FB: Northwest Conference

[D O.C.]

No comment.

Got in some waves this AM and now out to Palm Springs for some charity work on the reservations.

                                                   

[Gray Fox]

Stunned...really stunned.  It a real slap in the face to the entire NWC that the Rats were left out in the cold.  I'm telling you that if Whitworth would have won that APU game they would be in the dance.  Good year Rats and I am sorry that your group of seniors are getting done like this.  It's crap.  Thankfully we don't have to worry about this next season.

Also the Dawgs were hosed by having to go out to SJU.  It should be the other way around.  BTW...I think this match up is very good for Redlands.  The Dawgs defense is going to cause major issues for the SJU offense.  That is going to be a fun one to follow. 

RFB, thanks for saying the SCIAC is ducking Linfield.  I already know what we won't be seeing any SCIAC schools in the near feature but I think we might have found a d3 to play non-conference but my lips are sealed.

Good post.

I hope you can unseal your lips when all the playoff chaos dies down.

[Foss]

You're right, WC11. A total slap in the face to the entire NWC. I really feel bad for Whitworth. The Pirate offense wasn't spectacular, but that defense would have kept them in any game and made things interesting. They made it through the NWC undefeated. Undefeated! There were several teams with 2 D3 losses selected over them. What a shame.

[Wildcat'64]

How does this new ranking/rating system work or is it just for show?  If it's the real thing for the future, guess the Cats better drop some of the tough DII and NAIA opponents and schedule some "pattsies" from the East.....then we can have 2 losses and still make the playoffs whether we are conference champ or not.

[Foss]

I should clarify my above post by saying there were several Pool C teams with two D3 losses selected over Whitworth.

[downtown48]

Selling like
HOT CAKES over in Spokane right now!

[Foss]

/\/\/\ Perfect summary.

By the way,  Whitworth's slight was the only team the D3 crew got wrong in their predictions. Pat & Co. thought they were in, too.

[pineconefan]

Keith McMillen wrote this on the front page blog:

"Earlier in the week, the committee's preference for teams who have played strong schedules (including in strong conferences) was emphasized."

I guess the committee doesn't consider the NWC a strong conference, despite two national titles and an 18-10 record since 1998...

[Airborne Dutch]

Checking in from the IIAC board. I moved to Washington in 2000, went to Mead, and played with and against several current and former Pirates (I graduated in 2002 with Cam Collings) and then moved back to Iowa to go to Central. Tough luck about missing the playoffs. I would have liked to have seen a CUI-Whitworth matchup. When's the last time the NWC didn't have someone in the playoffs?

[pineconefan]

"When's the last time the NWC didn't have someone in the playoffs?"

According to today's Whitworth release about the snub, never.  The NWC joined the NCAA in 1998.

[DustySJU]

Also the Dawgs were hosed by having to go out to SJU.  It should be the other way around.  BTW...I think this match up is very good for Redlands.  The Dawgs defense is going to cause major issues for the SJU offense.  That is going to be a fun one to follow. 

Wildcat; If the Johnnies conduct themselves offensively as they did yesterday on the road to Bethel, you certainly are solidly positioned in your assessment.

For the second year in a row the Johnnies lost to a Bethel team that completely dominated the time of possesion.  It was a no contest yesterday in the second half.  A mere 18 plays for the Js.

Coupled with an SJU defense that had difficulty holding Bethel on downs you were left with a 3 point Bethel victory with under a minute left.

Generally speaking the Johnnies have been a far superior team at home offensively.  If the Bulldogs play an enthused and inspired game they can win next Saturday.

As simple as it sounds if St. John's is intent on winning they will.

Please monitor www.JohnnieFootball.com for Johnnie Tailgate information.  Anybody can come.   

[downtown48]

With the exception of the Whitworth snubbing, I actually like the brackets.  The best teams should have the easiest road the regional and national semi-finals.  The west knows all about this in recent years with all the best teams, with the exception of Mount, being in the West.  At least they don't have to pick eachother off in the first two rounds now. 

My concern is that this probably will not be the trend...i think it just worked out for the NCAA on the $$$$ side of things this year...

[coco]

I'm speechless. This is crap. What are those guys thinking?

This has to be a total letdown for the Pirate seniors, who thought they were going to the playoffs. They deserved to.

So now the entire west coast will be behind Redlands, who gave the Johns fits last time and almost pulled off a win.

GO 'DAWGS!

[bluenote]

Pat....what is the reasoning behind UWEC going ahead of Whitworth? There has to be some type of explanation.....if you could find that out we would all be greatfull. This might mean that if Linfield would have beat Whitworth...they may not have gone either so I guess we all have a special interest in knowing what happened and the basis for the snub.

They both had 2 overall losses but Whitworth had 1 DIII loss where as UWEC had 2 DIII losses....what were the deciding factors??? It would seem that same division win/loss % would be primary criteria?

[Pirate Pride]

dt48,

thankyou for giving me some comic relief on what otherwise has become a very depressing day.