FB: Northwest Conference

[CalCat]

The Lutes did better then I expected this year. Now I start my annual rooting for Linfield. Go Wildcats.

If they could have just finished games they'd have had at least a couple more wins....

If cats get by Redlands and were to make it to finals they will likely  get to make trips to Minneapolis, Belton, Whitewater, and Canton...but first things first only one game counts at this point and that is Redlands. Get ready for the noise out of SoCal that Redlands has no chance...you all know it's coming. Cats must stay focused on Redlands for a chance to travel the good old USA from the air.

[DChicks]

Looking at Linfield in the first round of the playoffs for the 20 years from 2000 through 2019

• missed the playoffs: 5x
• first round bye: 3x
• played a "new" team: 5x
• played a rematch: 7x

The only team we've played in the first round that was neither SCIAC nor NWC is Hardin-Simmons (2016 and 2017).
The only really surprising thing I found was that we hadn't played a rematch since 2015.

[D O.C.]

hazz . . . my Hero award this season goes to our offensive line.

[wildcat11]

hazz . . . my Hero award this season goes to our offensive line.

O-line has been excellent all year.

[D O.C.]

I thought maybe playing Simon Fraser would not hurt us this season.
However, they're not a DIII team and the NCAA selection committee frowns on that in their selection.
Not a great SOS sends us packing the second round if we can just get by the revenge game with Redlands.
Then we might get our own revenge game with the johns. (if they don't duck us again by losing)

[OzJohnnie]

I thought maybe playing Simon Fraser would not hurt us this season.
However, they're not a DIII team and the NCAA selection committee frowns on that in their selection.
Not a great SOS sends us packing the second round if we can just get by the revenge game with Redlands.
Then we might get our own revenge game with the johns. (if they don't duck us again by losing)

I believe SJU learned a lesson similar to this over the years.  We used to fill our open dates with creampuffs, believing that win quantity was more important than quality.  Now we're obviously picking harder teams to beef that SOS.  Next year our non-conference play is Aurora and UWW.  The year after UWW and TBD.  We're at least close enough to the midwestern clusters to make that possible.  The Rockies and all that open space in between the midwest and the west coast make that a more difficult challenge for you folks.

Maybe the NCAA will eventually include other division NCAA opponents to count.  Or maybe JUCO opponents.  I don't think the NCAA will ever acknowledge NIAA competition.

[wildcat11]

I thought maybe playing Simon Fraser would not hurt us this season.
However, they're not a DIII team and the NCAA selection committee frowns on that in their selection.
Not a great SOS sends us packing the second round if we can just get by the revenge game with Redlands.
Then we might get our own revenge game with the johns. (if they don't duck us again by losing)

The funny thing about Simon Fraser is that team is LOADED with guys that Linfield chased hard during recruiting.  Talent wise if SFU played a D3 schedule, they would absolutely mop up but since they are playing Idaho, Angelo State, and Central Washington/Western Oregon twice it looks like Linfield pasted another Puget Sound.   Couldn't be further from reality but it doesn't matter.

Linfield will be forced to spend a crap load of money on finding some far flung games across the country to build up SOS in future years.  That's life on the D3 island.

About Linfield going 9-0 this year.  The might be the best pure line play team (offensive and defensive) that I can remember.  2014/15 Hoff was a force of nature on defense and we had a couple of great offensive linemen. but starter to starter and depth, this might be our best group since I've been around Linfield.

[wildcat11]

2021 All-NWC Team:

https://nwcsports.com/news/2021/11/15/2021-all-nwc-football-team-announced.aspx

Easy picks for Offensive/Defensive/Coach/Rookie of the year.  Of the 19 players receiving 1st or 2nd team honors for Linfield, only 5 are Seniors, and 9 of those selections are either Freshmen/Sophomores.

[George Thompson]

Some thoughts on 2021 DIII playoff format.   
It is VERY flawed (and usually is).   

1.   It is very biased for Upper Midwest and Eastern teams.    They can travel  easily to many teams.   Not so for the west coast conferences.    SOS is unfair for that reason.

2.   Upper left bracket has five unbeaten teams, three ranked in the top 7 teams.   And, as usual, they place Linfield in the toughest bracket.   
      Lower left bracket has two.   Why wasn't Linfield placed here?
      Upper right bracket has two.   
      Lower right bracket has two.    Why was Hardin-Simmons not placed at all?  
      Why:  Each bracket should be as balanced as possible.    Fairness to all.

3.   If possible, teams should meet teams they have never played before.   
      Why?   Variety and makes playoffs as fair as possible.   

4.   How about a new format:
      A.   Top 16 teams (D3.com poll) have first playoff game at home.
            Why?   An independent poll determines those 16.    Minimal NCAA regional bias.     
      B.   Top 16 teams are spread equally among the four brackets.
            Why?   Fairness to all.   
      C.   First round:  Minimize travel costs.     Otherwise, lower 16 teams are random draws to meet the top 16 teams.
            Why?   Again, fairness to all.           
      D.   Second round: Minimize travel costs.     Otherwise, lower 8 teams are random draws to meet the top 8 teams.    Coin flip determines home team.
             Why?   Every team has a fair chance for a home game.                        
      E.    Third round and fourth rounds: coin flip determines home team.
             Why?   Every team has a fair chance for a home game.
   
These are only my thoughts and not anyone else.   

Is it possible to ever change this bad current playoff selection, which is so, so subjective and NOT based on fairness to all?

George Thompson

[DuffMan]

If you could see me, you'd see a major eyeroll. 

[gren]

I thought maybe playing Simon Fraser would not hurt us this season.
However, they're not a DIII team and the NCAA selection committee frowns on that in their selection.
Not a great SOS sends us packing the second round if we can just get by the revenge game with Redlands.
Then we might get our own revenge game with the johns. (if they don't duck us again by losing)

The funny thing about Simon Fraser is that team is LOADED with guys that Linfield chased hard during recruiting.  Talent wise if SFU played a D3 schedule, they would absolutely mop up but since they are playing Idaho, Angelo State, and Central Washington/Western Oregon twice it looks like Linfield pasted another Puget Sound.   Couldn't be further from reality but it doesn't matter.
Totally agree 11 Ive been telling people that this group is one of the best Ive seen in my tenure of walking the sidelines for 35 years.
Linfield will be forced to spend a crap load of money on finding some far flung games across the country to build up SOS in future years.  That's life on the D3 island.

About Linfield going 9-0 this year.  The might be the best pure line play team (offensive and defensive) that I can remember.  2014/15 Hoff was a force of nature on defense and we had a couple of great offensive linemen. but starter to starter and depth, this might be our best group since I've been around Linfield.

[gren]

Totally agree 11 Ive been telling people that this is one of the best Cat teams Ive seen in my 35 year tenure of walking the sidelines.

[D O.C.]

Yes, GT, Jeff Bezos could underwrite your playoff system overnight.
One problem I see is Pat and Crew are not affiliated with the NCAA.
Ya' dig?

[bleedpurple]

      Lower left bracket has two.   Why wasn't Linfield placed here?
 
George Thompson

So you believe mixing it up with UW-W, Wheaton, and Bethel is significantly easier than St. John's, UMHB, and Redlands?

The lower left is an odd place to want to run for comfort.

[wildcat11]

Jim Good interview on upcoming Linfield game: https://twitter.com/Inland_Sports/status/1460472896787079178

Good says the Dawgs are a better team since week 3.  Meanwhile, Linfield has just been sitting round kicking rocks for the past 7 weeks.