FB: Northwest Conference

[woufan]

Van Lue is on the WOU roster, having transfered from Kentucky (I think they were moving him to tight end), and he was at Foothill, and I think Chemeketa playing baseball. Well-travelled guy, I guess.

I really liked him in high school, then again I saw him play just once, lighting up some bad Albany or Crescent Valley team, can't remember. One of my buddies, a South Salem grad, thinks he's not that great. But Arizona State dropped him late, he's big and has a strong arm.

Out of high school, WOU put all its eggs in the Travis Lulay basket, hoping that since his girlfriend was at WOU and many relatives played there, they'd get him. Well, they didn't, he's now one of the best QBs in the Big Sky at Montana State. The staff liked Van Lue as much as my South Salem buddy.

I've always thought Van Lue had a nice upside ... we'll see. Hate to be a naysayer, but I've never been sold on the Thorsons -- the younger and older one. Gotta get better than that to win at the college level, IMO.

[shane falco]

WC11,

I totally agree with your assessment of that offense.  When I was in Austria our head coach was from SOU's staff, and we ran their offense.

Talk about 80% run, 20% pass.  They love to run the ball down there.  However, they have a qb named Boomer Marshall that can really throw the ball around, don't know if he'll start though.  So the Cat's need to be ready for anything.

[woufan]

According to some SOU fans on O-live's board, Boomer is fat, slow, and dumb as a box of rocks.

I think the media and folk are more caught up in the name "Boomer" than his actual ability.

If his name was Joe Schmoe, we'd all be bored with him.

[beancounter]

Maybe those SOU guys are thinking of Esiason, not Marshall.    Maybe they think that if a kid is nicknamed Boomer, that in of itself is enough to lead the Raiders to greater glory.

While it sounds a bit crazy, I wouldn't put it past the posters over at O-Live.   The SOU posts over there are to be cherished for how delusionary fans can get.   I especially like it when the players get on line and talk about how much pride they have as Raiders (as if you can buy it at the store because SOU hardly has much in the way of tradition).   

It makes that O-Live board good for talk more than anything....light on information and heavy on chest pounding...but little else

My two bits..........

[D O.C.]

Last winter before the Stagg Bowl I started a General Football thread that the Moderator PC felt was not appropriate. At least my timing was good because LINFIELD finally made fewer mistakes and won the Stagg in 2004.

Adolf is one of the things special about LINFIELD.
From the News Register article:

"There is a great tradition at LINFIELD," he said. "Notre Dame has an
unbelievable tradition. Well, I think LINFIELD, on a smaller scale, is
the same. There's something about LINFIELD that is unique."
                     A. Rutschman

[cawcdad]

There is a pretty good RB, his name is A.C. McGhee, from Golden Valley High School in Merced, CA (Speckman's old stomping grounds) that, last I had heard, had narrowed his choice of schools down to Willamette and Linfield. Does anyone know if if he is in either camp?

[KennethK]

LB..so it sounds as if you don't give SP much of a shot on your fast turf. 

[beancounter]

Kenneth...sounds to me like you think UWSP can win at Linfield if Borchart throws for 259 yards.   He'll have to do a lot better than that.   259 yards is less than a halftime total for Brett Elliott.   

And really, do you think UWSP is somehow magically going to match up with Linfield in the speed department?  There is one reason why UWSP let that grass grow high.....it was to try to equalize the speed.  Not to pick on UWSP because they aren't the only ones ever to do this, but you don't let the grass get a little long because you have a fast team.....it is the opposite.

[KennethK]

No 259 will not be enough.  Sp will have some new receivers against some new dbacks.  The edge might have to go to new receivers in a second game of the year.  SP's coach thinks Borchardt is the second best QB in D3 so if he gets hot, who knows.  Based on last years results and this years pre season rankings it would appear SP vs Cats might be close.  But I think you get your wish..undeated season..Johnnies and MU in the play-offs.  Hold on..a Johnnie win means no MU. 

[spiritof86]

Borchardt is good, butt not 2nd best in the nation. UWSP has a fighting chance but speed will kill them. Their db's were athletic last year, but not near enough.

[catback4]

Kenneth what don't you understand about the DB situation @ Linfield.  You act like they lost all of their DB's.  You have two all conference guys back in Chris Boock (CB) and Josh Ort (FS) add the experience of Andy Galpin (SS) and Brandon Hazenberg (all everything) and I think that our DB's will have a lot more experience than the new UWSP receivers.  I talked to some guys and it looks like Haze is trying to START both ways.  I think that guy has the talent to do so, but I just worry about him getting fatigued at the end of games and then for late in the season.  There is no question that he would be the best canidate to play opposite of Boock at the other corner position.  I think that UWSP should be more concerned on not having a 60 spot hung on them when they visit the catdome!

[KennethK]

cb4..thanks for that info..Linfield's season preview says 3 starters need to be replaced in secondary.  I am sure they have outstanding replacements.  SP replaces  three starting receivers.  My hopes for an upset have dimmed..Cats by 14.

[d-train]

Cheer up Kenneth, you might find your upset in Eau Claire, Wisc.

[Wildcat'64]

I suspect every team on the Cats schedule will play their best game of the year (or above their heads) when they play the Cats.  Each and every team will be "gunning" to beat the National Champs with three Pre Season All Americans on it's roster.  It will make a teams season if they could pull off an upset and beat the champs by even a single point.
However, I suspect every Wildcat and especially the coaching staff, will prepare for each and every game knowing full well that their opponent will be working on a game plan to hopefully fulfill their dreams of upsetting the National Champs!
[

[CamCat]

Kenneth,

With your prediction are you saying that SP is going to fly all the way out here, 1,600 + miles and lose by only 3 more points than the Cats beat them by last year in the SP cow pasture? 

I find it most amusing how your mind works. Does logic ever enter into your equation or are your picks all based on wishful thinking that best supports your fantasy?