FB: Northwest Conference

[(509)Rat]

RFB,

Should I tell you stories about what it feels like to play in the second round of the playoffs?

[RFB]

509-

Back when I played only real teams made the playoffs. Only 16 made it back then and we lost competively to a 14-0 National Champion UW-Lacrosse. No need for me to hear stories about your watered down playoff experience.

[wildcat11]

And the flop continues to make the rounds on the internet!  This time on NBCsports.com!

http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2011/01/27/wait-theres-flopping-in-american-football-now/

[(509)Rat]

Oh you mean back when many of the current teams were still NAIA? Yeah, must have been real competitive. At least you didn't have to be the NWC's whipping boys back then huh? In fact your whole conference has struggled in the playoffs since your neighbors to the north joined in the late 90's. Bet you wish you could go back to the "competitive" days...

[Kingsmen4]

I think it is safe to draw multiple conclusions from this highlight (that I could not be happier to see btw), none of which bode positively for the Dawgzzz. I wish I would have gotten a hold of this when I was playing.

1.) Redlands to me (allow me to be creative here) always was (in my years at least, and this video proving that it has been this way for a while) Whittier in a Linfield Costume.

Their pregame warm-up, the way they walked around in between plays, I guess just the way they carried themselves overall ... you would have thought they were defending national champs. In fact I think they actually believed they had done something of the sort and convinced everyone to play along. But then you would get on the field with them and find that not only were they soft (for the most part... I would rule out Nicolini and Arndt from this conversation as they were actual badasses) but it was actually comical to watch them interact during the game, doing things like you see in this clip. It was really easy for a guy like me (a small white receiver) to make a play and then get under their skin afterward, and it made playing them literally the most fun I have ever had on a football field. Plus, their fans are equally lame.

I respected them because they were a good team almost every year we played them and it was always a fist fight due to the rivalry ... but there was something about them that just made me laugh to myself under my helmet.

2.) I never had the pleasure of playing Whitworth, but I still find it hard to understand how the Ratster is infatuated with their one second round appearance ... seemingly forgetting about the last 5 years up their in the NWC. Its one thing to big up the conference you are in ... but Linfield's coattails might be getting a little heavy 

How can a team that has beat you that many times in a row be the NWC's whipping boys?? I don't even like Redlands (it has taken me a few years removed from the game to convince myself I don't hate them) and I feel that to be a little weak.

Whitworth had a run, Willamette had a run ... but Linfield is the only team that can really say anything to the SCIAC when it comes to domination. And we are working on that 

I have said it many times ... the SCIAC and the NWC are very similar year in and year out from top to bottom - and the majority of that being the bottom. Hanging your hat on one second round playoff run is like arguing that 4th place in a track race should get a medal. 

-GO LU

[(509)Rat]

In the last decade Whitworth has been the second most successful program in the conference when you look at wins and losses, and championships. Our conference has been dominated by Linfield, but has been well represented by the 3 other teams to win conference championships. PLU, Whitworth, Willamette, and Linfield have all had successful trips to the playoffs. That's a lot more than you can say for any SCIAC program. Of course I don't expect you to look past 2008-9 because you didn't live it, but if you knew where Whitworth was in the mid 90's and saw the peak (for now) in 06 and 07 then you might understand.

[D O.C.]

Whittier in a LINFIELD Costume

If I read no further I could drive to San Francisco and back wondering what the hell that meant.

This has been a great off season January on the NWC board. Thank-you, RFB, Kingsman4, (509)Rat, and......oh.....Wildcat11.

[Bearcat Press]

Whittier in a LINFIELD Costume

If I read no further I could drive to San Francisco and back wondering what the hell that meant.

A sheep in wolf's clothing?

[river]

Actually Linfield has a far more friendly schedule this year.   Five home games in a nine game schedule, with two of the three non-conference opponents they play (Menlo and Laverne) who together scored 3 total points against the Wildcats this past season.    

True, though I think the Wildcats would beat those two teams anywhere they played.  For the Bearcats, playing Hardin-Simmons in Salem rather than Abilene makes a huge difference.

That being said, I've heard rumors that Willamette might be looking to schedule a marquee road game this year too.  Stay tuned ...

My point is that only one of the Linfield non-conference games poses much of a threat based on last year's results, while Willamette is playing (albeit at home) three out-of-conference teams that were nationally ranked last year.  

So what's the latest on the rumored "marquee road game"?    (Mt Union, WW, Wesley, North Central, USC?)    

[wildcat11]

while Willamette is playing (albeit at home) three out-of-conference teams that were nationally ranked last year.  8-

noticed you didn't write playoff qualifying teams. 

[MacQuiz]

Those opening three games for the Bearcats are challenging and should serve to prepare them well for Linfield.
I'm personally happy about two things:

#1. I've been looking for an opportunity to see UWSP for a long time.  They are a
quality program that should make for a great season kickoff in the NWC at McCulloch.
It will be a good way to spend Sept 3rd before the Wildcats kick off thier opening.

#2. Our Wildcats will (as usual) have to stay focused on the faceoff with CalLu to get our season going.  That will be a "Heart Attack" serious test on Sept. 10.  Everyone will be dialed in on the task at hand while being very aware of how well prepared Willamette will be.
WU has a trifecta of tests(at home), followed by an open Saturday to prepare for thier fourth home game in a row against the conference rival Cats.

This will also, IMHO, be a reminder of what the Cats need to get done in preparation for WU.
A stiff test, but a good schedule to spark outstanding team preparation.
Oct. 1st is going to be something special.  Only 8 months away...stay awake

[bluenote]

Darn...I wish the Willamette Hardin-Simmons game was on the 17th.....Looks like a pretty good schedule for fans this year to catch games around the NWC....last year sucked!

[Kingsmen4]

In the last decade Whitworth has been the second most successful program in the conference when you look at wins and losses, and championships. Our conference has been dominated by Linfield, but has been well represented by the 3 other teams to win conference championships. PLU, Whitworth, Willamette, and Linfield have all had successful trips to the playoffs. That's a lot more than you can say for any SCIAC program. Of course I don't expect you to look past 2008-9 because you didn't live it, but if you knew where Whitworth was in the mid 90's and saw the peak (for now) in 06 and 07 then you might understand.

I think in order to really get down to the core of this argument, we need to define what is a "successful" trip to the playoffs?

IMO ... PLU and Linfield are the only teams to have "successful" trips to the playoffs - meaning they have played in and won the big one.

Willamette and Whitworth had a surge. So did Oxy, but I still don't see that as a playoff success. I was on a team that was 5-4 and we "won" the conference. We didn't get rings because it wasn't something we were proud of ... It wasn;t our pre-season goal to go 5-4.

Everyone wants to with a championship thats why you play ... so wouldn't that define a successful trip to the playoffs? I don't see Whitworth exceeding any of the top 3 SCIAC schools of the last decade in that category.

BTW I Very much "lived" Cal Lu football throughout the 2000's, as a seceond generation player in the program - and even before I stepped on the field in 05' I had heard a whole lot about PLU (in the late 90's) and Linfield's (as far back as the dinosaurs) successes, but had yet to know anything about Whitworth...

-Go LU

[Kingsmen4]

Whittier in a LINFIELD Costume

If I read no further I could drive to San Francisco and back wondering what the hell that meant.

This has been a great off season January on the NWC board. Thank-you, RFB, Kingsman4, (509)Rat, and......oh.....Wildcat11.

Acts like Whittier, Feels Like Linfield, plays like ... well ... Redlands.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

+k  K4  well said my man