FB: Northwest Conference

[bluenote]

Congrats to the Cats!  From off the radar screen ...

I keep hearing this claim, as if somehow there were no votes for Linfield in the preseason poll, or somehow we didn't rank Linfield 29th in the 1-238 Kickoff ranking. Linfield wasn't off the radar at all. They weren't in the Top 25 but they were very squarely ON the radar, people.

I thought we started out where we should be considering we had 3 - 6/3 seasons in a row. In fact we were probably lucky to get any votes. Now we need to step up a level.

[Wildcat'64]

Blue,
You're right on target.  Even us most loyal supporters of the Cats would not have put any money down in Vegas betting that the Cats would end up #3 in the nation after three straight 6-3 seasons.  This was a true TEAM effort and they believed in themselves and proved to the rest of the nation that they had the desire and talent to win it all.  In all of WC 11's post game interviews time and time again the players credited the TEAM effort not individuals.  This was one of the best total Team efforts I can recall in many many years.....along the way some key players proved themselves and thankful most of them will be back at the helm again next year.  GO Cats in 2010 it has the the potential to be a great ride!

[bluenote]

Blue,
You're right on target.  Even us most loyal supporters of the Cats would not have put any money down in Vegas betting that the Cats would end up #3 in the nation after three straight 6-3 seasons.  This was a true TEAM effort and they believed in themselves and proved to the rest of the nation that they had the desire and talent to win it all.  In all of WC 11's post game interviews time and time again the players credited the TEAM effort not individuals.  This was one of the best total Team efforts I can recall in many many years.....along the way some key players proved themselves and thankful most of them will be back at the helm again next year.  GO Cats in 2010 it has the the potential to be a great ride!

I whole agree with that!...and also I think all of the "cat Fans know we had a pretty dang young team this year...we need to shore up the O-Line and Linebacker slots....and a couple receivers...otherwise we're good to go!

[D O.C.]

So....which of you chest beaters is going to join the DO.C. Fan Vow?

[MonroviaCat]

So....which of you chest beaters is going to join the DO.C. Fan Vow?

I just bought an I-phone so no extra $20/week for me, as for walking and the gym...well...I could lie and take that vow....but I'll have to settle for rolling bones and practicing voodoo....

[MacQuiz]

So....which of you chest beaters is going to join the DO.C. Fan Vow?

I've been on board DO.C....
Every July I move my speedwalking to the Catdome track and keep my mojo up while watching Cat practice.  It's a great mental fakeout for keeping an old dude on the move.

It all started 35 years ago when I would tell myself that one more trip doing East-West Bear Crawls meant the girlfriend that dumped me last week would take me back right after practice...
Good luck with that!

[CalCat]

Blue,
You're right on target.  Even us most loyal supporters of the Cats would not have put any money down in Vegas betting that the Cats would end up #3 in the nation after three straight 6-3 seasons.  This was a true TEAM effort and they believed in themselves and proved to the rest of the nation that they had the desire and talent to win it all.  In all of WC 11's post game interviews time and time again the players credited the TEAM effort not individuals.  This was one of the best total Team efforts I can recall in many many years.....along the way some key players proved themselves and thankful most of them will be back at the helm again next year.  GO Cats in 2010 it has the the potential to be a great ride!

All that comes from great coaching from the top down..they deserve a bunch of credit for the enjoyable year Cat fans had

[RedandPurple]

Blue,
You're right on target.  Even us most loyal supporters of the Cats would not have put any money down in Vegas betting that the Cats would end up #3 in the nation after three straight 6-3 seasons.  This was a true TEAM effort and they believed in themselves and proved to the rest of the nation that they had the desire and talent to win it all.  In all of WC 11's post game interviews time and time again the players credited the TEAM effort not individuals.  This was one of the best total Team efforts I can recall in many many years.....along the way some key players proved themselves and thankful most of them will be back at the helm again next year.  GO Cats in 2010 it has the the potential to be a great ride!

All that comes from great coaching from the top down..they deserve a bunch of credit for the enjoyable year Cat fans had

If you haven't read this yet please do. It's a good article out of the Oregonian.

Linfield season in review: Breakthrough year rebuilds confidence
By Norm Maves, Special to The Oregonian
December 16, 2009, 5:12PM

Click here for the rest of the story: http://www.oregonlive.com/collegefootball/index.ssf/2009/12/linfield_season_review_breakth.html

I hope to see some of you in California for the start of the season next year.
Merry Christmas

[D O.C.]

Every July I move my speedwalking to the Catdome track and keep my mojo up while watching Cat practice.  It's a great mental fakeout for keeping an old dude on the move.

What a great idea. More power (walking) to you.

[bleedpurple]

Wisconsin-Whitewater Tops Final 2009 Division III Coaches' Poll 
Courtesy: AFCA - Release: 12/21/2009
http://www.afca.com/

1.   Wis.-Whitewater (40)   1,000
2.   Mount Union (Ohio)       960
3.   Linfield (Ore.)      900

Clearly, a no brainer!  Congrats to the Cats and their fans again on a terrific comeback season. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my Cat friends.  You know who you are................       

Can someone explain to me what the 1,000 960 and 900 represent. 

There are 40 voters. They rank their top 25 teams, 1-25. Their first place team gets 25 points, their 2nd ranked team gets 24, etc. By these totals, UW-W got all 40 first place votes. Mount Union got all 40 second place votes.

If the Cats had gotten all 40 3rd place votes, they would have 920 points.

In fact, in an interesting note. The total possible points for the combined #3 and #4 teams would have been 1,800.  Linfield and Wesley combined for 1,794. So some voter(s) voted someone in the top four that didn't make the semi-finals. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wisconsin-Whitewater Tops Final 2009 Division III Coaches' Poll 
Courtesy: AFCA - Release: 12/21/2009
http://www.afca.com/

1.   Wis.-Whitewater (40)   1,000
2.   Mount Union (Ohio)       960
3.   Linfield (Ore.)      900

Clearly, a no brainer!  Congrats to the Cats and their fans again on a terrific comeback season. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my Cat friends.  You know who you are................       

Can someone explain to me what the 1,000 960 and 900 represent. 

There are 40 voters. They rank their top 25 teams, 1-25. Their first place team gets 25 points, their 2nd ranked team gets 24, etc. By these totals, UW-W got all 40 first place votes. Mount Union got all 40 second place votes.

If the Cats had gotten all 40 3rd place votes, they would have 920 points.

In fact, in an interesting note. The total possible points for the combined #3 and #4 teams would have been 1,800.  Linfield and Wesley combined for 1,794. So some voter(s) voted someone in the top four that didn't make the semi-finals. 

Making the semis can be as much bracketing as 'power'.  I think a very plausible case can be made for ranking either Witt or St. Thomas above Wesley.

[Bearcat Press]

Wisconsin-Whitewater Tops Final 2009 Division III Coaches' Poll 
Courtesy: AFCA - Release: 12/21/2009
http://www.afca.com/

1.   Wis.-Whitewater (40)   1,000
2.   Mount Union (Ohio)       960
3.   Linfield (Ore.)      900

Clearly, a no brainer!  Congrats to the Cats and their fans again on a terrific comeback season. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my Cat friends.  You know who you are................       

Can someone explain to me what the 1,000 960 and 900 represent. 

There are 40 voters. They rank their top 25 teams, 1-25. Their first place team gets 25 points, their 2nd ranked team gets 24, etc. By these totals, UW-W got all 40 first place votes. Mount Union got all 40 second place votes.

If the Cats had gotten all 40 3rd place votes, they would have 920 points.

In fact, in an interesting note. The total possible points for the combined #3 and #4 teams would have been 1,800.  Linfield and Wesley combined for 1,794. So some voter(s) voted someone in the top four that didn't make the semi-finals. 

Making the semis can be as much bracketing as 'power'.  I think a very plausible case can be made for ranking either Witt or St. Thomas above Wesley.

That happened in the D3football.com poll last year when Willamette (lost to Whitewater 30-27 in the second round) finished #4.

[CatDad]

CatDad and CatMom and the rest of the family wish everyone a Merry Christmas... We don't need much more than the gift the 'Cat young men gave us all fall...

Here's to hoping you all have a safe and fun Holiday Season!

GO CATS!!

[badgerwarhawk]

Wishing all of you NWC fans a very MERRY CHRISTMAS

[coco]

Thanks, BW.

Merry Christmas to all the posters and a special wish for our beloved 'Cats to have a great vacation. Thanks for giving us fans such a spectacular season to enjoy. You make all of us proud every time you step on the field.