FB: Northwest Conference

[wildcat11]

GO RATS, beat Oxy and nobody will have to listen to OxyBob and Tooth go on and on about Occidental.

You mean sort of like the way that all of the 'Cat nation has gone quiet . . . NOT.

Dude, you're sadly mistaken if you think that in the unlikely event of a 'Rat victory over the Tigers that OB, I or any true Oxy fan will fade into the night . . .

What will happen is that we'll be come fans of the winner of the round 1 Oxy game, be it the Tigers, 'Rats or whomever, much like our Linfield friends are now 'Rat fans.  From there we'll support whoever reps the West as far as they'll go.  Once the playoff run is over, we'll migrate to the hoops board until next year when we'll be back in full force.

I'll stop going "on and on about Occidental" when I'm dead an buried, and not a day before.

Oh yea, one more thing . . . Oxy down 30-14 tonight and then comes back to win 34-30 . . . down 21-0 to Cal Lu and comes back to win 28-27.  It's called character.  Never count the Tigers out while there's time on the clock.

IO TRIUMPHE!

tooth

Tooth,

I don't think we'll ever shut up...too much love for our 'Cats like you have for your Tigers.

I noticed that Oxy has come back twice in the 2nd half but the Rats are not Kingsmen or Poets...have fun in Spokane.  Weather doesn't look too bad right now but 40 degrees is 40 degrees.

(509)...enjoy your run.  Rats have earned it but it ends after this year.  Rats defense is going to be very solid next year but you're going to have zero offense.  I fully expect Linfield to regain the right to rep the NWC in 2007 with all of our key skill players back.

For now....my hat is in the Rats ring during their post season run.  Limit Collins and it's off to the second round.  Oxy will have no answer for Allen and for Clark's legs.

[light n' darkness]

doc:

just got home from the uh game. they are looking good. if they beat the tide and broncos i might say they are really good.
too bad for the beavers. oh well

as for the weather its hot and humid.
i don't surf, but i guess its the same old hawaii waves....


go cats

[hatchetman75]

UPS came right at us today.  When they took a 21-14 lead, they had a real chance.  But the defense adjusted and the Loggers did not get much going after that.

Mike Allan deserves a lot of credit.  It would've been easy for him to get caught up in the Hula Hoopla, but he was clearly focused on what needed to get done today.  His first TD showed what makes him great.  At his size, he just outsprinted the UPS DBs.

Yeah, big props to the big tight end. He pretty much carried the entire game on his shoulders...200+ receiving yards? Yikes. Something's wonky when the first play goes 69 yards for a TD to the 6'7" tight end....it's not like anyone should miss him.

And I was fairly excited in the first half....I really just think the Logger coaching staff needs to work on half-time adjustments....there's really no reason the 2nd half should always be so flat for the Loggers. From the consistency of it occuring, I just don't feel like its the kids anymore. But, I wasn't there so I could never tell.

An exciting game today at the Pine Bowl.  UPS came out firing on all cylinders and the Pirate D came out flat.  The Pirate offense finally threw to Allan out of his three point stance at the tight end position and look what happened.  Heck, the Pirate offense finally started to throw to Allan period.  UPS was a better team than last year and that QB (freshman right?) is gonna be a force in that offense for years to come.  I'm glad UPS's program is on the upswing, it's good for the conference, but I do see a problem...I don't mean to bash UPS but this is something thats become more and more appearent to me the more I see UPS play...UPS will never win the NWC untill they run a more balanced offense.  If you were watching the game today, you knew that after UPS's first series after being down a couple of scores that there was no way they were going to be able to come back and win.  What is the coaches reasoning behind running a wing T type offense anyways?  Do any of the UPS posters know the logic behind this?  If you really want to run 80% of the time you could at least run a Rich Rodriguez like spread option attack, to keep defenses out of the box.  Enough of my ranting.  Congrats UPS on a good season.  Linfield will be back, its a given when you have 120+ guys in your program.  GO RATS, beat Oxy and nobody will have to listen to OxyBob and Tooth go on and on about Occidental.

P.S.-I hope you weren't involved Hatchetman, but several of the UPS fans were the rudest people I've ever heard at a football game.  They acted like a student section with obsenities flying left and right.  Luckily there weren't too many kids in that general area.

The way the UPS offense is designed, it's always been meant to be played as a 65 - 35 game. However, thats never been the case for whatever reason. Coach Willenbrock calls it the West Coast Wing T, and there's supposed to be alot of short drop dump passes, but it just never works out. I think the offense has just needed a real solid QB, and I think they will have it in the next couple years with Williams. The kid is a tremendous athlete, and he will certainly be the captain of the team for the next few years.

And I wasn't involved with the heckling. Yesterday's game was an interesting one, as I know there were many families and outside students attending the game to watch family/friends. Several of them were from bigger D-I schools, where that sort of thing is more commonplace.

However, UPS fans are notorious for raising hell, as anyone who's attended a Puget Sound basketball game should know. They're unruly, loud, and truly take the opponent out of the game. But, they have their own section in B-ball, and I'd hate to have my child around some of that nonsense. Anyway, I hope that didn't put a smear on the game for you, and I hear it was a great day for football.

[hatchetman75]

Just for the record...Rory got his records yesterday.

101 yards on the ground, broke the single season and career rushing marks.

Congratulations RL.

[RedandPurple]

Congratulations to tightend #88 (Ackerman) of the Wildcats. He scored his first touchdown during the Lewis and Clark game. Way to go kid!

[Tuxguy]

Less than an hour and we get to see the Cats fate.
Prejudice as I am, I believe The Cats are much better then many of the teams that will get in. But that's the way things go sometimes. 

   8)    Enjoyed a day with Tux Jr. and cawcdad yesterday, and it was good to get a shut out. My the "D" has played well this year, very "Salty" as GHC would say.
It was good to see the young players get into the game yesterday and show some of what they can do. The smiles on the starters came towards the end of the game as they enjoyed watching the Next generation of Wildcats on the field.As the game was closing in on the finish, the disappointment of possibly not playing next week started to show on many faces........
I'm proud to be  part of the Wildcat Nation!!

Pat keeps bringing up the 3rd loss, but it really doesn't count. At least to the committee. But it is a loss. 9 games doesn't help either, but when we can't get Schools to return phone Calls what are we suppose to do?
At a cost of approx. $35,000 to send the team to a place like Stevens Point, it kind of eats up a budget fairly quickly. Some one have the answer? Does Phil Knight have a son?

Good luck to the Pirates, and represent the NWC well.

Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, just wanted to thank Pat for letting me play in his Sand Box, called D3.com. this season     I'll try not to throw sand in other kids face's. Really!       one last time...................................BELIEVE

[Wildcat'64]

Congrats to the Rats......Do the NWC proud and go deep into the playoffs!

The Cat Nation will be rooting for you as you won the title fair and square and ran the board....now the real fun begins!

[coco]

Cawcdad,

Safe travels back home. It's good that you got to see both your daughter's accomplishments and a 'Cat game.

[(509)Rat]

Rats defense is going to be very solid next year but you're going to have zero offense

All we need is 85 appearently.

I think the offense has just needed a real solid QB, and I think they will have it in the next couple years with Williams. The kid is a tremendous athlete, and he will certainly be the captain of the team for the next few years.

I know he's a freshman but he made a lot of mistakes throwing the ball.  If he can learn to make wiser decisions when putting the ball in the air then he will be a good QB.


[quoteHowever, UPS fans are notorious for raising hell, as anyone who's attended a Puget Sound basketball game should know. They're unruly, loud, and truly take the opponent out of the game. But, they have their own section in B-ball, and I'd hate to have my child around some of that nonsense. Anyway, I hope that didn't put a smear on the game for you, and I hear it was a great day for football.[/quote]
I believe that it isn't all that bad for that type of language to be present at a sporting event, but it should remain in the designated student section.  That way parents can keep their children out of earshot and the event can be enjoyable for everyone.  The problem on saturday was that these weren't students and they weren't in any type of designated area.  Didn't ruin my day, it was a great day for football and my RATS won.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

. . .  it was a great day for football and my RATS won.

This, from the same dedicated fan who wrote: 

"The problem is that we have no football tradition at whitworth other than what we've started in the 21st century (other than that 1960 team).  I have no ties with the players from yester year and for you guys to slam me for how bad Whitworth was when I didn't attend is pointless."

So my question 509, is this, who's 'Rats are they when they don't win? And you're not attending now are you?

Or is your attitude changing?

tooth

[(509)Rat]

So my question 509, is this, who's 'Rats are they when they don't win? And you're not attending now are you?

Or is your attitude changing?

My attitude isn't changing.  In earlier posts, SCIAC posters made personal attacks based on Whitworth's lack of a winning tradition back in the 70's, 80's, 90's.  I was a part of the teams that began turning Whitworth around and still have many close friends on this current Whitworth team.  Whitworth as a school has been been great for me and my business, probably preparing me better for life both educationally and spiritually than just about every other college in the pacific northwest.  I am a fan when they put up more of a fight against linfield than your beloved tigers.  I am a fan when they lose a heartbreaker to willamette ensuring they wont make the playofs.  I am a fan when they lose to PLU after beating them earlier in the season.  And I will still be a fan if they lose in the second, third, or championship round (lets be honest, a first round loss to Oxy doesn't look like its gonna happen).  Sorry Tooth I wasn't around during your day...prohibition must have been brutal.  But everyone, me included, is getting tired of you and Oxybob's "look at how wise we are in our old age" posts.  Pull your head out for a second and enjoy the run Oxy has made this year becasue come Saturday you're gonna be spending a lot more time on the basketball boards.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

"Sorry Tooth I wasn't around during your day...prohibition must have been brutal."

Not so bad, I love 'shine, running boards, flappers and once we got Hoover out of office, everything started to turn around.

"But everyone, me included, is getting tired of you and Oxybob's "look at how wise we are in our old age" posts."

Oh dear, I guess I'll stop posting now.

"Pull your head out for a second."

OK, but just for a second.

"and enjoy the run Oxy has made this year"

I've enjoyed Oxy football for many years, and will for many years to come.  Granted, these past three years have been particularly enjoyable. 

"Because come Saturday you're gonna be spending a lot more time on the basketball boards."

Well, yes, that's what happens with baskeball season starts. 

Nevertheless, as with the past two years' playoffs, I'll become a fan of the winner of the NWC/SCIAC matchup for as long as that winner goes . . . hopefully that will be my Tigers as you make it awfully hard to imagine rooting for the Pirates.

tooth

[cawcdad]

Thanks coco. We are now back home in CA.

I have just caught up on all the posts. WOW! Congrats Rats on an undefested season and represent the NWC well.

I'm headed out the door to pick up the pics of the game. They should be up in a couple of hours.

[Catville Commissioner Elect]

Less than an hour and we get to see the Cats fate.
Prejudice as I am, I believe The Cats are much better then many of the teams that will get in. But that's the way things go sometimes. 

   8)    Enjoyed a day with Tux Jr. and cawcdad yesterday, and it was good to get a shut out. My the "D" has played well this year, very "Salty" as GHC would say.
It was good to see the young players get into the game yesterday and show some of what they can do. The smiles on the starters came towards the end of the game as they enjoyed watching the Next generation of Wildcats on the field.As the game was closing in on the finish, the disappointment of possibly not playing next week started to show on many faces........
I'm proud to be  part of the Wildcat Nation!!

Pat keeps bringing up the 3rd loss, but it really doesn't count. At least to the committee. But it is a loss. 9 games doesn't help either, but when we can't get Schools to return phone Calls what are we suppose to do?
At a cost of approx. $35,000 to send the team to a place like Stevens Point, it kind of eats up a budget fairly quickly. Some one have the answer? Does Phil Knight have a son?

Good luck to the Pirates, and represent the NWC well.

Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, just wanted to thank Pat for letting me play in his Sand Box, called D3.com. this season     I'll try not to throw sand in other kids face's. Really!       one last time...................................BELIEVE

Congrats to the Rats......Do the NWC proud and go deep into the playoffs!

The Cat Nation will be rooting for you as you won the title fair and square and ran the board....now the real fun begins!

Go Pirates,  If it is not the Cats, most of us Linfield posters wish Whitworth the best of luck and keep the tradition of the NWC going.  It is great you are  hosting Oxy in the playoffs.  I think that is a real advantage playing in the Pine Bowl especially if the weather turns bad.

Overall, I really find the D3 playoffs in a major need of overhaul.  Just one man's opinion, but when I looked at the final brackets this morning it became very obvious to me that at least half of the best teams in the nation are going to be eliminated after next week.  We can all talk about the pool A, pool B, and pool C pros and cons, but it is definately not setup to make sure the Stagg Bowl gets the best teams in the nation to the final.

1.  Due to the different pool berths, automatic qualifiers, etc.   We will have a 32 team play off where three of the four brackets (Mt Union, Wiles, and Wesley) will have teams with a combined 32 losses with 3 teams having 3 losses and 6 teams having 2 losses.  

2.  Are out of division games suppose to count - well really no, but we all know they do.

3.  Is strength of schedule really helpful in determining the play off teams.  Maybe the seedings, but definately not the playoff teams.

In all reality I firmly  believe that is it better for the Whitworths, Linfields, Occidentals, to not schedule DII teams and definately not schedule the better ranked DIII teams because it  will end up coming back to haunt you.

Am I upset the Linfield did not get into the playoffs, yes and no.  no because they controlled their own destiny and couldn't get the job done against Whitworth.  Yes, because Linfield lost early in the season to a 500 DII school and lost to two top 10 DIII schools.  I would like to think that those three losses  against excellant caliber teams should have gotten them in when three other teams with 3 losses got in with a fairly weak schedule and the majory of the 6 teams with two losses only played marginally good opponents.

And I thought the BCS was BAD!

[Ralph Turner]

Less than an hour and we get to see the Cats fate.
Prejudice as I am, I believe The Cats are much better then many of the teams that will get in. But that's the way things go sometimes. 

   8)    Enjoyed a day with Tux Jr. and cawcdad yesterday, and it was good to get a shut out. My the "D" has played well this year, very "Salty" as GHC would say.
It was good to see the young players get into the game yesterday and show some of what they can do. The smiles on the starters came towards the end of the game as they enjoyed watching the Next generation of Wildcats on the field.As the game was closing in on the finish, the disappointment of possibly not playing next week started to show on many faces........
I'm proud to be  part of the Wildcat Nation!!

Pat keeps bringing up the 3rd loss, but it really doesn't count. At least to the committee. But it is a loss. 9 games doesn't help either, but when we can't get Schools to return phone Calls what are we suppose to do?
At a cost of approx. $35,000 to send the team to a place like Stevens Point, it kind of eats up a budget fairly quickly. Some one have the answer? Does Phil Knight have a son?

Good luck to the Pirates, and represent the NWC well.

Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, just wanted to thank Pat for letting me play in his Sand Box, called D3.com. this season     I'll try not to throw sand in other kids face's. Really!       one last time...................................BELIEVE

Congrats to the Rats......Do the NWC proud and go deep into the playoffs!

The Cat Nation will be rooting for you as you won the title fair and square and ran the board....now the real fun begins!

Go Pirates,  If it is not the Cats, most of us Linfield posters wish Whitworth the best of luck and keep the tradition of the NWC going.  It is great you are  hosting Oxy in the playoffs.  I think that is a real advantage playing in the Pine Bowl especially if the weather turns bad.

Overall, I really find the D3 playoffs in a major need of overhaul.  Just one man's opinion, but when I looked at the final brackets this morning it became very obvious to me that at least half of the best teams in the nation are going to be eliminated after next week.  We can all talk about the pool A, pool B, and pool C pros and cons, but it is definately not setup to make sure the Stagg Bowl gets the best teams in the nation to the final.

1.  Due to the different pool berths, automatic qualifiers, etc.   We will have a 32 team play off where three of the four brackets (Mt Union, Wiles, and Wesley) will have teams with a combined 32 losses with 3 teams having 3 losses and 6 teams having 2 losses.  

2.  Are out of division games suppose to count - well really no, but we all know they do.

3.  Is strength of schedule really helpful in determining the play off teams.  Maybe the seedings, but definately not the playoff teams.

In all reality I firmly  believe that is it better for the Whitworths, Linfields, Occidentals, to not schedule DII teams and definately not schedule the better ranked DIII teams because it  will end up coming back to haunt you.

Am I upset the Linfield did not get into the playoffs, yes and no.  no because they controlled their own destiny and couldn't get the job done against Whitworth.  Yes, because Linfield lost early in the season to a 500 DII school and lost to two top 10 DIII schools.  I would like to think that those three losses  against excellant caliber teams should have gotten them in when three other teams with 3 losses got in with a fairly weak schedule and the majory of the 6 teams with two losses only played marginally good opponents.

And I thought the BCS was BAD!

topcat, here are the rules by which I request you suggest an alternative.

#1 The NCAA Competition Committee outlines all of the rules by which each sports champion is determined.  The rules shall be as consistent across all sports as possible.

#2 Does a Conference Champion of an official conference deserve a Playoff (Pool A) bid? If yes, that is one of the rules.  (Millsaps loses its first 3 [South Region/ non-conference] games, then runs the SCAC table, 6-0,  to earn the conference's Pool A bid. ) If not, then apply it to all sports, men and women.  Be careful about your answer, because the Northwest Conference is a Pool A football conference in 2008.

Linfield's road loss at Hardin-Simmons was worth 7 points towards the QOWI.  Had you defeated HSU, it would have been worth 15 points!  Your home win over Willamette was only worth 8 points in the QOWI.  A home loss to Willamette would have been worth only 2 points on the QOWI (Willamette thus having an in-region record of 3-5).  If you had defeated Hardin-Simmons, a South Ranked team, you would have had a West Region record of 6-1 and a QOWI worth 10.571, good for 17th and 3rd best among Pool B teams!  The win against HSU was to be your fallback position to get a B if you lost to Whitworth.  I think that the strategy was a good one and the Linfield braintrust should be commended!

I saw the Linfield-HSU game.  Linfield just did not have it this year.  We understand the geographic isolation.  You see #2 UMHB hosting #3 HSU in the first round.  I hope that the NWC can get at least 1-2 more teams to play football so you can have a decent D3 schedule.

Good luck to Linfield, and I am sure the HSU-Linfield rematch will be a great game.