FB: Northwest Conference

[Olinemom]

Olinemom, Please don't sling brownies at me but, They had a tarp on the field at UWW last week too. It can turn the field into a mud bowl as it did there. Hope all goes well and we have a great game. It's nice we don't have to get up as early this year!

No but you have have so many bowl games and this is all we have.  The people in Salem do a fantastic job hosting it.  Read the blog on the WW football site.  I know the peole I met from Linfield and UMHB had a great time last year.   We welcomed them in high (hee hee!!) style from the get go.  Tomorrow is to be sunny and mid 40's.  Likewise Saturday with perhaps a few more cloud, but does one ever trust the Weather guys?

And if I sling brownies,  you need to catch them and try them.  Chocolate is not known for its denting principle, rather the opposite, wouldn't you agree?

[rbaikie]

Pdawg----THanks for that info. I just might have to schedule a trip out there. Do you know if there is a website to see who is going to this Vegas bowl.

There is a website - it is actually called the Las Vegas All American Classic, I think - to be held January 14, 2006. There is a roster page but it looks like last year's roster

www.lvaac.com

[Pat Coleman]

Who would attend a Stagg Bowl in Southern California? Not 1100-plus people from Mount Union and 400-plus people from UW-Whitewater, not with six days' notice.

The ODAC is always one of the conferences with the highest attendance in Division III. I do not think that is an accident. Besides, as was said, it's one inch of freak snowstorm coming through -- I believe in 12 previous years the game has been here there has been snow for exactly one game.

[RFB]

Pat,

You make good points. But how do you know people would not attend the Stagg Bowl if it was in Southern California. Regardless, fans of the schools that make any Stagg Bowl will only have six days notice. They will travel if it means that much to them, if not they watch it on television just like the rest of us. You mention Mount Union and WW bringing more fans because Salem, VA is geographically much closer to them. What if the Stagg Bowl was in Southern California last year, couldn't you say the same for the Linfield and UMHB fans?

[Bubs1856]

Dens and Coco...I had made my reservations (plane tickets, car, hotels, etc.) sometime ago for the Stagg.  I reluctantly had to cancel those the following Monday, however, hope I didn't jinx it for the rest of you all.   

I did get some mileage on my friends with this little diddy a couple of days later...I guess some people are so desperate they will believe just about anything:

By ALEX VEIGA AP NCAA Writer

Indianapolis, IN -- December 8, 2005 – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team has been ruled ineligible for the remainder of the 2005 NCAA Division III Football playoffs in an unprecedented move by the NCAA headquartered in  Indianapolis, IN.  UWW was found to have used three academically ineligible players in their recent victory over the #1 ranked Linfield Wildcats of McMinnville, Or.  Due to the confidentiality of student records, the NCAA would not release the names of the players who were deemed ineligible.
This once again opens the doors for the 2004 National Champion Wildcats to repeat their 2004 feat, something that has only been done twice before in NCAA history.  "This isn't the way we wanted to extend our life in the playoffs, but we'll take it," senior captain and quarterback Brett Elliot said.
Linfield, the number one seed in the west, will play host to Wesley this week at Maxwell Field in McMinnville, Or.  Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST.

[finsleft]

Who would attend a Stagg Bowl in Southern California? Not 1100-plus people from Mount Union and 400-plus people from UW-Whitewater, not with six days' notice.

The ODAC is always one of the conferences with the highest attendance in Division III. I do not think that is an accident. Besides, as was said, it's one inch of freak snowstorm coming through -- I believe in 12 previous years the game has been here there has been snow for exactly one game.

Pat- A lot of people would attend a Stagg Bowl in So. Cal. or anyplace warm. Probably more than would go to Salem VA. I went in 2003 and maybe it wasn't snowing but it was damn cold. I'm a hunter and ice fisherman, so I like to play outside. But when I'm getting on a plane, I want it to take me someplace warm. Travel cost differences from the midwest to CA, FL, AZ or TX compared to VA would be minimal. Most fans go on a charter anyway. And revenues for the NCAA would go up due to increased attendance.
The people in Salem are terrific but that's about all I can say about why I'd want to go there. Other places have nice people, too.

[Andy Jamison]

Here's hoping for UWW to beat MUC.  So it looks like an ideal postseason for the Cats now goes like this -

Central 1st Round
St Johns 2nd
UWW 3rd
Mary Hardin Baylor 4th
MUC Championship game

Though I would go with a switch between St Johns and UWW.

[Pat Coleman]

Who would attend a Stagg Bowl in Southern California? Not 1100-plus people from Mount Union and 400-plus people from UW-Whitewater, not with six days' notice.

The ODAC is always one of the conferences with the highest attendance in Division III. I do not think that is an accident. Besides, as was said, it's one inch of freak snowstorm coming through -- I believe in 12 previous years the game has been here there has been snow for exactly one game.

Pat- A lot of people would attend a Stagg Bowl in So. Cal. or anyplace warm. Probably more than would go to Salem VA. I went in 2003 and maybe it wasn't snowing but it was damn cold. I'm a hunter and ice fisherman, so I like to play outside. But when I'm getting on a plane, I want it to take me someplace warm. Travel cost differences from the midwest to CA, FL, AZ or TX compared to VA would be minimal. Most fans go on a charter anyway. And revenues for the NCAA would go up due to increased attendance.
The people in Salem are terrific but that's about all I can say about why I'd want to go there. Other places have nice people, too.

When you can drive there, it makes a big difference, as I'm sure you guys can attest to.

On the off chance that both teams are flight distance from Salem (this has happened once in 12 years) then yes, theoretically So. Cal. would be just as good if not better. So 8% of the time you're right. But I don't think the SCIAC has demonstrated enough local fan support, and it definitely has not demonstrated local media interest to justify putting a championship there. Why should the Stagg Bowl sit second fiddle to the second of five weeks of preparation for the Rose Bowl? Instead, here, when you look at the paper there's a Stagg Bowl story teased above the masthead of the front page of the entire newspaper. That won't happen in the bigger pond, which is why you don't see the prime D-III championships played in those areas.

[downtown48]

I'm with you fins...it's kind of like going to a wedding in Vegas...going to the wedding may not be that cool in and of itself, but when you can make a vacation out of it, you go!  Same cannot be said about a place that's 30 degrees all day and costs 600 bones on a weeks notice to fly in...

The media aspect I can get with Pat!  That's big...you want this to be a big deal in the city it takes place in.  Not sure that would be the case in SOCal.  So where else could you have it where it would be a big deal...anyone?? anyone??? voooodoooo economics...anyone...anyone??  Bueller??

[finsleft]

Instead, here, when you look at the paper there's a Stagg Bowl story teased above the masthead of the front page of the entire newspaper.

Well that's nice, but only 500 people will read it. And it's hard to turn the pages wearing mittens. 

[finsleft]

I'm with you fins...it's kind of like going to a wedding in Vegas...going to the wedding may not be that cool in and of itself, but when you can make a vacation out of it, you go!  Same cannot be said about a place that's 30 degrees all day and costs 600 bones on a weeks notice to fly in...

The media aspect I can get with Pat!  That's big...you want this to be a big deal in the city it takes place in.  Not sure that would be the case in SOCal.  So where else could you have it where it would be a big deal...anyone?? anyone??? voooodoooo economics...anyone...anyone??  Bueller??

Texas? Georgia? Alabama? Florida? Pick one. If I need anything more than a carry-on, I want it to be my golf bag.

[D O.C.]

bubs1856, please inform me whenyou feel I am in poor taste as I am your post

By ALEX VEIGA AP NCAA Writer

Indianapolis, IN -- December 8, 2005 – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team has been ruled ineligible for the remainder of the 2005 NCAA Division III Football playoffs in an unprecedented move by the NCAA headquartered in  Indianapolis, IN.  UWW was found to have used three academically ineligible players in their recent victory over the #1 ranked Linfield Wildcats of McMinnville, Or.  Due to the confidentiality of student records, the NCAA would not release the names of the players who were deemed ineligible.
This once again opens the doors for the 2004 National Champion Wildcats to repeat their 2004 feat, something that has only been done twice before in NCAA history.  "This isn't the way we wanted to extend our life in the playoffs, but we'll take it," senior captain and quarterback Brett Elliot said.
Linfield, the number one seed in the west, will play host to Wesley this week at Maxwell Field in McMinnville, Or.  Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST.

I thought it "what if' and I'm sure NWC teams are filled with similar thoughts about LINFIELD.

I postulate the Portland, Ore., area would embrace an event like the Division III Championship whether an Oregon school was in it, or not. They would get 5,000 attendance (w/ the 1,500 to schools) and it would not likely snow.
But, here we are. 3,000 miles away from the action and UNLESS WE ARE IN IT we are not involved. Same reason no one from the Liberty League would drive to Portland if their team were not in it.

[downtown48]

How about in a small dome with Fieldturf...

[Tezbaseball]

It's official, Elliott Wins the Gagliardi Trophy

Does anyone have a picture of it?  I've heard it is very impressive.

Great football talent but even finer human being.  I've never met him but what do those of you have or know him have to say?

CamCat, I've never talked to him personally, but I happened to be near him on the field after the UWW game. On several occassions, little kids came up to him (one with his Dad yelling at him to come back, probably because he knew it wasn't the best timing since BE had just experienced such a painful defeat). It was similar to what Tez18 stated. Each time, BE bent down and asked the kids(s) how they were doing and answered all their questions. Win or lose he was their hero. I could tell he was fighting back tears and must have had a ton on his mind, but he sucked it up like the leader he is and calmly addressed the little Brett wannabes. That's when a guy's true colors are shown. Anyone can be nice and happy when they win by 40. But how do they treat people after experiencing a crushing defeat? That's when I went from hoping The Butcher would win the award because he was a 'Cat to KNOWING that he deserved the award and has the characteristics that would make Coach Gags proud. BE did everything we could have hoped he could for DIII and Linfield on and off the field.

Brett isn't the only one like that. They all are class acts.

[Tezbaseball]

I thought that Brett would have a chip on his shoulder. When my KOB program had him and a group of 'Cats out for a visit I found out other wise. He was easy going and played with the children. I have a great shot of him and other 'Cats with the KOB kids.