FB: Northwest Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks for the research Wildcat11...the HSC coach said we were like a big bully and they were going to hit us in the mouth.... 
He also said that his team was making the longest trip ever in DIII history? Are they traveling further than when we traveled to Dover, Delaware to play Wesley? If so....not by much.....

Should be a barn burner!

Great to see spiritof86, coco and The Catville Mayor come out of the woodwork! 

  C'mon Blue, he had to say something positive. It's not as though he was going to say they're going to give up like a bunch of little girls.   
  As for the travel, I've got to agree with you. Unless HSC got routed through Edmonton (or someplace equally remote) anywhere you guys had to fly to get to Dover is farther east than any airport in Virginia.

I agree with you, HSCTiger 74. I don't think what Coach Favret said was that bad. What kind of coach would say that his team didn't have a chance against the #2 team in the nation, so maybe they should send the cheerleaders instead? He said they were going to try their hardest, even though they know how strong Linfield is. I thought he was confident, not cocky. At the end, he said he was appreciative of the opportunity he and the players have to come out here and play this game. That was classy.

Also, both he and the person interviewing him pronounced Oregon correctly, which is more than many people from other parts of the country do, even some sportscasters on national TV.

I think Linfield will win, but on any given day..... and all that.

Favret's brother lived in Oregon, as I recall.

[HSCTiger fan]

I have gone to bed each night praying that all of Linfield is looking at this as an inter squad scrimmage. Just a nice Saturday practice game for UWW. As for the argument that familiarity offered hope to Pacific. I'm not buying it. The seniors at Pacific lost to your guys by massive margins each of their first three years. If anything they learned when they play you guys they get their ass beat. Further if they are as you claim a top 30 team - so are we. I still believe we will be the best team your team has seen this year. We'll all know this time tomorrow.

[speedybigboy]

I have gone to bed each night praying that all of Linfield is looking at this as an inter squad scrimmage. Just a nice Saturday practice game for UWW. As for the argument that familiarity offered hope to Pacific. I'm not buying it. The seniors at Pacific lost to your guys by massive margins each of their first three years. If anything they learned when they play you guys they get their ass beat. Further if they are as you claim a top 30 team - so are we. I still believe we will be the best team your team has seen this year. We'll all know this time tomorrow.

I think the TOP 30 claim references that at various times during the year, Pacific was listed in the "others getting votes" of the d3.com poll, hence a TOP 30 team.  HSC was in there on the final poll.  I don't recall seeing them earlier in the year. 

Personally, I would have loved to see Maryville at Linfield last week and PLU - HSC with either school hosting.  I think the PLU - HSC game would have been a toss up much like HSC's game last week.  I would give the edge to the hosting school.

[fbgcat]

Tiger fan- Back in the day, when Linfield was "just" a NAIA team, one of the toughest games of the year was the Alumni game as the first game/scrimmage.  I can't tell you how many All-Americans suited up to show the young pups a thing or two.  If y'all want to come scrimmage us, I'm good with that!

On another note- In 1984 Linfield played lowly Pacific to a 2-0 win.  Yes, 2-0.  Linfield went on to win the National Championship that year.  Familiarity breeds competitiveness, I believe. 

[speedybigboy]

509 please interpret that since I don't do Vegas...

Linfield -27 is the spread. If you bet Linfield, you are saying that the Cats will win by at least 27 points (hence subtracting 27 points from Linfield's final point total still gives them a W). If you took HSC, you aren't necessarily saying the Tigers will win, but that they will not lose my more than 27 points.

The O/U is the "over/under" on how many total points will be scored by both teams in the game. For example, the Baylor v Ok St O/U was 80 points (which was high considering how well both teams' defenses had played up to that point in the season, even with the high powered offenses). Final score of 49-17 means you won if you took the "under" since the point total was 66.

Our winning this game would be no less an upset than Shanendoah beating us earlier this year.  If any of you think we are not every bit as good or better than Pacific Ore (final score 28-22) your crazy. We are IMO the BEST team your guys will have seen all year.

Pacific is not only a conference opponent (where familiarity often breeds more competitive games than expected, much like your Shanendoah loss), but they are also a top 30 team. I don't think anyone outside of HSC supporters would pick the Tigers over PLU in a neutral site game. Heck, a neutral site matchup with Willamette or Pacific would probably be a "pick 'em" if betting lines actually existed in d3 sports. So your opinion is one I guarantee you share only with a handful of your peers.

All that being said, I am the single most neutral poster on this board at the moment. I am not a Linfield alum nor a Linfield fan. I lovingly hate all of the Cat posters on this board and their team  I think most of these guys will attest that even my Whitworth analysis predictions are pretty unbiased and that I have a decent knowledge of d3 football in general.

I may very well be wrong. It wouldn't be the first or the last time that happened. I just hope that if you are traveling to the game this weekend that you spend a few days taking in the Willamette Valley sites/scenery, so that you can say your trip wasn't a complete bust 

I wouldn't take PLU in that game. I simply have no idea who is better and I suspect neither do you. Since you brought up this topic, maybe someone on this board (or Pat or Keith) could enlighten me to why people think PLU is any good. I know you all complain about being on "the island" west of the Rockies. And it is true. Because there are few inter-region games between all the left-coasters and anyone else, I honestly don't know what to think of any of the teams other than Linfield. Redlands seems to get crushed by #1 seeds, so they aren't the highest of level teams. PLU has not been at all competitive with Linfield the last 10 or 12 times they have played (I think I saw a post that said the average score was Linfield doubling up PLU). So why does anyone think they are any good? I know they pound on other west coast teams, but if we don't know how good those teams are (Linfield crushes them all), how does that help us?  PLU has ventured out of region three times in the last few years. They beat a 1-10 Hamline team 27-20 a couple years ago. They recently beat another 1-10 Hamline team 27-0. This year, they beat a 2-8 UW-Eau Claire team 21-19 and had to stop a UW-EC on a 2 pt conversion attempt at the end of the game to avoid overtime. These scores don't suggest PLU is really very good at all. What am I missing?

Well, I think you are partially correct in your post.  Even as a PLU alum I have to agree with you.  I'm not sure what we showed this year, except finding a way to win, that suggests we were "very good".  As you say we barely beat Eau Claire, just as St. Johns did.  On the other hand we were definitely competitive with Linfield last year.  Losing by 7 and by 3 (playoffs).  What is really unfortunate about the current NCAA scheme of playoff pairings is that this is the only opportunity to get a comparative sample between such a large and diverse group of teams, and instead of taking advantage of that the two NWC playoff teams ALWAYS play each other and if only one makes it then the SCIAC champion plays the NWC champ.

[PA cat]

If others can come back then so can I. One of two things happen tomorrow: The 'Cats are 100% ready from the opening whistle and blow past HSC 52-0. Frustration all day for the Tigers. OR- more likely- both teams feel each other out for a time... 'Cats let a score or two get by... lead by the end of the half... win going away 52-14ish. Seen that scenario more than a few times. Regardless, this isn't a game after the first quarter. Linfield will be too much in all phases.

Coach A. gave a nice and respectful interview. Sounds like a decent guy.

[D O.C.]

I'm enjoying all these 'CATS coming out of the woodswork That's right, wordswork..

[bleedpurple]

509 please interpret that since I don't do Vegas...

Linfield -27 is the spread. If you bet Linfield, you are saying that the Cats will win by at least 27 points (hence subtracting 27 points from Linfield's final point total still gives them a W). If you took HSC, you aren't necessarily saying the Tigers will win, but that they will not lose my more than 27 points.

The O/U is the "over/under" on how many total points will be scored by both teams in the game. For example, the Baylor v Ok St O/U was 80 points (which was high considering how well both teams' defenses had played up to that point in the season, even with the high powered offenses). Final score of 49-17 means you won if you took the "under" since the point total was 66.

Our winning this game would be no less an upset than Shanendoah beating us earlier this year.  If any of you think we are not every bit as good or better than Pacific Ore (final score 28-22) your crazy. We are IMO the BEST team your guys will have seen all year.

Pacific is not only a conference opponent (where familiarity often breeds more competitive games than expected, much like your Shanendoah loss), but they are also a top 30 team. I don't think anyone outside of HSC supporters would pick the Tigers over PLU in a neutral site game. Heck, a neutral site matchup with Willamette or Pacific would probably be a "pick 'em" if betting lines actually existed in d3 sports. So your opinion is one I guarantee you share only with a handful of your peers.

All that being said, I am the single most neutral poster on this board at the moment. I am not a Linfield alum nor a Linfield fan. I lovingly hate all of the Cat posters on this board and their team  I think most of these guys will attest that even my Whitworth analysis predictions are pretty unbiased and that I have a decent knowledge of d3 football in general.

I may very well be wrong. It wouldn't be the first or the last time that happened. I just hope that if you are traveling to the game this weekend that you spend a few days taking in the Willamette Valley sites/scenery, so that you can say your trip wasn't a complete bust 

I wouldn't take PLU in that game. I simply have no idea who is better and I suspect neither do you. Since you brought up this topic, maybe someone on this board (or Pat or Keith) could enlighten me to why people think PLU is any good. I know you all complain about being on "the island" west of the Rockies. And it is true. Because there are few inter-region games between all the left-coasters and anyone else, I honestly don't know what to think of any of the teams other than Linfield. Redlands seems to get crushed by #1 seeds, so they aren't the highest of level teams. PLU has not been at all competitive with Linfield the last 10 or 12 times they have played (I think I saw a post that said the average score was Linfield doubling up PLU). So why does anyone think they are any good? I know they pound on other west coast teams, but if we don't know how good those teams are (Linfield crushes them all), how does that help us?  PLU has ventured out of region three times in the last few years. They beat a 1-10 Hamline team 27-20 a couple years ago. They recently beat another 1-10 Hamline team 27-0. This year, they beat a 2-8 UW-Eau Claire team 21-19 and had to stop a UW-EC on a 2 pt conversion attempt at the end of the game to avoid overtime. These scores don't suggest PLU is really very good at all. What am I missing?

Well, I think you are partially correct in your post.  Even as a PLU alum I have to agree with you.  I'm not sure what we showed this year, except finding a way to win, that suggests we were "very good".  As you say we barely beat Eau Claire, just as St. Johns did.  On the other hand we were definitely competitive with Linfield last year.  Losing by 7 and by 3 (playoffs).  What is really unfortunate about the current NCAA scheme of playoff pairings is that this is the only opportunity to get a comparative sample between such a large and diverse group of teams, and instead of taking advantage of that the two NWC playoff teams ALWAYS play each other and if only one makes it then the SCIAC champion plays the NWC champ.

Thanks for the response. I know the NCAA is hung up on first round costs for some reason. It would sure be nice if one year, they didn't stick PLU with Linfield so that all of us could get a better read on them and that PLU, too, could see how they stack up against teams from other regions.  The results last year against Linfield were good results. This year, not so much. And to be clear, obviously winning is the most important thing and PLU does that in their context. When I was talking about them being "any good", I was more talking about whether they are Sweet Sixteen or quarterfinal kind of good (if not matched against Linfield). It's just hard to know and the continuing first round match-up with the Cats makes it even harder to know.  Until you knock them off at least... 

[D O.C.]

We think two games at home they would show well and draw a crowd.

[MonroviaCat]

Regarding PLU, I think they gained their rep by hanging tight with Linfield twice last year and then bringing back most of the starters again this year (and next?) and winning other games.  That being said they had way too many turnovers this year which resulted in a lot if close wins rather than winning going away.  That being said, they are done for the year so who cares😃?  Go cats!!!!

[George Thompson]

We are IMO the BEST team your guys will have seen all year.

Maybe, but PLU, Willamette and Pacific are VERY good teams.

GT

[PA cat]

After Linfield, the next three NWC teams are underrated. All are just good enough to knock off each other- but not the 'Cats. Whitworth has its moments- L&C/UPS need perpetual work. (Merger???)

[HSCTiger fan]

Tiger fan- Back in the day, when Linfield was "just" a NAIA team, one of the toughest games of the year was the Alumni game as the first game/scrimmage.  I can't tell you how many All-Americans suited up to show the young pups a thing or two.  If y'all want to come scrimmage us, I'm good with that!

On another note- In 1984 Linfield played lowly Pacific to a 2-0 win.  Yes, 2-0.  Linfield went on to win the National Championship that year.  Familiarity breeds competitiveness, I believe.

I assure you we are not coming over to scrimmage.

[George Thompson]

After Linfield, the next three NWC teams are underrated. All are just good enough to knock off each other- but not the 'Cats. Whitworth has its moments- L&C/UPS need perpetual work. (Merger???)

That is funny!!!  Best phrase in a long time.

GT

[CamCat]

Thanks to Wildcat 11 for playing the radio interview with our opponents coach.  According to Coach they're going to punch 'the Big Linfield Bully' in the mouth in the first quarter.  Well I'd be pretty cautious with that approach Coach because the Cats might just grab  11 Tigers by the Tail and not take that punch in the mouth very warmly.....could make the rest of the game real interesting after they throw that punch to the mouth!

I'll kick you up to 501 K with that one. Hope all is well in the Frozen Tundra