FB: Northwest Conference

[d-train]

Linfield is in a weak league as far as I am concerned? Who want's to prove me wrong.....? I'd like to hear from some other teams?

I think the NWC has weakened while Linfield has improved (and the SCIAC is down this year). The years when someone else is nationally relevant instead of (or along side) Linfield are fewer and further between.

Willamette was very good in 2008. Whitworth won a playoff game (06). PLU was the NWC runner-up (1999 & 2000) when they blasted some undefeated teams on the road in the playoffs (Wartburg, Bethel, Trinity). If you go back a little further, Central Washington (95) and Western Washington (96) each played in the national title game between PLU (91, 93, 94, 99), Linfield (92), and Willamette (97). That's some serious depth, and it is lacking now.

It'll be interesting to see Whitworth develop over the next year or two. Hopefully they can do more than just give you guys a few tough games (like 2012 PLU).

[wildcat11]

Catdomealumni.com's YouTube Page: Linfield College Football: "Catdome"

[bluenote]

Linfield is in a weak league as far as I am concerned? Who want's to prove me wrong.....? I'd like to hear from some other teams?

I think the NWC has weakened while Linfield has improved (and the SCIAC is down this year). The years when someone else is nationally relevant instead of (or along side) Linfield are fewer and further between.

Willamette was very good in 2008. Whitworth won a playoff game (06). PLU was the NWC runner-up (1999 & 2000) when they blasted some undefeated teams on the road in the playoffs (Wartburg, Bethel, Trinity). If you go back a little further, Central Washington (95) and Western Washington (96) each played in the national title game between PLU (91, 93, 94, 99), Linfield (92), and Willamette (97). That's some serious depth, and it is lacking now.

It'll be interesting to see Whitworth develop over the next year or two. Hopefully they can do more than just give you guys a few tough games (like 2012 PLU).

Great analysis d-train!

[USee]

Regional Rankings are up:

Linfield fans may be surprised with their placement.

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/d3/regional-rankings

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

I for one am not surprised by #3.  St Thomas has a much more challenging scheduling with all the good MIAC teams and UWO has a great win over UWW plus being undefeated in D3's toughest conference (that or the MIAC).

Unfortunately Linfield is playing in a down NWC and had non-conference games against 2 teams having down years.  It would be hard to justify ranking them ahead of either St Thomas or UWO in my opinion.

With that said, the other Regions are embarrassing in both their lack of top end teams past 3 (at best) and scraping the bottom of the barrel for #'s 5-10.  Wow!  If this regional model isn't broken I don't know what is...

[d-train]

With that said, the other Regions are embarrassing in both their lack of top end teams past 3 (at best) and scraping the bottom of the barrel for #'s 5-10.  Wow!  If this regional model isn't broken I don't know what is...

Alfred!

[d-train]

Looks better for Whitworth than I would have guessed. They could easily be behind UW-P and Wartburg with little chance at a Pool C. Still seems slim (behind UW-W and SJU), but better than none...

[MonroviaCat]

Looks better for Whitworth than I would have guessed. They could easily be behind UW-P and Wartburg with little chance at a Pool C. Still seems slim (behind UW-W and SJU), but better than none...

This is actually quite good for Whitworth--much better than I would have expected.  I'm sure Wally Wabash will have his projections out shortly but if these were the rankings used come selection time I think Whitworth would have more than a slim chance of making the field. 

[wildcat11]

Regional Rankings are up:

Linfield fans may be surprised with their placement.

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/d3/regional-rankings

No surprised at all based on what others have already stated.  We're going to get put on an extremely tough path one way or another when compared to other highly ranked teams (*cough* Mount Union *cough*) but I've come to accept our fate out here in the far west.

[desertcat1]

could be another Island vs Island in round two again     $$$$$$$$$$$

[MonroviaCat]

Regional Rankings are up:

Linfield fans may be surprised with their placement.

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/d3/regional-rankings

No surprised at all based on what others have already stated.  We're going to get put on an extremely tough path one way or another when compared to other highly ranked teams (*cough* Mount Union *cough*) but I've come to accept our fate out here in the far west.

Yup--and it could be even tougher this year with MHB and Whitewater not even being #1 seeds....(last year MHB got us in round 2 because of our loss....this year it will probably happen again (but could even be WW) only they will be headed our way...).

[MonroviaCat]

could be another Island vs Island in round two again     $$$$$$$$$$$

ha!  beat me to it!

[desertcat1]

only question is IN  TEXA$$ (hs)  or Oregon (UMHB)

[MonroviaCat]

only question is IN  TEXA$$ (hs)  or Oregon (UMHB)

yeah--I didn't even consider HS winning and us getting shipped there.....also-where does LaVerne get to go if Whitworth makes the cut?  I guess wherever they're left with a need.

[desertcat1]

Regional Rankings are up:

Linfield fans may be surprised with their placement.

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/d3/regional-rankings

No surprised at all based on what others have already stated.  We're going to get put on an extremely tough path one way or another when compared to other highly ranked teams (*cough* Mount Union *cough*) but I've come to accept our fate out here in the far west.

Yup--and it could be even tougher this year with MHB and Whitewater not even being #1 seeds....(last year MHB got us in round 2 because of our loss....this year it will probably happen again (but could even be WW) only they will be headed our way...).

uww  could be heading east this year too