Category Archives: Insider

We’ve asked a couple of players and coaches to post on the blog on a regular basis, to give you an idea of what Division III football is like from an insider’s perspective.

Insider: Three big weeks

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Every matchup between Linfield and Pacific Lutheran has its own distinct flavor. Our offensive game plan has varied year to year, depending on our strengths and weeknesses.

My first two years featured a dominating run game with two All-American tight ends in Luke Bucheit and Marcus Ward opening holes for the triple threat running back core of Marty Williams, David Russel and Thomas Ford. In 2003 and 2004 we took to the air by going four wide and picking our spots to run inside. But regardless of game plans, schemes, personnel or year, you can count on the game being intense. You can’t ignore the 50+ years of competition between the two teams. Lute week practices are always a little more intense than usual and game days have a little extra buzz around them.

The 2005 chapter stayed true to these themes and they came out firing. The first half of the game they were relentless. Their offense controlled the ball, limiting us to only four possessions and we led by only 8 at the half. But as we always do, the defense made adjustments at half and the offense opened things up in the second half to eventually coast to the win.

At the end of the season, we may look back and see this game as a catalyst, particularly for the offensive line. Watching film, we saw an undersized defensive line that we felt we could push around a bit. We were able to put quite a few guys on the ground running the ball and in pass protection. We took it upon ourselves to physically dominate the game and the attitude carried over into the Whitworth match up. Although the Pirates were a bigger team than the Lutes, we knew we could control their front 7 as well. We were able to run the ball inside and out, and by the 4th quarter I believe they were worn down.

It only took another hour or so to wear us down which normally wouldn’t be too bad but we still had another 6 and half to go on the trip back home. Our trip out to Spokane started with bus loading friday morning at 8. We made it to Kennewick, Washington by 1 where we had walk through practices at a local high school. We were graced with the presence of Thomas Ford who is living in town while playing for the Tri-Cities arena team. Former quarterback Blake Kluse is coaching at the high school and was able to pay us a visit as well. After the traditional road trip buffet for dinner, we set off on the last two hours to Spokane. We finished off the night with step-its in the hotel parking lot before calling it a night.

The morning started with breakfast across the street and special teams meetings to follow. We loaded the bus for the final 15 minutes to the stadium and arrive 2 and half hours before game time. The trip home was much more direct, stopping only once at a gas station to fill up, stretch and get some drinks. Total time in transit: 18 hours.

This week against Southern Oregon doesn’t get any easier. We bus out Saturday morning and are on the road until 3:30 for the 6 o’clock game. We head straight home afterwards, usually pulling in by 1 in the morning.

But this trip could very well be one that will go down in history. If won, Linfield will have reached an unprecedented milestone; 50 consecutive winning seasons. It should be a huge game with hundreds of fans making the trip. But by next week it will have been just another game; 1 more step on our journey for another national championship.

Insider: Augie thrives on D

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The day the 2005 CCIW schedule came out I grabbed a marker and circled several games that I couldn’t wait to suit up for. October 8th was most definitely one of those dates because that meant we were heading up to Kenosha, Wisconsin to take on the Carthage Redman. Last year we beat them 35-0 at our place, but essentially that meant absolutely nothing considering they were the 2004 CCIW co-champions and made a stellar playoff run. They had accomplished something that this senior class at Augustana has never experienced, and we were well aware of that heading into week 6.

This past Friday I received a call from a good friend of mine that plays football at the University of North Texas. He recently transferred from Miami-Ohio where he played as well, but things were not going as he planned so he eventually found his way onto the North Texas campus. Anyways, he asked how we matched up against Carthage and he asked how our hotel was. Hotel? I told him I was sleeping at home in Rock Island and we were leaving early Saturday morning for our four hour bus ride to Kenosha. Here is a kid who has been involved with two different Division I-A programs so the thought of leaving on a Friday for a game is rare, let alone a game day. There was a moment of silence followed by an eruption of laughter. He was in disbelief as he is accustomed to leaving on a Thursday for a Saturday game. I just laughed and replied, “Frank, that’s Division III football my friend”.

This Saturday’s game met most expectations as it was a hard fought battle between two hardnosed teams on a cold night in Wisconsin. The Augustana offense versus the Carthage defense was the main draw as the stands were full and fans piled onto a hill on- looking the stadium providing a great football atmosphere under the lights.

The first quarter ended in a 0-0 score with solid play by both defenses, but we cracked the scoreboard midway through the second quarter on a Matt Roe 17 yard touchdown pass to tight end Tom McIntire. McIntire’s grab coupled with a with 4th quarter goal line stand(capped by a 7 yard sack by linebacker Joe Youngbauer) were crucial to our victory. While the Carthage defense held our offense in check, the defense pitched a shut out and carried our squad with the leadership of Tom Anthony who rightfully earned CCIW player of the week honors. This squad has adapted a team attitude and it really showed as contributions from all over pulled us together for a victory.

Homecoming week is ahead and we take on the Titans of Illinois Wesleyan(1-4) here in Rock Island. It is essential that we have great preparation for the next five days as we strive to continually improve from week to week. We are looking forward to another test this Saturday as the Augie-Wesleyan game has traditionally been a great game with plenty of emotion.

Insider: The dream

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After reading JJ McDowell’s piece (Insider, Oct. 4) I got to thinking about football at a young age and how I share a lot of the same thoughts and feelings that he does. Football has led me to some of my best friendships in life, and some of the greatest memories that I have had. As I said in my previous post, I am now engaged and with all of the planning underway it has come to my attention that everyone on my side of the wedding party are friends that I grew up with, a couple of them are guys that I met for the first time playing football. Including myself four of us played Pop-Warner together for the Putnam Redskins.

I think every young kid playing Pop-Warner dreams that they will one day become a Heisman trophy winner and go on to play in super bowls. I remember being at that age and how fun it was to dream that one day I would play in the N.F.L.

When I started playing football at age eight I remember nothing being more important than winning. Although that feeling has stayed with me, I do understand that sometimes you don’t win them all. I mention this because my nephew Shawn Jr. is in his first year of tackle football playing for the same team that my brother Shawn and I played for. He is at that age when kids cry after losses, and walk around telling everyone that they will be a professional football player when they get older. He just recently told me that if I don’t want to be a cop that I can drive his limo for him when he makes the N.F.L. (how nice of him) Last week he called me right before my game to let me know that he scored his first touchdown.

We are approaching the half way point of our season and for the first time in school history we sit undefeated at 4-0. This past week we got a huge divisional win against Bridgewater State College who came into the game ranked one spot ahead of us at #2 in the New England D III football poll. With the win on Saturday we moved up to #2 — the school’s highest ranking.

A steady effort by the offense and a great game from the defense was crucial in stopping Bridgewater’s high powered offense. Dee Whitehead had a big day for the defense coming up with a fumble return for a TD, and also a pick late in the game that sealed the win. The game had a little extra hype as a couple of Bridgewater’s players were very vocal in the papers in the week leading up to the game. The win put us atop the division with Maine Maritime who we will square off with in two weeks.

This week we are back on the road as we travel to Beverly, Mass., for a showdown with Endicott College. We are preparing as best we can right now trying to deal with some injuries as I’m sure every college team is by now. A concern for us as always when we go on the road is whether or not we will make it there. The last time we traveled one of our buses broke down and caught on fire. As long as nothing happens that prevents us from getting to the game on Saturday it should be a great game between two very good teams.