FB: Northwest Conference

[MonroviaCat]

I would imagine playing one team twice could have implications on play-off bids (e.g. both team win-out in conference games but both lose to each other once).  Not to mention, doesn't playing a team twice seem like a really weak way to add a 10th game?  Perhaps Principia would like to get their butts kicked by Linifield as well  

[speedybigboy]

I would imagine playing one team twice could have implications on play-off bids (e.g. both team win-out in conference games but both lose to each other once).  Not to mention, doesn't playing a team twice seem like a really weak way to add a 10th game?  Perhaps Principia would like to get their butts kicked by Linifield as well  

I agree it's weak or at least not ideal but look at this year.  Given the way your guys played the first half (speedybigboy/plu jinx not included) wouldn't it have helped if you'd already had one game under your belt.  Also the conference has an auto bid and the format would designate one of the games as non-conference, so therefore if one of the teams won the conference the loss wouldn't hurt them.  If the other team won out and won the non-conference match up would it help their playoff rating?  or would the selection committee looks askance at that victory.

[Bearcat Press]

So . . . I was bumped off the football beat for this week only to cover the resignation of Willamette's baseball coach.  I wrote and filed a football story anyway, but it's not going to get published.  So here, exclusively for the folks on this board, is BearcatPress's look at this week in Willamette football.

WOO, DEFENSE PUSH BEARCATS PAST CLU

Tim Walsh
The Collegian

After stumbling to a 7-3 halftime deficit, the Willamette Bearcats came out with a vengeance, scoring 28 second-half points to roll past the California Lutheran Kingsmen 31-17 and open with consecutive victories for the first time since Willamette's last conference title in 1999.

Senior flanker Merben Woo paced Willamette offensive attack with 116 yards rushing and sophomore safety Arlin Taylor had the Willamette's second defensive touchdown of the season on an 18 yard interception return.  Taylor's score capped off 55 seconds when the Bearcats scored two touchdowns off two CLU turnovers turning that 7-3 deficit into a 17-7 lead.

"Everybody kind of exhaled," said Willamette head coach Mark Speckman afterwards.  "In the first half, guys were getting frustrated and trying too hard.  We'd had a couple of opportunities to blow the game open but we didn't make the plays."

The scoring outburst began when CLU took over the ball at their own 23 yard line following a 44 yard punt from standout freshman kicker Mitchell Rowan.  On the first play from scrimmage, junior linebacker Matt Banta sacked Kingsmen quarterback Jerricho Toilolo and forced a fumble that was recovered by senior linebacker Tommy Grove.  The very next play, Woo scampered in from 18 yards out for the go-ahead touchdown.  One play later, Taylor found himself in perfect position when a Toilolo pass bounced off the chest of a CLU wide receiver right to Taylor, who raced in for the score.

The Bearcat defense was lights out for the second week in a row, forcing five turnovers and holding CLU to only 90 yards of offense after halftime, including a ludicrous -3 yards in the third quarter.  In addition to Grove and Taylor, Speckman was impressed by freshman cornerback Blaze Rogers and senior defensive end Marcus Ford.

Meanwhile, Willamette's offense fired on all cylinders after the break, with the final margin coming courtesy of a short Deon Horne run and a 60 yard sweep by Woo.  "Merben makes everybody look smarter when he runs like that," Speckman said.  "But our whole offensive line had a great day."  A trio of seniors: tackle Jake Forshey, tight end Josh Lee, and fullback Cody Anthony, all drew Speckman's praise.

But the schedule only gets tougher for the Bearcats, who host an old rival this Saturday: the Southern Oregon Raiders.  Like Willamette, SOU is a former member of the NAIA Columbia Football Association.  Unlike Willamette, SOU is still in the NAIA.

"It's a huge difference," says Speckman.  "They give scholarships, we don't.  They're not in school, we are.  They've played more games than we have, they've had more practice than us, and athletically, they're one of the best – if not the best – teams we'll face all year."

Last year, the Raiders escaped Salem with a 34-27 win over the Bearcats.  The key this time, says Speckman, is "being smart.  We have to try and make them one-dimensional."

"But if we keep getting the ball back, we're going to keep winning games."

Notes: QB Ryan Whitcomb is getting a second opinion on his knee this week.  "We'll see if he can play at all this season.  If not, we'll evaluate the options."  Around the NWC, defending champion Whitworth squeaked by La Verne 22-13, PLU was shut out at St. Olaf 17-0, Menlo and Lewis & Clark were pummeled by Chapman (31-6) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (41-17) respectively, and Linfield fell at Hardin-Simmons 29-22.

[coco]

Thanks, BearcatPress.

[wildcat11]

Nice work BPress.  Enjoying your contribution so far.

In regards to Whitcomb...I hope he really thinks about the long term effects of playing on a bad knee.  Yes, when you're 20-22 years old and football is what you've been working on for so long it can cloud your decision  but I hope he can think about his health down the road.

On the other hand...Linfield's Kelley Bertrand tore his ACL in the first game of 2004, rehabbed his knee, and wound up with the game clinching sack in the Stagg Bowl......

[bluenote]

On the other hand...Linfield's Kelley Bertrand tore his ACL in the first game of 2004, rehabbed his knee, and wound up with the game clinching sack in the Stagg Bowl......

....those were the good old days! 

[D O.C.]

I'd like to mourn some more and then (try to) move on.

From the Catdomealumni.com  blog
http://catdomealumni.blogspot.com/

the brutal loss of our starting quarterback shakes me because of the potential energy, I suppose

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080911/SPORTS/709119839

I have sympathy galore for AB and hope he can come back. Right now he must readjust to life and classes.

[MonroviaCat]

Any word on the extent of the Cats injuries from last week?  I know 11 wanted the school to release info so I guess what I'm asking is:  Has anybody heard from Linfield what the official report on those two injuries are?

[Browneagle64]

browneagle64

how o bout a quick Oxy report and what its like at night the "rock"  What size crowd, turf, etc etc?

MenloDad,
Quick report about the Rock,: Weather permitting, you shouldn't have a problem with the view. Lighting to the field shouldn't be a problem (after filming constant movies or commericals by local Hollywood companies, these companies actually leave the lighting in better conditions.
The size of the the crowd can vary. Depending if you're sitting at the homecrowd side, it can be full. The opponent side though can be empty or never full.
As for the turf, well, its recently brand new as well.

Quick places or recommendations to eat : Casa Bianca for really good Pizza, Pasta and wine (located on North East of Oxy on Colorado blvd. Thanks for the catching that mistake D.O.C). This is a family establishment.
Or you can grab dinner in Old Town Pasadena, which is only 7 to 10 minutes away from Oxy. You might encounter usual saturday afternoon crowds or traffic (due to the UCLA game) so just be sure to be patient on parking.
Hope you have a good drive or flight down here.   

[MonroviaCat]

Oh this would have been fun....  Under the headings of What if and Scheduling:

I noticed that UW-WhiteWater is playing UW-EauClaire twice this year.  Now just imagine if.....

Instead of them doubling up against their own conferene opponent, they had played at the CatDome on the 13th, then the Cats Traveled to Abeline on the 20th (HSU and Linfield are both open this weekend).   Not only would we have our ten games, but we'd play two top notch programs out of the gates....

Just another bye-week day dream for you all to ponder......

[menlodaddio13]

Thanks my friend pasadena sounds fun hope to see you there..check out the empty Menlo side!

browneagle64

how o bout a quick Oxy report and what its like at night the "rock"  What size crowd, turf, etc etc?

MenloDad,
Quick report about the Rock,: Weather permitting, you shouldn't have a problem with the view. Lighting to the field shouldn't be a problem (after filming constant movies or commericals by local Hollywood companies, these companies actually leave the lighting in better conditions.
The size of the the crowd can vary. Depending if you're sitting at the homecrowd side, it can be full. The opponent side though can be empty or never full.
As for the turf, well, its recently brand new as well.

Quick places or recommendations to eat : Casa Bianca for really good Pizza, Pasta and wine (located on North East of Oxy on Colorado Street). This is a family establishment.
Or you can grab dinner in Old Town Pasadena, which is only 7 to 10 minutes away from Oxy. You might encounter usual saturday afternoon crowds or traffic (due to the UCLA game) so just be sure to be patient on parking.
Hope you have a good drive or flight down here.   

[bluenote]

Oh this would have been fun....  Under the headings of What if and Scheduling:

I noticed that UW-WhiteWater is playing UW-EauClaire twice this year.  Now just imagine if.....

Instead of them doubling up against their own conferene opponent, they had played at the CatDome on the 13th, then the Cats Traveled to Abeline on the 20th (HSU and Linfield are both open this weekend).   Not only would we have our ten games, but we'd play two top notch programs out of the gates....

Just another bye-week day dream for you all to ponder......

Sounds like a great idea to me...very creative! Can we hire you to do the ground work?

[Ralph Turner]

Question for discussion that's been on my mind for a bit.  What do you guys thing of playing a team twice in the same season to get that 10th game, ala Whitewater and Eau Claire.

PROs?
Cons?

Is there any advantage at all? keeping sharp? getting a game under your belt? 

Would it have helped PLU or Linfield this year had they played on the 6th?

I like the idea. I think a game on the 6th before we went to HSU would have been benificial in a lot of ways. Perhaps playing a team like PLU or Willamette 2 times during the season would be great. However we seem to be the only team that has trouble scheduling DIII teams.

L&C 9 Games - 9 of 9 DIII
PLU 9 Games - 9 of 9 DIII
UPS 9 Games - 9 of 9 DIII
Whi 9 Games - 9 of 9 DIII
Men 10 Games - 10 of 10 DIII
Wil 10 Games - 9 of 10 DIII
Lin 9 Games - 7 of 9 DIII

Pat....some of us are beer guzzlers around here....we're not all winos! 

Yeah, three to five years removed from "The Streak" and Linfield comes back to the pack...

You would fill the schedule more easily then.   

What is the news:

1) on Pacific and football, and
2) Albertson and (a) football, (b) moving to the NCAA?

[bluenote]

Yeah, three to five years removed from "The Streak" and Linfield comes back to the pack...

You would fill the schedule more easily then.   

....ain't gonna happen! 

THE STREAK!

[D O.C.]

Ralph...I would think that more gutsy teams would want to come on board and be a part of the package the ended THE  STREAK.