MBB: Northwest Conference

[A Buc Forever]

Whitworth getting some great press:

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/mar/15/whitworth-would-be-thrilled-if-road-trip-next/

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/mar/15/fifth-broken-nose-wont-stop-larkin-from-defending/

Really great to see WW generating such enthusiasm even in the shadow of Gonzaga. 

[A Buc Forever]

Doesn't look that way from the outside. Without the Linfield football program, there would be very little national D-III name recognition. (And the remaining recognition would be from Scott Brosius.)

D-III name recognition? I grew up in the Northwest and the only D-III schools I had ever heard of is the two that were 30 minutes away from my house and one of those was because my uncle had played there when they were in Division II.  I had never heard of Linfield or any of the other NWC schools until they showed up to recruit me. Name recognition is not the same for D-III schools or really any one as it is with D-I. I can imagine that not many high school student athletes know of any other non D-I schools outside of their state or small region.

Sports are key to name recognition for small colleges.  Schools were dropping football left and right in the 70's and 80's.  After Whitman dropped football, someone asked the president of Whitworth why he didn't follow their lead since he was not that interested in the the game.  He looked at the person like they were a from another planet and said, "No way, it is the best advertising we have."  That was said in the face of the fact that we were bad back then.   

On a personal note, the first time I heard of Whitworth it was with regard to their football team.  I was living in Regina, Saskatchewan at the time.  When I was going to Whitworth my organic chem prof at Whitworth commented on the fact that I was in the paper a lot more than the president of the university.  Don't underestimate the power of sports in giving even small schools brand recognition.

[89Pirate]

Game day!  Go Pirates!  Let's keel haul the Crusaders!

[Cdalakelady]

Go Pirates.

[(509)Rat]

Congrats to UMHB. Did a great job of crashing the offensive boards and getting easy put backs. They didn't let Whitworth get inside in the first half and that was the difference. Whitworth was too content to chuck up 3's and it cost them. Well that at FT's at the end of the game. Player control fouls were brutal tonight. 5 of the first 7 calls against Whitworth were charges, only maybe 2 of which were correctly called IMO.

Whitworth was given a gift from the NCAA, the likes of which they will never see again. Too bad they didn't take advantage of it. Just didn't play a great game tonight which was unfortunate to watch. On a positive note, word on the street is that they have an immediate upgrade or two coming in already. They'll be the favorite to win the NWC again, but could be scary good. As always it was a fun ride. Good luck to the Cru in Salem!

[A Buc Forever]

Great season by WW.  It's always disappointing for it to end, but they have a lot to be proud of.   Hopefully they can reload and come back strong next year. 

[D O.C.]

"Good luck to the new coach and congrats on a great career at Linfield for Dotes! He always talked about writing a book of all the crap he had to put up with and I hope he does it! A must read for sure."

"Larry Doty is retiring after 26 seasons and a school-record 330 victories."

Damn those statistics! For the book it will stand 330 wins, 347 losses (.487).

"Any alumni or business donations that may have dried up, well that's on Doty. 100%."

Amen.
(You're unfortunately right about the home gift given Whitworth.)

"While the P.O.L.E. group was trying to hurt Doty it also indirectly hurt many basketball student-athletes. disgusting."

Never heard of that group myself.

"The best thing for Linfield College would be for the streak to end."

Maybe Joe Smith could go on sabbatical for one season and Doty could coach football for you.

"Doesn't look that way from the outside. Without the Linfield football program, there would be very little national D-III name recognition. (And the remaining recognition would be from Scott Brosius.)"

"Its kept that way for a reason."

Would that include an insignia and secret handshake?

"D-III name recognition?"

I heard of LINFIELD when they won the NAIA baseball championship in 1966 all the way in Southern California.
Sports Illustrated did a little column on LINFIELD in 1972 when they found out the football coach handled the game from the top of the grand stands.

"people know Linfield because of their football program"

High school softball coaches know about LINFIELD from the two women's Championships here in SoCal.

[formercat]

"Any alumni or business donations that may have dried up, well that's on Doty. 100%."

Amen.
(You're unfortunately right about the home gift given Whitworth.)

"While the P.O.L.E. group was trying to hurt Doty it also indirectly hurt many basketball student-athletes. disgusting."

Never heard of that group myself.

The P.O.L.E. group is the Protect Our Linfield Experience group which is made up of a lot of football alumni, the same guys who shot down the new look for the mascot after the college spent thousands of dollars on it.

Alumni money... well an alum had contacted the AD about several of us donating money to the basketball program to increase the funds Doty had to work with.... Carnahan never responded to him... sabotage?

[D O.C.]

I see. Chess game that probably goes on everywhere there is a budget and chances of increasing income.

[wildcat11]

The P.O.L.E. group is the Protect Our Linfield Experience group which is made up of a lot of football alumni, the same guys who shot down the new look for the mascot after the college spent thousands of dollars on it.

I've been around Linfield for 19 years and this is the 1st time I've heard of P.O.L.E..  However, if this "group" is responsible for shooting down that dumpster fire of a updated mascot that was rolled out then kudos to them.  That thing was hideous and President Hellie made a great decision to send it back to the drawing board.

[formercat]

The P.O.L.E. group is the Protect Our Linfield Experience group which is made up of a lot of football alumni, the same guys who shot down the new look for the mascot after the college spent thousands of dollars on it.

I've been around Linfield for 19 years and this is the 1st time I've heard of P.O.L.E..  However, if this "group" is responsible for shooting down that dumpster fire of a updated mascot that was rolled out then kudos to them.  That thing was hideous and President Hellie made a great decision to send it back to the drawing board.

It is interesting that the P.O.L.E. group is not more well known, beginning to feel like it is the Skull and Crossbones of Linfield College.  The current Linfield mascot is old and tired, we must be one of the few schools left with a lame cartoon mascot from the 1950's. The Wildcat is a sailor? Even Oregon State changed theirs recently.

In other news I heard a rumor that a very prominent NWC coach has put in for the Linfield Men's basketball coaching job.  What I like about this possibility is if he was hired he could be a real pain in the ass to the football establishment.

[playball]

The P.O.L.E. group is the Protect Our Linfield Experience group which is made up of a lot of football alumni, the same guys who shot down the new look for the mascot after the college spent thousands of dollars on it.

I've been around Linfield for 19 years and this is the 1st time I've heard of P.O.L.E..  However, if this "group" is responsible for shooting down that dumpster fire of a updated mascot that was rolled out then kudos to them.  That thing was hideous and President Hellie made a great decision to send it back to the drawing board.

I never saw the proposed new design for the cat.  However, they didn't shoot it down because of looks, they shot it down because "That cat represents what is good about Linfield Football (said with quivering lip and pointing to ring)".  Also, P.O.L.E. is a bunch of alumni that bankroll Linfield Football and control the purse strings of the entire athletic department.  There is little that the academic portion of Linfield does in regards to the athletic side.

[D O.C.]

we must be one of the few schools left with a lame cartoon mascot from the 1950's

I see.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" ruled the day, postulated by a bunch of wise old men who have been around since THE STREAK started in the '50s.

They were probably some of those crotchity (now) guys who would not step on the chalk line running to their position on that 1966 National Baseball Title team.
Very Superstitious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me4dTKAaEu0

[catmac567]

Those wise old men have turned into grumpy old men who do not recognize the differences in
rules and regulations between the NAIA and the NCAA Division III, especially in terms of financial
aid and recruiting.  All of the coaches have to play by different rules than was the case in the 1950's,
1960's, 1970's and 1980's.  Larry Doty has had to deal with different rules than did Ted Wilson. The College needs to institute stronger controls over the Top Cat Club.

[D O.C.]

567...the most glaring out of step program since the adjustment to DIII has been the basketball program.