FB: Northwest Conference

[piodad]

If Speck wanted to get a senior RB a carry he had ample time and opportunity to do it before he was up 65-24 with half a minute to go.   That was a jackass move. The webcast announcer attacking Welch for his posture during the national anthem was bush too. If he felt the kid was being disrespectful then approach the kid , his coach or even his parents. Saying it on the air without any explanation from the player is wrong.  We have got our butts kicked several times this year and this is the first time I have seen a lack of class from the opposing team since game one.

Those Williamette runningbacks  are one tough group of players.  All of them. The defense was a tough hustle group too. The DC did a good job of making adjustments or corrections for the second half.

[BearcatChatter]

A good game, if you're a Bearcat.  WU finally remembered they have an offense and a defense and took control in the second half.

The Pioneers have game and they brought it today.  They don't have the depth to hang with a Willamette yet but they're going to be a force in the Northwest Conference next year or the year after.  The quarterback, Welch, is very, very good – fast, strong, patient, and accurate.  I was impressed.  And a little nervous at the end of the first half.

As the Pios get stronger it can only be good for the league.  Just please, please don't beat Willamette.  

I was really glad to see Ryan Whitcomb get to run the offense for some significant minutes.  He was sensational in replacement for the starting QB who went out for the season a couple of years ago - I loved his mobility - then had his own season ending injuries.  By the time he came back, a couple of good, younger quarterbacks were making their own noise and he never started again.  He remained a strong teacher and motivator and, I think, made a real impact on the program.

Malley didn't play.  BCP, what's his status?

D3 football – a thrill a minute.

FightBearcats, Malley sat out this game due because he tweaked something (I think his knee?) last week at Whitworth. I think him not playing today was good, as some seniors and a few younger guys (to name a few Brent Turner, Jose Green, Mikey Lemon, Jake Turner, Matt Williams, Lemar Griffin, etc.) got some good experience. We're going to have a deep rushing attack next year with the return of those last 3 plus Malley and Pollard.

As for Malley, I haven't asked him if he'll play next week at PLU if he feels better. The tough thing for him is that basketball starts right away (finished this Saturday, has to hop into practice Monday) so he may want to try and get healthy for that, seeing as playoffs are out of WU's hands and not very likely.

Came out slow, Welch was giving us fits. We couldn't establish a strong pass-rush with three down-linemen (same problem we had against Linfield) but Speck and the boys figured it out. Mikey Lemon had a terrific game until he went down with an injury (one of several, Pollard, the FB Cavette, and a few more I'm missing got hurt). The ground game was rolling today, and the consistency wore the Pios down eventually I think. Lots of iffy calls by the refs, going both ways.

The two thorns in the side for the Pios were the strip on kickoff and the accidental safety. The fumble went for a TD very quickly after. On the safety, WU's kicker kicked off a little further than LC's returner thought, and he had to step back into the endzone just as he caught the ball. Wasn't sure what to do, so he kneeled and the refs called it a safety. Everyone was laughing, but I felt for the guy.

Lastly, Schoettgen had 4 TD's. It seemed after awhile we were just abusing that deep ball. Pios are on the up though, big respect to Welch, he did everything he could to keep LC in the game first half.

[BearcatChatter]

If Speck wanted to get a senior RB a carry he had ample time and opportunity to do it before he was up 65-24 with half a minute to go.   That was a jackass move. The webcast announcer attacking Welch for his posture during the national anthem was bush too. If he felt the kid was being disrespectful then approach the kid , his coach or even his parents. Saying it on the air without any explanation from the player is wrong.  We have got our butts kicked several times this year and this is the first time I have seen a lack of class from the opposing team since game one.

Those Williamette runningbacks  are one tough group of players.  All of them. The defense was a tough hustle group too. The DC did a good job of making adjustments or corrections for the second half.

Piodad, I really have to agree with BCP on this one. I think more than anything in the confusion of the game, one RB slipped through the cracks, and Speck realized it a little too late. It was by no means a dangerous or potentially big play, just giving the guy his due for four years of hard work.

[piodad]

Bearcat, according to your stats that was not the senior's first carry of his career. Nice try though.

[Bearcat Press]

If Speck wanted to get a senior RB a carry he had ample time and opportunity to do it before he was up 65-24 with half a minute to go.   That was a jackass move. The webcast announcer attacking Welch for his posture during the national anthem was bush too. If he felt the kid was being disrespectful then approach the kid , his coach or even his parents. Saying it on the air without any explanation from the player is wrong.  We have got our butts kicked several times this year and this is the first time I have seen a lack of class from the opposing team since game one.

Those Williamette runningbacks  are one tough group of players.  All of them. The defense was a tough hustle group too. The DC did a good job of making adjustments or corrections for the second half.

Mike Allegre is a vet, and the anthem means a lot to him.  If you don't like what he has to say, you can turn the volume off.  Frankly, I thought Welch was being a little disrespectful during the anthem as well - more so when he peed on our track.  Still, he's a great player, I have nothing but admiration for how he leads the team, and I won't get into an argument about "class."

Getting every one of 30+ seniors involved in a game is difficult, but it's something we try to do on Senior Day.  For whatever reason, Nate Dick didn't get in until the last play.  I will tell you that there was a big cheer from those of us in the press box when we saw him get his carry.  If you want to think Speck's a jackass, go ahead.  But those are the facts.

Also, it's "Willamette," dammit.

[Bearcat Press]

Bearcat, according to your stats that was not the senior's first carry of his career. Nice try though.

You're right: Nate Dick had one carry for eight yards earlier this year against Pacific.  So it was the second carry of his career.

On senior day.

In front of his family.

[piodad]

It means a lot to me too.  The thought of somebody doing that, if purposefully being disrespectful, is very offensive to me.  If they do it out of lack of attention or something it is annoying and his coach should handle it. Blasting a player on the air without a chance for rebuttal is wrong.

[piodad]

Senior Day in front of his family in a blowout and that is the only carry he got him! It only gets worse.

[wildcat11]

Piodad,

You should just stop now...Speckman has had ample opportunities throughout the year to really pour it on L&C and if anything he (along with Linfield) have shown restraint (unlike UPS a few times under Willenbrock) if he wants to get off a running play from midfield at the end of the game for a Senior that has put in his time over a 4 year period then so be it.  I don't like Willamette at all but I respect the hell out of Speckman.

[piodad]

Showing restraint is what  he is SUPPOSED to do. Not running it up on an outmanned opponent down by 5 scores is what you expect from a D3 coach.   That is not supposed to be an exceptional quality.
Points made, next game.

[hazzben]

Showing restraint is what  he is SUPPOSED to do. Not running it up on an outmanned opponent down by 5 scores is what you expect from a D3 coach.   That is not supposed to be an exceptional quality.
Points made, next game.

Give me a break. The coach should prioritize getting a senior his carry on senior day (on what sounds like a pretty harmless play) over worrying about offending the other team and coach. Chances are, the opposing coach would understand if he was informed afterward what had happened. If you don't like it, there's one easy solution...get better! Sounds more like sour grapes than anything else 

[bluenote]

Those Williamette runningbacks  are one tough group of players.  All of them. The defense was a tough hustle group too.

35-7 Linfield.....enough said.

[BearcatChatter]

Those Williamette runningbacks  are one tough group of players.  All of them. The defense was a tough hustle group too.

35-7 Linfield.....enough said.

Bluenote, come on man. That game was over a month ago, it's been discussed VERY thoroughly. Give our backs their credit...sure the yards didn't come against you guys but they played a hell of a game.

Popular knowledge should tell you that looking forward to your likely postseason will serve you better than carrying on about something long in the past. More importantly, I'd like a synopsis of the Cat-Rat game...Why was the score so close at halftime? Did Anderson play, and how did he do? Obviously you guy got it figured out eventually (as did we), but you have to understand BCP and I were quite surprised to hear that score.

[BearcatChatter]

Showing restraint is what  he is SUPPOSED to do. Not running it up on an outmanned opponent down by 5 scores is what you expect from a D3 coach.   That is not supposed to be an exceptional quality.
Points made, next game.

Piodad, the game was over. Why Nate didn't get in sooner is a mystery to me, but it wasn't an attempt to "run it up." It was one play that kept the clock going and promptly ended the game. No one was hurt on the play, so there really isn't a reason to be angry about this. For God's sake, it was a simple run play. If Widing had heaved the ball to deep to Schoettgen or whoever on the last play, it's a different story.

[Bearcat Press]

Those Williamette runningbacks  are one tough group of players.  All of them. The defense was a tough hustle group too.

35-7 Linfield.....enough said.

And here I thought Blue was starting to become part of D O.C.'s kinder, gentler Wildcat Nation!

Seriously, can we get a recap of Linfield/Whitworth from those who saw it?