FB: Northwest Conference

[bluenote]

Coach Smith was nice enough to talk about the 2012 season with the ADvantage 'Catdome and he also breaks the news that Linfield will be filling that 2013 George Fox slot by playing in Cleavland, Ohio vs Case Western Reserve.

That's a great pick. I'll have plenty of relatives to stay with in the area. Plus I like Amish cooking and buggy rides.

[criswyly]

Had an excellent interview with Craig Howard.  I had not realized that Craig started at linebacker all four years of his Wildcat career.

[D O.C.]

Come' on Criss, he was LINFIELD beast who would sacrifice his body at any time. Wet, dry, home or away.He played with Jay Buse.

[OldCatProf]

Come' on Criss, he was LINFIELD beast who would sacrifice his body at any time. Wet, dry, home or away.He played with Jay Buse.

Craig Howard had something else in common with Jay Buse. Neither was much of a talker. Both were beasts on the field and let their efforts do the talking for them.

I remember a NWC game at College of Idaho (about 1973) where Craig sustained a broken arm. This was back in the day when (overnight) travel squads were limited to something like 36 or 40 players. Del Smith provided an airplane (first time, I think) so about 100 Wildcats ran out onto the field...dwarfing the C of I squad and quieting the home town fans...both of them. At halftime the game was still close because Jim Massey (speaking of non-speaking beasts) had only 2 carries. That oversight was corrected in the second half and Linfield flew home with a lopsided win.

[D O.C.]

OldCatProf...do you remember when Jim Massey played in the Bar West Classic with a cast on his ankle?

Wished I'd have taken pictures of him in a Ram uniform with George Allen at Long Beach State when he was still hanging on to his spot.

[OldCatProf]

OldCatProf...do you remember when Jim Massey played in the Bar West Classic with a cast on his ankle?

Wished I'd have taken pictures of him in a Ram uniform with George Allen at Long Beach State when he was still hanging on to his spot.

Nope, I missed the ankle event. I do remember, though, that for a Rams preseason game, Massey was slated to start on defense (at corner, I think) so a bunch of us Wildcats sent him a "good luck" telegram (Boy, does that seem quaint!! ) Several years later I asked him about that and he said he received the telegram about a week after the game. In some ways, nothing much seems to change. Here in Mexico, email travels by burro once it crosses the border. 

[criswyly]

Speaking of Massey's appearance on defense for the Rams exhibition game.  I just happen to be in LA that week.  There was a picture of Massey going up in the air against the defender in the game, in the LA Times sports section.  .  If you check the LA Times archive you'll find it.  Check the LA Times photos by Joe Kennedy and Ben Olender; Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File); Aug 21, 1972;

[river]

Coach Smith was nice enough to talk about the 2012 season with the ADvantage 'Catdome and he also breaks the news that Linfield will be filling that 2013 George Fox slot by playing in Cleavland, Ohio vs Case Western Reserve.

http://catdomealumni.blogspot.com/2012/03/talking-2012-with-linfields-top-cat.html

Before going to Cleveland, Linfield's coaches should have their players watch these promotional videos to ensure that the team really gets the full Cleveland experience.

Case may not have the Wildcats' reputation but they seem to have won a few games in 2011.  Maybe the Spartans feel that the Wildcats will be slowed down from breathing the Cleveland air and drinking the industrial city water.   

Spartan Football Left Out of NCAA Playoff Field

[wildcat11]

Catdomealumni.com Video of the Week: 2011 California Lutheran

2011 Linfield vs Cal Lutheran

next week: 2011 vs La Verne

[bluenote]

I kind of liked when Virgil Ripley came back for an alumni game with a pony tail.

[D O.C.]

...and then he never came back at all. He's disappeared. In Portland somewhere, but apparently does not want to be found....by us. 

[bluenote]

I used to follow some of the semi-pro teams in Portland. Saw several Linfield players making their mark.....mostly lineman. I guess they still liked to hit.

[Bearcat Press]

Willamette has hired a new offensive coordinator, Brian Sheppard.  Press release HERE.  Sheppard, who played collegiately at Baker University (Kan.), will also serve as quarterbacks coach.

Not sure what this means for Chuck Pinkerton, QB coach since 2005, but he could potentially return to coaching running backs.  Willamette hasn't had a running backs coach since Tim Speckman moved to Germany.

[bluenote]

LINFIELD 17 vs. Baker, KS 0 ....1986 NAIA DII National Title Game.

[wildcat11]

LINFIELD 17 vs. Baker, KS 0 ....1986 NAIA DII National Title Game.

First thing I thought of Blue. 

BTW:  Catdomealumni.com presents the 1986 NAIA DII National Title game.