FB: Northwest Conference

[(509)Rat]

You think C of I would go for it? I actually think convincing NWC pres/AD's would be the easy part.

[wildcat11]

The current president is a former longtime Linfield guy.  They're an original NWC member and I think their academic profile fits the NWC (others could speak more on that).  I believe they've expressed interest in the NWC in the recent past but I think travel costs (no true travel partner) is causing some NWC presidents to balk. 

Me....I'm all for it.  I think they would be a great addition to the conference.   

[(509)Rat]

Wouldn't the only sport where having a travel partner (or rather not having a travel partner) would matter be basketball? Maybe soccer now that I think about it?

I think the football only experiment with Menlo would make that possibility a no go as far as the NWC is concerned. But I would think the money C of I would save, not giving out scholarships to their largest sport would make $$ sense for them.

I think they would be a great addition. With no other options for Idaho HS players (outside of Boise and Idaho), they could have a strong program without having to leave the state for kids. Plus another guaranteed in-region game couldn't hurt, especially since the NWC is finally realizing how DIII playoff selections work...the 2007 Whitworth snub really opened everyone's eyes as to how important it was to ditch the NAIA/DII/etc games. Even with the auto bid, C of I would only help the conference get 2 bids IMO

[wildcat11]

ADvantage 'Catdome:2012 Spring is in the Book (w/ Spring Ball highlight video)

[bluenote]

Great Vid Wildcat11....Keepem' Coming!   

[Las Vegas Wildcards]

The current president is a former longtime Linfield guy.  They're an original NWC member and I think their academic profile fits the NWC (others could speak more on that).  I believe they've expressed interest in the NWC in the recent past but I think travel costs (no true travel partner) is causing some NWC presidents to balk. 

Me....I'm all for it.  I think they would be a great addition to the conference.

I checked in the CI website for the 32 minute press conference, and the Frontier Conference has invited CI as a member, and it sounded like the administration is happy about that. Caldwell is 443 miles from McMinnville, which is 200 miles less than Menlo is. Linfield was mentioned during the presser as a NWC school the Coyotes would be interested in playing in a 2014 preseason game.

Simplot Stadium will be the home for Coyote football, they will need to add locker rooms and other improvements. Interesting to hear how the success of nearby Boise State played a role in the decision to bring football back. Of course, it now sounds like Idaho will be returning to the FCS level after the demolition of the WAC.

We've brought this up from time to time, but with these schools adding football in recent years, has there been any rumblings from any schools in Oregon or Washington about restoring their programs? I'm thinking of Oregon Tech and Whitman. Wasn't Western Washington the school which pulled the plug on their program a few years ago?   

[D O.C.]

By JESSIE L. BONNER--Associated Press

BOISE — The College of Idaho will revive a football program that was discontinued in the late 1970s, officials said Monday.
The board that governs the state's oldest private liberal arts college voted to reinstate football during a meeting last week. The decision was not made public until Monday, when college officials issued a statement shortly before hold-ing a press conference on the Caldwell campus.
The program won't compete until the fall of 2014, school officials said.
The college hopes to tap into some of the enthusiasm surrounding the nearby Boise State football program. The idea is that the College of Idaho could attract students who wouldn't make the cut at Boise State or the University of Idaho in Moscow, but could thrive at an NAIA college.
Those athletes are now going to places like Carroll College in Montana and Willamette University in Oregon, according to College of Idaho athletic director Marty Holly. He'd like to see those students stay closer to home so their families can see them play.
"There are many smart, young student-athletes who want to play football and would love a chance to play near their families and get an education that will set them up for a lifetime of success," Holly said in the school's statement.
Holly and College of Idaho President Marv Henberg plan to meet with Frontier Conference officials next month. The college is pursuing an associate membership with the conference, where the Coyotes would compete in football only.
The proposal to resurrect the football program was touted as a way to boost enrollment, fundraising and the school's profile. The college plans to immediately launch a fundraising campaign to help with the startup costs.
"We believe that football is going to be a shot of adrenaline for The College of Idaho and for the Treasure Valley," Henberg said.
The college would need a new locker room facility, with coaching offices and a weight room. School officials hope to partner with Caldwell to upgrade the city-owned Simplot Stadium, which was built in 1966 and seats less than 6,000.
The college's original program started in 1917 and produced four NFL players. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and U.S. Dis-trict Judge Edward Lodge also played for the Coyotes, who were 225-221 during the program's history.
The latest proposal to bring back the football program was met with resistance from some students who think the violence of the game won't mix well with a liberal arts college that prides itself on academics. The college has pro-duced six Rhodes Scholars and is ranked among the nation's 200 best liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Re-port. It has about 1,000 students who pay an average of $22,000 a year in tuition.

We need 'em. We want 'em.

[fbgcat]

C of I would go NAIA, looks like.  How would that help Linfield?

[(509)Rat]

The current president is a former longtime Linfield guy.  They're an original NWC member and I think their academic profile fits the NWC (others could speak more on that).  I believe they've expressed interest in the NWC in the recent past but I think travel costs (no true travel partner) is causing some NWC presidents to balk. 

Me....I'm all for it.  I think they would be a great addition to the conference.

I checked in the CI website for the 32 minute press conference, and the Frontier Conference has invited CI as a member, and it sounded like the administration is happy about that. Caldwell is 443 miles from McMinnville, which is 200 miles less than Menlo is. Linfield was mentioned during the presser as a NWC school the Coyotes would be interested in playing in a 2014 preseason game.

Simplot Stadium will be the home for Coyote football, they will need to add locker rooms and other improvements. Interesting to hear how the success of nearby Boise State played a role in the decision to bring football back. Of course, it now sounds like Idaho will be returning to the FCS level after the demolition of the WAC.

We've brought this up from time to time, but with these schools adding football in recent years, has there been any rumblings from any schools in Oregon or Washington about restoring their programs? I'm thinking of Oregon Tech and Whitman. Wasn't Western Washington the school which pulled the plug on their program a few years ago?

Western Washington was the one who pulled their program. Couple not winning as much as they were in the mid 90's and early 00's with the state budget cuts (I'll save the Gregoire rant for another time) and you lose your program.

As for somebody like Whitman? I would be shocked to see them add football. They have a long ways to go facilities wise and culture wise. If they do add football, I feel sorry for all of the NWC players that have to play at Borleski in Walla Walla. But who knows? Washington JC's are finally (slowly) bringing back football. Most, if not all, are at the club level but it's a start. I think as football becomes more popular, in terms of starting kids younger and playing/practicing year-round, on the West side of the state, we'll see more colleges and universities get serious about adding programs.

[Las Vegas Wildcards]

Western Washington was the one who pulled their program. Couple not winning as much as they were in the mid 90's and early 00's with the state budget cuts (I'll save the Gregoire rant for another time) and you lose your program.

As for somebody like Whitman? I would be shocked to see them add football. They have a long ways to go facilities wise and culture wise. If they do add football, I feel sorry for all of the NWC players that have to play at Borleski in Walla Walla. But who knows? Washington JC's are finally (slowly) bringing back football. Most, if not all, are at the club level but it's a start. I think as football becomes more popular, in terms of starting kids younger and playing/practicing year-round, on the West side of the state, we'll see more colleges and universities get serious about adding programs.
[/quote]

Interesting, I was clueless about JUCO football, even at the club level in the northwest. There are roughly 35 JC's in the northwest, and if football were to gain interest at the club level for say, eight schools, is it possible there could be a JUCO northwest football conference way down the line? There's a Western States football conference, with schools in Arizona, California, and Utah.
JUCO football also exists in the southwest and midwest. And to speculate further, if JUCO football were to become a NW reality, what type of impact would this have on all the NW D3 schools?

I did a little research on northwest JUCOs, and found some interesting nicknames:

Treasure Valley CC Chukars, Yakon Valley CC Yaks, Edmonds CC Tritons, Grays Harbor College Chokers, and Community Colleges of Spokane Sasquatch.       

 
   

[wildcat11]

ADvantage 'Catdome:2012 Linfield Spring Review: Linebackers

[bluenote]

I think the SJU Baseball Team was or is here at the Baseball Catdome.....not sure what happened.   

[cawcdad]

Linfield is hosting the regional playoffs in baseball.

[speedybigboy]

PLU vs LINFIELD in the Womens Softball Championship tourney.

Go Lutes!

+ I see the PLU Womens Ultimate team is at nationals.

[criswyly]

Okay, so I have to congratulate the PLU Lady Lutes for winning the all NWC national championship title game between PLU and Linfield in women's softball.  It was Linfield's third title game in a row over the last three years.  PLU won 3-0 in a well played game.  Coach Vaughn and the Lady Cats have done a great job again this year.