FB: Northwest Conference

[wildcat11]

Have a real special treat for you today.  Just posted up a new Red and Purple Interview today.  This time with a current 'Cat on the roster, DT Paul Nishizaki.  A great read and hope you all enjoy it.


ADvantage Catdome:  Red And Purple Interview: Paul Nishizaki

[d-train]

The Frontier and D-2 GNAC play a double-round robin schedule; playing each team twice, home-and-away. For the Frontier, that's 10 conference games and each team can add one non-conference tilt.  Besides EOU, the schools are very close together and travel is cheap. Adding SOU is expensive enough because of the distance and remote location. But the bigger cost is that it breaks up the 'double' schedule -  leaving teams with only 6 conference games and four additional non-conference slots to fill. They'd probably fill a few of those by playing a conference member twice, but who wants to play Carroll (the overwelming conference favorite) twice or go to Oregon a second time if it's not required? Teams could add Azusa Pacific - but that's not cheap either. Frankly, I don't see why the Frontier would invite SOU in with all the resulting costs. That's a huge, huge favor that SOU isn't owed. It's not like Montana Tech (etc.) created SOU's problem. SOU comes across as the guy at the off-ramp begging for your loose change...except that this one only takes $100 bills.

The real bummer is the short-sighted stance by the NCAA against dual-affiliation. SOU and Azusa would join D-2 for football tomorrow if they could leave their other sports in the NAIA for now. That would be a huge benefit to the GNAC right away. If the NCAA would grant a hardship wavier for dual-affiliation, that might be re-payed with those two (and others) becoming full members down the road. And they'd win huge points in the court of public opinion. Sadly, that is very unlikely and I'd guess that SOU is playing it's last season of football.

[wildcat11]

The Frontier and D-2 GNAC play a double-round robin schedule; playing each team twice, home-and-away. For the Frontier, that's 10 conference games and each team can add one non-conference tilt.  Besides EOU, the schools are very close together and travel is cheap. Adding SOU is expensive enough because of the distance and remote location. But the bigger cost is that it breaks up the 'double' schedule -  leaving teams with only 6 conference games and four additional non-conference slots to fill. They'd probably fill a few of those by playing a conference member twice, but who wants to play Carroll (the overwelming conference favorite) twice or go to Oregon a second time if it's not required? Teams could add Azusa Pacific - but that's not cheap either. Frankly, I don't see why the Frontier would invite SOU in with all the resulting costs. That's a huge, huge favor that SOU isn't owed. It's not like Montana Tech (etc.) created SOU's problem. SOU comes across as the guy at the off-ramp begging for your loose change...except that this one only takes $100 bills.

The real bummer is the short-sighted stance by the NCAA against dual-affiliation. SOU and Azusa would join D-2 for football tomorrow if they could leave their other sports in the NAIA for now. That would be a huge benefit to the GNAC right away. If the NCAA would grant a hardship wavier for dual-affiliation, that might be re-payed with those two (and others) becoming full members down the road. And they'd win huge points in the court of public opinion. Sadly, that is very unlikely and I'd guess that SOU is playing it's last season of football.

I think this is about as good of a post on the subject we can get.  SOU admin HAS to know the Frontier isn't going to take in SOU and that will just be the justification they need to kill the program after 2010. 

[wildcat11]

D-Train...to further move this along.

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100312/SPORTS/3120336

This was the part that caught my eye:

Rumors have swirled about the possibility of dropping the football program in the wake of the obstacles it has faced, but Sayre said the school's boosters and surrounding community have been adamant that football needed to be maintained at SOU.

"We're much better off with football, we really are," he said. "We're much better off as an institution with football, much better off as an athletic department with football. Because the push for Division II is really all about football and we know that we can't do that right now, we have to pay special attention to helping football right now."

Those words were music to the ears of football coach Steve Helminiak, who was one of a host of Raider coaches on hand for Thursday's press conference.

"I don't think there's any pressure, I really don't," Helminiak said of the football program's status. "I think if you read between the lines with President Cullinan and Matt, I think there's a real commitment into making this happen."

"Football can't keep going the same way we're going, we've got to get some affiliation," he added. "I think that this is gonna really push us in that direction. We're not looking at this as a negative, we're looking at it as a positive."

[d-train]

Doesn't sound like Sayre or Helminiak looked at the report.  

Okay, okay - I'm sure they read it - but that's some serious spin to go from:
"Evaluation of the viability of the program by SOU administration will commence after the 2010 season dependent primarily on opportunities for inclusion in a conference"

to: "special attention to helping football right now";
"I don't think there's any pressure" and "there's a real commitment to making this happen."

[D O.C.]

I say we point the Raider boosters to a trip out to the WIAC to see how a state school can position their academic paper to be able to join Division III.

If 2009 was the last game near the home of the Shakespeare Festival I am going to miss the 3 billion moths around the lights and the free Lithia water.

[RedandPurple]

Wow! What's happening with Oregon football?  

Oregon QB Masoli suspended for next season

By ANNE M. PETERSON, AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson, Ap Sports Writer

Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has been suspended for the upcoming season by coach Chip Kelly after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary in the theft of a pair of laptops and a guitar from a campus fraternity.

Running back LaMichael James has been suspended for the season opener after he pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from an altercation with his former girlfriend.

Placekicker Rob Beard was also suspended for the opener by Kelly after pleading guilty last week to a misdemeanor harassment charge for his role in a street fight that left him seriously injured.

Kelly says Masoli will remain on scholarship and may use a redshirt for the 2010 season.

Read more here:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100312/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_oregon_james_and_masoli;_ylt=Api.l4XzpAkZg7UnwFS.W3sLMxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJzNmY1aWJvBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMzEyL2ZiY19vcmVnb25famFtZXNfYW5kX21hc29saQRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzIEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDb3JlZ29ucWJtYXNv

and here:  http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2010/03/oregon_football_the_rap_sheet.html

[MonroviaCat]

Wow! What's happening with Oregon football?  

Oregon QB Masoli suspended for next season

By ANNE M. PETERSON, AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson, Ap Sports Writer

Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has been suspended for the upcoming season by coach Chip Kelly after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary in the theft of a pair of laptops and a guitar from a campus fraternity.

Running back LaMichael James has been suspended for the season opener after he pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from an altercation with his former girlfriend.

Placekicker Rob Beard was also suspended for the opener by Kelly after pleading guilty last week to a misdemeanor harassment charge for his role in a street fight that left him seriously injured.

Kelly says Masoli will remain on scholarship and may use a redshirt for the 2010 season.

Read more here:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100312/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_oregon_james_and_masoli;_ylt=Api.l4XzpAkZg7UnwFS.W3sLMxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJzNmY1aWJvBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMzEyL2ZiY19vcmVnb25famFtZXNfYW5kX21hc29saQRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzIEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDb3JlZ29ucWJtYXNv

and here:  http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2010/03/oregon_football_the_rap_sheet.html

I didn't realize you could be a "criminal redshirt"....   

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wow! What's happening with Oregon football?  

Oregon QB Masoli suspended for next season

By ANNE M. PETERSON, AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson, Ap Sports Writer

Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has been suspended for the upcoming season by coach Chip Kelly after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary in the theft of a pair of laptops and a guitar from a campus fraternity.

Running back LaMichael James has been suspended for the season opener after he pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from an altercation with his former girlfriend.

Placekicker Rob Beard was also suspended for the opener by Kelly after pleading guilty last week to a misdemeanor harassment charge for his role in a street fight that left him seriously injured.

Kelly says Masoli will remain on scholarship and may use a redshirt for the 2010 season.

Read more here:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100312/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_oregon_james_and_masoli;_ylt=Api.l4XzpAkZg7UnwFS.W3sLMxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJzNmY1aWJvBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMzEyL2ZiY19vcmVnb25famFtZXNfYW5kX21hc29saQRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzIEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDb3JlZ29ucWJtYXNv

and here:  http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2010/03/oregon_football_the_rap_sheet.html

I didn't realize you could be a "criminal redshirt"....   

It's D1 rules, not D3!

[Las Vegas Wildcards]

Wow! What's happening with Oregon football?  

Oregon QB Masoli suspended for next season

By ANNE M. PETERSON, AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson, Ap Sports Writer

Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has been suspended for the upcoming season by coach Chip Kelly after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary in the theft of a pair of laptops and a guitar from a campus fraternity.

Running back LaMichael James has been suspended for the season opener after he pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from an altercation with his former girlfriend.

Placekicker Rob Beard was also suspended for the opener by Kelly after pleading guilty last week to a misdemeanor harassment charge for his role in a street fight that left him seriously injured.

Kelly says Masoli will remain on scholarship and may use a redshirt for the 2010 season.

Read more here:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100312/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_oregon_james_and_masoli;_ylt=Api.l4XzpAkZg7UnwFS.W3sLMxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJzNmY1aWJvBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMzEyL2ZiY19vcmVnb25famFtZXNfYW5kX21hc29saQRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzIEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDb3JlZ29ucWJtYXNv

and here:  http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2010/03/oregon_football_the_rap_sheet.html

Bad situation, the Ducks would have been a national title contender with Masoli. I would also think other Oregon players would have a sense of betrayal, since the QB is suppose to be one of the team leaders. I wonder if these incidents would have happened under Mike Belotti, who recruited these players, or whether these knuckleheads thought they could take advantage of Chip Kelly. It seems that Blount punch in the opening game against Boise was a preview of future events.
Out here in Big Ten country, 11 Michigan State players were charged with assault after beating up other students after a football banquet. Florida State has had players who could barely read.
These big, D1 programs seem to be more like professional franchises than academic institutions. Wayching games on TV this past season, I've heard announcers slip and use that term, referring to "the Florida franchise" and "the USC franchise". It's the sign of the times, unfortunately.
Long live D3 football!         

[D O.C.]

preview of future events

.....was when the thug mentality from Cali cities was imported to boost the football program.

[cawcdad]

. . .The real bummer is the short-sighted stance by the NCAA against dual-affiliation. SOU and Azusa would join D-2 for football tomorrow if they could leave their other sports in the NAIA for now. That would be a huge benefit to the GNAC right away. If the NCAA would grant a hardship wavier for dual-affiliation, that might be re-payed with those two (and others) becoming full members down the road. And they'd win huge points in the court of public opinion. Sadly, that is very unlikely and I'd guess that SOU is playing it's last season of football.

d-train would you know how Menlo can have dual affiliation? Cal State East Bay also had dual affiliation until they moved to D-II this year.

[Bearcat Press]

. . .The real bummer is the short-sighted stance by the NCAA against dual-affiliation. SOU and Azusa would join D-2 for football tomorrow if they could leave their other sports in the NAIA for now. That would be a huge benefit to the GNAC right away. If the NCAA would grant a hardship wavier for dual-affiliation, that might be re-payed with those two (and others) becoming full members down the road. And they'd win huge points in the court of public opinion. Sadly, that is very unlikely and I'd guess that SOU is playing it's last season of football.

d-train would you know how Menlo can have dual affiliation? Cal State East Bay also had dual affiliation until they moved to D-II this year.

I want to say they were grandfathered in at the time the NCAA changed its rules.

I'm guessing Speckman is happy he isn't the quarterbacks coach in Eugene right now ...

[RedandPurple]

Wow! What's happening with Oregon football?  

Oregon QB Masoli suspended for next season

By ANNE M. PETERSON, AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson, Ap Sports Writer

Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has been suspended for the upcoming season by coach Chip Kelly after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary in the theft of a pair of laptops and a guitar from a campus fraternity.

Running back LaMichael James has been suspended for the season opener after he pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from an altercation with his former girlfriend.

Placekicker Rob Beard was also suspended for the opener by Kelly after pleading guilty last week to a misdemeanor harassment charge for his role in a street fight that left him seriously injured.

Kelly says Masoli will remain on scholarship and may use a redshirt for the 2010 season.

Read more here:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100312/ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_oregon_james_and_masoli;_ylt=Api.l4XzpAkZg7UnwFS.W3sLMxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJzNmY1aWJvBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMzEyL2ZiY19vcmVnb25famFtZXNfYW5kX21hc29saQRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzIEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDb3JlZ29ucWJtYXNv

and here:  http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2010/03/oregon_football_the_rap_sheet.html

I didn't realize you could be a "criminal redshirt"....  

It's D1 rules, not D3!

According to the ncaa rules listed below, off the ncaa web page, no reason is needed to redshirt.  

Frequently-Asked Questions on Redshirts, Age Limits and Graduate Participation

  1. What is a redshirt?
  2. Is there an age limit for participating in college sports?
  3. Can I participate if I'm enrolled in a graduate or professional school?


Redshirt Definition

   The term "redshirt" is used to describe a student-athlete who does not participate in competition in a sport for an entire academic year. If you do not compete in a sport the entire academic year, you have not used a season of competition. For example, if you are a qualifier, and you attend a four-year college your freshman year, and you practice but do not compete against outside competition, you would still have the next four years to play four seasons of competition.

   Each student is allowed no more than four seasons of competition per sport. If you were not a qualifier, you may have fewer seasons of competition available to you. You should know that NCAA rules indicate that any competition, regardless of time, during a season counts as one of your seasons of competition in that sport. It does not matter how long you were involved in a particular competition (for example, one play in a football game, one point in a volleyball match); you will be charged with one season of competition.

[d-train]

. . .The real bummer is the short-sighted stance by the NCAA against dual-affiliation. SOU and Azusa would join D-2 for football tomorrow if they could leave their other sports in the NAIA for now. That would be a huge benefit to the GNAC right away. If the NCAA would grant a hardship wavier for dual-affiliation, that might be re-payed with those two (and others) becoming full members down the road. And they'd win huge points in the court of public opinion. Sadly, that is very unlikely and I'd guess that SOU is playing it's last season of football.

d-train would you know how Menlo can have dual affiliation? Cal State East Bay also had dual affiliation until they moved to D-II this year.

I want to say they were grandfathered in at the time the NCAA changed its rules.

Yeah, Menlo and a few others are grandfathered in. Similar to Hockey at Colorado College or Lacrosse at John's Hopkins. Eastern Oregon was grandfathered for awhile as well, with football as a D-3 independent and their other sports in NAIA. They kinda wanted to go all D-3 except it was clear that the NWC wouldn't let 'em in. The NCAA outlawed 'new' dual-affiliations about 8-9 years ago (roughly?).

Personally, I think the ban is lame. The NCAA thinks it will force schools like SOU to go 'all-in' on D-2. But I think it's more likely that they'll cut football and stay NAIA. Wouldn't D-2 (and the GNAC) be better off having the Raiders for football-only than not-at-all? Or give them a 5-year hardship waver to figure it out.