FB: Northwest Conference

[wildcat11]

form a super NWC conference?

We already had that back a few decades ago when when all the small PNW schools where part of the NAIA's Division II Columbia Football Association from 1985-99. (1985-87 it was the Columbia Football League)

It was split into two conferences (teams moved around a little or dropped football but generally)..the Mt. Hood Conference (Oregon Schools: Linfield,  Lewis & Clark, Oregon Tech, Southern Oregon, Western Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Pacific, and Willamette) and the Mt. Rainier Conference (Puget Sound, PLU, Western Washington, Central Washington, Whitworth, and Simon Fraser)

It all went to hell in the early 90's when the private schools became tired of getting rolled (in all sports...not just football) and decided to bail on the NAIA.  PLU and Linfield were the only two privates to vote against leaving the NAIA but eventually relented and formed the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges (NCIC (1995-97)) during the D3 transition years and then fully reformed/renamed to the NWC in 1998.

The remaining state schools limped along in the CFA till 1999 when the remaining schools jumped to DII and formed the GNAC and finally killed the CFA. 

[RFB]

form a super NWC conference?

We already had that back a few decades ago when when all the small PNW schools where part of the NAIA's Division II Columbia Football Association from 1985-99. (1985-87 it was the Columbia Football League)

It was split into two conferences (teams moved around a little or dropped football but generally)..the Mt. Hood Conference (Oregon Schools: Linfield,  Lewis & Clark, Oregon Tech, Southern Oregon, Western Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Pacific, and Willamette) and the Mt. Rainier Conference (Puget Sound, PLU, Western Washington, Central Washington, Whitworth, and Simon Fraser)

It all went to hell in the early 90's when the private schools became tired of getting rolled (in all sports...not just football) and decided to bail on the NAIA.  PLU and Linfield were the only two privates to vote against leaving the NAIA but eventually relented and formed the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges (NCIC (1995-97)) during the D3 transition years and then fully reformed/renamed to the NWC in 1998.

The remaining state schools limped along in the CFA till 1999 when the remaining schools jumped to DII and formed the GNAC and finally killed the CFA.

Interesting history, thanks for the breakdown. The NAIA must be struggling I would think, how long are they going to last is the question.

[d-train]

The NAIA must be struggling I would think, how long are they going to last is the question.

Yes, as is Div. II football this far west. I think that's actually the merger that makes more sense. Or some type of scheduling arrangement that allows (for example) NAIA Southern Oregon to regularly play Div. II Western Oregon and Div. II Humbolt St. without it being such a drag on everyone's playoff hopes. Carroll (NAIA) vs. Central Wash.; Eastern Oregon (NAIA) vs. Simon Fraser; etc. I'd guess the NCAA is the bigger hurdle to such an arrangement than the NAIA. That's a bit ironic, because these Div. II programs need a solution more than the NAIA schools. 

[olddog]

Good stuff boys. I think it is a matter of time that most D2 schools out West to drop football. I don't see them going D3. For example, Humbolt has three or four times the students of the other NWC schools plus less expensive. Why would the NWC let them in ? not happening. I doubt they all could get on the same page and go D2 or NAIA, even if "Football Only" . Right now each GNAC team plays each other twice just to fill a schedule and Humbolt is still searching for one non league game. The GNAC will continue to struggle because it is common knowledge that Azusa Pacific has expansion plans in terms of enrollment and looking at the USD model for athletics, hence go 1-AA.

[d-train]

Ah, football-only...that would be a pretty slick solution as well.  Just let these schools (basically Frontier + GNAC) play as a football-only league in either NAIA or Div. II.  The rest of their sports wouldn't need to change. Alas, the NCAA as outlawed that (dual-affiliation) approach as well.  I suppose they could do it anyway, and the Div. II schools would just forfeit any playoff hopes (which are slight at best anyway).

You are right about the NWC.  Only College of Idaho would have any outside chance at receiving an invite to join.  They are at 9 very similar private schools in WA/OR with 8 playing football.  What would motivate them to accept Humbolt or send kids to compete in Montana?  Eastern is closer and was pretty clearly told 'no' a few years back. 

[wildcat11]

You are right about the NWC.  Only College of Idaho would have any outside chance at receiving an invite to join. 

Bingo.  The NWC held their noses up at allowing Menlo to be a football only member to get that autobid.  Once Pacific added football, Menlo's short NWC membership was done.

I think the only football expansion you'll see in the conference is via Whitman but I'm not holding my breath on them having any desire to add the sport.  But history does show that conferences come and go out in the PacNW so who knows what it will look like 10-20 years down the road.

For the GNAC...they are a dead man walking and probably most don't know it.  DII has not been rewarding for them at all with regards to football and I can't see the college presidents ditching the "prestige" of the NCAA for the NAIA.  For football....it's either go back to the NAIA and thrive or I can see CWU and WOU both going away for good.

[olddog]

I am shocked Humbolt still has a football team. The whole D2 model is a bit quirky to me, schools with football or not. It is like you are half pregnant. The Wisc. model makes sense to me, more economical, and keeping male population up etc... I actually think with the BIG 5 power conferences pulling away from D1 it will impact D3. We could see the NCAA pulling back on funding D2 and D3. Maybe the NAIA can take advantage of this event someday, I don't know much about them to be honest. Lastly on this topic, the NCAA does not do a great job of marketing D3 athletics. Other than the IVY league their is not greater gathering of student athletes. If one just loves the purity of sports D3 is the spot. I prefer D3 games over going to Professional (BCS or NFL). I think with just a little better promotion at the local level, attendance could bump up at least 10% at all football games plus favorable PR for their member schools to take advantage of in other areas.

[badgerwarhawk]

I came across this on footballscoop.com today.

Lawrence (D-III – WI): Per source, former Willamette (D-III – OR) head coach Mark Speckman has been hired as offensive coordinator

Isn't that the coach who ran the "fly" offense at Willamette?  It would be interesting to see if he installs it at Lawrence, a Midwest Conference member who haven't been competitive in football for some time. 

[wildcat11]

I came across this on footballscoop.com today.

Lawrence (D-III – WI): Per source, former Willamette (D-III – OR) head coach Mark Speckman has been hired as offensive coordinator

Isn't that the coach who ran the "fly" offense at Willamette?  It would be interesting to see if he installs it at Lawrence, a Midwest Conference member who haven't been competitive in football for some time.

Same guy....really good offensive mind and good coach.  If their HC let's Speckman do his thing that should be a much better offense for Lawrence.

[d-train]

Interesting...not sure that's what Speckman had in mind when he left Willamette. Grass isn't always greener and all that. I'm glad he landed on his feet after the Menlo rug was pulled out from under him, though. Seems like a nice guy and good, smart coach.

[gren]

I am shocked Humbolt still has a football team. The whole D2 model is a bit quirky to me, schools with football or not. It is like you are half pregnant. The Wisc. model makes sense to me, more economical, and keeping male population up etc... I actually think with the BIG 5 power conferences pulling away from D1 it will impact D3. We could see the NCAA pulling back on funding D2 and D3. Maybe the NAIA can take advantage of this event someday, I don't know much about them to be honest. Lastly on this topic, the NCAA does not do a great job of marketing D3 athletics. Other than the IVY league their is not greater gathering of student athletes. If one just loves the purity of sports D3 is the spot. I prefer D3 games over going to Professional (BCS or NFL). I think with just a little better promotion at the local level, attendance could bump up at least 10% at all football games plus favorable PR for their member schools to take advantage of in other areas.

Olddog your right D3 is great to watch, I would also add that more than promotion winning puts people in the stands.

[olddog]

Gren,

I have brought many a football fan to UR games, they have never been to a D3 football game, most played high school football. They were surprised at the level of competition and enjoyed being so close to the field. Many hit me up when in town to go again. The word needs to get out in a grass roots way. UR could do a lot more in town by promoting the games at the local watering holes, youth sports leagues, supermarkets etc. I have never understood why a school like UR do not use their business school as resource and have some marketing students do these kinds of task as one of their projects. The only promotion I can see UR really doing is homecoming and bringing alumni back, hoping another check gets written.

[wildcat11]

Catdomealumni.com YouTube Page: 2015 Linfield recruiting class

[OldCatProf]

Catdomealumni.com YouTube Page: 2015 Linfield recruiting class

Interesting Video, 11. It did generate a few questions, though.

1. Depending on the accuracy of my count, there were 3 new recruits that didn't appear in the previous release (1 each at QB, OL and WR). Might there be the short bios available on them like the ones that appeared in the first release? Those are very interesting to read.

2. In the previous report, the number of DL and DE were about the same. In the video there are no DE listed and all those guys are now listed as DL. Any significance to that or just a shortcut?

3. I only remember one recruit (in the first list) that was a JC transfer. Were there others in the first list...or maybe some of the newly listed guys are JC transfers too? Again, that's interesting as it helps us get to know about them a little better.

Thanks, 11, for all you do. It is much appreciated by those of us in bleacher land (and across the country in Internet land).

[wildcat11]

OCP,

I don't have all your answers but i group all the DE's and DTs in one group...same with O-line. (Just easier that way).