FB: Northwest Conference

[KennethK]

I figured you guys would be a good source for this one.  Can Azusa Pacific give Whitewater a game?

[CamCat]

I figured you guys would be a good source for this one.  Can Azusa Pacific give Whitewater a game?

I don't know how good a source I am but Azusa Pacific is always tough and we of all people know how tough Whitewater was last year.   I'd think it could be a good game but with Justin Beaver, their all american running back (who sure put up a lot of yards against us) returning and still only a Junior, and with 3 other pre-season all americans I'd sure put my money on Whitewater.

[D O.C.]

KK...good as often is, or just average, APU is going to be a tired and tested bunch. Look at that schedule of theirs
   in Canton, Ohio Sept. 9 2PM
   Whitewater, WISC a week later
    (will they stay over? fly round trip 4 times in 8 days?
   La Crosse at home Sept 16

That is sort of tantamount to St. John's flying out to take on Eastern Oregon,LINFIELD. the next week, and then getting Occidental at home the 3rd. I'm sure the johns could do it but the it would be a great effort by the whole institution. At least no gate receipts would be wasted on Title IX drivel.

[4merprof]

Linfieldians,

Haven't been on your board in a long time and wanted to see what was going on out west.  I wish you guys the best of luck as I hope my boys can meet you again in the playoffs this year.

Sabertooth,

You're selling Orihel extremely short, while I know you are a fan of west coast football.  He is hands down the best QB from the east, and many believe that if he didn't get hurt last year, the Profs would have finally gotten the monkey's off their back and won a national title.  I am a firm believer that Orihel DID deserve the recognition, and if he would have finished the season healthy, he would have been first team... But I know if my mother had b@lls, she'd be my father.

Regardless, all of this preseason talk doesn't matter anyway, recognition is great, but the true test will come the first week of September.  We'll see who puts up, and who shuts up in December.

In years past, D3football.com and Pat have usually been rather accurate in respect to their selections, and we all owe them a great deal for putting this site together for us.

[Cut City]

The schedule can always have the potential to have an impact on a game, especially when you're looking at 3 games on the road in a row, and two long trips back to back. But if AP's got some experienced upperclassmen with some leadership, I wouldn't expect that to mean a whole lot. More than AP's, I would expect WW's to play a role. They've only got 1 game to shake off the cobwebs and play a tough game. If AP doesn't have a fantastic O-line, they're going to be in a for a long day. All of the front four return for the warhawks and they were pretty damn good last year. And Kleppe is a beast and a half to deal with. He will draw double teams all game long and even beat those on occasion. One thing I didn't see the Warhawks get recognized for on this board against the cats last year was their defensive adjusments. It was a high scoring game but they kept making changes the whole way. Guessing that Azusa is probably an above average to really good team, I would still give the Hawks at least 2td's in this one.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

4merprof,

I don't know squat about east coast ball, my attention is drawn to the Pacific Coast, specifically the SCIAC but I've enjoyed gaining more knowledge of our friends in the great Northwest.

No disprespect intended to Mr. Orihel . . . it was merely an opportunity to (try) and make a clever/witty/rapier like/amusing comment as to the west coast QB discussions . . . he was merely an opportune target for continued banter as we enjoy summer while looking forward to the games of fall.

[rbaikie]

I think that WW will be able to beat APU handily. Not only with a lot of travel, but that is APU's third game - The first is against U-San Diego who was one of the top 1-AA teams last year. APU is playing them at SD, on Sept 1 and USD looks to have a pretty good team - APU will probably get beat up (last year they lost at home 30-6) - then more travel and not much time to recover - The only way I see APU playing a tight game against WW is if they get a good lead against Malone and are able to rest their starters and play the backups - otherwise the first part of the season is a long haul!

I don't know if they would stay in the midwest after the Malone game - classes start September 6th for undergrads - could make it tough to do that.

[Pat Coleman]

San Diego was ranked No. 7 among Division I-AA non-scholarship teams last year. That's not very high -- the only person who ranks that group ranks 12 teams, and No. 12 was a .500 squad.

[rbaikie]

Pat -

I don't want to start a BCS type controversy - which poll did you see that had them 7th? The only one I have seen was Don Hansen's Preseason and it did have a team that finished last year at .500 as number 12. It also had a team that had a losing record (5-6) as number 2.

Per USD, they finished #1 in the final The Sports Network 1-AA Mid Major poll. They also had 4 1st Teamers on that All-American team.

[downtown48]

Thanks pat for pointing that out, it kills me when USD gets touted I-AA.  They are I-AA in name only.  No scholarships, their football team is just a glorified D3 school.  Having them on your football schedule is no more impressive than having Oxy, Linfield or any other D3 on the slate.  They are D1 in other sports.  

[rbaikie]

That's all Mid Major 1-AA is - glorified D3 - with an exception - Some of those programs came about because of the NCAA saying you couldn't be D1 in the majority of sports and maintain a D3 football program.  Some of the schools that had been doing this (USD was, I know) were recruiting two sport athletes for sports like baseball and track and giving them athletic scholarships and then "letting" them play football. Since they weren't getting a football athletic scholarship, they felt it was no harm - nice recruiting tool.

When the NCAA changed the rules, some of the schools like USD continued to do what they always did  - same system, different level, no overt football scholarships.........

USD plays schools like Butler, Dayton, Valparaiso, Jacksonville, and seems to do a pretty good job of beating them up - 11-1 last year - not bad.

[swede]

I figured you guys would be a good source for this one.  Can Azusa Pacific give Whitewater a game?

I think APU can come within four TD's (thanks to garbage time)

[footballfan413]

I figured you guys would be a good source for this one.  Can Azusa Pacific give Whitewater a game?

I think APU can come within four TD's (thanks to garbage time)

I find this prediction comforting, Swede......+karma for you   

[WaCat]

Pre-Season and Post-Season All American QB lists usually do not appear consistent (except in 2005 when BE headed both lists).  Here's the last couple of years for those who may have forgotten:

                       Pre-Season           Post-Season
2003    Eli Grant - Case West.      Scott Krause - Stevens Pt.
2004    Adam King - Howard Pay  Brett Elliott - Linfield
2005    Brett Elliott - Linfield         Brett Elliott - Linfield
2006    Andy Collins - Oxy             ?****

****I'm betting Tim Benzel (Linfield) will be in the running by the end of the season  for the All-American QB in Division III.  Wouldn't that be sweet - the Cats sweep the QB honors three years in a row not too mention the fine All-American Tyler Matthews who preceded BE!!!

Go Tim Go --- Show The Nation!!!

Wildcat64

I agree I think Tim is going to produce this year at a high level.  All American???  Only time will tell.  I can tell you this, he has put his time in and deserves a chance to prove himself.  Bottom line is the better QB will play, Trevor or Tim.  Both are solid players, but I think Tim's athletic ability will pull him through in the end.  If thats the case the Cats are looking pretty next year because Trevor will be eager to play.

[Orca Jr.]

WaCat, Haven't heard or seen you in awhile.  Hope things are going well.  I will agree with part of your post.  Time will tell as far as the level of success with Benzel, however having watched him play, learn, and grow over four years (as I know you were able to do very closesly for a few years) I have no doubts about the position.  I know a lot can happen in a off-season, but Benzel is more athletic, much stronger, and a MUCH better leader than Trevor.  Nothing against him, but I believe Benzel to be a very text book quarterback.  Guys already have a great amount of respect for Tim in the huddle, and the value of that cannot be overstated.