FB: Northwest Conference

[AllmyfriendsRpirates]

Spirit, I think you're going to get roasted on this one, I don't think it's time to start calling for Joe's job...yet.  And I don't think you're quite accurate with Locey either.  When Brett came to town Locey was coming off four straight conference titles and had only lost two conference games in four seasons...

Locey didn't make the playoffs until the 5th season.  Now that being said, what I do find alarming is the absolute lack of fundamentals.  The turnovers have gone from kind of a flukey, one season deal, to a trend;  we are now known for turning the football over.  Locey's non-playoff teams didn't turn it over 18 times in three games and they won games instead of losing them on special teams.  The fact that they don't do the basics well makes me nervous.         

I posted in a bit of haste, but downtown made my pts for me. The early Locey teams were great, but not champions. These Smith teams are lazy and inept.

I do not care if I am roasted because I am right. Smith needs to get gone and anyone who denies it needs to put down the purple kool-aid. Turnovers, dumb plays, losing to rivals we routinely beat-down. When will it stop??? Not until Smith is gone.

I apalogize to Coach Locey- he could motivate. Joseph? Not sure.

*Argue*Bicker*Slander*Finger-pointing* Beware Kitties! Sounds like Linfield will begin to burn from inside out!

[bluenote]

Not sure if any of those teams will fall below Willamette. I wonder if Willamette would still beat SOU if it had to travel halfway across the country to do so. Just thinking out loud, though. There are plenty of ballots on which Willamette was behind some of the other teams that lost today, so there are points to be won.

That's why your beloved MUC never travels that far....?

[BearcatFan]

...I wonder if Willamette would still beat SOU if it had to travel halfway across the country to do so. Just thinking out loud, though. There are plenty of ballots on which Willamette was behind some of the other teams that lost today, so there are points to be won.

That's good to hear...

Next season could be indicative of how well the Bearcats plays on the long road, as WU travels to Concordia-Moorhead. I'm just glad it's an early game in the schedule - Minnesota can be damn cold in Late-October, Early-November! 
The corn should be as high as an elephant's eye when the Bearcats next meet the Cobbers.

[wildcat82]

Wow.....what a game.  I can't remember when a Linfield team got beat like that?  I would have to agree with some of the earlier observations.  This team, as was the case in 2006 and 2007, just does not seem to be mentally sharp on game day.  For the third straight year, the Cat's can't win the big game and continue to make stupid, mental mistakes that cost them games?  It has gone past the point of just being fluky bad luck.  Other observations include, clock management was insane, especially in the 3rd and 4th quarters when we are using almost the entire 40 sec clock to get a play in and ran?  What is with the new punt formation.  Super wide stance which allows at least 5-6 defensive players to attack the second level untouched?  We are lucky this is the first blocked punt of the year.  Team speed?  Is Willamette winning the recruiting wars?  They appeared to have tons more team speed than we did?  Did the cats ever throw on first down?  Any screens?  Reverses?  One attempt to the tight end?

I can still remember Rutchman's very effective remedy for mistakes in a ball game.........................................240's.  Coach's might want to give that a try?

Another frustrating year.  Lets hope the staff and players can end on a good note and go 7-2 and beat Western!  

[Pat Coleman]

Not sure if any of those teams will fall below Willamette. I wonder if Willamette would still beat SOU if it had to travel halfway across the country to do so. Just thinking out loud, though. There are plenty of ballots on which Willamette was behind some of the other teams that lost today, so there are points to be won.

That's why your beloved MUC never travels that far....?

St. Louis, Danville VA, Whitewater WI, next year Rochester, N.Y.

Yeah. Mount Union doesn't travel. Think before you post.

[downtown48]

*Argue*Bicker*Slander*Finger-pointing* Beware Kitties! Sounds like Linfield will begin to burn from inside out!

I'm pretty sure we've handled a couple of "down" years in the last 53...Most years your rats are thrilled with 6 wins!   

[usski]

Here we go, another Johnny come-lately poster. I know the Linfield guys' own this board, but as a father of a freshman player for Willamette, I would like to make a comment or two and ask a couple of questions.
First: the score of the game is very deceiving. The game could have been won by Linfield if the breaks in the second or third quarter had gone differently. However, Lindfield's secondary never looked back to see where the hell the ball was. That is a coaching issue.
Second: Willamette's tackles did a great job on the Linfield D-ends. The pocket would close on the back side and Willamette's QB would step up out of trouble. Linfield's strength was nullified by great O-Line play by Willamette.
Question: Are one of you Lindfield posters "Baldy"? If so, why would you antagonize a bunch of smart ass students?

[speedybigboy]

Not sure if any of those teams will fall below Willamette. I wonder if Willamette would still beat SOU if it had to travel halfway across the country to do so. Just thinking out loud, though. There are plenty of ballots on which Willamette was behind some of the other teams that lost today, so there are points to be won.

That's why your beloved MUC never travels that far....?

St. Louis, Danville VA, Whitewater WI, next year Rochester, N.Y.

Yeah. Mount Union doesn't travel. Think before you post.

With all due respect I think the point is they don't travel very FAR.  Of course that depends on the definition of FAR.  I mean Alliance, OH. to Pittsford/Rochester N.Y. or Danville, Va. are just everyday conference trips in the Northwest.  Whitewater and St. Louis are a little longer but barely significantly so.

[Bearcat Press]

After the game, I had to go play piano for a fundraiser at my old high school and only got back home about half an hour ago.  Before I go to bed, I just want to thank all of you folks at Linfield for helping create a tremendous atmosphere today.  Easily the most fun I've ever had at a college football game.  You guys are a classy team and a classy program with classy fans, and I hope you know you're all welcome at McCulloch any time, especially if we host a playoff game or two.  Just let me know you're coming!

As for the game, all I can say is "Wow."  The last couple of weeks, we've just kicked into a gear that we hasn't been seen since 1997.

Miscellaneous thoughts: SOU?!   Oh, and it's way, way, way too early to talk about firing Joe Smith.  Willamette was 6-13 the last two years.

[speedybigboy]

Not sure if any of those teams will fall below Willamette. I wonder if Willamette would still beat SOU if it had to travel halfway across the country to do so. Just thinking out loud, though. There are plenty of ballots on which Willamette was behind some of the other teams that lost today, so there are points to be won.

Pat, I think that this is exactly the situation that shows the fallacy of polls.  Teams don't jump or fall as much as they possibly should and are locked in high or low based on where they start the year and past years performance of their team.  Thankfully d3 has playoffs and Willamette has control of their own destiny.  Really shows why the D1 BCS is really just........B.S.

[George Thompson]

                                                NEWSFLASH!!
                     George shows up and crawls out on a limb!

Hi D.O.C.,

Yes, I have purposely kept quiet.     My comments have never meant to be negative.    They are intended to be an objective analysis of Linfield and never to be rude about our opponents.     Yet, they obviously offend some Wildcat faithful.

[George Thompson]

Honestly, the best the cats can hope for is 6-3....again. This is not a 6-3 team, and this is not a .666 program. In order to stop this bad bleeding and to restore the glory, the answer is obvious. Joseph Smith, as good as a company guy as he is, must be fired. Locey had a bad patch and then was saved by a once-in-a-lifetime transfer. I doubt the next Brett Elliot is stewing on a D1 bench, just waiting to come to Mac. I know that Coach Smith has friends and even relatives on this board, but that should make no difference. The play calling is awful, the special teams are mind-boggling, and the mystique is quickly becoming tarnished. Save the program and fire Joe Smith. This is a job that many more capable men would kill for, I can think of a few off hand. Things are stale- 55-28 at home should prove that. For the love of Linfield football,  this slide into utter mediocrity must be stopped. Joe Smith is the pied piper. Will we all follow him?

Wildcat 64,

With all due respect to you, I can not totally agree.    Coach Locey had great teams in 2000, 2002 and 2003, before BE arrived.     Our 2006, 2007 and 2008 teams would have been soundly beaten by those Locey teams.

This Willamette offense would have been a challenge for any Linfield team this decade.    Our defenses have not been strong this decade.

I will have more comments on yesterday soon.

[George Thompson]

Spirit, I think you're going to get roasted on this one, I don't think it's time to start calling for Joe's job...yet.  I don't think you're quite accurate with Locey either.  When Brett came to town Locey was coming off four straight conference titles and had only lost two conference games in four seasons...

Locey didn't make the playoffs until the 5th season.  Now that being said, what I do find alarming is the absolute lack of fundamentals.  The turnovers have gone from kind of a flukey, one season deal, to a trend;  we are now known for turning the football over.  Locey's non-playoff teams didn't turn it over 18 times in three games and they won games instead of losing them on special teams.  The fact that they don't do the basics well makes me nervous.         

Downtown,

You are right on the mark.    Very good.

George

[wildcat11]

Yes it was very disappointing yesterday at the 'Catdome but Willamette was the better team yesterday and that sucks to write.  They killed us in special teams and in the big play yesterday and those were two of the biggest items that I was concerned about.

In terms of Spirits rants about Coach Smith...I shouldn't have to fire back at him because they are so idiotic.  Coach Smith has been a winner all his life.  He help lead Linfield to a NAIA title game as a player in 1992, as a defensive coordinator he was the guy with the game plan that kept Mary-Hardin Baylor at bay to help Linfield win a National Title in 2004, his staff is filled with winners and people of excellent character and I'm behind them 100%.  It's brutal that I even have to have to defend him on this board.

I understand that Linfield fans are pissed.  We expect more that 6-3 and are understandably not happy with it but I'm just glad that these board were around when Locey first took over the program.  People probably would have been calling for his head in 1999 when PLU came to the Catdome and laid a 56-23 beatdown of the 'Cats.

sidenote...Willamette students as a whole were supportive of their team...however there were a number of individual WU students who were a-holes to Linfield fans (adults).  I guess they're not use to winning and showed a total lack of class.

[George Thompson]

Congratulations Willamette.    You are the real deal.    A true Stagg Bowl contender.

How often does a team score 50+ on Linfield?    Only the 2nd time since 1933.    PLU did it in 1999 and won the Stagg Bowl.    Willamette could do it also.     They are that good!    Go all the way, Bearcats!

They have, by far, the best NWC offense since those Linfield juggernauts of 2002-2005.     Consider that for 46 minutes, Linfield outplayed and outscored WU.    But in only the last 5 minutes of the 1st quarter and the last 8+ minutes of the 4th quarter, the Bearcats scored 42 points.   Six TDs in about 14 minutes.    An extremely fast and potent offense.    VERY impressive.

Time of possession:   LC 38 min., WU 21
Total yards: LC 459, WU 428.

Yet, Linfield loses  - BIG!     LC gave up far too many big plays and committed crucial turnovers.    3 LC penalties gave the potent WU offense first downs and more opportunities.
     
LC averaged an impressive 4.8 yards per rush; but, WU averaged 9.6 yards.
LC averaged 11.6 yards per completion; WU averaged an incredible 26.7 yards.
LC was out-coached and out-played.

Prediction:   Willamette will be in the Stagg Bowl.

This year, LC will finish 6-3 again and go nowhere past Nov. 15.    Here is why:

•   This Wildcat offense has strong running; yet, their offensive scheme has little or no surprises.    Opponents know immediately if it is run or a pass; if it is a run they know where the LC runner is going.   By contrast, WU's offense is extremely deceptive.

•   During this decade, the defense has been porous.     They look strong against weak or average offenses.    But, they leak badly against good offenses.

   Since 2001, they have lost once to Wisconsin - Whitewater and  twice to Saint John's, Western Oregon, Hardin-Simmons and to Willamette.    These losses can be attributed to the defense not being able to stop the other team's offense.

   Even in wins, the defense often gives up big points: 23 to Redlands, 20 to Wartburg, 32 to Whitworth, 21 to Occidental, among others.

•   Linfield still has far too many turnovers and penalties.     Year after year this has become a big problem.   

Yes, the next two years do look promising.    But, the Wildcats need to correct the above problems to be a national power again.

Again, congratulations to the Bearcats.    You deserve to be proud.