FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OxyBob]

Playoff capsules are on the front page, good overview, Oxy remains an underdog.

PC asked me to write the team capsule. I think he wanted me to write just a few lines, 25 words more or less if you will, but I sort of overdid it and he took his editor's red pencil to it. Here's the rest of it:

The Tigers have a balanced attack on offense. They averaged 236.6 yards per game rushing and 229.0 yards per game passing. You'll know the Tigers are playing well when they are mixing it up. Oxy has a seasoned offensive line which opens big holes for running backs Jason Haller and Brian Fiorito, who ran for 12 and 11 TDs respectively. Senior QB Justin Goltz is experienced and versatile. He rushed for 598 yards and 7 TDs, and threw for 1,832 yards and 11 TDs. Goltz has 5 primary receiving targets -- Chris Washington, Jason Lehman, Jordan Washington, Trevor Deussen, and Jordan Inabnit -- and when Oxy's going good the defense can't key on any of them. Oxy's offensive line only allowed 8 sacks all season, far and away the best in the SCIAC. On defense Oxy has a "bend but don't break" philosophy. Opponents were able to move the ball between the 20s, but Oxy was pretty darn good in the red zone, only allowing scores 60% of the time (12-for-20). Oxy did not allow a field goal the entire season. The Tigers were tough against the run, and only allowed 81.2 yards per game. Oxy also has a tremendous weapon in punter Alex Groh, who not only can punt for distance but is an artist at pinning opponents back near their goal line. Groh averaged 43.1 yards per punt, but more importantly dropped 15 punts inside the 20, many of which were inside the 10.

Oxy plays a high risk-high reward style on defense. They bring a lot of pressure and blitz from all angles. The Tigers led the SCIAC in sacks. But Oxy's high pressure style sometimes gives opponents some opportunities downfield. You'll know the Tigers are playing poorly when Oxy's defensive line can't pressure the QB and opponents are able to move the ball through the air. Oxy allowed a whopping 226.4 passing yards per game, and gave up some long gainers. The Oxy secondary only had 7 interceptions all season.

The Tigers prepare for the game.
At the Bearcats they take steady aim.
Will they win o'er Willamette?
Yes, indeed they will, damn it!
Io Triumphe! you heard me proclaim.

OxyBob

[BearcatFan]

By Jerry Crowe in today's L.A. Times:

While President-elect Barack Obama stumps for an eight-team playoff in major college football, his old school, Occidental, opens play in the 32-team NCAA Division III playoffs Saturday against Willamette at Salem, Ore. . . .

A cheer heard Saturday at Oxy, where the Tigers wrapped up their third unbeaten regular season in four years with a homecoming rout of Whittier: "We've got Barack/You've got Dick/Oxy, Oxy, Oxy/Block that kick!" . . .

The references, of course, were to Obama and former President Richard M. Nixon, Whittier College Class of 1934. . . .

And Whittier calls itself the Poets?

Funny! 

Maybe the Oxy faithful can come up with a cheer including Willamette Alumni, Senator Mark Hatfield for this weekend!

[scandihoovian]

Here is an important addition to OB's capsule...

On defense Oxy has a "bend but don't break" philosophy. Opponents were able to move the ball between the 20s, but Oxy was pretty darn good in the red zone, only allowing scores 60% of the time (12-for-20). Oxy did not allow a field goal the entire season. EDIT: The Tigers are so powerful in this regard, that they are capable of summoning a torrential downpour, if need be, to stifle their opponent's kicking game.  The Tigers were tough against the run, and only allowed 81.2 yards per game. Oxy also has a tremendous weapon in punter Alex Groh, who not only can punt for distance but is an artist at pinning opponents back near their goal line. Groh averaged 43.1 yards per punt, but more importantly dropped 15 punts inside the 20, many of which were inside the 10.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Lono and Hinakluiau are both friends to the Oxy community!

[OxyBob]

Lono and Hinakluiau are both friends to the Oxy community!

On Saturday Oxy should be summoning the divine help of Ra.

Oh, see Ra!

O C Rah!

OxyBob

[snoop dawg]

Good Luck to Oxy this weekend.  You  have a great program and tradition.  I would love to see you have the home game you so rightly deserved. 

Io whatever!

[Bearcat Press]

Playoff capsules are on the front page, good overview, Oxy remains an underdog.

PC asked me to write the team capsule. I think he wanted me to write just a few lines, 25 words more or less if you will, but I sort of overdid it and he took his editor's red pencil to it. Here's the rest of it:

The Tigers have a balanced attack on offense. They averaged 236.6 yards per game rushing and 229.0 yards per game passing. You'll know the Tigers are playing well when they are mixing it up. Oxy has a seasoned offensive line which opens big holes for running backs Jason Haller and Brian Fiorito, who ran for 12 and 11 TDs respectively. Senior QB Justin Goltz is experienced and versatile. He rushed for 598 yards and 7 TDs, and threw for 1,832 yards and 11 TDs. Goltz has 5 primary receiving targets -- Chris Washington, Jason Lehman, Jordan Washington, Trevor Deussen, and Jordan Inabnit -- and when Oxy's going good the defense can't key on any of them. Oxy's offensive line only allowed 8 sacks all season, far and away the best in the SCIAC. On defense Oxy has a "bend but don't break" philosophy. Opponents were able to move the ball between the 20s, but Oxy was pretty darn good in the red zone, only allowing scores 60% of the time (12-for-20). Oxy did not allow a field goal the entire season. The Tigers were tough against the run, and only allowed 81.2 yards per game. Oxy also has a tremendous weapon in punter Alex Groh, who not only can punt for distance but is an artist at pinning opponents back near their goal line. Groh averaged 43.1 yards per punt, but more importantly dropped 15 punts inside the 20, many of which were inside the 10.

Oxy plays a high risk-high reward style on defense. They bring a lot of pressure and blitz from all angles. The Tigers led the SCIAC in sacks. But Oxy's high pressure style sometimes gives opponents some opportunities downfield. You'll know the Tigers are playing poorly when Oxy's defensive line can't pressure the QB and opponents are able to move the ball through the air. Oxy allowed a whopping 226.4 passing yards per game, and gave up some long gainers. The Oxy secondary only had 7 interceptions all season.

I, in turn, was asked to give some insight on the Bearcats, to which the editor's pen was also applied.  All the same, I can't really complain with Pat's edits, since the Bearcats' success this year boils down to three things:

1.) Winning the turnover battle.  Right now Willamette's +13 in turnover ratio.
2.) Not giving up the big play, especially the big pass play.  Willamette has been burned over the top exactly twice this year, both against Puget Sound.  Which if you've seen UPS, was really, really weird.
3.) Getting at least one big play per game on special teams.

Is it Saturday yet?!

[D O.C.]

So.....PC asked you two to write a couple sentences and you blew hard?
BCP will be inviting OB to sit in the press box Saturday, non?

[Bearcat Press]

So.....PC asked you two to write a couple sentences and you blew hard?
BCP will be inviting OB to sit in the press box Saturday, non?

Traditionally, I sit in the student section at home.  As much as I'd welcome OB there, I'm not sure the rest of the Bearcat Bench would.

[D O.C.]

Oh go ahead. It's the PLAYOFFS!

[bbaddict]

So.....PC asked you two to write a couple sentences and you blew hard?
BCP will be inviting OB to sit in the press box Saturday, non?

You have to climb a million stairs and cross this creepy catwalk to get to the pressbox.  Student section definitely a safer bet!

[OxyBob]

So.....PC asked you two to write a couple sentences and you blew hard?
BCP will be inviting OB to sit in the press box Saturday, non?

Traditionally, I sit in the student section at home.  As much as I'd welcome OB there, I'm not sure the rest of the Bearcat Bench would.

Me vs. the Bearcat Bench is like a blue whale vs. krill.

OxyBob

[MonroviaCat]

So.....PC asked you two to write a couple sentences and you blew hard?
BCP will be inviting OB to sit in the press box Saturday, non?

Traditionally, I sit in the student section at home.  As much as I'd welcome OB there, I'm not sure the rest of the Bearcat Bench would.

Me vs. the Bearcat Bench is like a blue whale vs. krill.

OxyBob

You vs. just about any group seems to be that way.....

[wildcat11]

So.....PC asked you two to write a couple sentences and you blew hard?
BCP will be inviting OB to sit in the press box Saturday, non?

Traditionally, I sit in the student section at home.  As much as I'd welcome OB there, I'm not sure the rest of the Bearcat Bench would.

Me vs. the Bearcat Bench is like a blue whale vs. krill.

OxyBob

Be warned Bob...the Willamette student body isn't afraid to tell "mature" fans from the other team to go screw themselves or call them life long losers because they didn't attend Willamette.  

BTW...be sure to tell all the Oxy players to make sure their valuables are locked up nice and tight when they leave the locker room. 

[BearcatFan]

So.....PC asked you two to write a couple sentences and you blew hard?
BCP will be inviting OB to sit in the press box Saturday, non?

You have to climb a million stairs and cross this creepy catwalk to get to the pressbox.  Student section definitely a safer bet!

The catwalk isn't that creepy unless you really get creeped out over spider webs. It's completely fenced in so no chance of falling off, which kinda takes the thrill out of the trip, IMHO!