FB: Northwest Conference

[scandihoovian]

Cat #4-

This is a big year for the SCIAC to prove it has improved, and I think a lot depends on who Oxy's first round opponent is.  If they get to host one of the IIAC teams I think they need to win to prove their worth.  If the committee ships them to McMinnville or Collegeville for the first round that's a different story - although they need to show they can at least play with St. John's & Linfield.

As for Cal Lu - I hope they earn a spot and a chance to show that the SCIAC is more than just Oxy.  However, I know that if selected they will likely face a tough first round opponent 

[dollarbills]

See you guys saturday.  Should be a hell of a day for some football.  Sorry i can't come on here and BS with ya'll.  And, it seems that there is less bearcat bashing going on this year.  Is it possible that with the bearcats consistency these past years you have  begun to have a bit more respect for a quality program, or are you guys just getting soft in your old age?   
Kick it up a notch...
Anyway heres to a good clean hard fought NWC championship game.

[Cat#4]

I'm tellin' ya Occidental has confidence. They ACT like they are good and so far no one has pulled the curtain.

You've been contemplating it over your bubbles so I will ask it of you before your Friday night imbibe...
switch Elliott and Collins.
Could LINFIELD win it all again? YES, just not as big
Wouldn't Occidental still be where they are? NO,different offense for different QB's I think the Linfield offense is set up for Perfectly for Bret and I think the Oxy offense is set up for Collins "Vick-ish" if you will.
                           

[Cat#4]

that didn't work to well.

switch Elliott and Collins.
Could LINFIELD win it all again? YES , just not as big

Wouldn't Occidental still be where they are? NO ,different offense for different QB's I think the Linfield offense is set up for Perfectly for Bret and I think the Oxy offense is set up for Collins "Vick-ish" if you will.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

OK here we go,  River says that WU puts 55 on the Cats

You crack me up Man

The Wildcats run away with this one  +30 all day long

Phone it in  Its in the bank Boys

[rockcat]

I don't think that we respect Willamette more but that there aren't enough Willamette fans in here to pick on.  Of course it's all in fun though .

As for the game.  Linfield rolls this weekend at Catdome South.

Final score:
Linfield 42 Willamette 14

Bearkittys break a couple of big plays that set up scores.  They try to hold the ball as long as possible which keeps the real Cats from scoring 50+. 

[plulute2clu]

Cat #4-

My thought is that on a national level, the SCIAC is in the same boat that the NWC was in until PLU made the run in '99.  There aren't a lot of teams on the West Coast in D3, and those that are get far more overshadowed by the big(ger) boys.  

Just like the NWC did with the Lutes, and now Linfield, proving their mettle, the SCIAC is getting there.  Two and three years ago Redlands put up a good fight in the playoffs, playing very close games on the road against semifinalist St. Johns in Collegeville ('02) and Linfield in McMinnville ('03).  Then of course you have last year's Oxy run.

The fact is the SCIAC can play with the other good teams in the country.  They just need to get the chance.  Granted, we could schedule them, but in most cases don't.

I think that Oxy will make another good run this year, probably ending in Mac again.  I would love to see CLU get in as the guys are 13-1 in their last 14 games with the only loss being to Oxy at the beginning of the season.  Although, if they do get in, it probably means a tough road game at the CatDome.  Still, I would love to see it!

The challenge is that the way that the NCAA sets it up, the SCIAC and NWC will almost always have to battle each other.  There is nothing better for the West Coast than getting the chance to play a IIAC or MIAC team home or away, and winning!  Watching PLU do it to Wartburg and the Johnnies in '99 was a treat I will never forget!

PLULute2CLU

[wildcat18]

I agree with you PLULUTE2CLU.  Before 1999 the NWC was barely even on the map as far as Div.III football was concerned.  The bulk of the Div.III schools are in the midwest and east coast.  I live in the midwest and trust me they STILL think that the best football is played in their backyard.  I won a lot of money last year from my alma mater because of all the non-believers.  By the end of the season nobody wanted to talk football with me anymore...especially with my Linfield Athletic poster hanging up in my office.  Teams of the SCIAC keep your head up and keep knocking on the door of the Div.III powerhouses until they let you guys in!  If it wasn't for PLU blowing out teams left and right in the playoffs in 99 the NWC would still be in the same position.  The sad part of the whole thing is the NWC usually has 2 or 3 teams that could compete in the playoffs but we usually get one team in.  Then those two teams end up bumping each other off along the way.  I saw the WIAC and the MIAC up close and personal last year and the west coast is stronger than both of those conferences. 

[D O.C.]

plulute2clu...aha! busted
(you are the coach,arent' you? ooo, sorry.  Just got excited when I decoded your moniker)

Don't forget to vote everyone. It is past Wednesday.

[scandihoovian]

Sorry DensLA - I'll kill that rumor before it grows legs.  PLULUTE2CLU is not the CLU coach.  There are a number of PLU alums on staff at CLU.

[Tuxguy]

Salemcat, nice to hear from you! We know why you can't post, but come visit next week when we start our playoff run!

bearcatsrgood, no more than 14 for your boys this week!

River, you got the 55 right, but the wrong Cats. 55-14 this week. Wildcats win going away, and yes we will rest Brett, 5 td's by the 3rd Q.  

Now this is more like it guys, warming up for the playoffs!!!!

[MonroviaCat]

Just adding to the discussion about PLU in 99 and Linfield later on bringing the NWC into the D3 Spotlight.....Isn't it correct that the NWC was not in the D3 prior to 99?  I don't know when the SCIA joined D3 but I suspect they've been there a while and have not managed to gain the spotlight yet.  The NWC did it immediatly though.....Just my 2 cents

[d-train]

Just adding to the discussion about PLU in 99 and Linfield later on bringing the NWC into the D3 Spotlight.....Isn't it correct that the NWC was not in the D3 prior to 99?  I don't know when the SCIA joined D3 but I suspect they've been there a while and have not managed to gain the spotlight yet.  The NWC did it immediatly though.....Just my 2 cents

Prior to '98. In 1997 Willamette played in the NAIA title game. In 1998 the Lutes were in the D-3 playoffs, losing at St. John's.

[spiritof86]

I was going to point out what d-trian just said. 18 says how the NWC was "barely on the d3 map prior to the '99". Well, that is true but not in the way he meant it I think.

'cats roll this weekend. 58-7

[wildcat18]

The NWC was on the NAIA map for sure but we were new to the NCAA in 99 and Div.III didn't respect our NAIA powerhouse conference history.