FB: Northwest Conference

[MonroviaCat]

Nope - the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers, or "Mounties" - they're playing in the NAIA semifinals at Baker, Kansas. If Baker sounds familiar, it's because that's who Linfield beat to win the 1986 NAIA Division III national title.

I'm rooting for Mary Hardin-Baylor to win it in DIII, but I'd also enjoy seeing another Oregon school playing for a small-college title.

ah--that makes much more sense

[catjumper]

Aw, man - as soon as I remember to turn on the game, Baker scores on a 70-some-yard pass with 38 seconds to go to go in front 45-41. And apparently Eastern Oregon was up 41-24 in the fourth quarter.

C'mon, Eastern ...

[catjumper]

Eastern falls 45-41. Still, a nice run for the Mounties in their first-ever playoff appearance.

[George Thompson]

If the NCAA had placed Linfield in the east bracket this year (and most other years, also), we would be in the semi-finals.    Alas, no; both MHB and Linfield have to get to the semi-finals the hardest way possible.   Almost every year.

Gotta love the NCAA selection committee.    NOT.

GT

[D O.C.]

PC knows my self esteem is tied directly to the smites on my profile.
Any venture outside of the island board onto the elite OAC invites a flurry of "get your sarcasm outta here, we talk Xs and Os and football theory" smites.

Perhaps with the new front page reorganization the infantile concept of imposed Karma might go the way of that previous front page poll of ranking conference percentages.

Excited about the semis Saturday. How to follow them both  is the rub.

[jamtod]

PC knows my self esteem is tied directly to the smites on my profile.
Any venture outside of the island board onto the elite OAC invites a flurry of "get your sarcasm outta here, we talk Xs and Os and football theory" smites.

It's a good thing you aren't a Tommie fan on the Johnnie board. But it's ok, I've got meds and I'm seeing someone now so I'm gonna be alright.

[Pat Coleman]

If the NCAA had placed Linfield in the east bracket this year (and most other years, also), we would be in the semi-finals.    Alas, no; both MHB and Linfield have to get to the semi-finals the hardest way possible.   Almost every year.

Gotta love the NCAA selection committee.    NOT.

That very same committee sent an East Region team all the way across the country to play you in McMinnville last year. How quickly you forget. Two years ago, you got an East Region team in the quarterfinals.

[wildcat11]

If the NCAA had placed Linfield in the east bracket this year (and most other years, also), we would be in the semi-finals.    Alas, no; both MHB and Linfield have to get to the semi-finals the hardest way possible.   Almost every year.

Gotta love the NCAA selection committee.    NOT.

GT

It stinks but it's our reality.  Over the past 5 seasons Linfield has been to the quarters twice and semis twice.  That is a hell of a run that 99.5% of DIII programs would kill to have.  It was disappointing to lose in the 2nd round but UMHB is exceptional this season and you just have to tip your cap.   Linfield has a lot of huge questions headed into next season so be sure not to take for granted the playoff successes of the past 8 years.  Yeah, we've haven't been back to Salem but it's still been a magical run and I hope the 'Cats can extend and further.

[D O.C.]

Couldn't possibly be an all-OAC Stagg Bowl like the banter on that conference board suggests if the ncaa made JCU and UMU play in 1st round.

[George Thompson]

If the NCAA had placed Linfield in the east bracket this year (and most other years, also), we would be in the semi-finals.    Alas, no; both MHB and Linfield have to get to the semi-finals the hardest way possible.   Almost every year.

Gotta love the NCAA selection committee.    NOT.

That very same committee sent an East Region team all the way across the country to play you in McMinnville last year. How quickly you forget. Two years ago, you got an East Region team in the quarterfinals.

Let's look at the records:
Linfield away playoff games:
2009 - at UWW    Both undefeated.
2010 - at St. Thomas    No dispute; we had one loss.
2011 - at Wesley     We were undefeated; Wesley has one loss.  But, we had to travel.
2013 - at UWW     Both undefeated.
2014 - at MHB and Widener    No dispute since both were undefeated and we had one loss.    Yet, we easily beat Widener, 45-7.
2015 - at St. Thomas     Both undefeated.
2016 - at Hardin Simmons    Both one loss; but, they did not even win their conference.
           at MHB - No dispute.

Show me any other team that has been in the Top 10 as much as Linfield these last 8 years.   Did they have that much long distance playoff travel?   

And, four times we were undefeated.     How many times did the other consistent Top 10 teams had to travel when were undefeated?

The NCAA Playoff Selection committee is biased.    The voting power is in the midwest, between Ohio and Minnesota.   They avoid, anytime possible,  sending their best teams on the road to Linfield or MHB.

A friend of mine, (big school fan, not a D III fan) noted what I saw.    He could not understand why Linfield, ranked #8, did not have the first two games at home.    His feeling is the top 8 seedings should be based on the final season polls.   

George

[edward de vere]

This ain't rocket science, fellas.  Linfield should move to New Jersey.

Problem solved.

[D O.C.]

edv...÷
I say Florida. It's wide open and those North/Midwest teams would be crawling all over each other for a 95 degree night game in a September field-clearing thunder shower.

[Pat Coleman]

The NCAA Playoff Selection committee is biased.    The voting power is in the midwest, between Ohio and Minnesota.   They avoid, anytime possible,  sending their best teams on the road to Linfield or MHB.

This, sir, is utter bull****. And it's tiresome to have to listen to. Do please stop

[Pat Coleman]

Of all those road games, you have exactly *one* disputable game, in 2011. This year, Linfield lost at UMHB by 39 and Hardin-Simmons lost by five! Of course HSU was seeded higher.

[bluenote]

.... somebody asked earlier why the posting numbers were down .....