FB: Northwest Conference

[Bearcat Press]

With four national titles, Linfield has won all the football national championships in the state of Oregon.

Shout out to Scam Newton and Chuck Pinkerton's broken leg.

Also, Happy New Year everybody!

[r-squared]

Justs to set the record straight, Lombardi never said:"Winning isn't every thing, it's the only thing"
His quote is (according to Sports Writer Red Smith): "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is"
There is a very big difference in the two quotes.

These two questions were tricky, because they are from the same person and not who the people the public thinks.   

Who was the Wizard of Westwood?

Most people think it was John Wooden, the great basketball coach at UCLA.   Ah, but no, the first Wizard of Westwood (meaning Westwood, CA, home of UCLA) was actually Red Sanders, their great football coach from 1949-1957.

Sources:
By Keith Thursby
Times staff writer
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2008/08/ucla-coach-red.html

by Charles Chiccoa
BruinReportOnline.com
http://ucla.scout.com/2/986553.html

"Red Sanders, of course, not John Wooden, was the original "Wizard of Westwood."    He was also a kind of Paul Bryant before there ever was a "Bear."    In fact, Bryant had been Sanders' first line coach at Vanderbilt and, in 1955, the only time they ever played each other, Sanders' Bruins shut out Bryant's young Texas A&M team, 21-0 at the Coliseum.   

I learned words like "juggernaut" from sports-section accounts of Bruin games.   The shy, bookish-seeming "Johnny" Wooden, who later as the legendary John R. Wooden, would cause every other basketball coach who ever lived to stand in line, could never, in the fifties, escape the shadow of the expansive, charismatic  Henry Russell Sanders."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
Who said "Winning isn't every thing; it's the only thing "?

Again, almost any football fan "knows" that was from Vince Lombardi, the famous coach of the Green Bay Packers.    Ah, but no it wasn't.    It was also Red Sanders who said it first, nine years earlier! 

Source:
By Keith Thursby
Times staff writer
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2008/08/ucla-coach-red.html


"It was also a little jarring to read that famous football quote--"Winning's not the main thing, it's the only thing"--without any reference to Packers Coach Vince Lombardi, who was famous for saying it.   Because Sanders said it first. The Times' Al Wolf suggested he said it "presumably in jest but actually kidding on the square."

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Russell_Sanders

"Winning isn't every thing, it's the only thing

Sanders actually spoke two different versions of the quote.    In 1950, at a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo physical education workshop, Sanders told his group: "Men, I'll be honest.  Winning isn't everything.   (Long pause.)   Men, it's the only thing!"

In 1955, in a Sports Illustrated article preceding the 1956 Rose Bowl, he was quoted as saying "Sure, winning isn't every thing, It's the only thing."[

The quote has since been erroneously attributed to Vince Lombardi as the originator."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another of Coach Sander's sayings:

"Beating 'SC is not a matter of life or death, it's more important than that."

While at UCLA, another famous quote was attributed to Sanders regarding the UCLA-USC rivalry, "Beating 'SC is not a matter of life or death, it's more important than that."    (I don't like that one, one bit!)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------   

Sanders coached the Bruins from 1949 to 1957. He was arguably the best coach in school history, having compiled a record of 66-19-1 (.773) at UCLA and earning the school its only national championship in football. As head coach of the Bruins, Sanders led them to three Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) titles, two Rose Bowls ('53 and '55 seasons) and to a 6-3 record over arch-rival USC.

Sanders instituted the distinctive football uniforms worn by the Bruins when he replaced the navy blue jerseys with "powderkeg blue," added the shoulder stripe to give the impression of motion, and changed the number style from block to clarendon. Sanders said these changes were made to make it easier to see his Bruins on the grainy black and white game films of the time.

The 1954 Bruins compiled a 9-0 record and climbed to the top of the Coaches' Poll, sharing the national championship with Ohio State, winner of the AP Poll's title. Due to the PCC's early "no repeat" rule, the undefeated Bruins were unable to compete in the Rose Bowl that season despite being the PCC champion. Second-place USC , who the Bruins defeated 34-0, played in the 1955 Rose Bowl instead and lost to Big Ten Conference champion and eventual co-national champion Ohio State, 20-7.

Sanders died suddenly of a heart attack on August 14, 1958, just before the 1958 season. His assistant coach George W. Dickerson rushed in on an interim basis to take his place for the first three games, suffered a nervous breakdown, and was replaced by William F. Barnes.

Year     Team     Overall     Conference     
Vanderbilt Commodores (Southeastern Conference) (1940-1942)
1940     Vanderbilt     3-6-1     0-5-1     11th             
1941     Vanderbilt     8-2     3-2     6th             
1942     Vanderbilt     6-4     2-4     8th             
Vanderbilt Commodores (Southeastern Conference) (1946-1948)
1946     Vanderbilt     5-4     3-4     7th             
1947     Vanderbilt     6-4     3-3     5th             
1948     Vanderbilt     8-2-1     4-2-1     4th             
Vanderbilt:          36-22-2     15-20-2     

UCLA Bruins (Pacific Coast Conference) (1949-1957)
1949     UCLA     6-3     5-2             2nd             
1950     UCLA     6-3     5-2             3rd             
1951     UCLA     5-3-1 4-1-1     2nd         
1952     UCLA     8-1     5-1     2nd         

1953     UCLA     8-2     6-1     1st     
1954     UCLA     9-0     6-0     1st         
1955     UCLA     9-2     6-0     1st     

1956     UCLA     7-3     5-2     T-2nd             
1957     UCLA     8-2     5-2     3rd         18     
UCLA:           66-19-1   47-11-1     
Total:     102-41-3     
      National championship         Conference title       

Coach Sanders was considered by most peers as the best football coach on the West Coast in the 1950s.   His record ranks him as one of the all time great coaches.   

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a youngster, I had the privilege of attending three of those 1954 UCLA games at the LA Memorial Coliseum.   First, I saw them demolish Stanford, who had a future NFL QB named John Brodie, 72-0.   Then a few weeks later, they manhandled Oregon 41-0, who also had a fine QB named George Shaw.     Then, in their last game,  they whipped USC, who went on to the Rose Bowl, 34-0.

I have never seen a better non-NFL team in person than that 1954 UCLA team.


GT

[wildcat11]

Mark Speckman steps down as Head Coach of Willamette

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120111/UPDATE/120111013/Mark-Speckman-resigns-Willamette-football-coach?odyssey=nav|head

[Bearcat Press]

Mark Speckman steps down as Head Coach of Willamette

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120111/UPDATE/120111013/Mark-Speckman-resigns-Willamette-football-coach?odyssey=nav|head

Wish I could shed some light on this, but I'm totally shocked.

[RFB]

Mark Speckman steps down as Head Coach of Willamette

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120111/UPDATE/120111013/Mark-Speckman-resigns-Willamette-football-coach?odyssey=nav|head

The Fly has officially been swatted...

[Bearcat Press]

Mark Speckman steps down as Head Coach of Willamette

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120111/UPDATE/120111013/Mark-Speckman-resigns-Willamette-football-coach?odyssey=nav|head

The Fly has officially been swatted...

Stay classy, RFB.  As it stands, I'll lay good money on Willamette staying in-house and hiring Fowles.  We'll be running the fly for awhile.

[RFB]

Mark Speckman steps down as Head Coach of Willamette

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120111/UPDATE/120111013/Mark-Speckman-resigns-Willamette-football-coach?odyssey=nav|head

The Fly has officially been swatted...

Stay classy, RFB.  As it stands, I'll lay good money on Willamette staying in-house and hiring Fowles.  We'll be running the fly for awhile.

That's fine. I just hope he doesn't complain about scheduling as much as Speckman did.

[wildcat11]

Mark Speckman steps down as Head Coach of Willamette

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120111/UPDATE/120111013/Mark-Speckman-resigns-Willamette-football-coach?odyssey=nav|head

Wish I could shed some light on this, but I'm totally shocked.

Felt the same way when Locey stepped down in '06 in terms of being shocked.  However, it seems that Speck has flirted with other jobs off and on for years so I'm not stunned about him leaving.  I'll agree that the early money is Willamette goes with Fowles but wouldn't be surprised if they opened it up for a search either. 

George Fox still hasn't announced their head coach yet...... 

[Bearcat Press]

That's fine. I just hope he doesn't complain about scheduling as much as Speckman did.

Tough not to complain about scheduling when nobody will schedule you.  While I enjoy seeing the Bearcats play the ASC and WIAC, I know for a fact that the staff's first choice is the SCIAC.  The recent lack of games against SCIAC schools hasn't been for lack of effort on Willamette's part.

Felt the same way when Locey stepped down in '06 in terms of being shocked.  However, it seems that Speck has flirted with other jobs off and on for years so I'm not stunned about him leaving.  I'll agree that the early money is Willamette goes with Fowles but wouldn't be surprised if they opened it up for a search either.

I'd be pretty surprised - though to be fair, I'm surprised right now.  Granted this was under the previous AD, but the last time Willamette had a major hire to make (spring 2009, when Gordie James retired), the athletic department had a stated preferential policy toward in-house candidates.  During that search, I don't think that anybody besides Kip Ioane was even interviewed.  Given the facts that Fowles (1) is an alum, (2) has been on the staff since he graduated, and (3) has had the title "assistant head coach" ever since he was a finalist for the Pacific job, this will probably be wrapped up sooner rather than later.

[MonroviaCat]

I'm very curious to see where Mr. Speckman is headed...I see the Raiders need a new coach

[RFB]

That's fine. I just hope he doesn't complain about scheduling as much as Speckman did.

Tough not to complain about scheduling when nobody will schedule you.  While I enjoy seeing the Bearcats play the ASC and WIAC, I know for a fact that the staff's first choice is the SCIAC.  The recent lack of games against SCIAC schools hasn't been for lack of effort on Willamette's part.

Felt the same way when Locey stepped down in '06 in terms of being shocked.  However, it seems that Speck has flirted with other jobs off and on for years so I'm not stunned about him leaving.  I'll agree that the early money is Willamette goes with Fowles but wouldn't be surprised if they opened it up for a search either.

I'd be pretty surprised - though to be fair, I'm surprised right now.  Granted this was under the previous AD, but the last time Willamette had a major hire to make (spring 2009, when Gordie James retired), the athletic department had a stated preferential policy toward in-house candidates.  During that search, I don't think that anybody besides Kip Ioane was even interviewed.  Given the facts that Fowles (1) is an alum, (2) has been on the staff since he graduated, and (3) has had the title "assistant head coach" ever since he was a finalist for the Pacific job, this will probably be wrapped up sooner rather than later.

Why should the SCIAC play them? They play a gimmick offense that they will never see again and is hard to prepare for. There are too many other teams to choose from that make better sense.

[wildcat11]

footballscoops.com is reporting via twitter that Speckman is taking the HC job at Menlo.

Multiple sources telling us that Mark Speckman will leave Willamette to become the head coach at Menlo College (his alma mater).

https://twitter.com/#!/footballscoop/status/157223035340988417

Looks like the 'Cats get to see the Fly twice next season (both at the 'Catdome).

[(509)Rat]

Saw that rumor regarding Menlo, 11.

Gotta admit, that surprises me. Must have family, desire, something pulling him back to the bay area??

If I were a Bearcat I might be a little concerned about Speckman's recruiting abilities but other than that, promoting a guy from within should lead to a smooth transition.

[d-train]

Wow that's big news!  I think he'll do pretty well there if they support him (with upgraded facilities, etc.).  He can recruit CA for sure and would have easier admissions and scholarship money.  It'll be interesting if they get in with Carroll and SOU/EOU...or continue to pursue the D-2 route.   

WU will be fine, but they'll have to restructure their recruiting network and contacts quite a bit.  Speckman and his CA roots pulled in a lot of players - but I think the draw will be a little different now.   

11, you know something about the George Fox position?

[d-train]

Don't recall western states like Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, etc. ever winning a football national title on any level.

Boise State (1980) and Idaho State (1981) went back-to-back with titles in I-AA.