FB: Northwest Conference

[speedybigboy]

Actually, Mosier, the 23 year old running back from Moorpark JC who racked up 202 yards in the second half, did not start. He's gone. The starting running back is still there - and effective enough.

I wonder who started when the Solutes lost to the Nolutes. Mosier got over 100 yards in that game. Then had to go bye-bye.

I perused the stats from the PLU-CLU game and it confirmed what I remembered while listening.  Mosier was the starter and clearly the featured back for CLU in that game until about midway thru the 3rd, when I remember the announcers saying he went off the field hurt.  Shortly b4 that he had ripped of a 72 yard TD run, luckily PLU answered with their own 67 yard TD run.
Additionally a look at all of CLU's game stats shows that the young man who started against Linfield (Rodrigues) has played in every game while the current starter (Chambers) played very little in the first two games and then took over as the #1 back in the third game against Redlands.  Mosier is listed as the starter for games 2 and 3 but had no carries in game 3.
It appears that Mosier's performance against Linfield earned him the starting spot for PLU and Redlands although he apparently never started against Redlands for personal reasons.
Either that or after warming up for the Redlands game he returned to the locker room and changed his jersey AND his name to Deme'Trek Chambers.

[criswyly]

The regional rankings is clearly an example of what happens when "qualified" NCAA personnel are relying on football statistics and computers to do what only football teams on the field are able to do.  Just remember, being qualified and being competent are two different things.

[speedybigboy]

I think the one thing that's easy to forget with the regional rankings is that some weak AQs aren't even ranked right now. MWC anyone?

Chaos in the CCIW and IIAC are probably your best friends at this point. A Central upset might keep both Coe and the Dutch out...maybe. If Auggie could pull off a win and Wheaton knocked off NCC, anything might be possible. A few OAC upsets (Ohio Northern) wouldn't hurt either...
Obviously a Bethel loss would be great for you as well, but I'm praying against that outcome 
Aside from playoffs, the weeks when the regional rankings are released are my favorite part of the season. Everything gets a lot more interesting and the games seem to take on an extra level of intensity. For Bethel, Linfield, PLU, CLU, Central, etc. the playoffs have really already begun. None of them can afford another loss and if they keep winning, they all have at least a shot at the dance.
Man I love DIII playoffs! I'm hoping PLU wins out just to keep the heat on the selection committee

I was going to retort that Linfield could take a loss to L&C or Whitworth and still win the conference but there are so many scenarios left where they wouldn't take the crown that my head started to spin and I figured it would be best to say that the cats should just leave no doubt as they like to say.

[MonroviaCat]

I think the one thing that's easy to forget with the regional rankings is that some weak AQs aren't even ranked right now. MWC anyone?

Chaos in the CCIW and IIAC are probably your best friends at this point. A Central upset might keep both Coe and the Dutch out...maybe. If Auggie could pull off a win and Wheaton knocked off NCC, anything might be possible. A few OAC upsets (Ohio Northern) wouldn't hurt either...
Obviously a Bethel loss would be great for you as well, but I'm praying against that outcome 
Aside from playoffs, the weeks when the regional rankings are released are my favorite part of the season. Everything gets a lot more interesting and the games seem to take on an extra level of intensity. For Bethel, Linfield, PLU, CLU, Central, etc. the playoffs have really already begun. None of them can afford another loss and if they keep winning, they all have at least a shot at the dance.
Man I love DIII playoffs! I'm hoping PLU wins out just to keep the heat on the selection committee

I was going to retort that Linfield could take a loss to L&C or Whitworth and still win the conference but there are so many scenarios left where they wouldn't take the crown that my head started to spin and I figured it would be best to say that the cats should just leave no doubt as they like to say.

yes--isn't lewis and clark still in the hunt?  They just have to beat Linfield, Willamette, and PLU? (in reverse order)

[footballfan413]

413,
 Anytime, The boat deal is pretty sweet, it sits right out the back door of my office--so when I am in the field it could be the Sound !!!  Seattle is awesome,  or depending on how this season plays out we may be forced to tailgate together-- That would be an event for sure !!

GHC  out

Well, I haven't traveled to the games, (and by that I mean anywhere other than the Perk,) since #33 passed his number down but for this I would make an exception. And if a rematch happens this year between the Cats and Hawks at the Perk, are you committing to a trip to Wisconsin with your son cuz we'll hold you to that.  Got to meet #11 last time it happened but he was too busy working to drink any of my beer.  I trust that wouldn't be a problem with you!   
 
BTW, my husband's company has an office in Seattle so a trip there in the future is inevitable at some point. Let's hope both our teams continue to take care of business!
         GO WARHAWKS AND CATS! 

[Gig Harbor Cat]

413 Agreed

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Based on what I saw on the rankings page there is only one thing to do-

Just win baby--Just win--Yea we want to play at the Catdome, but in reality we will play ya anywhere including in the sandlot out back (baseball reference )

Thats all I got
GHC out

[Lever Street]

Linfield is going to crush Menlo, Whitworth, and Lewis & Clark by 35 points each.  That should impress the unimpresive committee members.  If the 'Cats are still rated lowly in the West, then perhaps demolishing a team like Redlands will open their eyes.

And when it really comes down to it, the 'Cats are going to need to defeat UWW and/or St Thomas to get out of the West anyway.

No team will want to play Linfield, no matter where the 'Cats are rated in the playoff picture.  Only 2 teams have played Whitewater close in the past few years........Mt. Union and Linfield.

[logger54]

To revisit the Willenbrock v Thomas discussion. Willenbrock did take the loggers from 0-9 in '01, the year before he joined UPS, to 7-3 at their peak in '06; the subsequent decline ended up putting Thomas in the same scenario of 0-9 prior to his start.

Having met Thomas and heard some things from around the program, I think the enthusiam is similar to when Willenbrock entered, and I hope Thomas is able to sustain it because Willenbrock showed that winning seasons and a competative team are real possiblities at UPS.
Heck, if you look at 3 of their losses this season they're rediculous, and their only outright poor performance on the field was against Linfield.

[02 Warhawk]

Linfield is going to crush Menlo, Whitworth, and Lewis & Clark by 35 points each.  That should impress the unimpresive committee members.  If the 'Cats are still rated lowly in the West, then perhaps demolishing a team like Redlands will open their eyes.

And when it really comes down to it, the 'Cats are going to need to defeat UWW and/or St Thomas to get out of the West anyway.

No team will want to play Linfield, no matter where the 'Cats are rated in the playoff picture.  Only 2 teams have played Whitewater close in the past few years........Mt. Union and Linfield.

Unfortunately their game against Menlo is meaningless to the rankings b/c it's a NAIA team. Beating Menlo by 2 or 60 won't make a difference in the rankings.

As far as Strength of Schedule goes, it looks like Bethel, Coe and Redlands all have an easy portion of their schedule remaining, so there's a good chance they may drop in the West Regional rankings b/c their SOS will get weaker over the next three weeks....leaving Linfield a chance to move up. On the other hand, Cal Luthern has some tough games left. So they will boost their SOS, but leave them vulnurable on receiving their second loss.

[Bearcat Press]

Linfield is going to crush Menlo, Whitworth, and Lewis & Clark by 35 points each.  That should impress the unimpresive committee members.  If the 'Cats are still rated lowly in the West, then perhaps demolishing a team like Redlands will open their eyes.

And when it really comes down to it, the 'Cats are going to need to defeat UWW and/or St Thomas to get out of the West anyway.

No team will want to play Linfield, no matter where the 'Cats are rated in the playoff picture.  Only 2 teams have played Whitewater close in the past few years........Mt. Union and Linfield.

Unfortunately their game against Menlo is meaningless to the rankings b/c it's a NAIA team. Beating Menlo by 2 or 60 won't make a difference in the rankings.

As far as Strength of Schedule goes, it looks like Bethel, Coe and Redlands all have an easy portion of their schedule remaining, so there's a good chance they may drop in the West Regional rankings b/c their SOS will get weaker over the next three weeks....leaving Linfield a chance to move up. On the other hand, Cal Luthern has some tough games left. So they will boost their SOS, but leave them vulnurable on receiving their second loss.

What will be really interesting to see is if the committee would seed a team like (potentially) 8-1 Redlands, with an 8-1 regional record, over an 8-1 Linfield with a 7-1 regional record.  This could also be a factor for Coe, who played zero non-conference Division III games this year.

If that were to occur, I think cawcdad should start a riot at Menlo for killing Linfield's first-ever all D-III schedule.

[Bearcat Press]

To revisit the Willenbrock v Thomas discussion. Willenbrock did take the loggers from 0-9 in '01, the year before he joined UPS, to 7-3 at their peak in '06; the subsequent decline ended up putting Thomas in the same scenario of 0-9 prior to his start.

Having met Thomas and heard some things from around the program, I think the enthusiam is similar to when Willenbrock entered, and I hope Thomas is able to sustain it because Willenbrock showed that winning seasons and a competative team are real possiblities at UPS.
Heck, if you look at 3 of their losses this season they're rediculous, and their only outright poor performance on the field was against Linfield.

To be fair, that 7-3 year was against a pillow-soft schedule: Whittier, La Verne, C-M-S, Colorado College, and Menlo were the non-conference games.  Within the conference, L&C was still a pushover, and Willamette had its worst season since 1993.

Scheduling easy is often necessary to build confidence in a rebuilding program.  L&C beat Principia two years ago and Crown last year.  But the key is taking the next step - using that confidence to beat decent teams.  L&C did that this year with a blowout win over Menlo.  If they bring in 30+ freshmen next year, they could be even better.

Willenbrock was just never able to get over that hump, and the turning point in his tenure was 2008.  The Loggers had a boatload of seniors and finished 3-6.  Of those six losses, four came by a touchdown or less - including a near upset of a very hungover Linfield team coming off a 52-28 beatdown from Willamette.  If Willenbrock goes 6-3 or even 5-4 that year, I think he gets some leeway with the following season, where UPS returned exactly one starter on offense.  But for an athletic department that's been so successful in almost every sport except football, 0-9 is simply unacceptable.

My $0.02.

[wildcat11]

- including a near upset of a very hungover Linfield team coming off a 52-28 beatdown from Willamette.

BCP, way to work that in.

I hear Brian Widing's favorite new hobby is cloud watching.  He discovered it while spending so much time on his back this past season at the 'Catdome.

[logger54]

BCP I agree, the expecatations were for continued or sustained growth for the program and the W/L faltered , to then drop due to lack of returning players in 09 which all but ended the party.

Irony is that had a few things go the other way that 0-9 '09 team could have picked up 3-4 buying him a bit more time.

Oh well, Here is for hoping Thomas' youthful exuberance for the program continues you give you guys laughes and UPS Ws

[DuffMan]

No team will want to play Linfield, no matter where the 'Cats are rated in the playoff picture.  Only 2 teams have played Whitewater close in the past few years........Mt. Union and Linfield.

Well, I am scared.