FB: Northwest Conference

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Yea, I know the spot, I can almost see it if I stand on the roof of my single wide

GO CATS

[wildcat11]

No offensive preview today fellas... 

My Dell crashed on Saturday when I tried to turn it on.  Thankfully I have about 95% of my work on my external hard drive but it may be a week or two before I'm back up and running. 

[D O.C.]

Heavens!!
OK, 'CATS, you know the drill. Everybody throw twenty in the spitoon and we get WC11 down to Fry's for that new machine ASAP.  8)

[pineconefan]

I would expect the coaches' poll to be out sometime soon.  Anyone want to predict what the predictions will look like?  Any chance Linfield wont be at the top for the first time in a decade?  Probably not, in spite of last year.

Here's my guess at how it will look:
1.  Linfield
2. Whitworth
3. PLU
4. UPS
5. Willamette
6. Menlo
7. L&C

[d-train]

I don't know. I could see several coaches giving the nod to Whitworth just out of respect for last year's win in McMinnville...but we'll see. It's clearly those two and I think you have spots 3-7 about right as well.

I would expect the coaches' poll to be out sometime soon.  Anyone want to predict what the predictions will look like?  Any chance Linfield wont be at the top for the first time in a decade?  Probably not, in spite of last year.

Here's my guess at how it will look:
1.  Linfield
2. Whitworth
3. PLU
4. UPS
5. Willamette
6. Menlo
7. L&C

[downtown48]

"Probably not, in spite of last year."

Any coach who saw or heard of the beating the Whitworth juggernaut put on Linfield last year knows the tales of that game belong with the likes of this famous magician... 

You can also find a recap of their 2007 season here...   

[coco]

coco:

Will the Rockie Mountain passes be clear of snow in mid-November so you and Mrs. Coco can head over the continnental divide and take in the Central/Wartburg clash?  The winner probably gets to come out west over Thanksgiving weekend and be treated to some old fashion Linfield hospitality.

Warty,

As much as I'd like to see your Knights and the Dutch collide, I think it's your turn to come out here again. Your fans await.

[criswyly]

I was warned about buying a Dell.

[(509)Rat]

Any coach who saw or heard of the beating the Whitworth juggernaut put on Linfield last year knows the tales of that game belong with the likes of this famous magician... 

You can also find a recap of their 2007 season here...   

I'm pretty sure this write-up of the Whitworth v. Linfield game was put out by the Linfield's SID...it does a pretty good job of describing the play of the Wildcats on that particular Saturday 

[Toivo70]

Ah the good natured bantering has definitely begun....I'm thinking official SID releases by the end of this week?  Juggernaut or not that day.....a win is a win...

[downtown48]

Toivo, Indeed...a win is a win...can't argue with that!  8)

509...I'd say that was accurate for the last three games...19 turnovers!  Hopefully they took that and learned from it...it cost them a playoff spot.   

 

[Toivo70]

Downtown,

  Yep...turnovers are like leadoff walks in baseball, it usually ends up as bad news for the offending team.

[speedybigboy]

Alaska Wild receiver and Linfield alum Thomas Ford Jr. was chosen to play in the Intense Football League All-Star game to take place in Corpus Christi, Texas on Aug. 14th. 

All stars from the other 7 teams in the league play against the Corpus Christi Hammerheads.

[wildcat11]

I was warned about buying a Dell.

Yeah..they're sending me a new hard drive on Thursday.  I just hope the local Mac geeks can salvage anything off the burnt drive.  I had a sweet little project I was about 80% done but that is probably long gone.

In terms of coach's poll....I can see it being a split vote with either Linfield or the Rats getting the nod. 

My initial thoughts/questions on the year:

PLU: Is this the year that Frosty Jr. starts to move the program back to PLU type standards?

Willamette:  WU's admissions and president seems to keep devaluing athletics.  Is it possible that L&C could one day admit better athletes than the Bearcats?

UPS: Who is the guy UPS will turn to in order to fill the stat sheet?

Menlo: bad but dangerous?

L&C: Looks to have brought in some kids that can play but will they be any better?

Rats:  Big holes with Clark and Allan gone but defense should carry until new offensive pieces start to click.  Season points to Nov. 5th.

Linfield:  Should have all the offensive firepower but can the inexperienced interior on both sides of the ball hold up during the first two games the year?  If so, it could be another year of the 'Cat.

[(509)Rat]

I think Linfield will continue to be the coach's favorite untill someone pulls in a monster tranfser in a key position like QB or RB, or until someone beats them consistently for a few years.  With well over 100 guys trying out for the team every year, Linfield literally has the most talent top to bottom every year.  With that being said I'm just going to put some of my thoughts into 11's last post...

PLU: Is this the year that Frosty Jr. starts to move the program back to PLU type standards?

PLU standards means first place in the conference or a national playoff berth at the least...He's got plenty of work still to do before he meets those standards

Willamette:  WU's admissions and president seems to keep devaluing athletics.  Is it possible that L&C could one day admit better athletes than the Bearcats?

I haven't heard as much about Willamette's changes to admissions but it sounds like LC is off to a good start with a good sized and talented recruiting class...the bearkittens better be watching their tails.

UPS: Who is the guy UPS will turn to in order to fill the stat sheet?

Kavin Williams

Menlo: bad but dangerous?

Could have a scary good offense if their line can give Gregg Parker time to throw (or run, since thats what he prefers to do).  They have a big tight end and some fast skill players as well. I don't know who they return along the defensive line, but they gave the rest of the NWC fits at times last season.

L&C: Looks to have brought in some kids that can play but will they be any better?

May beat a non-conference opponent, but I'd say it's another 0-6 in the NWC

Rats:  Big holes with Clark and Allan gone but defense should carry until new offensive pieces start to click.  Season points to Nov. 5th.

If Whitworth can get the QB situation figured out they'll be allright...can't wait for the Conference Championship game on the 5th

Linfield:  Should have all the offensive firepower but can the inexperienced interior on both sides of the ball hold up during the first two games the year?  If so, it could be another year of the 'Cat.

I'm sure Linfield will find a few guys out of the 120 they have to choose from that will fill those holes...but at least WC11 was attempting to be modest