FB: Northwest Conference

[MonroviaCat]

Anyone know off the top of their head what players/how many do we lose to graduation off this team?  

On offense we lose 8-9 starters (OUCH!).    On defense we return 6-7 starters.    Depends on whether the seniors, with one more year of eligibility, return.


George

I could be wrong but I think we may keep a few more starters than that (obviously that depends on certain guys staying around for their final year of eligibility (I think Boehme and Slezack fit this qualifier--not sure about others).  But it looks like nearly the entire O-line will be graduating which is gonna be hard to replace--they have been awesome this season.

[chewey]

I was sorry to see Linfield lose and I wish I could have made the trip.  It sounds like Linfield had the game in control but receivers dropped potential TD passes and UWW got a couple of huge gains.  I was hoping for a Linfield win but actually expected to see a UWW win by 3 TD's.  I always know that Linfield has a great program year in and year out.  In that you played UWW like that, Linfield is/was even a lot better than I thought and I was closely following Linfield all year. 

Good job Blue, Coco, Wildcat11, GHCat and everyone else.  We'll set 'em up and knock 'em down again next year.  Hopefully, it will be the Johnnies ending your playoff run next year and not UWW   I must admit that I'm getting really tired of seeing MUC/UWW year in and year out in the Stagg.  Someone's got to do something about this.  You guys came close. 

[6t3bird]

 

I just wanted to say congrats to Linfield on a great season and on a well played game.  Easily the best opponent we had faced all season.  While it didn't match the 2005 matchup it was every bit as challenging a contest for our guys.  I was very impressed with the Rocketman and no other defense we faced this season controlled our third down success like yours.  I think Linfield has a lot going for it and they'll be a force to deal with in the future.   Best wishes this offseason and perhaps we'll be fortunate to meet again in the future.  

Your guys played great!  I was very impressed with the contain all day. Like I said on the wiac board, I think after next week we'll look back and say the championchip was decided in  the semi.  Great year Cats!!!!!!!!  You Rock!  Time to reload and return

[MacQuiz]

Sleeping on 'em. Gonna see if I can make wine out of sour grapes.

I did the same DOC; as it turned out, an easier night than the "44-41".

Painfull...yes, what if this-n-that...yes, totally unexpected...not so much!

I think the Cat's did the job they were trained to do for 60 minutes.  There's no question that the "Who are those guys?" question has been answered.

I'm very proud of our program that focuses on individual character develepment that often leads to success on the football field.  Our guys are top drawer every day!

So much for my deeper thinking...I'm still squirming around and wishing for ...what if this-n-that so we could have won!

BTW...I got no wine worth drinking...it's a bit dry with a lingering
and slightly bitter aftertaste!

The good news...the new grapes will be on the vine come July and will be on time for the start of seven on sevens.  Yahoooo!

[D O.C.]

Cats fake the PUNT (WTF) and get nothing:  WW takes over at the Cats 48

Do not fault the staff at all for that play. Like John Wooden says, "If it works you look like a genius."
Taylor Avritt has the digs to make 4 yards like that.
Plain and simple, he slipped.
Very hard not to get any takes and come in for a situation like that.

[wildcat11]

Anyone know off the top of their head what players/how many do we lose to graduation off this team? 

On offense we lose 8-9 starters (OUCH!).    On defense we return 6-7 starters.    Depends on whether the seniors, with one more year of eligibility, return.

George

Boehme, Slezak, and Heston each have a year of eligibility left and I believe that all three will be coming back.  Don't quote me but I think they'll be back.  However, losing Sells, Millenbach, Otineru, Buck on the interior will be tough as well as the leadership and play making of Cederberg and Patterson.  However, we'll have plenty of offensive weapons next season.

Defense actually brings back 8-9 starters and the defensive backfield and defensive line will still have a number of guys with 2-3 more years of eligibility. 

I think the 'Cats will be ok. 

[MonroviaCat]

Anyone know off the top of their head what players/how many do we lose to graduation off this team? 

On offense we lose 8-9 starters (OUCH!).    On defense we return 6-7 starters.    Depends on whether the seniors, with one more year of eligibility, return.

George

Boehme, Slezak, and Heston each have a year of eligibility left and I believe that all three will be coming back.  Don't quote me but I think they'll be back.  However, losing Sells, Millenbach, Otineru, Buck on the interior will be tough as well as the leadership and play making of Cederberg and Patterson.  However, we'll have plenty of offensive weapons next season.

Defense actually brings back 8-9 starters and the defensive backfield and defensive line will still have a number of guys with 2-3 more years of eligibility. 

I think the 'Cats will be ok. 

Yeah--secondary should be really good for the next few years! 

[wildcat11]

OK...in regards to yesterday.  Bittersweet feeling after the game.  I'll post more on the blog tomorrow but I was very disappointed in losing a game Linfield had a GREAT chance of closing out but credit UWW for rising to the challenge in the 4th and getting it done.  UWW is a GREAT team and the 'Cats said they played hard, clean, and were very good sports between the lines.  Props to them.

Never thought I could be more proud to be a Wildcat but this 2009 team almost made my chest explode with their play this year.  They left it all on the field and should have zero regrets.  They are just 100% class, heart, and determination and has all the qualities that we Linfield fans hope our teams put out each season.  

Congratulations to the senior class, the entire roster of players, the staff, and all the folks who do their part to make Linfield football great.  Go 'Cats!!!

[MacQuiz]

They left it all on the field and should have zero regrets.  They are just 100% class, heart, and determination and has all the qualities that we Linfield fans hope our teams put out each season.  

Congratulations to the senior class, the entire roster of players, the staff, and all the folks who do their part to make Linfield football great.  Go 'Cats!!!

Happy to hear from you 11...nuff said...you know!
Ditto on your quoted comments above!

[wildcat11]

Oh...one other thing.

I wanted to pass along this gem from a sports writer in Kansas who was a former SOU player:

http://www.kansas.com/sports/story/1096258.html

Winning or losing: The movable feast
BY TONY ADAME
The Wichita Eagle

Old-fashioned, white-hot hatred of the other team— If there's ever a moment that warms my heart at the end of every college football season, it's when I see the Linfield (Ore.) football team has lost it's final game, just as it did Saturday, falling to Wisconsin-Whitewater in the NCAA Division III semifinals.

Here's Linfield's thing: They've got a bunch of cash. That's it. They muscle the other small-colleges in the area into being guaranteed home games for them, returning the favor once every three or four years. And then they expect said schools to be happy about it.

I have the distinct privilege of playing on the team that handed them the worst home loss in school history: 40-10 in 1999. That's a big loss, to a state school, Southern Oregon University.

When I need to go to a happy place, that's always my first choice.

[D O.C.]

Speed.
Can't coach it.

Props to that UWW staff who saw something on the LINFIELD defensive right side during their first series. They went right to it first play their second time with the ball and double whammy!  speed is gone. Levell will have tougher games in his career and speed usually always has patience knowing their time will come but he knows what a 'CAT is all about.

Props to Levell sliding off the pile and busting out to his favorite left side again to finally pull our plug.
I was looking in the pile for a turnover that never game when WHOOP!  there he was accelerating in the open field again.

Speed.

[CalCat]

Oh...one other thing.

I wanted to pass along this gem from a sports writer in Kansas who was a former SOU player:

http://www.kansas.com/sports/story/1096258.html

Winning or losing: The movable feast
BY TONY ADAME
The Wichita Eagle

Old-fashioned, white-hot hatred of the other team— If there's ever a moment that warms my heart at the end of every college football season, it's when I see the Linfield (Ore.) football team has lost it's final game, just as it did Saturday, falling to Wisconsin-Whitewater in the NCAA Division III semifinals.

Here's Linfield's thing: They've got a bunch of cash. That's it. They muscle the other small-colleges in the area into being guaranteed home games for them, returning the favor once every three or four years. And then they expect said schools to be happy about it.

I have the distinct privilege of playing on the team that handed them the worst home loss in school history: 40-10 in 1999. That's a big loss, to a state school, Southern Oregon University.

When I need to go to a happy place, that's always my first choice.

Jealousy sometimes can be the highest form of compliment....although you would expect more professionalism from a guy that makes his living writing...wouldn't trust his writing to be objective...just another hater

[bleedpurple]

OK...in regards to yesterday.  Bittersweet feeling after the game.  I'll post more on the blog tomorrow but I was very disappointed in losing a game Linfield had a GREAT chance of closing out but credit UWW for rising to the challenge in the 4th and getting it done.  UWW is a GREAT team and the 'Cats said they played hard, clean, and were very good sports between the lines.  Props to them.

Never thought I could be more proud to be a Wildcat but this 2009 team almost made my chest explode with their play this year.  They left it all on the field and should have zero regrets.  They are just 100% class, heart, and determination and has all the qualities that we Linfield fans hope our teams put out each season.  

Congratulations to the senior class, the entire roster of players, the staff, and all the folks who do their part to make Linfield football great.  Go 'Cats!!!

Congratulations to the Linfield Wildcats players, coaches, and fans for a GREAT season and a GREAT performance at UWW yesterday. I got the pleasure of meeting a few of the fans. Every aspect of the program oozed quality and class.  UWW players also talked after the game about the quality and class the Linfield players showed. They mentioned that the Linfield players were classy and good sports. That is very impressive given the emotion of such a big game.

In my opinion,  this Linfield team is REALLY GOOD. Whatever "level" of D3 you put UWW  in, put Linfield in the same place. If UWW is at the top level with MUC, then there are at least 3 teams in that level. If MUC is on a different "level", then I guess we will find that out next week. But as far as UWW is concerned, Linfield is RIGHT THERE.

After previous jabs directed at the Linfield defense (specifically after they played Puget Sound), I feel like I owe that unit this: They played OUTSTANDING Saturday.

Congratulations again to the Linfield Wildcats and their fans. You will be easy to root for when the 2010 season unfolds.

[D O.C.]

GGramps...you ain't lyin'.

Simon did his job.

TEAM.

Proud of them.

[Bearcat Press]

Jealousy sometimes can be the highest form of compliment....although you would expect more professionalism from a guy that makes his living writing...wouldn't trust his writing to be objective...just another hater

He's writing a column: columns aren't supposed to be objective.  If he were writing a recap of the game, that would be different, but this is his opinion.