FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[CRZK]

Well, I made my predictions earlier this week and still stand by them.  Obviously out on a limb on the LaVerne/Cal Lu game. 

ECS:  I think the intensity comment on Oxy D is uninformed but that is ok.  If there is a question mark it would be in the secondary, good kids but might not have the size to take them deep in the playoffs.

Look at the CC stat sheet for the year.  Their QB is for real and his two primary receivers are 6-4 and 6-5.  Pretty good targets for a kid who can throw the ball accurately and move around.  CC will have a good year finally.  Now to the Stags, answer this for me.  What happened to their offense at UPS?  If it was a down game OK, but getting shut out should raise questions.  Step out and make a prediction.  Don't take that wrong but why not?

As far as pool C bid for Cal Lu don't think that is in the cards.  Two wins against NWC teams will help but don't think it is enough.  The however will be their performance in the SCIAC.  IMHO an upset against LaVerne puts them out, if they run the table and stay close against Oxy then an outside chance.  Any other combination has them stay home during postseason.

[EastCoastStag]

BrEagle.
Well you already have the academics on Mount. Heck, you could cut back on those quite a bit and still have that on them.

CZ: I make the comment based on experiences as player turned spectator. Seeing it from the field, then film, then stands. It is in my own eyes, based on my own experiences, and based on what I've seen this year in limited opportunities. Doesn't mean it will or won't be come end of the year.
As for UPS, I viewed that as a down game. For many reasons. Won't discuss all as it is not board appropriate material. But there is a tendency for travel games to be a letdown. Down game with some mis-execution at key moments. Same problem as last year. What will or will not raise questions for me this year is their performance at Oxy.
As for predictions, still too close to playing days and revert to that mode of thinking where everygame is winable and unless played to full potential by all 22+ guys, every game can be lost as well. Catch me in a year or two and maybe I'll make numerical predictions. Best you'll get from me at the moment is a prediction of a W or L depending on opponent.
I say pool C for CLU based on their close call last year and my assumption/prediction that they keep it close to Oxy. Oxy wins that game by no more than 10 and no less than 3. Although I would be estatic to see CLU win. In that case I would think maybe Oxy would get a pool C bid based on past performance. As I said before, hoping all games are a slugfest, save CMS PP where I will be happy with nothing less than a complete pillaging of PP. Being less than 100 yards away from PP for an entire year, it is the one rivalry that continues to haunt.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Finally, do i foresee Oxy becoming a Mount-esque program? Yes, i do. But it's going to take time and a one year and one game at a time approach. With positive things coming out of academics and athletics at the rock i am confident that we will reach such level.  

With all due respect, that's not going to happen.  I love all things Oxy, but let's be real and smell some coffee.  Oxy is enjoying a great run w/ an extraordinary athlete at the helm w/ Andy Collins.  The leadership of the college wants athletic programs that are successful and provide great opportunities to student athletes.  But "Mount" like?  [I presume you're referring to Mt. Union College?] . . . I don't think so.

Oxy's priority is to continue to grow as a premier academic small national liberal arts college.  It wants to improve its physical facilities and grow the endowment.  It wants to provide more study abroad opportunities.  It wants to continue to provide great educational opportunities to underserved populations.  The leadership of the college has numerous goals.  And while it would be great to field a national championship team, that is not a substantive goal of the college leadership.  The college wants to be be competitive in the SCIAC, anything beyond that is icing on the cake.

Oxy will never be like Mt. Union.  Indeed, in my opinion, it will never focus on athletics the way that Linfield or Redlands do.  Oxy's self identified peer institutions include Pomona, Claremont, Whitman, Swarthmore, Reed, Macalaster, Colorado College and other similar small national liberal arts colleges.  Those are the institutions with which Oxy identifies, with whom it competes, and against which it takes measure.

tooth  

[Browneagle64]

Tooth--- What i meant was that 1 day I "hope that" the athletics such as football meets the same level like that of Mount-union esque. Clearly we got the edge on academic wise, but we are starting to grow even more on the football level. That's all i was trying to say  

Believe me, As much as Coach W stressed about academics throughout my 4 years at Oxy, there's no doubt that academics will ever be overlooked. We have to much pride in our academics to let that happen.

[CRZK]

ECS:  Fair enough.

I did want to weigh in on Oxy's future and "Mount" like.

I tend to agree with Tooth.  However, cannot success breed success?  What I mean by that is that as more athletes come to Oxy for the great education I see more of the kids on the roster page listing football as a reason to come to Oxy.  Can't help but think that attitude might "trickle up" to the adminstration.  Kinda a reverse economics  

While I don't think Oxy will become a Union, another year of success and might Oxy begin to cast the net wider and want to become equal to NWC and become one of two west coast powers?  I believe Linfield and Whitworth, et al will always be strong.  That might be a more reasonable and achievable goal.  Of course the adminstration will want to make that happen (as well as the student body).

Another random thought.  What does the future hold for Widolf?  Still going strong after 2 decades at the helm.  Does he go on to become the Joe Paterno of D3 or after a quarter century or so decide to hang up the cleats?

[Sabretooth Tiger]

My 2 cents is that Coach Widolff will coach at Oxy for as long as he chooses . . . my guess is that he retires from Oxy . . . when will that be?  No idea, but I personally hope that we have at least another decade or so w/ him.  I'd probably use Gagliardi as the exemplar rather than Paterno . . . except for that "no hitting" at practice philosophy . . . I don't think that's been adopted yet . . . then again, I may be too far out of the loop . . .

youngsters care to comment? 

And CRZK . . . as to the question posed, "cannot success breed success?"  Absolutely . . . and I think that Oxy's recent record has a huge impact on the recruiting class . . . better and bigger . . . and I think Oxy can be a successful program for years to come provided all of the necessary ingredients remain in place (administrative and trustee support, good staffing, resources, etc.) . . . I just thought the Mount Union comparison was a bit out there . . . hell, I'd be happy for a record like Linfield's 50 years of winning seasons. (6 down, 44 to go!)   

[labart96]

Finally, do i foresee Oxy becoming a Mount-esque program? Yes, i do. But it's going to take time and a one year and one game at a time approach. With positive things coming out of academics and athletics at the rock i am confident that we will reach such level.  

With all due respect, that's not going to happen.  I love all things Oxy, but let's be real and smell some coffee.  Oxy is enjoying a great run w/ an extraordinary athlete at the helm w/ Andy Collins.  The leadership of the college wants athletic programs that are successful and provide great opportunities to student athletes.  But "Mount" like?  [I presume you're referring to Mt. Union College?] . . . I don't think so.

Oxy's priority is to continue to grow as a premier academic small national liberal arts college.  It wants to improve its physical facilities and grow the endowment.  It wants to provide more study abroad opportunities.  It wants to continue to provide great educational opportunities to underserved populations.  The leadership of the college has numerous goals.  And while it would be great to field a national championship team, that is not a substantive goal of the college leadership.  The college wants to be be competitive in the SCIAC, anything beyond that is icing on the cake.

Oxy will never be like Mt. Union.  Indeed, in my opinion, it will never focus on athletics the way that Linfield or Redlands do.  Oxy's self identified peer institutions include Pomona, Claremont, Whitman, Swarthmore, Reed, Macalaster, Colorado College and other similar small national liberal arts colleges.  Those are the institutions with which Oxy identifies, with whom it competes, and against which it takes measure.

tooth  

Oxy, and the priorities listed above, remind TGP very much of his eastern undergrad alma mater.  Aside from seeing substantial progress on the goals mentioned above, TGP has enjoyed seeing the football program go from being a doormat into one of the better teams in the east (4 NCAA berths, and 2 opening round wins in the last 6 years).

Although we are a far, far, far cry from a Mt Union - and let's not kid - it would take a program about a decade of national titles to be held in the same regard - the college has taken steps to not only be an elite private liberal arts school, but one that competes at a high level in D3 athletics.

As an alum, TGP can take great pride in that not only are the academics stepping it up another level, so are the athletic - and in particular the football - team(s) b/c that's really what D3 is about - STUDENT athletes.

[dawg gone it]

Stag guy....yes indeed a new qb, Beaver.  At the scrimmage he actually looked the best IMO.  At Trinity I guess he got the team going somewhat but out of I think 10 passes he also had an int.   I guess we will see.  Selway is out for the year with a concussion.  Saras is now the backup to Beaver, so I understand.  Will the search continue?...we will see.  I hope for the sake of the team that they find offensive continuity against Chapman.

[OXY Oswald]

Selway is out for the year with a concussion. 

The rest of the year?  Did they rip his whole head off? 

[OXY Oswald]

While I don't think Oxy will become a Union, another year of success and might Oxy begin to cast the net wider and want to become equal to NWC and become one of two west coast powers?  I believe Linfield and Whitworth, et al will always be strong.  That might be a more reasonable and achievable goal.  Of course the adminstration will want to make that happen (as well as the student body).

Agreed.  Oxy being compared to Mount is a bit of a stretch but I think that a lot of momentum has been gained in the last few years behind the success of the Football and Basketball programs.  A few more seasons like that of the past 3 or 4 and Oxy's name will begin to come up far more often in discussions regarding the national playoff picture. 

Another random thought.  What does the future hold for Widolf?  Still going strong after 2 decades at the helm.

During my time at Oxy I think Coach Widolff showed an undying allegence to the program, the players, and Oxy as a whole..  Far beyond the normal scope of a head coach.  (Anyone that played for him would agree)  I think he really enjoys his job and I don't see him leaving Occidental until that isn't there anymore. 

[dawg gone it]

He declared a medical redshirt....thats all I know.  I asked the same question as you.

[Gray Fox]

dawgs:
UR going to another QB? Has this guy seen anytime yet this year? Are they looking for a fix or consistency. Hopefully a good performance this week by the new guy. However, if not, will the spot revert to the two previous starters or will the search continue. Just seems that looking for a starter in conference play isn't the best idea.
Gotta say, the week to week attitude might be exactly what is needed. Would like to see all games be a slugfest in the SCIAC this year.

I was at the Trinity game where Beaver played the entire fourth quarter.  I thought he looked like he could move the team better than the other two.   I'm sure that everyone is frustrated,  but eventually everything will be worked out.   

[Sabretooth Tiger]

dawgs:
UR going to another QB? Has this guy seen anytime yet this year? Are they looking for a fix or consistency. Hopefully a good performance this week by the new guy. However, if not, will the spot revert to the two previous starters or will the search continue. Just seems that looking for a starter in conference play isn't the best idea.
Gotta say, the week to week attitude might be exactly what is needed. Would like to see all games be a slugfest in the SCIAC this year.

I was at the Trinity game where Beaver played the entire fourth quarter.  I thought he looked like he could move the team better than the other two.   I'm sure that everyone is frustrated,  but eventually everything will be worked out.   

I hear that the 'Dawgs have a frosh phenom named mmpphb aagghhha mmummblele choke ooooffff.

[dawg gone it]

Shall I call you......toothless? :


Dont even go there....please.

[diehardfan]

Selway is out for the year with a concussion. 

The rest of the year?  Did they rip his whole head off? 

There was a talented DB my year at Wheaton who had to end his career his sophomore year due to too many concussions over the course of his football career... something about the possibility of permanent brain damage. I hope this is not the case in this instance.