FB: Northwest Conference

[CalCat]

ya wonder how political people will view the move.

Why would they?  Smith can make all the throws we need in the offense and that hasn't happened the previous games. He has a big upside so why not go with him now and start letting him cut his teeth.  His ability to throw instantly started opening up more running lanes.  Bigger issue is the health of our O-Line which is terrible right now. Should get Heck back next week which will be a big help.

Again l vote yes...will help offense to reach their potential this year and do wonders for next year.  It's football and he just won starting job and it was instant upside to running game as for first time in game PLU had to deal with a passing game...there are no politics in D3 football...well maybe Oxy football ❄️

[gren]

Pacific lost so would a win by the Cats next week clinch the title?

[Foss]

Great effort by PLU and gutty win by the 'Cats.

I'll piggyback - the O needs to improve. 185 total yards and outgained by PLU by over 100 yards? That was anyone's game and the Lutes could have easily gotten the W. The O-line is in bad shape, but this is too late in the season to still have questions about the O. If Smith is the guy moving forward, then Smith is the guy. 6/8 w/ no INTs is pretty solid and efficient for a FR.

I would hate to see such a great D wasted because our O doesn't pose a threat.

Would love to see Smith get experience, and especially playoff experience. Even if he has some stumbles, it would be awesome experience moving forward for possibly 3 more years as the starting QB, and hopefully deep playoff runs down the road. If this D gets some help on the O side of the ball, we can hang w/ a lot of teams. Heck, look at the UMHB game. But w/out a passing threat on O once we play good playoff teams, well that's a different story.

[Pat Coleman]

Pacific lost so would a win by the Cats next week clinch the title?

Yes, a Linfield win or a George Fox loss would clinch the title for Linfield.

[D O.C.]

Nothing is perfect, but I suppose our confidence in PATs has now been shaken.

[George Thompson]

Playoff speculation:
1.   The West Region is not as strong this year.    Only 2 unbeaten teams so far.    Years past we had 4-5 with another 3-4 one loss teams.
2.   I expect UW-W will beat UW-Platteville.
3.   Following assumes all below win out.

NCAA can save money by this format:
Eureka at UW Oshkosh
St. John's at Wartburg

Chapman at St. Thomas
George Fox at Linfield

I for one doubt if the NCAA will include a game between Linfield and UM-B before the semi's.    If LC gets shipped out of the west,
I will not be surprised if it is to the Mount Union bracket.

GT

[CalCat]

Nothing is perfect, but I suppose our confidence in PATs has now been shaken.

Nope...Cats in good shape there.

[MonroviaCat]

Playoff speculation:
1.   The West Region is not as strong this year.    Only 2 unbeaten teams so far.    Years past we had 4-5 with another 3-4 one loss teams.
2.   I expect UW-W will beat UW-Platteville.
3.   Following assumes all below win out.

NCAA can save money by this format:
Eureka at UW Oshkosh
St. John's at Wartburg

Chapman at St. Thomas
George Fox at Linfield

I for one doubt if the NCAA will include a game between Linfield and UM-B before the semi's.    If LC gets shipped out of the west,
I will not be surprised if it is to the Mount Union bracket.

GT

even in your scenario I don't think Fox makes it

[MacQuiz]

Playoff speculation:
1.   The West Region is not as strong this year.    Only 2 unbeaten teams so far.    Years past we had 4-5 with another 3-4 one loss teams.
2.   I expect UW-W will beat UW-Platteville.
3.   Following assumes all below win out.

NCAA can save money by this format:
Eureka at UW Oshkosh
St. John's at Wartburg

Chapman at St. Thomas
George Fox at Linfield

I for one doubt if the NCAA will include a game between Linfield and UM-B before the semi's.    If LC gets shipped out of the west,
I will not be surprised if it is to the Mount Union bracket.

GT

even in your scenario I don't think Fox makes it

Agree with MC.  After UWP went 2 off,  they seem likely on bubble for post season.
GF is 2 off and lost to UWP.  Committee might not like to have conference re-matches...?
Saving $ might cause re-thought there;  but it would probably cause a rukus!

[smedindy]

I would think that GF would be blocked by Platteville. The MIAC runner-up will the the highest West "C" potential on the board, and UW-P or George Fox would have to wait, and they may not get a chance to be on the board very long since there are only 5 "C" teams. Plus, the loser of St. John's - Concordia could be ranked ahead of George Fox on the regional boards as well.

I'm thinking the "C"s will be Springfield / Hardin Simmons (one will be a B and one will be a C), CWRU, Illinois Wesleyan, MIAC runner-up, and Frostburg / Salisbury.

I am assuming Wesley beats Salisbury. If Salisbury beats Wesley and then beats Frostburg, they'll have the "A", and Frostburg / Wesley will have two losses. Then we have two loss candidates in Wesley, Platteville, Wheaton, MIAC third place, and George Fox.

At any rate, George Fox won't get on the board.

[gren]

I would think that GF would be blocked by Platteville. The MIAC runner-up will the the highest West "C" potential on the board, and UW-P or George Fox would have to wait, and they may not get a chance to be on the board very long since there are only 5 "C" teams. Plus, the loser of St. John's - Concordia could be ranked ahead of George Fox on the regional boards as well.

I'm thinking the "C"s will be Springfield / Hardin Simmons (one will be a B and one will be a C), CWRU, Illinois Wesleyan, MIAC runner-up, and Frostburg / Salisbury.

I am assuming Wesley beats Salisbury. If Salisbury beats Wesley and then beats Frostburg, they'll have the "A", and Frostburg / Wesley will have two losses. Then we have two loss candidates in Wesley, Platteville, Wheaton, MIAC third place, and George Fox.

At any rate, George Fox won't get on the board.

I would think that GF would be blocked by Platteville. The MIAC runner-up will the the highest West "C" potential on the board, and UW-P or George Fox would have to wait, and they may not get a chance to be on the board very long since there are only 5 "C" teams. Plus, the loser of St. John's - Concordia could be ranked ahead of George Fox on the regional boards as well.

I'm thinking the "C"s will be Springfield / Hardin Simmons (one will be a B and one will be a C), CWRU, Illinois Wesleyan, MIAC runner-up, and Frostburg / Salisbury.

I am assuming Wesley beats Salisbury. If Salisbury beats Wesley and then beats Frostburg, they'll have the "A", and Frostburg / Wesley will have two losses. Then we have two loss candidates in Wesley, Platteville, Wheaton, MIAC third place, and George Fox.

At any rate, George Fox won't get on the board.

Agreed on the George Fox prediction.

[wildcat11]

Speaking of George Fox:

How is it that during home games, the GFU defense has average 47.6 assisted tackles per game while the visitor averages 28.8 assisted tackles per game.  But when GFU plays on the road their defensive assisted tackles drop down to 24 per game while the hosts average 26 per contest.

I mean...HOW is this possible that the Bruin assisted tackle numbers drop in half on the road? 

And checking out the NWC stats page on total tackles is funny as hell if you sort by assisted tackles (http://www.nwcsports.com/sports/fball/2017-18/players?sort=dtt&view=&pos=d&r=0).  7 out of the top 14 defenders in the assisted tackles category all hail from Fox.

[d-train]

Speaking of George Fox:

How is it that during home games, the GFU defense has average 47.6 assisted tackles per game while the visitor averages 28.8 assisted tackles per game.  But when GFU plays on the road their defensive assisted tackles drop down to 24 per game while the hosts average 26 per contest.

I mean...HOW is this possible that the Bruin assisted tackle numbers drop in half on the road? 

And checking out the NWC stats page on total tackles is funny as hell if you sort by assisted tackles (http://www.nwcsports.com/sports/fball/2017-18/players?sort=dtt&view=&pos=d&r=0).  7 out of the top 14 defenders in the assisted tackles category all hail from Fox.

I might head out to Newberg to catch the Lutes and Bruins this Saturday (first soccer-free Saturday for this dad in a LONG time). I'll plan to get there early, as I understand Fox averages 6,800 fans in a stadium built for 2,800?

[Pat Coleman]

Speaking of George Fox:

How is it that during home games, the GFU defense has average 47.6 assisted tackles per game while the visitor averages 28.8 assisted tackles per game.  But when GFU plays on the road their defensive assisted tackles drop down to 24 per game while the hosts average 26 per contest.

I mean...HOW is this possible that the Bruin assisted tackle numbers drop in half on the road? 

And checking out the NWC stats page on total tackles is funny as hell if you sort by assisted tackles (http://www.nwcsports.com/sports/fball/2017-18/players?sort=dtt&view=&pos=d&r=0).  7 out of the top 14 defenders in the assisted tackles category all hail from Fox.

We avoid this by basically looking only at solo tackles when we do awards. (Actually, while there is a conventional measure that lists assisted tackles as .5 and adds them to solos for a "hits" number, I look at assisted tackles as .25 instead.)

[purplecat]

This is what I like on the George Fox recap from the Pio game.The game got off to a slower start than usual for the top-ranked Bruins. Top Ranked in what?