FB: Northwest Conference

[MonroviaCat]

"I hope they did better on their finals then they did on their Wildcat Exam."
Classic SpeedyBigBoy.

Linfield won the game for a lot of reasons....but I got to go to work now.

<Sigh> The "finals" issue comes up every year, although usually it gets raised before the 2nd round game is played. North Central's academic calendar is based on trimesters, rather than semesters (like most schools). Finals occurs the three days preceding Thanksgiving. The players are students first and it does cut into preparation time. Add in Thanksgiving, which for most of us is a time to be with our families. Then, a long travel day before Saturday.

It is what it is. Is it the reason NCC lost? No. But it is a deviation from the normal football routine and you don't know how each player is going to deal with it. The flip side is that if NCC can figure out how to get through the second round, then they become full time football players after that.

Most schools are eliminated before their Finals Week. And when UWW reached Salem, their Finals Week was after the Stagg Bowl. It's all part of being a D3 student-athlete. It's never an excuse, but it doesn't need to be mocked at the same time.

For what it's worth, Speedy is a PLU fan and we all know that his guys failed the Wildcat midterm and final

Heck, Cal Lutheran has yet to pass Wildcat 101.

Ha!  It certainly isn't a requirement for transfers

[MonroviaCat]

No doubt Linfield deserved the win today as they were certainly the better team.  Today's game is a perfect example of what winning as a team really means.  It's not just the offense or defense or special teams, but it's the game plan as well.  The only time NCC had to pass as much as they did (39 times) was mid fourth quarter.  They weren't forced to pass in the first half or third quarter, but for whatever reason, they did and Linfield's defense was far superior to NCC's passing game.  Even the long gains by NCC could have been picks.  But it seems any honest evaluation would question why so much passing?  There is no way that Linfield had the answer to NCC's running game, just as NCC had no answer to Linfield's passing game. 
For reasons only the coaching staff can answer, NCC put more of the outcome of the game on the QB than they did on the real strength of NCC- the running game. 
Kukoc averaged almost 8 yards per carry on 25 runs.  Unless he isn't physically capable of more carries, it seems Linfield benefitted from NCC's decision to pass so much. 
I'm not taking anything from Linfield because you absolutely won as a true team.  It's a head scratcher for those that know NCC though.  I believe Linfield was the better team regardless, but NCC didn't seem to play to their strength today- and I don't see how that has anything to do with final exams- unless the coaching staff was taking them too.   

I agree with you to a point but a couple of observations--in the first drive, NCC had a lot of success throwing the ball and less success running.  Had they gone to more of a ground game, I think the Cats would have found an answer pretty quickly.  By throwing the ball more they kept the Cats D from committing to the run.  That being said, they certainly went away from their strength in the 2nd and (especially) the 3rd quarter and it hurt them.  It reminded me a lot of the Mary Hardin Baylor game at Linfield in 2009--MHB had passing success on their first drive and then ran the ball very well for most of the first half.  Then in the 2nd half they put it up in the air a lot and threw 4 INTs and got clobbered. 

[Wildcat'64]

Wildcat 11,

I have to give you +Karma for that one:  "Cal Lutheran has yet to pass Wildcat 101".....that's a classic!

[D O.C.]

Don't know if you guys know about this.  (  atdhenet.tv  )  Every major college game live.



Go there and pick your game.  Do not download anything.  Just wait until the pop ups run their course of 15 seconds or so then close them.

[wildcat11]

ADvantage 'Catdome = North Central Post Game Interviews

[coco]

"Our guys were in finals all week and were just a little off today."

Have an issue with that line. Probably just frustrated with the outcome.  Maybe I would give finals and the chaos with travel more play but not when his players are tweeting this.

https://twitter.com/Cardinal_CB5/status/271838148114395136

Josh Mitchell ‏@Cardinal_CB5

Going to Oregon tomorrow, after the best week of practice we've had all year! #prepared #excited #TEAMNCC #d3fb #playoffs

NCC is a heck of a squad but Linfield earned every inch of that win by doing the little things right and make the plays they needed.  Hats off to the 'Cats!

BUSTED!!

Good work, 11.

[bluenote]

ADvantage 'Catdome = North Central Post Game Interviews

Excellent job as usual Wildcat11....looking forward to your next game preview.

Man...what a great Thanksgiving Weekend.......! Thanks again Wildcats , Coaches and everyone else who helps make it happen!!!

[bluenote]

From the poll on the front page:

Who/what has performed the best so far in the playoffs?

I'd say Linfield both sides of the ball. Phone it in..... 

[D O.C.]

Au Contraire, Mssr. Zen Chord. The rest of the nation does not believe we have a rushing game.   

[bluenote]

Au Contraire, Mssr. Zen Chord. The rest of the nation does not believe we have a rushing game.   

....do I care....No!   

[downtown48]

"I hope they did better on their finals then they did on their Wildcat Exam."
Classic SpeedyBigBoy.

Linfield won the game for a lot of reasons....but I got to go to work now.

<Sigh> The "finals" issue comes up every year, although usually it gets raised before the 2nd round game is played. North Central's academic calendar is based on trimesters, rather than semesters (like most schools). Finals occurs the three days preceding Thanksgiving. The players are students first and it does cut into preparation time. Add in Thanksgiving, which for most of us is a time to be with our families. Then, a long travel day before Saturday.

It is what it is. Is it the reason NCC lost? No. But it is a deviation from the normal football routine and you don't know how each player is going to deal with it. The flip side is that if NCC can figure out how to get through the second round, then they become full time football players after that.

Most schools are eliminated before their Finals Week. And when UWW reached Salem, their Finals Week was after the Stagg Bowl. It's all part of being a D3 student-athlete. It's never an excuse, but it doesn't need to be mocked at the same time.

For what it's worth, Speedy is a PLU fan and we all know that his guys failed the Wildcat midterm and final

Heck, Cal Lutheran has yet to pass Wildcat 101.

Begs the question...does that mean Redlands has been held back in the 6th grade?

[Wildcat'64]

I suspect the rest of the nation probably doesn't think the Cats have much of a defense either......they just 'get lucky' when the ball drops on the turf or in the Cats hands 12 times in two playoff games!

[footballfan413]

I suspect the rest of the nation probably doesn't think the Cats have much of a defense either......they just 'get lucky' when the ball drops on the turf or in the Cats hands 12 times in two playoff games!

I think that if one believes that the Cats, "just get lucky," at times, they haven't been paying attention.  Congrats to the Cats and their wonderful fans. Great win but I fully expected it.  The top of the CCIW is not the top of the WIAC, IMHO.  This weekend against the Titans will be much more of a challenge.  They will look a little more like we did in 05 with a balanced offense, with the exception of a QB, "WIAC Player of the Year," who is both a great passer and a running threat.  They have followed the WARHAWK school of thought on their way to breaking into the 3rd round.  Several years ago, they hired a great coach who scheduled a game with UMU in 2010, "to see what an elite team looks like," then they hired our Strength and Conditioning Coach from the early period when our run began back in 05, after he went to the private sector for a few years.  I also learned from a UW-O fan at our game that they also added a new AD, who has worked to increase athletic/football success at UW-O and they find themselves in the 3rd round this season. I walked away from the game with us thinking, "wow, they are really, really good."   My only question will be if they can handle the mental aspect of the journey, travel, pressure, expectations, etc.  If they can play like they belong, it may prove to be one hell of a game.  I will be happily supporting whichever team comes out of the Catdome with a win this Saturday to run the table. Wish I could be at GHC's tailgate..................

[Las Vegas Wildcards]

I suspect the rest of the nation probably doesn't think the Cats have much of a defense either......they just 'get lucky' when the ball drops on the turf or in the Cats hands 12 times in two playoff games!

I think that if one believes that the Cats, "just get lucky," at times, they haven't been paying attention.  Congrats to the Cats and their wonderful fans. Great win but I fully expected it.  The top of the CCIW is not the top of the WIAC, IMHO.  This weekend against the Titans will be much more of a challenge.  They will look a little more like we did in 05 with a balanced offense, with the exception of a QB, "WIAC Player of the Year," who is both a great passer and a running threat.  They have followed the WARHAWK school of thought on their way to breaking into the 3rd round.  Several years ago, they hired a great coach who scheduled a game with UMU in 2010, "to see what an elite team looks like," then they hired our Strength and Conditioning Coach from the early period when our run began back in 05, after he went to the private sector for a few years.  I also learned from a UW-O fan at our game that they also added a new AD, who has worked to increase athletic/football success at UW-O and they find themselves in the 3rd round this season. I walked away from the game with us thinking, "wow, they are really, really good."   My only question will be if they can handle the mental aspect of the journey, travel, pressure, expectations, etc.  If they can play like they belong, it may prove to be one hell of a game.  I will be happily supporting whichever team comes out of the Catdome with a win this Saturday to run the table. Wish I could be at GHC's tailgate..................

The Titans are enjoying their best season since UWO began playing football back in 1893, I checked the archive.     

[wildcat11]

I suspect the rest of the nation probably doesn't think the Cats have much of a defense either......they just 'get lucky' when the ball drops on the turf or in the Cats hands 12 times in two playoff games!

I think that if one believes that the Cats, "just get lucky," at times, they haven't been paying attention.  Congrats to the Cats and their wonderful fans. Great win but I fully expected it.  The top of the CCIW is not the top of the WIAC, IMHO.  This weekend against the Titans will be much more of a challenge.  They will look a little more like we did in 05 with a balanced offense, with the exception of a QB, "WIAC Player of the Year," who is both a great passer and a running threat.  They have followed the WARHAWK school of thought on their way to breaking into the 3rd round.  Several years ago, they hired a great coach who scheduled a game with UMU in 2010, "to see what an elite team looks like," then they hired our Strength and Conditioning Coach from the early period when our run began back in 05, after he went to the private sector for a few years.  I also learned from a UW-O fan at our game that they also added a new AD, who has worked to increase athletic/football success at UW-O and they find themselves in the 3rd round this season. I walked away from the game with us thinking, "wow, they are really, really good."   My only question will be if they can handle the mental aspect of the journey, travel, pressure, expectations, etc.  If they can play like they belong, it may prove to be one hell of a game.  I will be happily supporting whichever team comes out of the Catdome with a win this Saturday to run the table. Wish I could be at GHC's tailgate..................

Great thoughts 413.  Linfield will need to play a great game to advance but I always like our chances in the 'Catdome.  Can't wait till Saturday!