Northwest Conference

[grouchygramps]

Message to all you wildcat players. Don't Let Down! When you are 6 and 0 you might get a little complacent. Kick some ass and move on.

[wildcat11]

+1 to the Bearcat folks who are posting this week.

[D O.C.]

Only the offensive linemen named Bernoulli.   

I went abstract again, didn't I? Sorry, I can't help it.

The explanation, actually, is rather simple and can be found in Bernoulli's theory on the nature of airflow around both the moving and stationery objects. Since the wing of an airplane is curved on top and flattened on the bottom, the physical quality of air moving toward it when the plane is in flight or picking up speed on the runway differ on top from that on the bottom. It takes the knowledge of basic trigonometry to conclude that the upper surface of the airplane wing is larger than the lower surface. Therefore, the air passing the wing would have to travel a longer distance on top than on the bottom. This will result in it stretching thinner on top of the wing, hence the air pressure on top of the wing will be lower than that on the bottom of it. The force pushing the plane upwards will thus be higher than the one pushing it downwards, creating a lift that will carry the plane up.

grouchygramps....that let down could happen but WILDCAT tradition says it probably won't in the biggest game for the conference crown (probably).

I am serious here, I hope no one from Willamette gets hurt except for the oft phrased 'Put the hurt on you.'

[Touchdown Tommy]

Hey GHC just checking in before the big 'Cats game this weekend.  What is the spread for Saturday's game? 

[desertcat1]

+1 to the Bearcat folks who are posting this week.

wc11 ,

after the wildcats swat the  fly all over the field this week you might not   see many  "barekitties" next week  ..


MC,
 
 i only see it one way .. wildcats win big .... remember no kneeeees
and 52 last year  

Go CATS

Go Big D

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Hey TDT,
  I say that we are AT LEAST a TD (T) per quarter than the bearkitties this year.  My call is with Linfield a +28 on Sat.

Linfield wins 38-10  Phone it in boys this one is in the bank.  ROCKETMAN  Will fill the skies of the Catdome south with purple frisbees.  They say it will be a mild 60 degrees with clear sky.  I call it cloudy with a Purple Haze.

Phone it in Baby
Mojo and I are leaving tomorrow with the blue high octaine

Lets rock baby

GHC out

[criswyly]

MonroviaCat
My bad....but I just couldn't resist...some wild urge just came over me.

[MonroviaCat]

MonroviaCat
My bad....but I just couldn't resist...some wild urge just came over me.

  No prob---just hate to see discussions veer of course, especially when this is a big game week!

[criswyly]

My insider's analysis, quote:

"Two things stand out:  1)Boema at qb - he has scored thirteen tds, has a stronger arm than Elliot, can run, has a very quick release, can throw the long ball, and has only been sacked twice, and 2)the O-line has done a fabulous job protecting him.  Linebackers are experienced and the young dbs have shown good ability to shut down passing attacks.  Willamette runs its usual fly offense but has a tendency to hand off to the fullback up the middle.  I think our coaching staff is optimistic about our chances.  The starters have avoided those problems of past seasons - fumbling, stupid  penalties, interceptions, and dropped balls.  This game will tell us  how good we are and if we win will thrust us toward the playoffs."

[George Thompson]

On paper, Willamette and Linfield are very close.   With their three common opponents, the Wildcats won by 79 points.  The Bearcats prevailed by 81 points.

Looking at their season statistics, it is again close as can be.   Bearcats have won by an average of 20.6 points; the Wildcats by 20.3 points.   

I have not seen WU in action, but their offense was awesome last year; and, they do not seem much off this year.   LC has their most balanced offense in many years; potentially their best balance since 2002.   

Willamette's defense appears very strong; yet they have not met the offense that Linfield has.   The Lemon brothers will be up and really want to put a hurt on LC. Linfield's defense has looked very good, but at times, offenses have hurt them.

The game will come down to whether Linfield's defense can slow WU's running game.   If they do, LC should win.   If they don't, it will be a barn-burner and could go either way.    Linfield should win, but it might be close.

GO WILDCATS! GO!

[LuavilleCat]

The Wildcat mantra (thought) taken from long. long ago.. It's not whether we're going to win or lose, it's how badly we're going to beat you... applies today as it did back when the Blue Moon was THE PLACE.

Wildcats dominate the second half and walk away with a 38-21 victory.

Will Patterson beat Lemon to the end zone? If both are healthy and go head-to-head... count on it!!!

GHC,
Keep humming Purple Haze - as Jimi says, "Purple haze, no, its painful, baby"

[CalCat]

President Obama's speech:
11...Wildcats...Bearcats...we are all Cats...can't we just all get along...frankly it doesn't matter one bit to me ...either way we should all be happy...everyone should get a chance to win...it's redistribution of the NWC crown.

That should win a prize

[river]

All this talk about swatting the fly seems like whistling in the dark.   

GO BEARCATS !!!!

[BearcatPress]

BEARCATS EDGE LUTES, SET UP SHOWDOWN WITH LINFIELD

Tim Walsh
Sports Editor

In a season that has become all about overcoming obstacles, one thing Willamette has not had to do much is come from behind.

Time to cross that one off the list.

Despite trailing by as many as two touchdowns and losing star tailback Deon Horne to injury, 17th-ranked Willamette (6-1, 3-0 Northwest Conference) scored 28 unanswered second-half points to rally past upstart Pacific Lutheran at McCulloch Stadium and set up a conference championship showdown against archrival Linfield.

“It’s good to get a win like that,” Head Coach Mark Speckman said. “I guess that’s the silver lining.”

It certainly did not look like there would be a silver lining early on, as the unheralded Lutes (1-4, 1-1 NWC) moved the ball with ease, grabbing a 7-0 lead on their opening drive. Two more first quarter PLU possessions looked promising, but Andrew Ross and Arlin Taylor intercepted two poorly thrown Lute passes to end each threat.

“They took us a little bit by surprise,” Ross said. “They had a great game plan and were ready to go.  We weren’t quite ready.”

But if Pacific Lutheran sputtered, Willamette’s offense never even got off the ground. A holding penalty negated Brian Widing’s long scramble, and two would-be touchdown passes to Scott Schoettgen fell just off the receiver’s fingertips. Even after Taylor’s interception return set the Bearcats up at the PLU 26, Mitchell Rowan’s missed field goal left Willamette empty-handed.

“This was the first week we didn’t capitalize on our chances,” Speckman said. “We’re used to scoring, so it was very frustrating.”

The Lutes made the Bearcats pay with a 15 play, 80-yard touchdown drive. A taunting penalty on cornerback Jeff Kahler cost Willamette 15 precious yards, and two fourth-down conversions sealed a 14-0 lead for the visitors.

Backup Kevin Ramay entered for Widing, directing a lightning-quick 63-yard march in just over two minutes. Terrell Malley’s second effort from six yards got the ball into the end zone, and the Bearcats entered the locker room somewhat fortunate only to be down 14-7.

“I told the team we had a perfect storm brewing,” Speckman said. “You let a team like [PLU] stay in the game, and that’s how upsets happen.”

Things were a little looser on the defensive side of the ball. “Bubba Lemon came up to me and said, ‘This is gonna be fun,’” Ross said. “‘Coming back is gonna be fun.’”

Pacific Lutheran’s next possession, however, looked a lot like its first. But after gaining a second-and-goal at the Willamette five, the Bearcat defense finally stiffened, holding the Lutes to a short field goal.

Ramay’s offense responded. A deft move by the quarterback avoided two sack attempts and resulted in a 20-yard completion to Chad Pollard. Fullback Jamiere Abney eventually bulled across the goal line to cut the deficit to 17-14, and PLU’s attempt to answer back was stuffed on fourth down at the Willamette 19. But the Bearcats still trailed entering the fourth quarter.

“I didn’t sense any panic,” Speckman said. “Frustration maybe, but not panic.”

Willamette’s badly needed spark finally came from return specialist Jose Green. A short PLU punt took a fortunate bounce right to the junior at midfield, who cut to the left sideline and raced all the way down to the Lutes’ 21. Four plays later, Schoettgen caught Ramay’s pass in the end zone with a PLU defender draped all over his back, and the Bearcats’ had their first lead.

Still, against Pacific Lutheran, the fireworks are never over.

Kahler recovered a PLU fumble on the very next play, but Willamette gave the ball right back after Malley ran into a teammate. Kahler came through again though, intercepting a horribly thrown pass just three plays after that, and Abney later ran untouched for another touchdown to give Willamette a 28-17 edge. The sophomore’s third score of the day, after back-to-back sacks ended the Lutes’ last threatening possession, slammed the door shut.

“Jamiere’s done everything he could to get on the field,” Speckman said. “He’s getting better every series.”

Abney was far from the only player singled out by the coach. Malley, having not only scored a touchdown but also provided several thunderous hits on special teams, drew praise, and Ross had 19 tackles to go with his interception. The linebacker felt that the manner of the win was just as important as the win itself.

“It’s very important to win like that, especially with our opponent this week,” Ross said. “We faced adversity, we responded, and we played better.”

[BearcatPress]

GAME DAY SPECIAL:
#17 Willamette Bearcats vs. #6 Linfield Wildcats

WHEN: 1:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: McCulloch Stadium

RECORDS: #17 Willamette 6-1, 3-0 NWC; #6 Linfield 6-0, 3-0 NWC

ON THE AIR: Webcast at www.willamette.edu/athletics

BRIEFLY: Andrew Ross does not need to be told about the importance of the 81st annual Willamette/Linfield game. “This is the biggest game of my life,” Ross said. “This is everything you play for, lift for, get up at 6:00 a.m. for.”

Both the Bearcats and Wildcats are nationally ranked, and since the teams are 1-2 in 15 NWC statistical categories, the winner will most likely capture the conference title and a playoff bid. “This is the start of our playoffs,” senior cornerback Bubba Lemon said. “We can’t afford to lose.”

Of course, it is also a rivalry. Despite being just 27 miles apart, the football gap between the two schools has traditionally been large. Linfield has 54 consecutive winning seasons, 32 NWC titles and four national championships. “They take football very seriously,” Speckman said.

But surging Willamette has won the last two meetings, including the 2007 “McCulloch Miracle” and a 52-28 romp in McMinnville last season, and the memories of past clashes are still vivid for many players. “Everybody has a Linfield story,” Ross said.

Bubba and Mikey Lemon, transfers from Linfield who joined the Bearcats this year, both downplayed any personal significance in this game. “My family does have a history in the Linfield community,” flanker Mikey Lemon said. “But this weekend ... all Bubba and I can do is help Willamette. I have an awesome coaching staff that I enjoy playing for and teammates that I would run through a wall for.”

Given the schools’ geographic proximity, Linfield/Willamette crowds usually split down the middle. But this year, the Office of Campus Life is attempting to boost Bearcat numbers. The first 500 Willamette students to arrive will receive a free gold Bearcats t-shirt, and all students who attend the game are encouraged to wear gold. Faculty, staff and alumni are urged to wear cardinal red. Getting a large pro-Willamette turnout would be “huge,” according to Speckman.

“We love playing for our fans, and we want to outnumber them,” Speckman said. “We want McCulloch rocking.”


Editor's Note: GO BEARCATS!  BEAT LINFIELD!