FB: Northwest Conference

[wildcat11]

Pat,

You're right that Frank has made many contributions to the board that are way more worthy than any Linfield chest beating that I put out on a regular basis but it seemed he went out of his way to slight Elliott's chances in his reply to Seoul.

It seemed unnecessary and me, being a Linfield cheerleader, I wasn't just going to let that slide on this board.

[George Thompson]

Foss & SJU09,

Very good comments on the brackets.   I agree.   They were terrible, badly slighting the West and the South.

At the same, never, ever count out Mt. Union.   They will not roll over and play dead against  Wisconsin- Whitewater.    Mt. Union is still Mt. Union --- always a contender.

I am still waiting for a Linfield - Mt. Union game somewhere, sometime.

George

[coco]

I'll concur on those 4 most heartbreaking losses.

We've all accepted them and moved on, but Little Coco was a student trainer down on the field during the Miracle/Mishap, and he heard the whistle, too.

The Findlay game is memorable for another reason as well. Just as the game was starting, 4 Linfield guys took their seats right in front of us. It was really cold that day, but instead of clothes, they were keeping warm with the alcohol they'd consumed. They had no shirts on, but had C-A-T-S painted on their bare chests. They were extremely loud, enthusiastic and a little profane. Mrs. Coco and I were sitting with my in-laws, who were Linfield alums as well.
These guys were pretty amusing for a while, but when they started to puke on the floor, it kinda wrecked the ambience. Eventually the ushers asked them to leave.

Foss, that wasn't you, was it?

[CamCat]

I know I'm a week late but have you seen this Brian Meehan article from last Sunday's Oregonian? 
Playoff Thriller in McMinnville: Can't Beat It

My apology if previously posted here.

[D O.C.]

You can think about this all the way into March if you want. It's just left-out-of-the-dance stuff...
were the Augustana teams that were in the Stagg '82-'86 better than the LINFIELD/PLU teams of the NAIA? Who wins?

[frank uible]

monrovia: Communicating will be of little advantage unless and until he makes the team.

[frank uible]

wildcat: I have absolutely no hate for Linfield or any of its players, coaches or fans. Why should I? I've never been to the campus, never have seen the team play except on TV during last year's Stagg Bowl and, to my knowledge, never have communicated with any of them except on this board. In fact I find Elliott to be an interesting and extremely rare case worth analyzing.

[MonroviaCat]

Interesting point Frank:  I still think having good ability to communicate may actually help a guy sell himself to prospective teams.  Yeah, the NFL teams are not going to say, "Oh Yes!  A communications major!!!!" but let's say they give Elliot a look and talk to him and he's able to present himself as a smart, well spoken guy (who also set the record for TDs in a season).  Don't you think that a team might give a few bonus points for that vs. another player who may play just as well but can't spit out a thought without lots of 'uhmssss....ehhhh.....errr.....etc.'?  Image is important in the NFL (just aks T.O.) and I think having a background in communications would help Brett portray a strong image.  Still, you are right that a guy has to prove themselves before something like that will matter. 

[coco]

I agree, Monrovia.

I don't think an NFL team would take him because of his communications major, but all other things being equal, he might have an edge over a guy who went through 4 years of college solely to play football, did not graduate, and can't put 4 words together without 3 of them being "uh" and "ya know."

[swede]

Interesting point Frank:  I still think having good ability to communicate may actually help a guy sell himself to prospective teams.  Yeah, the NFL teams are not going to say, "Oh Yes!  A communications major!!!!" but let's say they give Elliot a look and talk to him and he's able to present himself as a smart, well spoken guy (who also set the record for TDs in a season).  Don't you think that a team might give a few bonus points for that vs. another player who may play just as well but can't spit out a thought without lots of 'uhmssss....ehhhh.....errr.....etc.'?  Image is important in the NFL (just aks T.O.) and I think having a background in communications would help Brett portray a strong image.  Still, you are right that a guy has to prove themselves before something like that will matter. 

I see BE with the strong possibility of Playing NFL Europe to get a good look see and further develop him.

[Foss]

I agree, swede. Does anyone know if NFL Europe is supposed to be a lot better than the CFL? Seems NFL Europe is kind of like a farm system for the NFL, with guys being bumped "up" from this league to the NFL at times. But, the CFL also seems to have some really good players and sometimes we hear about guys coming to the NFL after playing in the CFL for a time. I've never really understood the talent difference between the two leagues.

I believe there is a QB from John Carroll and (maybe) one from Mt. Union playing in NFL Europe. My biased opinion is that Elliott is at least as good as these players, but again I say this through Wildcat lenses. Since there are only a few QBs drafted, maybe the NFL is a longshot, especially when you consider all of the great QBs there must be throughout 4 divisions of NCAA, plus all the NAIA QBs. I still think he'll at least get a look and hopefully a chance, and man am I pulling for him. But if the NFL isn't to be, it seems NFL Europe, or at least the CFL, would be a reasonable place for him to land.

[Mr. Ypsi]

FWIW, I not only think Elliott will be drafted, I think he will be drafted fairly early.

Pro scouts are not nearly as hung up on division as many reporters and fans are.  Talent is talent.  Remember Ken Anderson from Augustana?  Played in several all-pro games?

And I don't think he will even have to go NFL-Europe to prove himself (though he may go for the seasoning anyway).  On the other hand, many of you have seen him, while I've only read about him!

[jdean]

I believe there is a QB from John Carroll and (maybe) one from Mt. Union playing in NFL Europe.

Arth from John Carroll and Ballard and Adamson from Mt U all
gave it a shot. Ballard ('93) played in Europe, taxi squads in the NFL, Canada, indoor, any place he could to be seen and get a break. I think his position was it is too huge of a hurdle to overcome the bias associated with having played in D3. Arth and Adamson ('02) both gave Europe a shot. Adamson was cut in a NFL training camp, played one indoor game in Canton, OH and decided to move on with his life. Arth was cut in early 9-05 by the Colts and I have no idea if he was kept on their practice squad.

[Retired Old Rat]

Official

Monkey Stomp ^tm Rules

[frank uible]

NFLE is superior football to Canada, but there is no opportunity for a long term career in NFLE (as there might be in Canada)  because the NFL runs the NFLE as a training ground for the NFL. Once a player shows that he is not NFL material, then his future in the NFLE ends. In the NFLE it is either up or out - with very little patience for development (I believe the current standard is that a player will not be given more than 2 years in the NFLE).