is one poster that predicted a win by Nebraska due to first hand knowledge of NU's defense.  They almost pulled it off despite the fact that the Husker's had the worst offense that I've ever seen at that level in 57 years.  

Of course we all know that the Texas/NU game last Saturday is just one example of an untold number of games that don't go according to the statistical script.  I've seen more Rose Bowl games than I can count, where the Big 10 had all the big stats and big guns only to be sent home by the upstart Leftcoasters.  I think this game is going to be won in the head.  The team that wants it the most, that believes inspite of adversity, adjusts quickly and makes the best out of the turnovers will win the day.  What team will that be?

From a quick perusal of the SOS and updating it in my head it appears that Linfield's SOS is way ahead of UWW at this point.....Even the many ranked teams that the Cats beat are ahead of most of the WIAC teams in my calculation.....Maybe somebody with a bigger brain can confirm or deny my estimate.  So I would have to say if you want to talk stats then the SOS would counter BP's well thought analysis.

Therefore if my analysis is accurate it looks to me that the WIAC may not be as tough a conference overall this year as in the past.  So...has UWW been performing behind a weak sauce WIAC year?  That just may be wishful thinking on my part, but it could be true...Guess we'll see this Saturday.  Don't forget what happened to LaCrosse and Rowan (two of the big names in DIII) a few years back...they came to town with flying colors thinking they were ready to knock off the upstart Cats...and were turned away bitterly disappointed....This game is going to be dynamically stressful, you can be sure of that....to the end.  

Oh yes, and history does matter.  If you don't think so talk to the coaches of the USC's, Miami's, Nortre Dame's, Michagan's, Florida's etc, etc....Without history it's pretty tough to see the future.  Coaches are hired and fired because of it.  Even administrators at the DIII level have realized the importance of a strong football program.

It's almost Thursday and I snow plowed like a Wildcat today.