FB: Northwest Conference

[wildcat11]

Most shocking result this weekend was the 24-14 win Whitworth secured over The Bearcats.  Only 24 points vs Willamette. Yikes.

I'm fine with Chapman being ranked above Linfield, maybe the 'Cats will get a chance to get that win back or maybe we'll be in Texas. Who knows? Been a good year regardless.

[gren2]

Thank You Veterans past and present for allowing all of us in the USA to live under a blanket of FREEDOM.

[MacQuiz]

Most shocking result this weekend was the 24-14 win Whitworth secured over The Bearcats.  Only 24 points vs Willamette. Yikes.

I'm fine with Chapman being ranked above Linfield, maybe the 'Cats will get a chance to get that win back or maybe we'll be in Texas. Who knows? Been a good year regardless.

Yes...a good year for the Cats, regardless! 
Congrats to the River Otters... A competent team to help the NWC show well.

[catjumper]

Right now it may not be what it once was, but it is that week again: the Linfield vs. Willamette 'Cat Fight. In the spirit of century-old college football rivalries, keep in mind that if you're taken aback by the aggregate score of the last seven meetings being 485-40 in the Wildcats' favor, it's just payback for the Bearcats' actions in 1934.

Without further ado, a look at highlights from the 97 previous meetings, in which Linfield holds a 58-36-3 advantage:

November 1, 1902: McMinnville College and Willamette University meet for the first time, a 6-6 tie in McMinnville.

October 17, 1903: Willamette wins 27-0 in the first game of the series played in Salem.

November 24, 1922: Willamette wins 36-0 in McMinnville in Linfield's first season of football since 1905. It's also the Wildcats' first-ever Homecoming game.

November 7, 1925: Linfield gets its first win in the series, a 3-0 victory in Salem.

1928-1932: Linfield scores just six points in five games against Willamette; among scores of the losses were 36-0, 47-0 and 48-0.

October 20, 1934: Willamette again spoils Linfield's Homecoming with a 32-7 win. In the aftermath of the game, a Willamette student or students paint "WU" on the doors of Melrose Hall and saw off the goalposts at Maxwell Field.
Linfield President Elam Anderson suspends participation in all athletics with Willamette until the culprit or culprits of the vandalism confess. It takes over a year of negotiation before the Wildcats and Bearcats compete again.

1935: Without Willamette on the schedule, Linfield wins a share of its first Northwest Conference football championship.

November 5, 1949: Linfield beats Willamette 20-0 in McMinnville, ending a 17-game losing streak against the Bearcats dating back to 1927. Earlier in the fall, Linfield President Harry Dillin – responding to claims by his football team that it would beat WU that year – said if the Wildcats ever beat the Bearcats in football while he was still around the College, he'd stand on his head on the 50-yard line. After the game, Dillin keeps his promise.

1967: Willamette turns in Linfield for a financial aid discrepancy involving athlete healthcare, leading to the Northwest Conference sanctioning the Wildcats with a ban on team and individual conference championships for a year. Linfield had won four of the last six NWC football titles, four of the last seven men's basketball titles and eight of the last nine baseball titles.

November 8, 1968: Willamette beats Linfield 6-0 in Salem, earning a spot in the NAIA national playoffs and knocking Linfield out of the postseason.

1969 – 1982: Linfield runs off a winning streak of its own in the series, beating Willamette 14 straight times, including five shutouts.

November 5, 1983: Linfield, having already won at Pacific Lutheran and seemingly headed to the NAIA Division II playoffs to defend its national title, is upset 26-21 in Salem by a Willamette team that had lost 15 straight games over two seasons.

November 10, 1984: In the regular season finale in McMinnville, Linfield beats Willamette 55-0; late in the first half, the Wildcats call a timeout to be sure they can punch in one more touchdown to make it 49-0 at the break.
The day before, Linfield's student newspaper, The Linews, had published a prank version of the Willamette Collegian - dubbed The Cullegian - and distributed it on the WU campus.

October 12, 1985: Trailing 33-7 late in the third quarter, Linfield rallies for a 36-33 Homecoming win over Willamette.

October 18, 1997: Willamette's Liz Heaston kicks a pair of extra points, becoming the first woman to play and score in a college football game as the Bearcats beat Linfield 27-0 in Salem.

October 17, 1998: Linfield scores in the final minute to beat Willamette 20-19 in McMinnville, clinching the Wildcats' 43rd consecutive winning season. That gives Linfield the record for most consecutive winning seasons in college football at any level, surpassing the 42 of Harvard and Notre Dame in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Linfield students tear down the south goalpost in celebration.

November 1, 2014: Willamette knocks off highly favored Linfield 31-28 in McMinnville, ending the Wildcats' 36-game Northwest Conference win streak.

October 17, 2015: Linfield beats Willamette 49-7 in Salem, assuring that the Wildcats will have a winning season for the 60th straight autumn.

October 19, 2019: On Homecoming in McMinnville, Linfield beats Willamette 77-0. It is the highest score ever rung up by a team in the series and the largest margin of victory in the series.

[gren2]

Right now it may not be what it once was, but it is that week again: the Linfield vs. Willamette 'Cat Fight. In the spirit of century-old college football rivalries, keep in mind that if you're taken aback by the aggregate score of the last seven meetings being 485-40 in the Wildcats' favor, it's just payback for the Bearcats' actions in 1934.

Without further ado, a look at highlights from the 97 previous meetings, in which Linfield holds a 58-36-3 advantage:

November 1, 1902: McMinnville College and Willamette University meet for the first time, a 6-6 tie in McMinnville.

October 17, 1903: Willamette wins 27-0 in the first game of the series played in Salem.

November 24, 1922: Willamette wins 36-0 in McMinnville in Linfield's first season of football since 1905. It's also the Wildcats' first-ever Homecoming game.

November 7, 1925: Linfield gets its first win in the series, a 3-0 victory in Salem.

1928-1932: Linfield scores just six points in five games against Willamette; among scores of the losses were 36-0, 47-0 and 48-0.

October 20, 1934: Willamette again spoils Linfield's Homecoming with a 32-7 win. In the aftermath of the game, a Willamette student or students paint "WU" on the doors of Melrose Hall and saw off the goalposts at Maxwell Field.
Linfield President Elam Anderson suspends participation in all athletics with Willamette until the culprit or culprits of the vandalism confess. It takes over a year of negotiation before the Wildcats and Bearcats compete again.

1935: Without Willamette on the schedule, Linfield wins a share of its first Northwest Conference football championship.

November 5, 1949: Linfield beats Willamette 20-0 in McMinnville, ending a 17-game losing streak against the Bearcats dating back to 1927. Earlier in the fall, Linfield President Harry Dillin – responding to claims by his football team that it would beat WU that year – said if the Wildcats ever beat the Bearcats in football while he was still around the College, he'd stand on his head on the 50-yard line. After the game, Dillin keeps his promise.

1967: Willamette turns in Linfield for a financial aid discrepancy involving athlete healthcare, leading to the Northwest Conference sanctioning the Wildcats with a ban on team and individual conference championships for a year. Linfield had won four of the last six NWC football titles, four of the last seven men's basketball titles and eight of the last nine baseball titles.

November 8, 1968: Willamette beats Linfield 6-0 in Salem, earning a spot in the NAIA national playoffs and knocking Linfield out of the postseason.

1969 – 1982: Linfield runs off a winning streak of its own in the series, beating Willamette 14 straight times, including five shutouts.

November 5, 1983: Linfield, having already won at Pacific Lutheran and seemingly headed to the NAIA Division II playoffs to defend its national title, is upset 26-21 in Salem by a Willamette team that had lost 15 straight games over two seasons.

November 10, 1984: In the regular season finale in McMinnville, Linfield beats Willamette 55-0; late in the first half, the Wildcats call a timeout to be sure they can punch in one more touchdown to make it 49-0 at the break.
The day before, Linfield's student newspaper, The Linews, had published a prank version of the Willamette Collegian - dubbed The Cullegian - and distributed it on the WU campus.

October 12, 1985: Trailing 33-7 late in the third quarter, Linfield rallies for a 36-33 Homecoming win over Willamette.

October 18, 1997: Willamette's Liz Heaston kicks a pair of extra points, becoming the first woman to play and score in a college football game as the Bearcats beat Linfield 27-0 in Salem.

October 17, 1998: Linfield scores in the final minute to beat Willamette 20-19 in McMinnville, clinching the Wildcats' 43rd consecutive winning season. That gives Linfield the record for most consecutive winning seasons in college football at any level, surpassing the 42 of Harvard and Notre Dame in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Linfield students tear down the south goalpost in celebration.

November 1, 2014: Willamette knocks off highly favored Linfield 31-28 in McMinnville, ending the Wildcats' 36-game Northwest Conference win streak.

October 17, 2015: Linfield beats Willamette 49-7 in Salem, assuring that the Wildcats will have a winning season for the 60th straight autumn.

October 19, 2019: On Homecoming in McMinnville, Linfield beats Willamette 77-0. It is the highest score ever rung up by a team in the series and the largest margin of victory in the series.

November 14,2026: Willamette gains 18 net yds and 2 first downs in 64-0 thumping by Linfield at McColluch Stadium.

[MonroviaCat]

Also-Willamette only crossed the 50 yard line one time the entire game and it was due to a good kick-off return.

[wildcat11]

Worst Willamette offense I have ever seen, might be one of the worst NWC offenses in the history of the conference.

I worry for the longevity of that program as you can tell the Willamette administration doesn't care about football or athletics in general.

No idea where the 'Cats land but thrilled for them to be back in the playoffs.

[catjumper]

It was the Willamette defense that provided one of my favorite moments of this - and maybe any season.

Late second quarter, Linfield ball at the Willamette 19. Luke McNabb takes the snap, delays for a moment, heads up the middle, angles right and goes into the end zone for a touchdown. Flag - holding against the Wildcats at the 12.

The ball goes back to the 22-yard line. McNabb takes the snap, delays for a moment, heads up the middle, angles right and goes into the end zone for a touchdown. He ran pretty much the exact same path he had on the previous play, just three yards longer.

I was at the game and knew Willamette didn't have much in the way of yardage or first downs but it wasn't until I got home and looked at the stat sheet that I realized it was only two first downs.

I share Wildcat 11's concern over the Bearcats' gridiron future. I'm wondering if the new merger with Pacific will have any effect. Given the challenges facing small private colleges, having 80-100 players on your roster brings a significant number of tuition-paying men to your institution; I count 62 players on Willamette's 2026 roster and it looked like only about 40-some were suited up Saturday.