FB: Northwest Conference

[desertcat1]

Go Cats
Go Big D 

[The Third Division]

Tipped off by a friend that there may have been a coaching change at Willamette; indeed, on the WU website Tim Rude is now listed as interim head coach and Isaac Parker is not on there:

https://www.wubearcats.com/sports/fball/coaches/index

Anyone (Bearcat Press, maybe?) know when the change was made and why?

A little more information:

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/sports/college/2023/09/08/isaac-parker-no-longer-willamette-university-head-football-coach/70793329007/

paywall - anyone got a tldr?

[Bearcat Press]

Tipped off by a friend that there may have been a coaching change at Willamette; indeed, on the WU website Tim Rude is now listed as interim head coach and Isaac Parker is not on there:

https://www.wubearcats.com/sports/fball/coaches/index

Anyone (Bearcat Press, maybe?) know when the change was made and why?

A little more information:

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/sports/college/2023/09/08/isaac-parker-no-longer-willamette-university-head-football-coach/70793329007/

paywall - anyone got a tldr?

I have absolutely no idea what's going on. Here's the (short) article from Pete Martini at the Statesman Journal:

Isaac Parker is no longer head football coach at Willamette University, the school confirmed Friday. But they would not specify the nature of his departure.

"Tim Rude has replaced Isaac Parker as head football coach at Willamette as coach Parker is no longer employed by the University," said Colleen Kawahara, vice president for communications at Willamette. "At present, our focus is on ensuring continuity and support for our student-athletes to ensure the transition to coach Rude is as seamless as possible."

Parker, a Willamette graduate, was hired by the Bearcats in December 2018.

In his first season as head coach in 2019, Willamette went 2-8.

The 2020 season was canceled because of the pandemic, and the Bearcats went 1-9 in 2021, and 2-8 last season.

The Bearcats are 1-0 this season after beating La Verne 24-21 on Sept. 2.

Rude is also the recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator, defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach.

[olddog]

Cat Fans !

What did you guys think of LF opening game?  The Cats should be 14 point favorites over UR. The game is won up front and our O Line does not match up. We are starting two frosh (tough but raw), one soph. Only the center is experienced. I don't know what happen to the young guys on the line last year. We lost three.

My take on LF, typical LF team, the only difference is this team does not seem to have the same team speed as the better teams in the past. I like your O line, its size and footwork, it beautiful to watch. Your D line is solid...LF will only get better as the season rolls on.

I am sure UR defense will keep it close for a while if the offense does not turn it over early but in the end, I expect a 35-14 type win for the Cats. UR defense is fast then last week's opponent so it will be a good test for them.

[MonroviaCat]

This Cat Fan saw a lot of room for improvement.  Penalties, poor tackling, dropped passes and just a lack of consistently sharp play really dragged the cats down. I think credit should also be given to Dennison because they made some big plays (especially the DB who we kept trying to deep on). 

On a positive note, the Cats ran the ball well--McNabb had a big day and Martinez was a beast on his TD reception. 


Should be a good one at Ted Runner this weekend.  Weather looking to cool down a bit and probably be perfect at game time!  Old Dog--come on over to the visitor's side and introduce yourself to Calcat, DOC and me.

[d-train]

I have absolutely no idea what's going on. Here's the (short) article from Pete Martini at the Statesman Journal:

Isaac Parker is no longer head football coach at Willamette University, the school confirmed Friday. But they would not specify the nature of his departure.

"Tim Rude has replaced Isaac Parker as head football coach at Willamette as coach Parker is no longer employed by the University," said Colleen Kawahara, vice president for communications at Willamette. "At present, our focus is on ensuring continuity and support for our student-athletes to ensure the transition to coach Rude is as seamless as possible."

Parker, a Willamette graduate, was hired by the Bearcats in December 2018.

In his first season as head coach in 2019, Willamette went 2-8.

The 2020 season was canceled because of the pandemic, and the Bearcats went 1-9 in 2021, and 2-8 last season.

The Bearcats are 1-0 this season after beating La Verne 24-21 on Sept. 2.

Rude is also the recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator, defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach.

After a rare win even. Clearly more to the story; just hope the program and players are supported.

[wildcat11]

Cat Fans !

What did you guys think of LF opening game?  The Cats should be 14 point favorites over UR. The game is won up front and our O Line does not match up. We are starting two frosh (tough but raw), one soph. Only the center is experienced. I don't know what happen to the young guys on the line last year. We lost three.

My take on LF, typical LF team, the only difference is this team does not seem to have the same team speed as the better teams in the past. I like your O line, its size and footwork, it beautiful to watch. Your D line is solid...LF will only get better as the season rolls on.

I am sure UR defense will keep it close for a while if the offense does not turn it over early but in the end, I expect a 35-14 type win for the Cats. UR defense is fast then last week's opponent so it will be a good test for them.

Lots of things to clean up but my feeling is the game one issues are all fixable and areas that will get ironed out.  3 new starters on the offensive line but I think it could be a very good group once they fully gel. McNabb and Martinez is a fantastic combo at RB.  Redlands will be brining it this weekend. Looking forward to it.

Regarding Willamette, I'll be curious to see what eventually comes out. We should all be worried about the health of small college football on the west coast and Willamette has a rich history but feels like they've been neglected ever since Speckman left the job (lack of support is probably why he left in the first place)

[RFBredux]

Cat Fans !

What did you guys think of LF opening game?  The Cats should be 14 point favorites over UR. The game is won up front and our O Line does not match up. We are starting two frosh (tough but raw), one soph. Only the center is experienced. I don't know what happen to the young guys on the line last year. We lost three.

My take on LF, typical LF team, the only difference is this team does not seem to have the same team speed as the better teams in the past. I like your O line, its size and footwork, it beautiful to watch. Your D line is solid...LF will only get better as the season rolls on.

I am sure UR defense will keep it close for a while if the offense does not turn it over early but in the end, I expect a 35-14 type win for the Cats. UR defense is fast then last week's opponent so it will be a good test for them.

Lots of things to clean up but my feeling is the game one issues are all fixable and areas that will get ironed out.  3 new starters on the offensive line but I think it could be a very good group once they fully gel. McNabb and Martinez is a fantastic combo at RB.  Redlands will be brining it this weekend. Looking forward to it.

Regarding Willamette, I'll be curious to see what eventually comes out. We should all be worried about the health of small college football on the west coast and Willamette has a rich history but feels like they've been neglected ever since Speckman left the job (lack of support is probably why he left in the first place)

Speckman is a legendary coach in California and Oregon for his work at Merced HS and Willamette University. The 2008 Willamette team was as strong as they come, and the fly offense is still used today by quite a few teams across the country.

[RFBredux]

Cat Fans !

What did you guys think of LF opening game?  The Cats should be 14 point favorites over UR. The game is won up front and our O Line does not match up. We are starting two frosh (tough but raw), one soph. Only the center is experienced. I don't know what happen to the young guys on the line last year. We lost three.

My take on LF, typical LF team, the only difference is this team does not seem to have the same team speed as the better teams in the past. I like your O line, its size and footwork, it beautiful to watch. Your D line is solid...LF will only get better as the season rolls on.

I am sure UR defense will keep it close for a while if the offense does not turn it over early but in the end, I expect a 35-14 type win for the Cats. UR defense is fast then last week's opponent so it will be a good test for them.

PLU is a shell of their former selves, so it was difficult to really gauge if Redlands is anything more than an average team or mediocre like last season. The offense has not really evolved and wish Jim Good would bring in a offensive coordinator with some new ideas and just concentrate on leading the program.

[Bearcat Press]

Salem sports journalist and broadcaster Mark Gilman has written a short piece on the coaching change at Willamette, with one new bit of information:

The Bearcats were celebrating their opening game victory on September 2nd over LaVerne (California) by a 24-21 score.  Parker was informed of his dismissal on Labor Day, upon his return from California.

https://markgilman.substack.com/p/willamette-abruptly-dismisses-isaac

[olddog]

Cat Fans !

What did you guys think of LF opening game?  The Cats should be 14 point favorites over UR. The game is won up front and our O Line does not match up. We are starting two frosh (tough but raw), one soph. Only the center is experienced. I don't know what happen to the young guys on the line last year. We lost three.

My take on LF, typical LF team, the only difference is this team does not seem to have the same team speed as the better teams in the past. I like your O line, its size and footwork, it beautiful to watch. Your D line is solid...LF will only get better as the season rolls on.

I am sure UR defense will keep it close for a while if the offense does not turn it over early but in the end, I expect a 35-14 type win for the Cats. UR defense is fast then last week's opponent so it will be a good test for them.

PLU is a shell of their former selves, so it was difficult to really gauge if Redlands is anything more than an average team or mediocre like last season. The offense has not really evolved and wish Jim Good would bring in a offensive coordinator with some new ideas and just concentrate on leading the program.

There was talk but now with budget cuts I think that idea is off the table.

[olddog]

LF/UR Game, as usual it will come down to the fronts. UR defense will give LF a really good test to see where they are, but our O line is the most inexperienced that I have seen the last 10 years, the game will go how much they improve week to week.

[MonroviaCat]

I'd say Olddog was fairly spot on with his pregame analysis.  Redlands D did give the Cats a challenge but I also think the Cats offense still isn't clicking the way we expect it to.  Cat's d bent but didn't break.  Redlands O-line improved throughout the game and their RB was a tough runner.  Even so, the star of the Redlands offense was the officiating crew who gifted the Bullldogs with some pretty bad calls.  Based on the amount of complaining the Redlands players were doing, I'm sure the Bulldogs felt the same (re:  bad calls).  Anyway--Cats get a win but are a long way from being what we expect from them....

[D O.C.]

OK, 6,000 miles of travel and two wins in 10 days.
Fine.
Home cooking (the commons?) on the menu for a couple weeks.
Get some Jell-o and gel.
This team can get it done.

[George Thompson]

I  Anyway--Cats get a win but are a long way from being what we expect from them....

Spot on.    Offense is just adequate.   Defense looked better.   The week off should help them fine-tune that offense.

GT