FB: Northwest Conference

[speedybigboy]

I believe that as of last year we had no tie breaker formula.  I'm hoping the AD's instituted something since we now have an auto bid.

[bluenote]

...The only silver lining is that we now know Willamette is not head and shoulders above the conference...

Here are the  2008 NWC Standings
                        Conf.       All
                         W-L       W-L
Willamette          1-0          5-0
Linfield             1-0             2-1
Pacific Lutheran    1-0       1-2
Puget Sound        0-0       2-1
Whitworth         0-1        2-2
Lewis and Clark     0-1           1-3
Menlo                    0-1           1-4

Your comment doesn't make sense. Until some other team beats them the Bearcats are "head and shoulders"  above the conference. At the least, they are above Whitworth, Lewis and Clark, and Menlo in conference play.

Nice work Redand Purple.....Willamette won't get beat until they come to the CatDome. Our defense will stuff them and then we'll score 9 points!    9-0 'Cats!  

[DutchFan2004]

...The only silver lining is that we now know Willamette is not head and shoulders above the conference...

Here are the  2008 NWC Standings
                        Conf.       All
                         W-L       W-L
Willamette          1-0          5-0
Linfield             1-0             2-1
Pacific Lutheran    1-0       1-2
Puget Sound        0-0       2-1
Whitworth         0-1        2-2
Lewis and Clark     0-1           1-3
Menlo                    0-1           1-4

Your comment doesn't make sense. Until some other team beats them the Bearcats are "head and shoulders"  above the conference. At the least, they are above Whitworth, Lewis and Clark, and Menlo in conference play.

Nice work Redand Purple.....Willamette won't get beat until they come to the CatDome. Our defense will stuff them and then we'll score 9 points!    9-0 'Cats!  

Unelss they get a kick return and a punt return for TD's.  Then your d pitches a shut out and still loses.   

[wildcat11]

It doesn't need to be said but Linfield's defense is very legit but our offense needs to get healthy ASAP. 

[pineconefan]

Impressions from today's Willamette - Whitworth game.

Talent-wise, I don't think Willamette is that much better than they've been in recent years.  They are executing much better, both offensively and defensively.  Their turnover margin is outstanding (+9).

For the Pirates, just not enough to sustain a good start.  The Whitworth defense did a good job limiting the fly sweep, but Willamette wore down the Pirates in the middle.  Offensively I think the Bucs did what they could with limited resources.  No game breaker at receiver and a QB that isn't very fast (run threat).

Tough two weeks for the Bucs, but I am sure they will come out battling hard next week.

[(509)Rat]

Here are the  2008 NWC Standings
                        Conf.       All
                         W-L       W-L
Willamette          1-0          5-0
Linfield             1-0             2-1
Pacific Lutheran    1-0       1-2
Puget Sound        0-0       2-1
Whitworth         0-1        2-2
Lewis and Clark     0-1           1-3
Menlo                    0-1           1-4

Your comment doesn't make sense. Until some other team beats them the Bearcats are "head and shoulders"  above the conference. At the least, they are above Whitworth, Lewis and Clark, and Menlo in conference play.

Thanks for twisting my post to make an argument Ms. Palin.  In the context of the post "head and shoulders" implied that they aren't as talented as the 5-0 record and 23 national ranking would indicate.  This is no 2004 Linfield team nor is it the 2005 Linfield team.  Those teams were head and shoulders talent wise above the rest of the conference and much of the nation. 

Being a Pirate fan I will point out that Linfield's toughest games both of those seasons came from Whitworth.  I will qualify that last statement, for R&P, so that the record shows it excludes the national title game and the loss to Whitewater in each season respectively. 

Anyways, I don't think this Willamette team could have beaten the last two Whitworth teams (06 and 07).  They are executing their offense and defense very well, but are very beatable.  The Redlands team that beat Whitworth would beat Willamette (although now with Selway out it would be a closer game). All I'm saying is that I was not impressed with the Bearcats (nor the Bucs for that matter) just like the Cat fans were not impressed with Linfield's "Auburn-esque" offense.  Maybe you should call Tony Franklin and get your money back.

[bluenote]

Talent-wise, I don't think Willamette is that much better than they've been in recent years. 

I beg to differ.... I've seen them play and their talent level is better. They beat Concordia-Moorehead very handily. And C-M beat SJU along with Bethel who was ranked like #4 in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll! And SJU was like #3 at one point this year!

And don't forget these POWERHOUSES!!!!!

Muhlenberg   
Wheaton (Ill.)   
Wabash   
North Central (Ill.)   
UW-Eau Claire   
St. John Fisher   
Washington and Jefferson   
Wesley   
Millsaps   
Case Western Reserve   
Cortland State   
Delaware Valley   
Salisbury

[GrizzTheLogger]

So hopefully the Linfield fans can help me figure out what to think of the Oaks.  Part of me is happy that they weren't able to score any runs but then I get worried that if Menlo was able to hold Linfield to just 9 points, is their defense good?  Any insight on how you think the Loggers might do next week at Menlo?

BTW, being the new guy, I thought I'd chip in and do the homework

The team receiving the NCAA  AQ will  be determined  by the  following 
procedure: 
1. Best Conference Record 
2. If two­way tie – Head to Head Result 
3. If three­way tie – Head to Head among three, 2­0 advances 
4. If three­way tie without 2­0 record – record vs. 4 th  place team 
5. If still three­way tie – Over all Record 
6. If still three­way tie – Last team to go receives  AQ 

[bluenote]

So hopefully the Linfield fans can help me figure out what to think of the Oaks.  Part of me is happy that they weren't able to score any runs but then I get worried that if Menlo was able to hold Linfield to just 9 points, is their defense good?  

I couldn't really tell. We didn't do much on offense but I'm not a football expert. Maybe some of the other Football Menza's can shed some light on it.....

[Pat Coleman]

In the context of the post "head and shoulders" implied that they aren't as talented as the 5-0 record and 23 national ranking would indicate.  This is no 2004 Linfield team nor is it the 2005 Linfield team. 

Neither was ever ranked as low as No. 23.

[Pat Coleman]

And C-M beat SJU along with Bethel who was ranked like #4 in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll! And SJU was like #3 at one point this year!

Was, was, was, was was, was was. No more. Neither will be in the Top 25 next week.

[Wildcat'64]

CAT TRIVIA:  I like the looks of the CATS for the future.  Of the 57 Cats who participated in today's game, 14 were freshmen...1 freshman Offensive starter and 2 freshmen Defensive Starters  12 were sophomores..4 sophomores Offensive Starters and 2  sophomore Defensive Starters.

With 5 of the 11 Offensive Starters being Freshmen or Sophomores that could shed a little light on the lack of offensive firepower at this point in the season.

Lots of young very talented student/athletes on the field....just need a few games under their belt to be able to show their stuff.

Unfortunately they don't have much time, with the Rats coming to town with a "must win" game in front of them.

[(509)Rat]

Fine Pat, take my 06 and 07 Whitworth examples, both of whom were unranked during part of the season.

[speedybigboy]

So hopefully the Linfield fans can help me figure out what to think of the Oaks.  Part of me is happy that they weren't able to score any runs but then I get worried that if Menlo was able to hold Linfield to just 9 points, is their defense good?  Any insight on how you think the Loggers might do next week at Menlo?

BTW, being the new guy, I thought I'd chip in and do the homework

The team receiving the NCAA  AQ will  be determined  by the  following 
procedure: 
1. Best Conference Record 
2. If two­way tie – Head to Head Result 
3. If three­way tie – Head to Head among three, 2­0 advances 
4. If three­way tie without 2­0 record – record vs. 4 th  place team 
5. If still three­way tie – Over all Record 
6. If still three­way tie – Last team to go receives  AQ 

Good work Griz, I shall assume you got it from a reliable source.  I see problems with it already...

1.& 2. DUH!
3. Makes sense but I find it unlikely to happen
4. Interesting, never seen this method used, I think it's highly unlikely to ever be a factor though.
5. Bad idea, Encourages teams to schedule bad non conference games.  Also, 9-1 is better than 8-1 so penalizes a team for not being able to schedule as many games.  Not sure the solution but in general I'd go for the conference AQ being determinded ONLY by conference games in some fashion.
6. , I assume this is to mean like the PAC 10 rule, the team that has had the longest "drought" goes?  Cause the way it's worded looks to be just the opposite.

Another question, If any of the breakers eliminates ONE team do you go back to the top and start over on the list with the two way tie, i.e. Head to Head?

[speedybigboy]

So hopefully the Linfield fans can help me figure out what to think of the Oaks.  Part of me is happy that they weren't able to score any runs but then I get worried that if Menlo was able to hold Linfield to just 9 points, is their defense good?  

I couldn't really tell. We didn't do much on offense but I'm not a football expert. Maybe some of the other Football MenzSa's can shed some light on it.....

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