FB: Northwest Conference

[MonroviaCat]

Can someone explain to me why Bethel isn't rated Number 2 on the D3football.com top 25 with 6 first place votes if Pat and Keith think they are the top rated West team in the West NCAA Region? As discussed in the PodCast. I'm not getting it.

Blue--it's time to up your ADD meds because you are really having trouble focusing, eh? 

[bluenote]

I thought Wildcat11 had the most intelligent answer. 

The regional rankings by the NCAA (you know those rankings that rate the teams for playoff seeding, etc.) trumps the D3football.com top 25 poll and they know best how to select and rate the top seeds in the regions. And they use totally different criteria to make their assessment than the poll voters. Yes, I feel more informed now.   

[hazzben]

PLU doesn't want to play Linfield because they'd like a shot at winning their first round game.

What the NCAA should do is send Redlands up to PLU and send a MN/WI team to Linfield. Then you can send the Lutes down to McMinnville  for their 2nd round beating.

Question: if St. Scholastica came to OR would Linfield put 100 on them instead of showing mercy like they did against the conference opponent from Portland?

CSS needs to beat Greenville first. It's more than a 10 hour bus ride down to G-ville, IL from Duluth.

That being the case, CSS v. Linfield would be a logical matchup in terms of likely seeding and team strength. Except when you factor in Bethel, UWW and NCC also as viable locations for CSS to be first round canon fodder. It creates a flight in Rd 1 when the committee could just have CSS drive to another top seed, like they've had them do in the past against UST. Same reasoning could be applied to Illinois College.

Another option might be to have the IIAC champ fly out to Linfield. The IIAC Pool A rep will have at least 2 losses and could even have 3.

Wandering out loud. Would the committee ever fly PLU out to UMHB and send Redlands to Linfield? Lots of scenarios...we really need to see how the first two Regional Rankings stack things and see how the final two weeks close out. Lots of big games left to be played...

[MonroviaCat]

Wandering out loud. Would the committee ever fly PLU out to UMHB and send Redlands to Linfield? Lots of scenarios...we really need to see how the first two Regional Rankings stack things and see how the final two weeks close out. Lots of big games left to be played...

This is what I thought could happen if they do something other than the expected rematch between PLU and Linfield.  But I guess (from what I've read) Milsaps and or Texas Lutheran both have chances of getting in and could apparently drive to MHB.  Pat has suggested that the PLU/Linfield rematch is likely due to financial constraints.....

[OldCatProf]

Pat has suggested that the PLU/Linfield rematch is likely due to financial constraints.....

Good grief. How many years in a row does Linfield have to play Lutherans in the first round? Isn't there some sort of mercy rule that should prevent this?

[MonroviaCat]

Pat has suggested that the PLU/Linfield rematch is likely due to financial constraints.....

Good grief. How many years in a row does Linfield have to play Lutherans in the first round? Isn't there some sort of mercy rule that should prevent this?

Our best hope is for Whitworth to beat PLU.....just sayin.

[Pat Coleman]

Regional rankings:
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2013/11/06/first-2013-ncaa-regional-rankings/

[swede]

Received my first package from dahlby. This one is a nice looking banner and an awesome key chain. Today I put up the new shelves and the helmets.

Props to the SCIAC

Redlands

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

I'm not sure if current Wildcat players read these threads... so.. take what I'm saying with a grain of salt..

I believe it would be more beneficial for us Wildcat backers to not make excuses for our lack of deep runs in the playoffs - I find it a bit bothersome that the coaching staff has been quoted as saying stuff along the lines of "..the West is so tough..." "we beat each other up..." "No other region has as difficult a task making it to the semi-finals..."... etc. etc. Those statements set the stage for excuses.

PLU won the title in 1999 by going on the road 5 times!  So what if Linfield is a 2 seed and won't host a quarter/semi-final game.  No excuses.  We were a high seed last year and lost in the 3rd round to UW Oshkosh at home. 

Let's not set the stage for excuses by serving them up on these message boards.

[wildcat11]

Let's not set the stage for excuses by serving them up on these message boards.

If players are weak enough to be effect by what is said on these message board then the 'Cats don't have a chance to begin with. 

If a media member ask Coach Smith a question he's going to give an answer.  The West is a tougher road to Salem and that's not an excuse, it's a reality.  When Coach Smith talks about this it comes from a place of having a mindset of his players needing to work that much harder in order to be ready for the challenges of the season and beyond.  The last thing Coach Smith will ever be is an excuse maker.

[D O.C.]

I have no excuses for two lost fumbles in OT that took ourselves out in the last four years

[bluenote]

I believe it would be more beneficial for us Wildcat backers to not make excuses for our lack of deep runs in the playoffs - I find it a bit bothersome that the coaching staff has been quoted as saying stuff along the lines of "..the West is so tough..." "we beat each other up..." "No other region has as difficult a task making it to the semi-finals..."... etc. etc. Those statements set the stage for excuses.

You must not be very familiar with the recent history of the playoff brackets. It's a known fact that the West is usually the strongest and most difficult bracket. It's a tremendous plus to have home field in the playoffs. Especially the distances we have to travel. Just ask MUC and their typical 3 bye weeks they usually get for the first three rounds how they like it......when they can play their 2nd and 3rd team most of the second half of those games and rest their starters. It's a pretty significant advantage.

[hazzben]

If a media member ask Coach Smith a question he's going to give an answer.  The West is a tougher road to Salem and that's not an excuse, it's a reality.  When Coach Smith talks about this it comes from a place of having a mindset of his players needing to work that much harder in order to be ready for the challenges of the season and beyond.  The last thing Coach Smith is an excuse maker.

I actually just had a conversation with my brother about this topic today. I think 99 PLU, 03 SJU, 04 Linfield and the UWW stretch run all benefited from having to survive and advance in the rough and tumble West bracket.

Does it make it more difficult to get to the semifinals and/or the Stagg Bowl? Yep, most certainly. Is the team the prevails better prepared for the challenge? I tend to think so. Injuries might affect things, but I think there have been several examples of Stagg teams, especially against Mount, where the West Region team was better prepared for the battle because of the tough games leading up to it. Where Mount had a relatively easier buildup.

If you can win your way through the West and find yourself in the Stagg, no one can question whether you deserve to be there. Or whether you're ready...

Now, does a team want home field. Sure. But I think Mount would prefer a challenge or two along the way. In this regard, the East region isn't necessarily doing them any favors.

[MonroviaCat]

If a media member ask Coach Smith a question he's going to give an answer.  The West is a tougher road to Salem and that's not an excuse, it's a reality.  When Coach Smith talks about this it comes from a place of having a mindset of his players needing to work that much harder in order to be ready for the challenges of the season and beyond.  The last thing Coach Smith is an excuse maker.

I actually just had a conversation with my brother about this topic today. I think 99 PLU, 03 SJU, 04 Linfield and the UWW stretch run all benefited from having to survive and advance in the rough and tumble West bracket.

Does it make it more difficult to get to the semifinals and/or the Stagg Bowl? Yep, most certainly. Is the team the prevails better prepared for the challenge? I tend to think so. Injuries might affect things, but I think there have been several examples of Stagg teams, especially against Mount, where the West Region team was better prepared for the battle because of the tough games leading up to it. Where Mount had a relatively easier buildup.

If you can win your way through the West and find yourself in the Stagg, no one can question whether you deserve to be there. Or whether you're ready...

Now, does a team want home field. Sure. But I think Mount would prefer a challenge or two along the way. In this regard, the East region isn't necessarily doing them any favors.

Unless your St. Thomas last  year where certain folks (MHB fans and some others) swear the real Stagg Bowl was the week before

[desertcat1]

I'm not sure if current Wildcat players read these threads... so.. take what I'm saying with a grain of salt..

I believe it would be more beneficial for us Wildcat backers to not make excuses for our lack of deep runs in the playoffs - I find it a bit bothersome that the coaching staff has been quoted as saying stuff along the lines of "..the West is so tough..." "we beat each other up..." "No other region has as difficult a task making it to the semi-finals..."... etc. etc. Those statements set the stage for excuses.

PLU won the title in 1999 by going on the road 5 times!  So what if Linfield is a 2 seed and won't host a quarter/semi-final game.  No excuses.  We were a high seed last year and lost in the 3rd round to UW Oshkosh at home. 

Let's not set the stage for excuses by serving them up on these message boards.

Hey Walla Walla, 
 
I don't think I have talked to you before, so until then  I will hold some  thoughts because I have a dog in this fight. 

BUT , one thing I can tell you is the staff will chttp://www.d3boards.com/Smileys/classic/embarrassed.gifall a spade a spade....
And the remarks you make reference to  are FACTS not excuses that  MOST Cat fans  understand ...... 

Get your FACTS straight and then we will talk .   About   How the cow ate the cabbage..   

Go Cats
Go BIG D