FB: Northwest Conference

[rbaikie]

Cut City -
Just to clarify - I am assuming that Your reference to Pool B (NWC, Menlo) is talking about non AQ conferences and independents. Menlo is now NWC as of 2006. So as a made-up example - would that be something like (NWC, Macalester)?

[Cut City]

I stand corrected on the Menlo deal. Independents, conferences with less than 7 members(along with the whole 2 year waiting period thing)=pool B

[Tuxguy]

Cut City, I enjoyed the use of L&C in the equation, I just hope they field enough players to finish the season this year. I'd like to see a game on Nov. 11 against the pios.
At least we have 5 home games this season and 2 at night! I was very young the last time the Cats played at night.

                         LEAVE NO DOUBT '06

[Cut City]

It will be fun to see a night game at the cat dome. I'm also curious to see what the players think about the lighting. I've always thought the endzones were a little too dark compared to the rest of the field. I guess I'll find out in 64 days.

[Foss]

The other factor that comes into play is that the NWC has only 6, well 7 with Menlo now, teams. Compare that to the Miac with 9, Iowa has 9, meaning they only need to fill 2 games a year with non-conf. games to play their 10 game schedule. With menlo, the nwc needs to pick up 3 just to make a 9 game schedule. And for all you haters out there, that's the reason Linfield doesn't play 10 games, not because of The Streak.   

That adds to my question of why WIAC teams need to fly to Azusa.

I've seen WIAC posters in the past state their teams often can't find other D3 teams outside their conference who will play them. This is along the lines of what D-train is saying. I'm sure D3 schools would love to play against only non-scholarship schools (ie D3), but in reality it doesn't always work out that way. You'll notice most of the WIAC schools, despite being surrounded by many other D3 schools, are still having to play against 1 or 2 scholarship schools just to fill out their schedule. There must be some truth to their complaints about not being able to find out of conference D3 opponents.

pineconefan - I agree that if it had not been for Elliott's ridiculous accomplishments over the last two seasons, there would be a lot more attention on Clark's abilities. Perhaps this is the season he turns heads on a national level.

[cawcdad]

Does anybody know what has happened to Travis Masters? Did his leg problem end his carreer? Will he be back? He looked pretty impressive toward the end of the 2004 season.

[criswyly]

I'm in the process of repainting my apartment, so I am thinking maybe I will paint a large Wildcat logo on my office wall....My better half, Pat asked, "But honey, isn't the Wildcat logo copyrighted

I'd like to hear an update on Travis Masters as well?  Can someone email me?

[footballfan413]

"That adds to my question of why WIAC teams need to fly to Azusa."

"I've seen WIAC posters in the past state their teams often can't find other D3 teams outside their conference who will play them. This is along the lines of what D-train is saying. I'm sure D3 schools would love to play against only non-scholarship schools (ie D3), but in reality it doesn't always work out that way. You'll notice most of the WIAC schools, despite being surrounded by many other D3 schools, are still having to play against 1 or 2 scholarship schools just to fill out their schedule. There must be some truth to their complaints about not being able to find out of conference D3 opponents."




Regarding the WIAC comment, you are absolutely right, Foss.  The WIAC (especially the top) traditionally has trouble filling the 3 games with non-conference opponents in the past and with UWW's last season success, it may have only gotten tougher. UWW has had to reach out to NAIA teams like St. Xavier in the past and now Azusa Paciific.   Teams in the CCIW seems to be an obvious geographic match but most have been reluctant to take on WIAC teams.  Being ranked the "toughest conference," in the country (D-3 football) can't be a good selling point and I have also heard a comment that being larger public D-3 schools can also be intimidating to some smaller private programs.  Don't know about that,  just heard it said.  UWW is approximately 8,000 under grad.  St. Norberts, for example, who has traditionally dominated the MWC sure took a hike after their 2 year contract was up with UWW after they were whipped 41-9 in 04 and 45-7 in 05. Kudos to Lakeland for not bailing after their 73-12 loss last season and 48-28 in 04.  UW-LAX has faced this problem after being at the top of the WIAC for most of the last 6 years.  They have had to schedule a D-2 and D-1  team the last few years in order to fill out a schedule and still only got to 9 games. They played D-1 SDSU in 05 and will play them again this season as well as AP.    Anyway, I don't think it is a coincidence that after last years success, UWW has had to look elsewhere to fill out the schedule (when St.Norberts and St Xavier didn't renew their contracts) and moved up to some very formidible competition like MHB and AP creating more expensive travel budgets.  The Cats have wrestled with the same problems, I am sure.

By the way, my karma has taken a huge hit after I teased the MIAC boys about their overuse of the buttons....and I thought they could take a joke.......     Don't think it was you guys..... all I posted here was congrats on the band......

[spiritof86]

Take nothing away from Collins or Clark but everyone except diehard Linfield fans will likely be surprised by Benzel.....he is definitely All American calibre and is a Senior.  Unfortunately he has had to play in the shadows of two back to back All American Quarterbacks in Matthews and Elliott but he is clearly head and shoulders above the vast majority of quarterbacks in Division III.  His completion rate last year was actually better than Elliott's if my memory serves me correctly.  He is definitely a good field marshall and may well surprise many an opponent this fall!

A very wise man once told me  that Benzel was the 2nd best qb in the NWC last season, and from this post and others, I am really excited to see for myself. I am not worried about him at all- if he can play well enough to be mentioned in the same statement as Mathews, than that is fine by me.

[Orca Jr.]

I know it's getting a little repetative but I would like to throw my two cents in regarding Benzel.  The guy is an absolute class act.  After working his butt off for two years and waiting in the wings for his shot, he was put back on the bench.  Not a word of complaining or whining from the kid.  Just went out every day and got better and better.  Finally he's getting his shot and I'll put my money on the line that he won't let us down.  He won't miss one session of 7 v 7 this summer and he won't ever be late to practice.  He's a lunch pail player, just like the Wildcats are meant to be.  Get ready NWC, that 'Cats are about to have the best QB in the conference, AGAIN!!

[Orca Jr.]

I would also like to clarify that in know way am i diminishing the talent of Collins or Clark, I just really think Benzel is that good. 

[Josh Bowerman]

To jump in just a little late on this conversation.........

As a Hardin-Simmons and ASC fan, I can appreciate and sympathize with all of the geographically isolated schools.  In the past, we've played home/home series (for the most part) with Azusa, Chapman, Menlo, Colorado College, UW-W, UW-SP, UW-Stout and this year, Linfield out of necessity.  UMHB has played Willamette, McMurry has played Menlo and Howard Payne has been known to schedule WIAC schools.

This year's game between HSU and Linfield is important, IMO, because it represents a shift away from simply scheduling who we can, but scheduling who we'd like to.  I'm already excited about September 16th!

There seems to be dual mentalities in DIII when it comes to scheduling and travel:  there are those that view DIII as a regional venture, and those that view DIII as a national venture.  Having said this, I don't know why the WIAC seems to have difficulty scheduling non-conference games--they aren't the geographically isolated ones.  However, I am glad that HSU and the ASC have been able to accommodate them, as it has been a mutually beneficial relationship (for the most part) between the Texas schools and the WIAC.

[Josh Bowerman]

And, on a different note...

Are there any Linfield folks already planning to make the trek to Abilene for the 09/16 game?  If so, it would be nice to have a d3football.com-posters tailgate before the game.  In any event, I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and get the ideas flowing...

Also, you might want to consider taking in the McMurry/Louisiana College game earlier in the day.  It starts at 2:00 (whereas our game starts at 6:00), and should be a do-able double header.

[KennethK]

I would also like to clarify that in know way am i diminishing the talent of Collins or Clark, I just really think Benzel is that good. 

Takes three to tango Receivers, O-line, QB...Linfield undoubtedly had the best receiving corps in DIII in 05.  I'm sure there are good replacements but it is hard to imagine them meeting the 05 off-the-chart production.   

[D O.C.]

Josh...

You are the likely candidate (but, more the merrier) to lay out the bare necessities about travel from Portland, OR, to HSU. Would you be so kind?
   Moderate motels
   Travel distances
   Oil barons with private planes
   Mild Texas Bar B Que
   Miles to Texas Women's College