FB: Northwest Conference

[Pat Coleman]

If you look around, SOS was taken over record in a couple other instances too this season, such as St. John Fisher getting into the field, St. Scholastica getting seeded so low, etc.

[George Thompson]

Because they keep winning. And keep winning. And also, they keep winning. There are no 6-3 teams in the past 13 years for Mount Union, no second-round exits. That's the reward.

For what it's worth, there have been two years in which Mount Union has not been a top seed, but the teams that were seeded higher did not advance far enough in the bracket to host the Purple Raiders?

Should they play a road game in the playoffs every once in a while? I can't argue that. But someone else has to earn that home game. They don't just get handed out like some participation trophy.
[/quote]

Pat,

I was not complaining about Linfield's playoff home games   82% at home is quite fair.   If anything, Mary Hardin-Baylor and St. John's have been slighted over the last 10 years. 

And, Mount Union should have never been seeded less than #1.    I strongly believe that every playoff team, if possible, has at least one road game.    That is my point.    

Past years' reputation should only go so far.    Each year's team should earn the right to the Stagg Bowl by winning one road playoff game.

This year Linfield had the better regular season record (no losses) and should logically have this home game.    Hopefully, they will be rewarded with a home game in the 3rd round or Semi's.

George

GO CATS! GO!

[D O.C.]

Aw, come on Teamski, we haven't even mentioned school ranking and graduation rate among other things not on the field. UWW waded through the academic slings and arrows and still kept on going.

We're not going to discuss injuries, the flu, disciplinary actions, sets, blitzes, or tendencies like some rubes.

Human interest stories OK. Head coach Smith was an AA at db at LINFIELD. . Offensive line coach Doug Hire was an AA at LINFIELD. Defensive coach Jackson Vaughn is also head coach for the 2 time National Champ women's softball team and in 9 seasons has a record of  368-86-1. All Americans Brett Elliot and Brandon Hazenburg from the 2004 DIII Champs coach as well. Aaron Boehme, AA qb last year, won his European championship and is now back in the LINFIELD program. Kick off team coach Ad Rutschman coached football for 24 seasons, baseball for 13 seasons and served as athletic director for 25 years and is the only college coach at any level to have won national titles in both football and baseball.

[Pat Coleman]

Each year's team should earn the right to the Stagg Bowl by winning one road playoff game.

Then you're giving someone else a gift home game they haven't earned.

[@d3jason]

I note that much fun has been aimed at Wesley's schedule.  We island folk know how hard it is to schedule.  It is harder when you are a good independent.  There are only so many Huntingdons to go around.  I know they have played LaGrange before because I was going to go to that game in GA, but decided against it because of a huge storm.

Linfield has experience in trying to get opponents.  There has been plenty of talk on these boards about how Mike Maynard wouldn't pick up his phone when Linfield called. .  This is Wesley's chance to shine on the big stage.

I'm hoping for a Linfield win so I can finally get to meet some of you in Belton.  I doubt McMurry will host the next round if they win.

Question? I noticed that Linfield only played nine and with their rep and location had trouble filling out their schedule.

Would they schedule a game against Portland state, Eastern Washington, etc anytime, anywhere and any place?

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Nice post Dens !!

Surfs up dude !!

GHC

[Pat Coleman]

Linfield playing Eastern Washington would be like Wesley playing Delaware. Might want to lower your comparison a little bit.

[@d3jason]

Linfield playing Eastern Washington would be like Wesley playing Delaware. Might want to lower your comparison a little bit.

Who would be comparable? Not sure anyone wants to play on red turf.

I checked Western Washington, who was on Wesley's schedule in 1996 when they were NAIA. (Game never came off and was scheduled to be played in Alaska but the financing fell through.) It appeared that they hadn't updated the site since 2008 (dropped football?) It said they were D-II then.

Just curious if they'd consider playing up a level for some guarantee money and a tenth game for their seniors.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

We played Western off and on in the 90s  Their program folded a couple of years ago  no $$$$$$$$$$$

[George Thompson]

It is unfair to compare strength of schedules between colleges.    West coast and Texas teams are at a distinct disadvantage.    The bulk of Division III teams can easily schedule tough teams within a six hour bus ride.

This is not true for the west coast or Texas teams.    It is quite difficult for us on the west coast to schedule tough teams, due to the high cost of flying a team to the midwest, east or Texas.    One game per year, maybe.   Two games, no, it is simply not financially prudent.

Therefore, the NCAA punishes west coast and Texas teams for this inability to schedule "tough" teams.   Rather unfair.

Linfield has the same problem as Wesley; most California teams do not want to schedule us.   That means a costly overnight plane trip.  Personally, I would love to see a home and home series with Mount Union; but, I doubt that would ever happen.    The NWC teams generally try to schedule only Div. III teams, but it is a challenge for the Wildcats.

George

GO CATS! GO!

[bluenote]

Let MUC play at home....just put them in a bracket with 4-5 teams in the top 10 instead of a bunch of pansy's.

[Las Vegas Wildcards]

I note that much fun has been aimed at Wesley's schedule.  We island folk know how hard it is to schedule.  It is harder when you are a good independent.  There are only so many Huntingdons to go around.  I know they have played LaGrange before because I was going to go to that game in GA, but decided against it because of a huge storm.

Linfield has experience in trying to get opponents.  There has been plenty of talk on these boards about how Mike Maynard wouldn't pick up his phone when Linfield called. .  This is Wesley's chance to shine on the big stage.

I'm hoping for a Linfield win so I can finally get to meet some of you in Belton.  I doubt McMurry will host the next round if they win.

Question? I noticed that Linfield only played nine and with their rep and location had trouble filling out their schedule.

Would they schedule a game against Portland state, Eastern Washington, etc anytime, anywhere and any place?

Linfield actually has a long history of playing and beating higher levels of competition in the past, from Hawaii, Portland State, and one of the directional Washington schools. In fact, the Wildcats took two in a row against D2 Western Oregon in 2004-05.

[D O.C.]

Conrad...we finally got Western Oregon University (a division up) off our schedule. The same with NAIA Southern Oregon University (UMHB has had to play them to get a game) because we're trying to think like the NCAA. The NWC did not have an auto-bid until recently so we needed DIII games only.
If we ever thought we could get  a bid and get 2 home games like Wesley has then we might reschedule Portland State and Hawaii for nostalgia - both whom we have beaten.     

[Gray Fox]

Perhaps Wesley should schedule Western Carolina.  If that doesn't work, there should be a lot ot SCAC and SAA teams looking for games for the next couple of years for Wesley and the island teams to play.

[CamCat]

Weather forecast for Dover, DE for Saturday, 61 F sunny and beautiful. That's certainly nicer, warmer weather then they'd have at Linfield. That's great weather for November. Go wildcats.