By Keith McMillan
D3sports.com
Want to know how a team scoring 50 points per game and allowing 16 can feel like it isn't doing enough?
If you'd had your heart ripped out at the end of the past two seasons like Linfield has, you'd already know.
Beaten in the 2000 playoffs after they blocked an overtime field goal and left out of the party last year despite winning their final six games, Linfield is sticking to the motto they adopted for this season: Leave no doubt.
"Most of the guys playing right now played the last two seasons," said Wildcats running back David Russell.
"We want to go out and destroy teams," said defensive end Chad Barrett.
Russell, like his senior classmates, remembered the disappointment at the end of the past two seasons. The adopted the motto as a way of reminding themselves of that disappointment heading into this season. He says the team draws on the phrase frequently.
Russell, left, remembers coming back from breakfast last Sunday, Nov. 11. Barrett, Russell's roommate, got on the computer to find out who their first-round playoff opponent would be. Linfield's coaches had already begun scouting and talking about game plans for potential opponents.
"I just heard this screaming," said Russell. "He said 'you've got to be kidding.' At first I thought he was messing with me."
But it was no joke. Northwest Conference rivals Pacfic Lutheran (7-1 at the time) and Whitworth (7-2) got into the postseason, and a 7-2 Linfield squad who had beaten Whitworth 23-16 two weeks earlier, got left at home.
"We were just dumbfounded when we found out on Sunday we weren't in," Russell said.
But the Wildcats decided then and there to not be bitter about what's over and done with.
"Our minds went right to this year," Russell said.
Leave no doubt.
"We can't have a committee determining how our season ends," said Barrett.
Both seniors said that about 25 members of the team stayed in the 27,500-resident northern Oregon city of McMinnville, where Linfield is located.
Without the help of the coaches, the players used the summer to push each other during workouts, have 7-on-7 drills and strengthen the bond between teammates. The players worked day jobs, many for Linfield's Physical Plant, went fishing together and hosted barbeques.
"It was great," said Russell. "I can't really say enough about it. The better you know each individual on the team, the easier it is to go out and play together. I think [staying here] really helped out."
Linfield has flown out of the gate this season, starting 6-0 and rising to No. 7 in the AFCA poll.
Some around the program credit the strong start to the summer bonding. Players that felt like it took nearly the whole season to get comfortable with teammates in the past had that from the beginning. The team clicked in a 59-21 win at Redlands, then avenged a 29-0 loss that cost them a lot last season by beating NAIA power Southern Oregon 42-35.
Their most impressive victory may have come over Pacific Lutheran.
Though Linfield and PLU have a special rivalry, Barrett, a Puyallup, Wash., native, has a special connection to the Lutes.
His home isn't far from the Johnsons', where Chad, grandson of legendary coach Frosty Westering and quarterback of the 1999 national champions, resides.
When Barrett stops by, the Johnsons will joke: "Oh, Linfield, you can't come in."
"It's not a hate relationship," says Barrett of the Linfield-PLU rivalry. "It's just a real strong rivalry. Basically, that game is to get in the playoffs, and it's in the third week of the season."
The Wildcats were happy when PLU won in 1999. They also sound a lot like their rivals when players like Barrett talk about extending their season because "the main thing is just being with the guys."
The Lutes' national championship also put serious focus on the Northwest Conference, whose nine conference members (only six play football) came over to Division III from the NAIA in 1998. But its teams are no spring chickens.
So if folks in the East and Midwest have never heard of Linfield, here's a quick primer: Three NAIA Division II national championships in the 1980s, and they went to the final in 1992. They won the Northwest Conference title in 2000 and technically tied for it last season. Ad Rutschman, who coached for 24 years and stepped down after the 1991 season, is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
And then there's the matter of the 47 consecutive winning seasons, a current streak that is longer than any streak at any time in NCAA history.
Barrett says that's part of what makes Linfield so appealing in the recruiting process, because at the very least, you'll be part of a winning season.
Linfield considers its team a family when kids are away from their parents and siblings, and Barrett says they will be 30 years from now. There a sign in the locker room that asks "Are you better than you were yesterday?" Russell says they want to win definitively, but with character and class.
But this season, simply winning won't do.
"Every team has that goal (of winning the national championship) at the beginning of the season," says Barrett. "But in reality, only about 15 really have that chance."
"We want to show that we're not just talking the talk," said Russell. "We know what our ultimate goal is and what we're headed for."
Are they serious about taking the place of another purple-clad team on the national championship podium?
Leave no doubt that they are.
Beyond the Numbers
Tight games: Randolph-Macon, still lurking in the ODAC title picture and making its 108th showdown with Hampden-Sydney seem like it'll be a big one, should be pretty happy with its 5-2 record. After three straight seasons with three losses or fewer, the Yellow Jackets have gone three years without a winning season, but can clinch one with a win against Guilford this week. But R-MC could be kicking itself for not being 7-0, or patting itself on the back for not being 0-7. They have two three-point wins, a four-point win, a five-point win and an eight-point win. Their losses have come by two and four points, to teams they beat (Christopher Newport and Washington & Lee) while going 4-6 last season. They average 16.6 points per game and have scored 17 in four of their wins. They allow 14.1 points per, making nail-biting finishes a weekly occurrence.
Tie-up: Three-way championship races aren't rare. In fact, they're exciting observers in several conferences this season, the ASC, IIAC and NCAC races being the most prominent.
But how often does one see a five-team race at the start of November? That's exactly what's happening in the WIAC, where five teams are tied at 3-1 in conference play. King's has plenty on their tail in the MAC, four teams are in the hunt in the NESCAC and four teams are factors in the CCIW. It all means the final weeks of football shape up to be a lot of fun.
And the winner is… We appreciate trophy games and rivalries, and not all of them take place on the final week of the season. This week's Middlebury at Hamilton tussle is for the Old Rocking Chair, while the Johnnie-Tommie rivalry lights up Minnesota.
Last week, Widener took the Keystone Cup for the 11th consecutive year by beating Delaware Valley 44-14. The Keystone Cup is presented annually by the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Delaware County and Summit Chapters to the winner of the Widener-Delaware Valley game for the last 22 years. Widener has won it 21 times.
Just thought you should know.
Greatest of all time? Plymouth State began this season as Division III's all-time leader in won-lost percentage at .696 (213-91-7), but is nearing the program's 100th loss ever by starting the season 0-7. The Panthers have been in action for just 32 seasons, while everyone else in the top 10 has being on the gridiron for double that, 70 or more.
UW-La Crosse was second on the list at the start of the season (.691, 474-201-40), while St. John's (.690, 484-211-24), Ithaca (.657, 377-194-11) and Wittenberg (.655, 626-322-32) round out the top five.
Pointless: Framingham State's 42-0 loss to Westfield State was its third consecutive game without a point. Through that stretch, the Rams (1-6) have been outscored 113-0.
Since misery loves company, here goes: The 0-7 Gothic Knights of New Jersey City have scored just 36 points this season, never more than seven in one game.
Games to Watch
No. 15 Hardin-Simmons at No. 5 Mary Hardin-Baylor: The Cowboys have a chance to throw the ASC into a three-way tie for first place with a win. The Crusaders would appear to lock up the title and playoff berth if they can hold off the four-time champions.
St. Thomas at No. 6 St. John's: Fresh off a convincing win against Concordia-Moorhead, previously unbeaten in MIAC play, the Johnnies host their archrival in the 101st meeting of the two teams. The Tommies can take the MIAC title and AQ with road wins against the Johnnies and the Cobbers in the final two weeks.
No. 14 Washington & Jefferson at No. 8 Hanover: Inter-conference matchup may mean more to the Presidents, fighting for a Pool B playoff bid, than it does for the Panthers, who can wrap up the Heartland with a win at upstart Mt. St. Joseph next week
No. 22 Wooster at No. 10 Wabash: One of three matchups of top 25 teams this week, this one could also either sort out a three-way mess in the NCAC (if the Little Giants win) or bring Wittenberg back into the title picture. The Tigers travel to Wooster on Nov. 16
UW-Whitewater at No. 16 UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point at No. 17 UW-Stout: We've waited long enough. Now let's start sorting out stuff in the WIAC, where five teams are 3-1 in conference play. Of the five title contenders, four of them meet this week in these two games, and four meet next week when LaCrosse plays Eau Claire and Stout takes on Whitewater.
Wesley at No. 20 Salisbury: We're entering a stretch where we'll find out of the Sea Gulls are for real. Salisbury's final three opponents (Wesley, Ferrum, Frostburg) are each 4-3. The combined records of opponents the Sea Gulls have beaten is 15-32. The Wolverines won this game 56-10 last season.
No. 21 Ithaca at Hobart: The 6-1 Bombers visit the 6-0 Statesmen in a battle of upstate New Yorkers and leading Pool B candidates. Ithaca, however, has struggled without it's starting quarterback, scoring 13 points in the past two games.
Union at Hartwick: Another Empire 8-UCAA battle, this one between two 5-2 second-place teams fighting for their slim Pool B playoff hopes.
Adrian at Albion: The Bulldogs' 23-10 loss to Olivet last week is bad news heading into MIAA games against Albion and Alma, who are leading the standings. The Scots have already defeated the Britons, meaning Albion needs a win here just to keep pace.
Willamette at PLU: Though Linfield leads the Northwest Conference, Puget Sound is the only team eliminated from the conference title chase, making this a key conference matchup. The Northwest got two Pool B bids last year, and if a couple teams finish strong, it could happen again.
TCNJ at Montclair State: This game looked better at the beginning of the season, but neither is out of the NJAC race. The Red Hawks are 3-4 but could win out and get in the playoffs, making Nov. 16 opponent Rowan a prime Pool C candidate. The Lions came up five points short against Rowan and need help to win the title.
Amherst at Trinity (Conn.), Wesleyan at Williams: The Ephs lead the NESCAC at 6-0, the other three teams are 5-1. Two will lose today, but depending on how it happens, rivalry Saturday (Nov. 9) could feature a de facto NESCAC championship game. Among the Little Three, the Cardinals edged the Lord Jeffs on Oct. 19, while Williams will play its Little Three games this week and next.
Susquehanna at King's: The Monarchs (5-1, 5-2) took control of the MAC with their convincing Oct. 19 win over Widener, but they now must fend off at least four other contenders. The Crusaders are one (4-2, 4-3), at least for now. This year's MAC is looking like the WIAC, where the conference's teams beat up on each other. If King's wins out and takes the AQ, it'll be interesting to see how the selection committee treats a 9-1 Widener, which plays 10 MAC opponents this season.
Mt. St. Joseph at Anderson: The 5-2 Lions face the first of three consecutive stiff opponents to end the season (the others are Hanover and Thomas More). The Ravens want to rebound from a 41-23 loss to Hanover last week.
Ferrum at Greensboro: If the Panthers defeat the Pride, it's Nov. 16 game with Christopher Newport could again decide the Dixie AQ.
Also keep an eye on: Allegheny at Wittenberg, Capital at Baldwin-Wallace, Washington & Lee at No. 2 Bridgewater (Va.), DePauw at Centre, St. John Fisher at RPI, Concordia-Moorhead at St. Olaf, Aurora at MacMurray, Millsaps at Sewanee.
