FB: Northwest Conference

[downtown48]

Linfield's defense wasn't what it was at the end of the season when they played SP last year.  They were very young in that 2nd game of the season.  I think they will be fine as a unit right off the bat this season.  The biggest problem for the Point will be stopping Linfield on defense.  With most everybody back and a better, deeper WR group, they will be tough to contain.  I think it will be a good game but one that Linfield should win.  Borchart could keep it close for a while though.

[Tuxguy]

KennethK.... Plus, keep in mind,  The Cats play on turf which helps with there speed. Last yr the hay field at WSP may have slowed the Cats down a bit. ( sorry just heard that the grass field was a little long, maybe the mower was broke down before the game.) I think the D will be strong, and we all know about the "O"...... The game should tell alot about how the season will unfold! "GO CATS" 50 in '05

[KennethK]

Any chance some of your northwest conference foes might pull the old "long grass" trick.  Or could, one of your away games turn into a mud bowl?

[Foss]

Kenneth...Linfield is going to be concerned with and prepare for all its conference and non-conference foes but not because of how the field may or may not be. This is the ridiculously difficult West Region which has a lot of good teams. Linfield will be focused on the teams they will be playing, not the grass or amount of dirt.

[pdawg]

Back from vacation and met with the CATS today! We did some "testing" went through the medical OK's, etc. I'll keep it short because I am not sure this will work??? Here goes!

[pdawg]

Hey Pat, please update my status. I was over 300. I think? 
The new format looks great but it will take a while to learn all the new options and procedures. Good job!

[pdawg]

OK, a brief update...
Had a chance to see and visit with a lot of the guys today. No Jenkins but the coaches have not written him off (yet). No other major no shows. Elliott was the first through the door, followed closely by Allen. That should tell you something. They are ready. The returning kids looked great. Some minor injury issues and one major one (no names mentioned). Met a QB from Beaverton HS that transferred in from PSU. Not sure of his skills Defensive guys looked especially buff. We will be strong at LB and DL. The Hawaiian "bookends", Tom and Soo have bulked up a lot. Also, lots of running backs. Does any one remember a RB named Juhl who played six years ago but ran into some medical and health problems?? He's back after being out of school for four years. Not sure if he will help but seemed like a great kid! Finally, it looks like we could have an exciting and tough opponent to replace the Pointers on the schedule for next year. Nothing signed as yet.  Go CATS!

[woufan]

I'm off to read the entire Rutschman story, but a couple of quotes really stuck out for me -- boy, does this man GET IT!

First quote:

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"I'm not talking about computer skills or writing skills or surgery skills but just plain success skills," he said. "People talk about how important the work ethic is, getting along with people, a commitment to excellence, leadership, ability to follow, cooperation, team work, how important those qualities are to success and the response I get from everybody is that it's everything."
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One of my best friends is going back to college after many, many years to update computer skills. His biggest problem is he has weak PEOPLE skills. Too many people today can run computerized spreadsheets, but can't look someone in the eye when they're talking to you.

Second great quote:

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-"Winning is important but I think that by and large, the football coaches here care about people. Every coach in the country talks about caring about people but in an awful lot of cases, that's lip service. "

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Wow, ain't that the truth! See about 90 percent of Division I programs for examples of lip service. I would hope like Frosty Westering, Ad writes a book some day on his philosophies of life and football. These kind of men are very rare.

Also, what makes him and Westering great is this attention to doing things RIGHT on and off the field. By focusing on that -- and not victories -- the victories come naturally. It's a proven fact: When student-athletes feel valued and a part of something (even if they're on the bench), they will succeed.

Great story about a great man. Sadly, too many coaches from D-I to D2, to D3, to NAIA and JC all the way down to Pop Warner, don't get it like Ad does.

[Kelly Boggs]

It is clear that Coach Rutschman was/is a class act (http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=197276). One can only hope that his tribe would increase among the ranks of coaches from sea to shining sea.

[light n' darkness]

great story on coach rutschman!!! i'm glad he has stayed around the program, all those who come in contact with him are lucky. besides, he must make the coaches feel a little more confident, in that they can access his vast knowledge and experience!

go cats
gee - haw

[Wildcat'64]

Ad is "ONE OF A KIND".....There may be another on this planet but I've not had the pleasure of meeting him! The lives Ad has touched over the past third century are eternally grateful for the lessons in life he has taught. Hundreds of young men are where they are in life today because of the teachings of Coach Ad.  Coach Locey today is doing a fabulous job in taking the Cats to the next level.
However, a house is only as strong as its foundation.  The foundation of the Catdome is "rock solid" thanks to the teachings of Ad.

[shane falco]

Word from Medford is that SOU's O-cordinator is joining Olson and Rumery at North.  The Tornado coaching staff is shaping up.  Most all of the quality coaches went to Crater with Beck a couple years ago.

Looks like the raiders are on the ropes.

[shane falco]

Actually, I'll take that back.  Matt Sayre will be taking over as the OC, which will be an upgrade for SOU on offense.  So they're in a little better shape than everyone thinks.

Sayre was the oc for the raiders during their streak of success recently.  He was the head coach for a jc in cali the last couple of years

Powell will be the Tornado OC now.

[beancounter]

Kenneth K.....one can hear those index cards fluttering around in your head all the way out here in Oregon trying to find reasons on paper Linfield ought to lose a game.     It is kinda funny to ponder the idea that UWSP is going to come in here and win a 52-50 on a game on turf on a basis that Borchardt threw for 259 against Linfield on a field mowed with a helicopter.

I'll join the echo chamber on the N-R piece on Coach.  Thanks especially to WOU Fan for his two bits to the thread...

[catback4]

kenneth the loss of OJ Gulley just created a 6 man race for the other corner spot.  I believe the cream will rise to the top and that spot will be just fine.  I don't think they'll be able to throw on the fastest man in the NWC Chris Boock so space will be limited.  I think that B. Tom and Nick Soo will be in much bettter shape than they were when we played UWSP last year and will do a better job of keeping the QB from scrambling around at his own free will.  Talked to some of the guys and they are getting ready and focused.  Not so sure if Ryan Juhl will produce much for the cats but that will just add some depth to the RB corp.  I hear Mordichai Kotler has had an impressive summer, watch for him to do a lot of good things especially on screens and draws!  Scooter Lasswell, the mighty Crook (pete cruickshank), and Johnny Anderson should all push for some PT making the that group better.  OL will be solid w/ Mr. Donaldson leading the charge man I can't wait for the season to start.  Does anyone know about a transfer kid from South Salem, Josh Van Lue that is playing some QB for WOU???