FB: Northwest Conference

[Olinemom]

I am sorry that I won't get to see the many people I met last year at the Stagg Bowl on the 17th.  Even knowing the score, which we heard on the way home from our game in Delaware where our team got beaten by a better, stronger and faster team, I read through every page of the play by play of the game!  It was so exciting.  It felt like I was at the game.  I knew the score, but couldn't help getting involved in such an awesome game.  I can't imagine a more exciting game,but hopefully the Stagg Bowl will end up being just such a game.  Kudos to Linfield for having such a great team and an awesome fan base who travels so well with their team!  To Chuck and Tim,  keep the big Linfield flag flying high, because I know that it will be coming East on a regular basis.  Tim, I was impressed by the kind of trip you  had to take just to get there for the game.  Thanks again for the pictures of the fun at last year's Stagg Bowl, especially of Chuck and me with the Linfield flag.  That was a special day!!  Best of luck reloading, Coach Locey and staff.  You do a great job.!!

[snider]

Great season Cats.   Just a question that I don't understand.  Why did we let the clock run off 40 seconds without calling a timeout at the end of the game?  We had two timeouts left.  I understand the need to save one for the 3 point try, but we did not leave enough time to get down the field, once we got the ball back.  What am I missing in this logic?  Did we "freeze in the headlights" or am I missing some logic?

[wildcat11]

Snider,

We had one timeout left and with the clock stopping after each first down I think we were trying to hold on to the timeout.  If we were able to get the ball Dailey's range for a FG attempt we would have had a chance to take the last timeout and take a shot at tying the game.  It just didn't work out.

[Freebird]

Sounds like it was an amazing game.  Does anyone know if there will be a tape or dvd of the game available?

[Wildcat'64]

Back on the frozen tundra -- it was a long 4 hour plane ride home (unfortunately had head winds after everything else that happened earlier in the day).

First things First -  Congrats to the Hawks and the Cats - both teams played their hearts out yesterday and unfortunately our team ended one play short of winning. I have been following Linfield football for over four decades and yesterday's game was "right up there" close to the top, if not the top, of any game I have ever witnessed at the Catdome.  A heartbraker Yes but there is a tomorrow and more national calibre teams in the future.  The Cats will continue to be a force to be reckoned with from Coast to Coast.

"Wouda, Couda, Shouda's) -- No place for those comments in my opinion.  The Cats have one of the best coaching staffs in the nation and they do us proud every game they are on the field.  Games over - on to 2006!

Thanks You's -- Great seeing some of the posters at the Elks on Friday eve and again at the Tailgate on Sat a.m.  Great to be with all of you once again. 

In Closing -- I feel for those Seniors who put on the Cat uniform for the last time yesterday with their dreams and expectations shattered but this is merely a speedbump in life.  It was a tremendous game and could have gone either way.  I'm willing to bet the Cats will be back in 2006 as a Contender!
"Mark Those Words"

[snider]

Thanks wildcat 11,
I thought we had two left.  It was a great game.  The breaks and mistakes seemed to go against us.  That is a tribute to Whitewater.  Don't know if I have ever seen a greater game by an individual than what Haze had.

[wildcat11]

"Wouda, Couda, Shouda's) -- No place for those comments in my opinion.  The Cats have one of the best coaching staffs in the nation and they do us proud every game they are on the field.  Games over - on to 2006!

'64, that wasn't a comment on anything that was done in terms of coaching.  It was more of a typical thought when you lose a close game when you say to yourself, "If we could have made that last catch, or would have score just one more time, etc, etc."   Just wishing things would have worked out.

Maybe I "shoulda" made myself more clear but I was (as many Linfield people) in a world of hurt yesterday.

[CATSLB28]

Anyone know web sights or peopel to get into contact with to get pictures or videos of the season mostly UWW game. If anyone has a picture or video of the hit #28 had on the quarter back I would like to get a copy.

The cats played there hearts out espiacaly the "D" they prooved they are the best

[George Thompson]

Hey guys, calm down,

My point is very simple:  Linfield supporters do not need to prove Linfield is almost always a very good football team.     No need to irritate opponents' fans and give us a bad reputation by rubbing it in, boasting and arrogance.

Linfield consistently proves on the playing field how good they are.   

The last 4 years' teams have been exceptional - among the very best ever at Linfield.    We won one national championship and came awfully close to reaching the Stagg Bowl in the other three years.

St. Johns beat us in 2002 and 2003.    Wisconsin-
Whitewater did it this year.    I was at all 3 games.    We might have won all three except for one or two plays. 

When you get to the playoffs, any game can be very tough. 
To go all the way and win the Stagg Bowl takes good players, good coaching and some plain old good fortune.    It is never easy to do.

I am very proud of the Wildcats; sure we can second guess some things.    That's just normal fan thinking outload.  But in the end, the ball just didn't bounce our way yesterday.

Absoultely no disrespect to Wisconsin - Whitewater.    They kept at us the whole game and deserved to win.     Did we deserve to lose?    Of course not.   

Anway you look at it, that game yesterday was a classic; almost gave me heart failure!   It was a shame someone had to lose.

Oh yes, I was wrong about Elliot's pass interception in the 2nd quarter.    It wasn't a bad pass; the film clearly shows he was clobbered by a Whitewater man just as he was throwing the ball.     The ball went nowhere Elliot had intended.     That was a good job by Whitewater.

Keep it positive, please.

GO CATS, GO!   Next year.

George

[Tuxguy]

WOW..... I couldn't even post yesterday after the game.I kept waiting to see if I would wake up and it was a dream.

That had to be one, If not  the best game I've ever seen at the Catdome. and I go back to 1965. To many Highs and lows to talk about.( The come-back win for the NAIA championship was played at Mac High.)

Great game Cats!Coach's and Players, You left everything on the field yesterday, Played your hearts out from the first play. And made all of us  Proud to be WILDCATS.

To the Sr.'s on this team, Thanks for the memories. These past couple of years have been special.

I'm going to miss my Tailgate family!  sure has been fun, great food, Drinks and Football Talk.

UW-WW Congrats On a big win, The Beaver is for real, you played with Class, Now go win one for the WEST!

[wildcat11]

Oh yea, and George...you're a PUNK!  And your most recent post doesn't erase all the ney-saying all year long.  If you don't like the programming, change the station...but I guess that's what makes this place great is we can all express our opinions, I just think yours sucks...  

DT48,

On point as usual.

[Wildcat'64]

WC 11,

I understand fully -- we were all "hurting" yesterday and will continue that hurt for many days into the future.

Your passion for the Cat program, on and off the field, has been legendary and we fans appreciate everything you have done to help make the Linfield program the envy of many.  You have been an integral part of that success and we all are thankful.

[bluenote]

raiderguy...thanks for the comments but I stick by my personal opinion that the 2 best teams in the nation played yesterday at the CatDome.  If someone happens to strongly challange or beat UW-WW I guess I'll take another look....and give it some more thought. Good luck to the remaining teams in the field.

formerd3db...thanks for the kind words hope things are going well for you and the family.

Johnnie Red....we missed seeing you, the SJU team and all the other Johnnies this year....maybe next!

[wildcat11]

I just wanted to say thank you to this group of seniors that played their last game yesterday.

Brandon Hazenberg- Mr. Everything, you were the spark for this team during so many games.  A warrior.

Brandon Olsen- Defensive leader, you held up the tradition of great LB's that captain the defense.

Josh Ort- playmaker, highlight hit after highlight hit, you carried that torch of bone crushing safeties like Bolin, Brown, Capdeville, Lions. 

Brandon Tom- a mark of a great player is they played big in big games.  You delivered every time the 'Cats needed you. 

Brett Elliott-  A Legendary player, bottom line.

Kevin Foreman- A "Linfield" player in every way.  Came in, paid your dues, and then grabbed your chance to start and ran with it. 

Josh Armstrong- Asked to make changes at the beginning of the year and went out and excelled at cornerback. 

Mordechai Kotler- Again, another player that paid his dues and then became a big part of the offense this year.

John Dailey- A great weapon for the 'Cats this year.  Wish we had you back for a few more years.

Brad McKechnie- So many great catches, big runs after the catch, never afraid to catch the ball over the middle.  Every time Brad caught the ball it seemed he made a big play.

Casey Allen- What can you say....Greatest Linfield receiver EVER. 

Chris Boock- Best corner in the NWC the past two years.  Great speed, hard nosed, and a playmaker.

Garret Wales- A great career kicking for the 'Cats.  I'll never forget the game winning kick vs. Wartburg in 2003. 

Robert Acevedo- Ace you were what every team needs.  A solid, dependable teammate that contributes with your play on the field and stability off the field and at practice.

Dwight Donaldson- Super bright player and great competitor.  Deserves every accolade that comes his way.

Saffery Silva- Great special teams player, class on and off the field.

Eric Holtgraves- Tough kid and a hell of a player.  So many injuries early in his career.  Most people would have walked away two years ago but Eric kept battling back and played huge this year on the offensive line.


....I really hope the young kids in the program will follow the path that has be laid by the last couple group of Seniors.  They excelled on and off the field and help re-established Linfield in the upper levels of small college football.  Thank you!

[Tezbaseball]

I just wanted to say thank you to this group of seniors that played their last game yesterday.

Brandon Hazenberg- Mr. Everything, you were the spark for this team during so many games.  A warrior.

Brandon Olsen- Defensive leader, you held up the tradition of great LB's that captain the defense.

Josh Ort- playmaker, highlight hit after highlight hit, you carried that torch of bone crushing safeties like Bolin, Brown, Capdeville, Lions. 

Brandon Tom- a mark of a great player is they played big in big games.  You delivered every time the 'Cats needed you. 

Brett Elliott-  A Legendary player, bottom line.

Kevin Foreman- A "Linfield" player in every way.  Came in, paid your dues, and then grabbed your chance to start and ran with it. 

Josh Armstrong- Asked to make changes at the beginning of the year and went out and excelled at cornerback. 

Mordechai Kotler- Again, another player that paid his dues and then became a big part of the offense this year.

John Dailey- A great weapon for the 'Cats this year.  Wish we had you back for a few more years.

Brad McKechnie- So many great catches, big runs after the catch, never afraid to catch the ball over the middle.  Every time Brad caught the ball it seemed he made a big play.

Casey Allen- What can you say....Greatest Linfield receiver EVER. 

Chris Boock- Best corner in the NWC the past two years.  Great speed, hard nosed, and a playmaker.

Garret Wales- A great career kicking for the 'Cats.  I'll never forget the game winning kick vs. Wartburg in 2003. 

Robert Acevedo- Ace you were what every team needs.  A solid, dependable teammate that contributes with your play on the field and stability off the field and at practice.

Dwight Donaldson- Super bright player and great competitor.  Deserves every accolade that comes his way.

Saffery Silva- Great special teams player, class on and off the field.

Eric Holtgraves- Tough kid and a hell of a player.  So many injuries early in his career.  Most people would have walked away two years ago but Eric kept battling back and played huge this year on the offensive line.


....I really hope the young kids in the program will follow the path that has be laid by the last couple group of Seniors.  They excelled on and off the field and help re-established Linfield in the upper levels of small college football.  Thank you!

WOW! Very nice. What a game. I had to listen to it on the radio for the first 3 qtrs. It seemed like every time I turned around I was giving people updates. I got to the game with 9 mins remaning and wasn't going to pay the $8 to see the final mins tick away. I bellied up and bought a ticket. Best $8 I've ever spent on a game ticket. Hats off to the WarHawks and good luck the rest of the way. I will miss going to the games and having a connection (Brad McKechnie worked KOB and the summer program for me) Thanks for the season it was an honor watching the 'Cats. I can't wait until next year. Now it's baseball season.