FB: Northwest Conference

[wildcat11]

Here is an image of George Fox's preliminary 2014 schedule.  Open at home vs 1st year NAIA program Arizona Christian and hosts LaVerne.

I do love the listing under the Nov. 22nd date.

[Pat Coleman]

I was not aware Arizona Christian had football.

[D3MAFAN]

Here is an image of George Fox's preliminary 2014 schedule.  Open at home vs 1st year NAIA program Arizona Christian and hosts LaVerne.

I do love the listing under the Nov. 22nd date.

Looks like they are going for that 10 game schedule right away.

[wildcat11]

I was not aware Arizona Christian had football.

Neither was I!

Looks like a 1st year NAIA program start-up

http://arizonachristian.edu/lifeatacu/blog_post/arizona_christian_university_to_add_collegiate_football_in_2014/

[swede]

I was not aware Arizona Christian had football.

Neither was I!

Looks like a 1st year NAIA program start-up

http://arizonachristian.edu/lifeatacu/blog_post/arizona_christian_university_to_add_collegiate_football_in_2014/

I've been aware for a few weeks. I would have said something but thought you already knew. Also, the GF will start on the turf when school is out. The stadium will seat 1200. I need to compare the Cats schedule with the Bruins. If Linfield has a game on the road that I can't make, I hope to see GF.

[wildcat11]

I've been aware for a few weeks. I would have said something but thought you already knew.

I haven't been paying attention to what they've been up to.  First time I looked for any information on GFU since the season ended. 

Another tidbit...looks like Whitworth will be running the spread under the new staff...what kind of spread?  Don't know but a major departure from Tully Ball.

http://t.co/6UlKe058wY

Whitworth’s football team would like him to join as well, Thibault said, though he’s hesitant. They run the spread offense, just like Jerome, but pass protection issues combine with old injury concerns to put a damper on his enthusiasm for that.

[bluenote]

Cortland to join archrival in Empire 8 (front page D3 football.com........)

"Cortland is a strong academic institution with a rich football history with many of the Empire 8 institutions," said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. "They are a perfect fit and further enhance the competitive level of what is already the toughest conference in Division III."

I wasn't aware of that.

[speedybigboy]

Don't athletes have some responsibility in determining how good of an education they receive?  I'm not saying that I disagree with the points you've made Old Cat I'm just suggesting that the quality on their education is to some degree determined by themselves.

You make a good point.

My thinking though, is that the greater responsibility is on the "grownups" who structure the system such that the often (usually?) immature and unsophisticated 17-18-19 year-olds end up trapped by a system more interested in keeping them eligible than in facilitating a useful education. By the time a "kid" figures out he is being exploited, he's likely too far along into the system to be able to change academic direction or major field of study.

You make some good points OldCat.
I'll take exception to one word/concept that you used- "exploited". 
I hear that word and my skin crawls, hair stands on end, teeth grind, fists clench, blood pressure rises, feet sweat (I don't know why) and I become generally irritable. 

Exploitation:  Utilization of another person or group for selfish purposes. 
I understand your point that Universities are profiting from the athletes.  The problem I have with the term (and I think you intended it by stating "by the time a kid figures out...") is that it paints a picture of "victimization".  IMHO one of the greatest reasons this country struggles is this very concept of victimization.  People purchased credit cards with high interest rates or loans with high interest rates- They didn't make a bad decision, they were victimized. 
Good athletes go to university on a full ride, but they don't make the pros- they were victimized. 

To me, it's like this.  If the word exploitation is to be used, it applies to both sides.  High school athletes with dreams of making the big time (and don't even pretend that they aren't acutely aware of the bad odds of making it) exploit the university/scholarship system to help them achieve their dream.  Universities that see athletics as an important contributor to financial gain as well as enhanced student life, exploit the student/athlete.   

Both sides know full well what is going on, there aren't victims, just an unspoken agreement that we are all aware of.         

Emma 17,

You are correct (by the definition of exploitation that you quoted) that the exploitation goes both ways. I was using exploitation, however, in a harsher sense. That is, the definition of exploitation that I would use here is " the use or manipulation of another person for one's own advantage;" the operative word being manipulation. In this case, I'm not sure how a 17-18 year-old athlete manipulates the D1 system to get a scholarship. Perhaps he somehow fakes his highlite tape...which would qualify.

On the other hand, those older, wiser, and experienced collection of adults who benefit from the current system (e.g., coaches, athletic directors, university presidents, alumni fundraisers, to-name-a-few) do so by exploiting/manipulating the kid. The benefits enjoyed by the adults are grossly disproportional to the benefits accruing to the kid. The athlete seldom graduates with an education let alone a useful degree. The more highly visible the football/basketball program, the more likely this appears to be the case.

One point on which we fully agree is victimization. While the term (in the strict sense) probably applies here, I too am tired of hearing every failure in life being blamed on victimization of some sort or another. Get over it.

Thanks for finding common ground on victimization- it is soooo frustrating.
An example of a 17-18 yr old kid "manipulating" the system is this- they are recruited as student athletes. I've little doubt that the majority of kids being recruited are told all about the low chances of turning pro and therefore, the great importance of an education. Let's not make the exception the rule as yes, I'm sure some recruiters skip this step. In any event, IMO the overwhelming majority of scholarship athletes absolutely understand the concept of why they need a good education AND that through the scholarship, as a student -athlete, the university makes it possible.
These kids chose to manipulate the system when they KNOWINGLY dismiss the advice of education and choose, on their own free will and understanding, to take meaningless courses simply to retain eligibility. In doing this, they manipulate the entire purpose of the Student-Athlete program to their perceived advantage.
Their gamble pays off much less often than the gamble taken by the university.

One thing that I think is being overlooked: hyper-competitive 17-18 year olds, who have been treated as 'stars' for years by the point of enrollment, will almost inevitably think they are the exception to the odds.  Many, many, many of them are absolutely certain (whatever warnings may be given) that THEY will be NBA or NFL millionaires, so why bother with an edumacation?! 

Also, the taking of 'meaningless courses' is not always of the student's 'own free will and understanding' - I have heard of a number of cases of 'real' students who had to quit and give up their scholarships because their course of study would interfere with the coaching staff's demands.  Understandably, it is the fairly rare student who is so well-grounded at that age that they will voluntarily give up their scholarship (and the sport they love) for the sake of a real education.

Didn't Robert Smith(?) give up his scholarship and tell the coach at Ohio State to take a hike because he was pre-med and football was interfering with his classes?  Big time athletes are just like gamblers.  Gamblers have to know that the odds are against them but some still bet the farm believing THEY will be the one to make it and beat the odds!

[swede]

Cortland to join archrival in Empire 8 (front page D3 football.com........)

"Cortland is a strong academic institution with a rich football history with many of the Empire 8 institutions," said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. "They are a perfect fit and further enhance the competitive level of what is already the toughest conference in Division III."

I wasn't aware of that.

Toughest conference in what way   Pat...whats your take on this?

[OldCatProf]

I was not aware Arizona Christian had football.

Arizona Christian University (previously named Southwestern Conservative Baptist Bible College until 2011) hired its first Head Football Coach today.
http://www.acufirestorm.com/news/2013/12/19/FB_121913373.aspx

[OldCatProf]

I was not aware Arizona Christian had football.

Arizona Christian University (previously named Southwestern Conservative Baptist Bible College until 2011) hired its first Head Football Coach today.
http://www.acufirestorm.com/news/2013/12/19/FB_121913373.aspx

Paul Westphal started his coaching career as head coach there in 1985. After compiling a 21–9 record in his lone season there, he moved on to Grand Canyon College, also in Phoenix, and after two seasons led them to the NAIA national title in 1988.

[D O.C.]

Grand Canyon College....a baseball game that is one of the most important in LINFIELD history.  I believe OldCatProf might have seen that 1971 game that contributed to a second NAIA championship.

[OldCatProf]

Grand Canyon College....a baseball game that is one of the most important in LINFIELD history.  I believe OldCatProf might have seen that 1971 game that contributed to a second NAIA championship.

Yup. College Pres (Gordon Bjork) loaned us his car and credit card (for gas only) and Tom Sutro, Phil Hankins, Professor Dave Hansen and I drove to Phoenix to watch the NAIA National Championship Tournament in May 1971. We opened against highly favored Grand Canyon College and came from behind to beat them and eventually win the Championship.

An interesting sidelite: Grand Canyon's center fielder was the son of Duke Snider (of Dodger fame). In his first at-bat, he hit an (apparent) inside-the-park homerun but was thrown out at the plate. He was taken out of the game and did not play again. When his replacement came to bat, he also hit an (apparent) inside-the-park homerun but was also thrown out at the plate. He too, did not take the field again.

After the game we found out that both players had swallowed their "tobacco chaw" while rounding the bases and sliding into home plate and were too sick to play anymore. Without this fortuitous happenstance, Linfield would likely not have won the first game...or the National Championship.

[Pat Coleman]

Cortland to join archrival in Empire 8 (front page D3 football.com........)

"Cortland is a strong academic institution with a rich football history with many of the Empire 8 institutions," said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. "They are a perfect fit and further enhance the competitive level of what is already the toughest conference in Division III."

I wasn't aware of that.

Toughest conference in what way   Pat...whats your take on this?

Is the commissioner going to say otherwise? However, if you have read our twice-annual conference rankings over the past few years, you should already know we agree the Empire 8 is a very tough conference and this move will add to it.

[d-train]

Kinda fun to see a few Willamette fly sweeps in the Super Bowl.