Linfield, Findlay Playing For Title
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - They are the little guys of college football and their players reap no big financial rewards and no nationwide fame.
Linfield College of Oregon, enrollment 2,100, and the University of Findlay, Ohio, enrollment 2,900, meet tomorrow for the NAIA Division II championship in a game that will showcase a largely untainted form of college sports.
"Kids at this level play without a lot of so-called rewards that might exist at a scholarship schools," Linfield Coach Ed Langsdorf said. "They are truly amateurs in the sense that they're full-time students."
The title game will be played on a neutral field. But Civic Stadium in Portland is just 38 miles from Linfield's campus, and more than 2,000 miles from Ohio.
The game matches the balanced attack of Linfield (12-0) against the wishbone offense of Findlay (11-1). Langsdorf is unbeaten as Linfield coach after taking over when Ad Rutschman retired last year.
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Postscripts:
–Linfield ‘Cats lost 26-13 to Findlay. The Wildcats scored first on a 5-yard TD run by QB Shannon Sells, however Findlay scored twice to stay in front for good at 14-7.
–The photo with this story is one of the signs given to Linfield fans before the game. Text at the sign’s bottom says, “The Linfield College Alumni Assocation invites you to a postgame celebration from 4-7 p.m. at the Multnomah Athletic Club (south end of the stadium). $5.00 per person cover chare. No host refreshments.”
-Linfielder Greg
Crawford was a sideline radio broadcaster at the game for Portland metro
area’s KFXX radio for its broadcast carried nationally. His notes say kickoff
(on/about 1 p.m. Pacific Time, Sat., Dec. 19, 1992) temperature was 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
A game story by Linfielder Ken Wheeler
in the Dec. 20, 1992, Sunday Oregon, says
the game took place “on a chilled, drizzle-filled afternoon.”
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=4pF9x-cDGsoC&dat=19921220&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
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NAIA football championship game in Portland: Linfield College Wildcats lose to University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio) Oilers, 26-13, on Dec. 19, 1992
In his first year as Linfield College head football coach, Ed Langsdorf, guided the 1992 Wildcats to the NAIA DII national championship game. Prior to his four seasons (1992-1995) as Linfield head coach, Langsdorf was a Wildcats assistant football coach for 12 seasons. After he stepped down as head coach, he was an assistant four more seasons.
The afternoon game was played Sat., Dec. 19, 1992, at Portland Civic Stadium before more than 9,000 fans.
Photos by Wildcatville:
Coverage of game, including from Salem, Ore., Statesman-Journal, and Kingsport, Tenn., Times-News:
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=4pF9x-cDGsoC&dat=19921220&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
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NAIA football championship game in Portland: Linfield College Wildcats lose to University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio) Oilers, 26-13, on Dec. 19, 1992
In his first year as Linfield College head football coach, Ed Langsdorf, guided the 1992 Wildcats to the NAIA DII national championship game. Prior to his four seasons (1992-1995) as Linfield head coach, Langsdorf was a Wildcats assistant football coach for 12 seasons. After he stepped down as head coach, he was an assistant four more seasons.
The afternoon game was played Sat., Dec. 19, 1992, at Portland Civic Stadium before more than 9,000 fans.
Findlay’s defense overwhelmed Linfield, said the Oregonian.
Findlay led 14-7 at halftime and outscored Linfield 12-6 in the second half.
Linfield, which averaged 476.5 yards of offense in its previous 12
games, was held to 268 yards by the Findlay defense, and managed only 204 yards
after its opening march.
After the opening kickoff, Linfield used six plays to go 64 yards.
QB Shannon Sells ran the final five yards after throwing a 25 yard pass
to John Santiago and Gary McGarvie gained 19. Kunle Thomas kicked
the PAT.
Linfield got a second touchdown on a 42-yard Sells-to-McGarvie
pass play with 4:20 left in the game. A two post conversion after TD pass
failed.
Photos by Wildcatville:
Coverage of game, including from Salem, Ore., Statesman-Journal, and Kingsport, Tenn., Times-News:
Same AP story (includes box score) about game is on page 3H of Sunday, Dec. 20, 1992,
Eugene Register-Guard:
