Linfield purple colored candy corn for Halloween

Eerie Alley brand gourmet candy corn. Blackberry Cobbler flavor. Purchased at Shopko.

'We are the few, we are the proud, we are the Wildcats'

Below is the original version of the letter Wildcat football fan Bryant Leathers of McMinnville sent about the Linfield 2009 football season to the McMinnville News-Register. The N-R ran an edited -- Bryant had to edit out about 86 words – to meet the newspaper's “2000 characters or approximately 300 words.” Limit. See the version the N-R ran, headlined "Congratulations, Linfield," on Dec. 19, 2009. See that version of the letter here. (But, you must scroll down to find the letter.)

Bryant (left) and Leo at Maxwell Field on 10/16/2010
before Pacific at Linfield football game.

I was 5 years old in 1963 when I watched my first Linfield College football game. At that time, they played at night under the lights and I thought I was watching a real professional football game, just like the games I watched on T.V.

Fast forward to 2009 and I am still enjoying the the greatest game ever invented. I have witnessed the 82, 84 and 86 teams that won the NAIA National Championship, I have witnessed the 2004 team that won the NCAA division 3 National Championship, I have seen Monday Night Football show video of Linfield football when that (certain play) happened a long time ago, and I have witnessed the 54 or is it 55 consecutive winning seasons the Linfield football teams have produced.

But I have to admit I am probably more impressed with Linfield football this year than I have been in a long time. I really can’t put my finger on why I was so surprised by the Wildcats this year, but a dear friend of mine might have said it best, he said, Bryant “They’re just a motley crew that plays’ well together”. With apologies to the players on the team, we were a team without what people call (Star players). We were a team that started the season with a daunting schedule and kept just winning games.

I have watched Linfield football from the coaching days of Paul Durham to Ad Rutchman on through to present day coach Smith, I have even been told by my father of Coach Lever, a man who coached Linfield football before Durham, and may I add is the name of the street that runs directly behind Maxwell field, but I will remember this team as a team that overcame a very tough schedule, and my own doubts to finish with a 12-1 record, a ranking of # 3 in the nation and a newfound respect from a loyal fan (Me).

I will continue to attend Linfield games with my Dad, we will carry our portable chairs and seat ourselves in the north end zone as usual and enjoy this great game called Linfield Football. The Marines have a motto that I will incorporate into Linfield football from now on, “we are the FEW, we are the PROUD, we are the WILDCATS”. Congratulations Linfield College on a great season, you should be proud.


Bryant Leathers
McMinnville

Info about Linfielder Hugh Yoshida

Scroll down. There are three different bits of info here. One bit from the Honolulu Advertiser. Another bit from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. And, also a bit from The Maui News.

Leilehua honors former coach

Honolulu Advertiser 9/17/2004

It was 1969, and Hugh Yoshida was agonizing over whether to accept an offer to become head football coach and athletic director at Leilehua High, one of the state's largest public schools, or continuing coaching at little Waialua High.

At the time, he recalled something his former Iolani School classmate, Willie Chang, told him.

"You're a good coach," Yoshida recalled Chang saying. "The only thing you don't do is win at Waialua."

Waialua had given the former Linfield College NAIA All-American linebacker his first head coaching job. Yoshida's undersized but disciplined teams earned the respect of Rural Oahu Interscholastic Association opponents with their scrappy play despite 1-7-1, 3-6 and 4-5 records from 1967 to 1969.

Yoshida decided to take Leilehua's offer, a decision that proved to be a springboard for both the Wahiawa school and for his career as a coach and athletic administrator.

The tradition, work ethic and pride Yoshida established in his 17 years at Leilehua is still embodied by the school, says Vice Principal Bob Davis, who played on the Mules' 1984 Prep Bowl championship team. During halftime ceremonies of today's game against Nanakuli, the school will honor its former coach by officially naming its campus stadium after him.

The 1984 championship team also will be recognized at halftime.

"It's a nice honor, very unexpected," said the 64-year-old Yoshida, a Mililani resident whose 119-25-5 coaching record at Leilehua included two league titles and seven division crowns in addition to a Prep Bowl victory. "We had a very nice run there, and met a lot of good people and good administrators.

"When I made that decision," Yoshida said of leaving Waialua, "it was a difficult one but it was the right thing to do."

Yoshida left Leilehua in 1987 to become the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's executive secretary, succeeding the late Bill Smithe. Four years later, he was named associate athletics director at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. He succeeded the late Stan Sheriff as UH athletics director in 1993 and served until his retirement in December 2002.

"Every step was meaningful," Yoshida said. "The common ground was always to do what's best for the student-athlete."

Leilehua Principal Norman Minehira began having "sidebar discussions" with his athletic director, Richard Townsend, last year about honoring Yoshida, whom Minehira says embodies what LHS stands for — leadership, humility and service.

"His greatest legacy is he's touched the lives of thousands of kids," Minehira said. "We honor history and tradition at this school."

Yoshida transformed Leilehua into an instant contender behind the passing of Alex Kaloi, receiving of Rick Wagner and all-around play of Paul Dombroski. The Mules became the darlings of Wahiawa, and seats for home games were hard to come by. A local radio crew arrived for a showdown game against Wai'anae in 1970 at the end of the first quarter because of traffic on California Avenue.

In his first seven years at Leilehua, Yoshida's teams never lost more than one game in a season.

"Coach Yoshida built the winning tradition of Leilehua football," Davis said. "We might not win every year but we will always be competitive."

Davis, an offensive guard, recalled that the 1984 championship team that defeated St. Louis, 10-0, in the Prep Bowl to finish with a 10-0-1 record had to work extra hard since there were only 32 players on the varsity roster.

Playing for Yoshida was all about having the right character, work ethic and pride, said Davis.

"We would run a play over, and over and over again in practice, five, six, seven times, until we got it right," Davis recalled. "The defense knew what we were going to do but coach told us if we execute it right, it doesn't matter if the defense knows what's coming."

The work ethic is what Davis tries to pass on to students today. "I tell them you might not have the right tools or right background but you can still accomplish what you want if you're willing to work hard at it."

In retirement, Yoshida spends most of his time helping his wife, Patti, baby-sit their three grandsons, ages 6, 2 and 4 months. They're expecting a granddaughter in November. There's still time for golf and a trip, says Yoshida.

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Yoshida to retire as UH athletic director

Dick Tomey is touted as a top replacement but is not sure he is interested in the job

Honolulu Star-Bulletin 2/22/2002

University of Hawaii athletic director Hugh Yoshida, 61, confirmed last night that he would announce his retirement at a news conference on campus this afternoon.

Yoshida said he will end a nearly 10-year tenure on Dec. 31, which closes out his current contract.

"That's accurate," Yoshida told the Star-Bulletin last night.

He said he is not sure of his future plans.

"I'm just really happy to have had the opportunity to work here and experience heading a Division I program. I feel very blessed," Yoshida said. "Right now, it's still 10 months out from retirement and there are a lot of options out there. I will be doing something, whether it's playing golf, spending more time with my family or doing a job."

Yoshida was offered a job upon his retirement as a special assistant to UH president Evan Dobelle. But he turned down the post that would include building intercollegiate athletic programs from scratch at the UH system's community college level.

Yoshida became UH athletic director when his predecessor, Stan Sheriff, died in January 1993. He was associate athletic director in 1992.

Prior to that, Yoshida was a successful high school football coach and athletic director, mostly at Leilehua High School. He was also the executive secretary of the Oahu Interscholastic Association.

Dobelle said, " Hugh's been dedicated to the young people of Hawaii for 30 years. He's at the top of his game. Sometimes it's nice to leave while the band's still playing."

Yoshida, who was born in Kapaa, Kauai, is a 1958 graduate of Iolani School and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Linfield College in Oregon, where he was an NAIA All-American in football. Yoshida is the 16th athletic director at the University of Hawaii. He is the first American of Japanese ancestry to hold such a Division I post nationwide.

Former UH and Arizona football coach Dick Tomey, 63, is considered a top candidate to replace Yoshida. But Tomey, who was an analyst for UH football telecasts last year, said he is not sure what he wants to do in the future.

"I tried very hard to get the Cal (football coaching) job, and as recently as last week I talked to someone about a coaching job," Tomey said. "Then there's broadcasting. There are a lot of options.

"I'd need to think a lot about (the UH athletic director's position). I really don't know the process or the timetable," he added. "At this point the biggest feeling I have is nothing but admiration for the job Hugh's done. Hugh will be a tough guy to replace."

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UH ATHLETIC DIRECTORS

The Maui News 3/14/2008

1921-38—Otto ‘‘Proc’’ Klum
1938-40—None
1940-41—Eugene ‘‘Luke’’ Gill
1941-42—Theodore ‘‘Pump’’ Searle
1942-46—None
1946-47—Francois d’Eliscu
1947-49—x-Iwao Miyake
1949-51—Thomas Kaulukukui
1951-52—Archie Kodros
1952-60—Henry Vasconcellos
1960-61—Frederick Haehnlen Jr.
1961-62—Edward Chui
1962-66—Young Suk Ko
1966-67—Phil Sarboe
1967-68—Robert Martin
1968-75—Paul Durham
1975-76—x-Edward Chui
1976-83—Ray Nagel
1983-93—Stan Sheriff
1993-2002—Hugh Yoshida
2002-2008—Herman Frazier
2008—x-Carl Clapp
2008—Jim Donovan
x-acting or interim

Linfield football practice 10/15/2010

Pacific at Linfield football video 10/16/2010

Linfield Homecoming 2010 10/16/2010

Hartford Connection's Pete Dengenis, Mike Stelman visit Linfield Football practice at Maxwell Field 10/15/2010

Read about the famous Linfield "Hartford Connection" here.

They play, they stay

By Whitney Bermes, McMinnville News-Register, 10/16/2010

Most college football coaches can’t return to their alma maters to take part in homecoming festivities. No pep rallies. No parades. No reliving tradition.

At Linfield College, 12 coaches get to celebrate homecoming every time they step onto Maxwell Field on Saturday afternoons.

The 2010 homecoming game at 1:30 p.m. today vs. Pacific is but one more example.

Of the 17 coaches manning Linfield’s staff, 12 donned the WIldcat uniforms themselves.

“Coming from Linfield, everyone’s been there, done that,” said wide receivers coach James Yen, a 2002 graduate. “It’s a tradition passed down from the coaches we had before in Coach (Ed) Langsdorf and Coach (Jay) Locey and now into Coach (Joseph) Smith.”

Smith, the head coach, is the first to come to mind. A 1993 graduate, he was an All-American cornerback for the ’Cats and kick-started his coaching career with his alma mater.

“Linfield has its own way of doing things,” Smith said, “so by hiring a player that’s gone through our system, they know the expectations. They know how to do things. They know how to teach the game and they know how to do it within the value system we want to keep perpetuating.”

Doug Hire, an offensive guard on the 1986 NAIA national championship team, is in his 11th year on the staff, the fifth as assistant head coach.

Defensive coordinator Jackson Vaughan is a ’97 grad. Playing only one year because of a career-ending injury, Vaughn started his Wildcat coaching career as a college junior.

Phil Romach, in his fourth year coaching linebackers, was part of four consecutive Northwest Conference championship teams, including the 2004 NCAA Division III group that won the national title.

Brandon Hazenberg oversees tight ends and special teams in his fifth year on staff. As a Wildcat, Hazenberg earned a spot in the record books. He ranks fourth all-time in all-purpose yards (3,767), receiving yards (2,165) and receiving touchdowns (22).

The illustrious Ad Rutschman assists with kickoff returns. The 24-year football coach was a 12-time letter winner as a Linfield athlete in football, basketball and baseball from 1950 to 1954. Rutschman coached Linfield to three NAIA Division II national championships and 15 NWC titles.

Rutschman, who retired as head coach in 1991, is in his 10th year helping with special teams.

Quarterbacks coach Brett Elliott has been on staff for three years. As quarterback for the 2004 NCAA Division III national championship team, Elliott broke both Linfield and conference records for single game, single season and career passing.

Fifth-year chaplain Tyler Matthews, a 2003 graduate, quarterbacked the Wildcats and ranks second behind Elliott in Linfield history in passing yards, touchdown passes and passing efficiency.

Ryan Devlin, a 2005 Linfield grad, is in his fifth year on staff. Kyle Otineru, a three-year starter on the offensive line, comes off his senior season in 2010 to be a part of the staff.

Graduate assistant Jared Hinkle, in his second year, played offensive tackle through 2008.

Gabe Haberly, also in his second year, was a ’Cat cornerback through 2008. And 2001 grad and ex-Linfield kicker Scott Cannon is in his second year on staff.

It’s not unique for a school in Division III football to have players transition into coaches at their alma mater.

Take the Northwest Conference, for example. Willamette boasts six alums on its 13-man staff. Pacific Lutheran also has six.

That’s the closest to the Linfield dozen anyone in the NWC comes.

Three ex-Loggers made their way onto Puget Sound’s staff. Whitworth has two alums, Pacific and Lewis & Clark one each.

No program can hold a candle to Linfield’s 54 consecutive winning seasons, a national record. The benefits of having homemade coaches is apparent in the Streak.
The tradition, the expectations, the preparation it takes to win have all been passed down year to year, coach to coach, player to player.

“There’s such loyalty to the program because, hopefully, because of how the program’s being run and the experience kids have,” Smith said. “They’re so loyal to it, they’re willing to come back and do a tremendous amount of work for very little pay.”

Yen said that when recruiting the newest generation of Wildcats, coaches emphasize the family atmosphere this coaching tradition has created as one of the pillars of Linfield’s success.

“You kind of bond and you become family and that’s kind of the mentality here,” Yen said. “It’s a family-oriented coaching staff here. It’s really hard to leave sometimes and I think our coaching staff feels the same way.

“When winning comes, it’s nice and granted it’s a good benefit. But the relationships that you form are probably the best experiences we do have.”

Scott Carnahan: Missed Linfield home football game for first time since 1984

When Linfield athletic director/Linfield grad Scott Carnahan, former Linfield head baseball coach, missed the Oct. 2, 2010 Willamette at Linfield football game on Maxwell Field -- Wildcats won 35-7-- it was a milestone event for him.

Up until that time, he had been at every Linfield home football game since returning to Linfield as its baseball coach in 1984. He became the college’s athletic director in 1996. One of his athletic director duties is home football game management.

His reason for missing the game was for a wonderful reason. He and his wife, Linfield grad Cathy Carnahan, principal of McMinnville’s Duniway Middle School, were in Washington, D.C. She was honored there on Oct. 1, 2010, as 2010 National Middle School Principal of the Year during an awards banquet kicking off National Principals Month.

Both Carnahans are members of the Linfield Class of 1973.

For more information about Cathy Carnahan and her honor, see the Linfield Magazine Fall 2010 issue story, "The best in the nation!.

Originally posted 10/16/2010: Scott Carnahan: Missed Linfield home football game for first time since 1984

When Linfield athletic director/Linfield grad Scott Carnahan, former Linfield head football coach, missed the Oct. 2, 2010 Willamette at Linfield football game on Maxwell Field – Wildcats won 35-7-- it was a milestone event for him.

Up until that time, he had not missed a Linfield home football game since returning to Linfield as its baseball coach in 1984. He became the college’s athletic director in 1996. One of his athletic director duties is home football game management.

His reason for missing the game was for a wonderful reason. He and his wife, Linfield grad Cathy Carnahan, principal of McMinnville’s Duniway Middle School, were in Washington, D.C. She was honored there on Oct. 1, 2010, as 2010 National Middle School Principal of the Year

Both Scott and Cathy are members of the Linfield Class of 1973.


http://www.principals.org/Content.aspx?topic=2011_MetLife_NASSP_National_Middle_Level_Principal_of_the_Year


during an awards banquet kicking off National Principals Month.


CATHY PHOTO
http://www.principals.org/Content.aspx?topic=2011_MetLife_NASSP_National_Middle_Level_Principal_of_the_Year

SCOTT PHOTO
http://www.linfield.edu/sports/sports-administration.html

UFO flies above Linfield football game on Maxwell Field!

Famous McMinnville UFO 1950 photo has similarity to 2010 photo from Linfield football game.

Photo from McMinnville Telephone-Register newspaper, June 8, 1950. Taken on a farm near McMinnville.

Photo from Wildcatville, Oct. 2, 2010. Taken during Willamette at Linfield football game in McMinnville on Linfield College's Maxwell Field. Fans in grandstand observe UFO.

Willamette 7 at Linfield 35 Football 10/1/2010