FB: Northwest Conference

[CATSLB28]

The game that you go into thinking that you have it in the bag is the game you will loose. Even though Linfield knows that we can beat all the teams we will face. We also know that as soon as we relaxe the slightest bit we could get walked on.

[CATSLB28]

Nice banner headline in Concordia's hometown newspaper (Fargo, N.D.):

Linfield QB Among Gagliardia Finalists

quote in the article:
"Elliot who will face Concordia on Saturday in the second round of playoffs, has 3,105 passing yards and 41 touchdowns"

That must be why Concordia fans are all uptight. We even come up in there own paper.

[rockcat]

I think you're reaching a little Cat Fa Natic.  I'm sure that Urban Meyer knows what he's doing.  The NFL argument doesn't mean much either because some of the best college football players in history have flopped in the pros, just look at recent heisman winners.  Besides, you are risking your life trying to quarterback the 49ers right now.

['Cats Fa Natic]

The game that you go into thinking that you have it in the bag is the game you will loose. Even though Linfield knows that we can beat all the teams we will face. We also know that as soon as we relaxe the slightest bit we could get walked on.

Absolutely.  Witness the Seahawks nearly losing it to the 49ers this weekend.

Except that I don't think the coaches or players are taking the #9 team in the country lightly.

['Cats Fa Natic]

I think you're reaching a little Cat Fa Natic.  I'm sure that Urban Meyer knows what he's doing.  The NFL argument doesn't mean much either because some of the best college football players in history have flopped in the pros, just look at recent heisman winners.  Besides, you are risking your life trying to quarterback the 49ers right now.

Maybe I am, maybe I'm not and having watched Elliot up close and a lot more than Smith, I am sure I'm biased. But personally, I just don't see why Smith drew such ooohs and aaahs from the 49ers. But that's just my opinion.

As for the taking one's life in one's hands with the 49ers... lol.  You're absolutely right.

[CATSLB28]

Oh I know they are not taking them lightly. I have a hard time reaching my brother he is always at pratice or in one of many meatings every day.
Practice hard, Win Big

[SOLID]

Nice banner headline in Concordia's hometown newspaper (Fargo, N.D.):

Linfield QB Among Gagliardia Finalists

quote in the article:
"Elliot who will face Concordia on Saturday in the second round of playoffs, has 3,105 passing yards and 41 touchdowns"

That must be why Concordia fans are all uptight. We even come up in there own paper.

OK now your stretching.  Of course the hometown newspaper is going to talk about the game and the opponents.  Last week we had a whole article about the Coe quarterback.  Playoff time and SJU time are the weeks that the Cobbers get their due in the paper.  It's kind of nice.......and for those that don't spend time on this baord or website informative.

[woufan]

This may have already been posted ....

... Sounds like the Pioneer administration finally got a wake-up call:

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1132718113222050.xml&coll=7

It all starts at the top: If you want to have a competitive athletic program, the administration will work towards that. If the administration does not care, a school will not have a competitive athletic program.

I think a lot of Northwest D3's just look to Linfield as the model and figure, "Well, we don't have the money, facilities, infrastructure to compete with them, so we won't or we'll drop the sport."

L & C, Pacific, and maybe GFU if they bring it back, should try to be Whitworth first and go from there.

I'm glad the Pios are hanging in there.

[rockcat]

If there is one thing that L&C has it's money.  That isn't a factor at all.  Their facilities aren't that bad either.  Their problem is that nobody on campus cares about athletics.  In fact, it is probably more that they dislike athletes than an indifference.

[desertcat1]

desertcat1-
What exactly was your wager?  I guess I didn't see that post...

I don't know about you guys, but I don't think the MIAC is "all talk."  I believe the MIAC has proven themselves to be a force in the playoffs most years!

Mighty Royal

I sent you an E-mail..   I will cover the cats ( c-note ) ?  But send it back on e-mail  please. ?

[beancounter]

Come on now, fa natic....its' kinda funny your line of thinking.  You sound like the people in the Flat Earth Society when it comes to a membership drive.."We are kinda biased, but I've looked at things up close and I think the world is flat...."    

Additionally, I don't know how you can conclude that Utah disrespected Brett Elliott.  I know one guy who disagrees with that.....Brett Elliott.

Rock Cat....you've hit the nail on the head.   Football will have a chance on the L&C campus when the culture changes there....the one that labels football players as "potential rapists".    Money is there, but is irrelevant unless they spend it.  Coaching is irrelevant unless they have admission standards that give people a chance.  

[woufan]

Good point desertcat. I think the adminstration has to convince the student body that athletics can be fun, an enjoyable part of the undergraduate experience. Yeah, many birkenstock folk at L & C hate athletics.

I knew many in the WOU student body who didn't like athletics, and many more who did like sports, but not WOU sports and wanted to attend OSU and UO games only. School spirit at WOU is lacking, we have a very disjointed student body, many commuters from Salem. There are some small rabid groups, usually football players like to attend hoop games and so forth; and on-campus students do, too.

The Pios charge is to make athletics a fun event and get some support. Yes, money is not an issue at L & C -- convincing the bong heads that athletics is fun is a challenge. Hey, they could always market to the student body in giving out Hemp shirts and free bongs, then it would be standing room only!   

['Cats Fa Natic]

Going through some stats and stuff before I make my final predicition...

CM's rushing stats ARE impressive. 3430 yard on the ground for the year is pretty phenomenal. By comparison, the two best rushing teams we've faced this had 2351 (UPS) and 2148 (Willamette) on the year.

However, CM had only 1279 yards in the air. Brett had roughly 40% of that (525)in one game. Whitworth, one of the better passing teams we've faced had 2294, while Oxy, the best passing game we've faced, had 2719.

It's a safe bet (duh) that CM will be running the ball and running hard.  We did a good job against Willamette's fly offense and that's one of the harder schemes to defend.

In my opinion, we sometimes show a vulnerability against the run with a scrambling QB.  Witness UPS's Andy Carlson's 376 yards and Willamette's Cameron Walton's 636 yards. We did shut each of them down pretty effectively but Oxy's Collins' burned us on a lot of big plays using his feet and not his hands.  For the year, Collins only had 429 yards of his team's 1649 rushing yards.  However, in our D's defense, I think our linebackers and D Line were pass first and run second because they were more concerned about his passing than his rushing. What else are you going to do against a guy who is 68% on his passing? I feel this was the correct approach to defending him, which is why we only gave up 21 points even though they had a slug of yards.

CM does have a highly effective scrambling QB--866 of those 3,430 yards. But I don't see Schumacher running as effectively against the 'Cats as Collins was. We'll be playing run first, pass second, and the the LBs will be playing up on the line, since Schumacher is only 55% on his passing.

Here's the other interesting stat that jumps out at me from Concordia: their punter is only averaging 34.6 yards per kick. That ain't gonna cut it against our ST. Maybe they're kicking on short fields all the time (stalled drives around the 40) but if they have a weak punter? Don't be surprised if we have two returns for TDs. You know how fired up the ST gets. They get one, watch for the other.

Okay, since my wife is bugging me to get out the door, here's my official prediction:

Linfield 49, Concordia 17.  One of those CM TDs will be in garbage time.

[D O.C.]

But send it back on e-mail  please.   

   

...because the 7 Feather Nation will want their cut.

[desertcat1]

desertcat1-
I didn't get your e-mail...can you send me a personal message on the D3board instead with the same thing you said in your e-mail to me?

Mighty Royal

MR,
Pat is watching so read your e-mail please   I take the CATS  You get the  litter box....