FB: Northwest Conference

[D O.C.]

This is the tell-all year to find the direction NWC is headed, UNLESS, Pacific and Albertson change the face of the conference in the next decade.

For LINFIELD the 7 games Division III schedule (again) just blows bubbles as far as national stature. (Again) Stature has to proven on the field, as it should be, and the team needs to win the conference (no ties) and then toughen up in the playoffs.
We have all been here before.

[Wildcat'64]

Anyone know how the Wildcat Open came off on Friday?  Sell out again this year???  Those golfers love their Cats!

[(509)Rat]

Here's another question...If Whitworth/Linfield has only one loss and it is to the other (meaning one is undefeated and the other has one loss), does the NWC once again get two playoff berths?  I would think unless something really weird happens this year, like all of the pool C bids are eaten up by top tier teams not winning their own conference, that we will see two NWC teams in the tourney (of course thats if the aforementioned situation actually happens).

[pineconefan]

Rat,

I am pretty sure that this is the NWC's final year as a pool B conference.  After this second year with Menlo as a football-only member, the league will start getting an automatic bid for the champion.

BUT, historically I think its been easier for the NWC to get two Pool B's (out of four), than it is to try and get one of the C's.  We'll find out for sure as things play out.

[pennstlbu]

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

Kavin Williams

I agree that Kavin will have a bigger year, but losing Rory I think might improve UPS' offense in a lot of ways. This year's offense should be their most potent in some time. There's still the Paul/Olcott combo at TB. Blum will much bigger role in the offense as a receiver and HB. Kavin should be a better QB in his second year as a starter. And from what I've heard from UPS, watch out for Soph. Morgan Anthony to step in for Lee and bring another weapon to the offense. I also believe there's 4 of the 5 O-Line starters back for the fall.

It's not the offense I'd be worried about at UPS. They lose a lot on defense and are breaking in a new DC. It should be interesting to see how the defense plays this season.

[(509)Rat]

Thanks for the info pennstlbu.  I don't know much about the personnel UPS has waiting in the wings so your post provided some good insight.  My answer was only based off of what I saw last year from UPS.  Williams should have improved over the off-season, but with his ability (or lack there of) to throw the football, I doubt the TE's will be a factor.  I mean, when is the last time UPS's passing game has been a factor?

[criswyly]

Forget the summer...I'm ready for it to reign Cats!

[criswyly]

Forget the summer...I'm ready for it to reign Cats!

[Gig Harbor Cat]

UPS also just picked up a D1 transfer from UW that played here at Gig Harbor.  Speed guy, db corner.

[cawcdad]

(509)Rat, the big TE at Menlo was a senior last year. I do not know of anyboby waiting in the wings. Unless Menlo can establish a running game, the Qb Parker will be it. The stud D-lineman from Menlo was also a senior.

[(509)Rat]

Thanks for correcting me cawcdad...for some reason I had it in my head that the TE was a pup (fr. or so.)  Guess I should have checked the roster before my post...oops.

[wildcat11]

Linfield Sports just released the 'Cats preview

Lofty Goals Spur 2007 Wildcats

[(509)Rat]

Here's Whitworth's Season Preview...

Whitworth Readies for Run at Repeat in 2007

[steveflegel]

And the 2007 NWC Coaches poll is out, along with the 2007 Composite NWC schedule.

http://www.nwcsports.com/sports/football/

Enjoy your end-of-summer reading NWC fans!

[wildcat11]

And the 2007 NWC Coaches poll is out, along with the 2007 Composite NWC schedule.

http://www.nwcsports.com/sports/football/

Enjoy your end-of-summer reading NWC fans!

Thanks Steve and thanks for the double duty running the NWCsports site. 

Thoughts: 

--It's great to see the 'Cats get that sort of respect in the NWC but it's still Whitworth's crown to give up.  My belief is the coaches just don't believe the replacements for Clark and Allan will be enough to fend of Linfield two years in a row.  I would love to see the coaches' ballots.

--Also I'm surprised to see Willamette in the four slot ahead of UPS.  At this point it does seem that UPS is passing Willamette up in terms of talent.  That's not a reflection of Speckman but more of a reflection of restraints the Bearcat administration is putting on the admission process.

--PLU does have some players on both sides of the ball but they are on the road for both Whitworth and Linfield.  I think 3rd is very reasonable.

---Does anybody like Menlo to make any noise?