FB: Northwest Conference

[bluenote]

Just gave e-body + Karmo on this page...where's L'nD....surf? food? sun?    

PS....Go Cats...can't be there but I'll be there in CatDome Spirit!

[Gig Harbor Cat]

 Gametime chance of rain just dropped from 80% to 60%.  Currently it is supposed to be raining here but we are at 10% chance and around 60 degrees.  Bottom line you never know up here

GHC  out

[bluenote]

I forgot if UPS installed turf? or did they just upgrade their stadium and grass field?

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Practice field is turf--  Game field is same as ever

[logger54]

Practice field is turf--  Game field is  same amazing field as ever

[wildcat11]

Practice field is turf--  Game field is  same cow pasture as ever

[OldCatProf]

Practice field is turf--  Game field is same as ever

I'm sure there's a good reason why a school would replace a crummy practice field with turf instead of putting the turf on its crummy stadium field...but does anyone know what that reason is?

[George Thompson]

Our mistake was not taking care of a guy running around with a cast on his left arm. Where is he?

D.O.C.,

He is gone:
From Around the Region:
"California Lutheran (2-1, 1-0 SCIAC). In last weekend's most thrilling finish seen by nobody east of the Rockies, the Kingsmen blocked Redlands' 40-yard field goal attempt as time expired to preserve a 24-22 victory and take pole position in the three-way SCIAC title race. Physically, CLU can match up with just about any team in the country, but – their season opener against Linfield aside – the Kingsmen's large crop of junior college transfers just hasn't jelled yet, and the running back who almost single-handedly won the Linfield game has left the team for personal reasons. Fortunately, they have almost five weeks to prepare for a potential conference title showdown with Occidental. Next test: Occidental on Nov. 13."

Kingsmen4,

Yes, the Linfield team you saw was not impressive, at least on D, but that has changed.    The Wildcats who whomped Willamette are the true Linfield powerhouse again.

GO CATS! GO

George

[wildcat11]

Practice field is turf--  Game field is same as ever

I'm sure there's a good reason why a school would replace a crummy practice field with turf instead of putting the turf on its crummy stadium field...but does anyone know what that reason is?

I believe the City of Tacoma was involved with the financing of the practice field and for whatever reason they turfed the practice field.  Maybe it was a matter of access to the public since it was City backed?  No matter, it's a strange setup.

[Bearcat Press]

Practice field is turf--  Game field is same as ever

I'm sure there's a good reason why a school would replace a crummy practice field with turf instead of putting the turf on its crummy stadium field...but does anyone know what that reason is?

I believe the City of Tacoma was involved with the financing of the practice field and for whatever reason they turfed the practice field.  Maybe it was a matter of access to the public since it was City backed?  No matter, it's a strange setup.

Not to mention that the UPS practice field has lights while the stadium doesn't.  That's a major issue on overcast, rainy days.

[wildcat11]

Practice field is turf--  Game field is same as ever

I'm sure there's a good reason why a school would replace a crummy practice field with turf instead of putting the turf on its crummy stadium field...but does anyone know what that reason is?

I believe the City of Tacoma was involved with the financing of the practice field and for whatever reason they turfed the practice field.  Maybe it was a matter of access to the public since it was City backed?  No matter, it's a strange setup.

Not to mention that the UPS practice field has lights while the stadium doesn't.  That's a major issue on overcast, rainy days.

With Menlo gone Baker Stadium is just the worse in the NWC and it's not even close.  Let's fire up a quick NWC stadium/field ranking

1. Linfield - Duh!  Best atmosphere easily.  Rat honks will point to their sod but I like our turf better. 
2. Rats - Pine Bowl is a great set up and the sod is very nice.  Bleachers/Press Box are booty but still a great venue
3. L&C - They have an awesome backdrop up on Palatine Hill and the new turf should help. Terrible Parking
4. Willamette - BPress will come unglued they are down this far but there is something lacking at McCulloch.  Besides when Linfield visits the place is a little underwhelming.
5. PLU - Sparks has been upgraded but it's still 20 minutes away from Parkland.  The place can rock with a good crowd.
6. UPS - It's just......ok. 

N/A: Pacific.  I have no idea since I haven't seen it and will have to save judgment.

[Bearcat Press]

With Menlo gone Baker Stadium is just the worse in the NWC and it's not even close.  Let's fire up a quick NWC stadium/field ranking

1. Linfield - Duh!  Best atmosphere easily.  Rat honks will point to their sod but I like our turf better.  
2. Rats - Pine Bowl is a great set up and the sod is very nice.  Bleachers/Press Box are booty but still a great venue
3. L&C - They have an awesome backdrop up on Palatine Hill and the new turf should help. Terrible Parking
4. Willamette - BPress will come unglued they are down this far but there is something lacking at McCulloch.  Besides when Linfield visits the place is a little underwhelming.
5. PLU - Sparks has been upgraded but it's still 20 minutes away from Parkland.  The place can rock with a good crowd.
6. UPS - It's just......ok.  

N/A: Pacific.  I have no idea since I haven't seen it and will have to save judgment.

You know what?  I absolutely agree with these rankings, with the caveat that I've never been to the Pine Bowl (though I plan on making the trip to Spokanistan later this month).  I'll be out at Pacific for the first time tomorrow.

As for McCulloch ... I love the place, but I'm the first to admit that she needs some work.  The new scoreboard - easily the NWC's best - was a massive upgrade, but here's what's still lacking:

1.) Parking.
2.) Visitor's bleachers.
3.) Landscaping.
4.) A decent PA announcer.
5.) Fans.

I should note that the university has some fantastic plans to renovate McCulloch that will address points 1-3 and then some.  But things are complicated because Willamette doesn't actually own the property on which the stadium sits; the city does, and any capital improvements have to be cleared through them.  Which is why it took us a full extra year to get the permit for the new scoreboard.  Also, other athletics facilities projects (leveling the baseball infield, renovating Cone Fieldhouse) have been a higher priority recently.

[FarAwayCat]

As for McCulloch ... I love the place, but I'm the first to admit that she needs some work.  The new scoreboard - easily the NWC's best - was a massive upgrade, but here's what's still lacking:

The Scoreboard is better than Linfield's?  Linfield's is pretty nice if I recall (haven't been there since 05).  wow.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Practice field is turf--  Game field is same as ever

I'm sure there's a good reason why a school would replace a crummy practice field with turf instead of putting the turf on its crummy stadium field...but does anyone know what that reason is?

I believe the City of Tacoma was involved with the financing of the practice field and for whatever reason they turfed the practice field.  Maybe it was a matter of access to the public since it was City backed?  No matter, it's a strange setup.

Not to mention that the UPS practice field has lights while the stadium doesn't.  That's a major issue on overcast, rainy days.

Actually it was Pierce County money, and they do require it to be a community use facility.  We have a couple here in the harbor

[wildcat11]

As for McCulloch ... I love the place, but I'm the first to admit that she needs some work.  The new scoreboard - easily the NWC's best - was a massive upgrade, but here's what's still lacking:

The Scoreboard is better than Linfield's?  Linfield's is pretty nice if I recall (haven't been there since 05).  wow.

Well...the Videoboard is bigger for sure but Linfield's in-game production use of the board is superior (at least what I can compare from last year's game at Willamette) at this point.  However, Willamette has a very nice board.


click on either to enlarge.

Thanks for the info GHC...that may explain some of the weird configuration