One week away from Linfield Legends Month!

Next Monday will be the start of Linfield Legends month on Catdomealumni.com. For those of you who are new to the monthership for the past two years I’ve used the month of May to post up video clips of standout Wildcats of past years. For me, it’s a blast to go through the old clips and appreciate what these former players did during their careers at Linfield.

One thing is for certain is that the production values of the video clips for this year’s batch of Legends is way beyond my first Legends clip that I posted up two years ago of Running Back Gary McGarvie. Gary was such an incredible player that I feel bad that A) I missed a number of standout runs that I overlooked on the old highlight tapes, and B) my production values sucked.

So here is May’s line up of Legends that will bring back many great memories for any long time Linfield fans:

May 5th: Joe Dominey, Defensive Tackle, 1990-94

I’ll speak more on Joe later but he was a force of nature on the defensive line and his blend of speed and power made him a unique player for those great Linfield teams of the early 90’s.

May 12th: Joey Rector, Running Back, 1992-95

Like Carl Haberberger, I find that Joey was very underrated as a dominate running back for the ‘Cats. Joe had uncanny strength and great balance. Overall, Joey is 2nd in all time rushing TD’s in Linfield long history of stand-out running backs. IMO, he just might have the greatest single rushing TD in Linfield history vs Puget Sound in 1995. Joey broke off a big 70-yard TD run where he literally ran over a DB in the open field 10-yards out before punching it in. The only angle of this run on tape is from the crow’s nest but it’s still amazing to watch that run, bad angle and all.

May 19th: Darrin Causey, Linebacker, 1990-94

Linfield has a long…long list of incredible linebackers to man the Wildcat defense but one the finest was Darrin Causey. Darrin wasn’t terribly intimidating when you first saw him in pads but his demeanor and style of play scared the hell out every team that had to contend with him. Causey had everything you could want in a linebacker, leadership, great instincts, playmaking ability, toughness, speed, and was just a great tackler.

May 26th: David Russell, Running Back, 2000-2002

Where do you start with D.Russ? For Linfield fans, David has almost reached a level of mythical proportions. Every single characteristic of why Linfield football is so embraced by its fan base was embodied by #25. Humble, blue collar, tough, durable, team focused, and a winner. An incredible running back and person.

A couple of notes: Yes, I know that I’ve gone through 4 running backs over the past couple of years. That’s my basis towards the running game. Next season I’m going to try to highlight an offensive lineman and a QB on the offensive side of the ball.

Also, I know there was many, many, many great Linfield player’s pre-1990. My video vault only goes so far back. I would do back flips if I could score highlight tapes of seasons pre-1990. If you can spare a copy please let me know.

NWC’s 2008 New Year Resolutions:

A small unknown fact is like many people, the football teams in the Northwest Conference also start each new year with a resolution to help guide their next 365 days of existence. Everybody knows that following a resolution is a pine-knot tough thing to do but our programs out in the far west are up to the task.

Catdomealumni.com’s investigators were able to uncover these New Year resolutions for the 2008 season and as your independent world wide news leader of all things Linfield football it took a few days to collate this information.

Menlo: To install cup holders in their visitor’s coaching box and to upgrade their sound system.

Since Menlo has to blow a great majority of their budget on flight when the Oaks travel to any away game that leaves very little left over for minor items….like facilities. However, Menlo has committed itself in 2008 to install new cup holders in their scissor lift….er…I mean coaching box and to upgrade their sound system to this sweet new Ipod docking station.

Willamette: The Bearcats 2008 resolution is to milk their first win over Linfield in eight years for everything its worth.

So far, they’re off to a great start with any article on their athletic site that deals with football has to mention their 1-point win over our Wildcats.

Lewis & Clark: Around Christmas, my sources were able to take this photo of a note left for Santa that was found in HC’s Chris Sulages office.

I know, I know…a note for Santa isn’t a New Year resolution but we’re going to go with it.

Puget Sound: To assemble the greatest collection of football talent ever assembled at the Division III level or to at least to maintain their great pre-season rhetoric.

Before the 2007 season, Coach Phil Willenbrock stated that the passing ability of his quarterbacks “is better than any I think I’ve ever had in Division III.” It must be nice to have quarterbacks that can both run and throw the ball. I’m just looking forward to read the UPS season preview this fall where he’s bound to say something along the lines of “our linebackers this year are incredible. Not only can they drop back in pass coverage but they can also play the run too.” The talent at UPS is crazy.

Pacific Lutheran: Start a new facial hair trend in Division 3 football.

The ‘Lutes gained media attention for their fast start and their sweet stashes during 2007. The Lute Seniors have narrowed their 2008 choices down to three: The Van Dyke, The Balbo, and The Napoleon III Imperial.

Whitworth: Deliver Redland’s Coach Maynard a batch of crap cupcakes to open the 2008 season.

As much as I rag on the Rats, they did get hosed by the DIII national selection committee when they were snubbed out of the ’07 playoffs. Redlands and Coach Maynard beat the Rats twice last season. The first time was the Dawg’s 24-12 victory over the Rats to open the ‘07 season and the second time was when Coach Maynard and the National Committee sunk the Rats ship in the playoff selection process.

Linfield: Get back to winning the darn conference.