Day 2:
We were relegated to the bottom pool after losing all of our games on Saturday. Also in our pool: UNLV, Pepperdine, and Redlands (read: chumps)
It was pretty obvious that we had gotten shafted on our initial Saturday seeding (our pool probably being the hardest) but at least having super easy games on Sunday would give us a chance to get our rookies quality playing time against other teams. Anyways.
First game at 9am against Pepperdine. They had two girls playing. Actually, I'm pretty sure one of their girls was better than a bunch of their guys, so go her. They only really had one handler and I stalled him.
In fact it was probably the most interesting situation I've been involved in since I started playing Ultimate. Here it is: We pull. I run down and am marking their one main handler flick. Count starts rising and he still has nothing. At 8 or 9 he takes three steps away from me and still doesn't throw it. I say 10 then up (no idea why I said up at that point, he had not thrown it.) So he is standing there 3 steps away from where he should have been and I'm in shock. I'd never seen anything like that. I call stall (after all, I had indeed reached the T of Ten.) For some reason he says no. He says I had only gotten to 8. (REALLY?!) I exclaim that I did indeed hit 10 AND on top of that, he had travelled like crazy. But whatever, this chump sucks. I'm just going to stall him again so I tell him to contest my stall. Count comes in at 8 (after I told him that he had travelled, so he had to come back to me.) Anyways, count comes in stalling 8, 9. I'm about to hit 10 again but lo and behold, he travels into me again to throw and calls foul. I swear, he was trying to bait the foul, but I was too far off, so he had to travel into me to get fouled. I contest the foul in shock. I only fouled him because he travelled into me. He says: "Yea, you probably should contest that". WTF!! This guy is a super douche. Anyways, I'm tired of this absurdity so I decide to not argue with him (I mean, really, what is the point.) So count comes in at 6 and he ends up getting the throw off at 9. Total bullshit. I think we ended up winning this game 13-2 or 13-3? After the game Mr. Douche just sat in the endzone sulking. Whatever. Not worth it.
After that game we had a 2 round bye (or so we thought) so we went to Jamba Juice. Ends up they were giving away free smoothies if you wore a banana suit. So 1 free Strawberry Wild later we get a call from KG saying that UNLV wants to play earlier so we are bumping our game up a round and playing at Muir. My car goes back to the fields to watch UCLA beat UCSB on universe (woot.) Then go to Muir fields to find that UNLV had already bailed (as had pepperdine) so we are set to play Redlands.
I think our goal going into the Redlands game was to bagel them. Then Roeder got handblocked and then scored on. Oh well. I think we won 13-3 or 13-4. Highlight of that game was a complete rookie game scoring the last point.
Went to Chipotle afterwards for the ritual burrito and beer. I still don't understand why we go to Chipotle when we go down to SD with all the actual mexican food around there, but whatever. It's still good. Took a team picture and then drove Nate, Elaine, and Hannah home. Fun time driving back.
Thats about it. Fall pre-season is over and I'm excited for our team. We are picking up two studs for next quarter that weren't able to play with us in the fall (Evan and Kobe.) And our rookie class is 4 times as big as it has ever been. This year should be a lot better than I had initially expected. Now back to Spanish homework.
30 November 2008
28 November 2008
SoCal Warm Up 08
http://upa.org/scores/tourn.cgi?div=127&id=5703
As you can see, we didn't do so well. Saturday we lost all of four of our games. Sunday we won both of them. Even though our weekend wasn't successful in terms of wins I do think that it was still a success. Our rookies are really starting to step up and I can see a lot of heart when they are playing. Now we just have to get them all better at throwing.
Our first round started at 9 so we left Irvine around 7. No real traffic on the 5 till Camp Pendleton when the freeway just stopped. Fish is in the car ahead of us and calls to say they shut down all but one lane. Luckily we are only a hundred yards or so behind the accident so we get through pretty quick. Unluckily, us, Fish and Roeder's cars were the only ones to make it through quickly. So we spent the rest of the ride trying to figure out if we would even have enough players to start (yes, we had 3 cars, but a few riders weren't players.) Ends up not being that big of a deal. Everyone else showed up about 20 minutes before game time.
First game against CSULB (the eventual tournament winners). This team has blown up in the past year or so (ever since Raty left.. coincidence?) I don't know what Smeltzer and Cos are doing over there, but whatever it is, their entire team has bought into it and it shows on the field. They play very well together and even though they don't have the best athletes or the best throwers, they definitely get it done. I can see them making some noise this year. We lose 8-13.
Then we had a 1 round bye. The schedule kind of sucked, but I can empathize with the TD (too many teams, not enough fields.) A few of the guys went to watch the women play against Oxy (who they beat. Woot.) Came back to play USD.
USD game was a disappointment. We start forcing backhand to take away Joe's flick huck, but then everyone keeps getting beat under. And I mean everyone kept getting beat under (not just our rookies.) So that made it pretty easy for them to walk it down the field every O point. I don't remember much else from this game. We lose 7-13.
Next game against one of the three UCSD teams. It always amazes me how they can get so many people to commit to their program. Anyways, their deeps scorched us all game. Their O points lasted maybe 4 throws. All they had to do was float it up to Forge and he would come down with it, even over Stig (crazy, I know.) We went down 5-0 to start I think. I had a horrible game with 3 turns and a drop. We lose (don't know the score.)
Another bye. Sat around and talked to old Monster teammates. And Enway. Roeder gave tattoos to everyone again. It was the logo from The Incredible's. Pretty cool but damn those things are hard to wash off.
Last game of the day against the Hillbilly UCLA squad. They divided their team by SAT scores. Blue Collar Ballers and Nerds. The squad we played had Banshee, Knuckles and Sultan. This was definitely the most exciting game of the weekend. Under the lights, with our women's team watching, and their other split squad also watching. Sidelines were packed the entire game. We broke the first point. I think we trade for a few then they break back. We traded breaks the entire game with neither team going ahead by more than 1. I can't remember who takes half. You can tell during our half time that we want this game. (Although I think even if we had won it we still would have gotten last in our pool.) We are up 12-11 (game to 13) and Roeder throws the game winner to Stig only to have it called back on an iffy pick call. Roeder trys the huck again but its a little too far past Stigs bid. They score to make it 12s. They score again to go up 12-13. We hold: 13s. Pulling on universe, they didn't give us a chance with Frenchie throwing a nice backhand huck for the score and the win. This game was a lot of fun. I played the last 9 points straight while Fish and Roeder played the last 11 points straight. I think the last 5 points or so were Universe lines (sorry rookies on the lack of play time.) I hand blocked Frenchie. Then also threw two turns to Miller (one D'd by Sultan, the other by Frenchie.) Big sidelines help out a lot in big games. Keep everyone focused and they also keep everyone pumped up. Big ups to Enway for helping out so much on the sideline (reminded me of the way Danny used to help out on the sideline.) So we lose 13-14 in a heartbreaker.
Afterwards the team started exploring trying to find this mexican place one of the rookies recommended (although we later found that he had never actually been there.) It was pretty good. The 2 dollar beer made up for the so-so food.
After that we went back to the hotel (first time the team has actually gotten hotels for a SD tournament.)
Anyways, its time to work. To be continued..
As you can see, we didn't do so well. Saturday we lost all of four of our games. Sunday we won both of them. Even though our weekend wasn't successful in terms of wins I do think that it was still a success. Our rookies are really starting to step up and I can see a lot of heart when they are playing. Now we just have to get them all better at throwing.
Our first round started at 9 so we left Irvine around 7. No real traffic on the 5 till Camp Pendleton when the freeway just stopped. Fish is in the car ahead of us and calls to say they shut down all but one lane. Luckily we are only a hundred yards or so behind the accident so we get through pretty quick. Unluckily, us, Fish and Roeder's cars were the only ones to make it through quickly. So we spent the rest of the ride trying to figure out if we would even have enough players to start (yes, we had 3 cars, but a few riders weren't players.) Ends up not being that big of a deal. Everyone else showed up about 20 minutes before game time.
First game against CSULB (the eventual tournament winners). This team has blown up in the past year or so (ever since Raty left.. coincidence?) I don't know what Smeltzer and Cos are doing over there, but whatever it is, their entire team has bought into it and it shows on the field. They play very well together and even though they don't have the best athletes or the best throwers, they definitely get it done. I can see them making some noise this year. We lose 8-13.
Then we had a 1 round bye. The schedule kind of sucked, but I can empathize with the TD (too many teams, not enough fields.) A few of the guys went to watch the women play against Oxy (who they beat. Woot.) Came back to play USD.
USD game was a disappointment. We start forcing backhand to take away Joe's flick huck, but then everyone keeps getting beat under. And I mean everyone kept getting beat under (not just our rookies.) So that made it pretty easy for them to walk it down the field every O point. I don't remember much else from this game. We lose 7-13.
Next game against one of the three UCSD teams. It always amazes me how they can get so many people to commit to their program. Anyways, their deeps scorched us all game. Their O points lasted maybe 4 throws. All they had to do was float it up to Forge and he would come down with it, even over Stig (crazy, I know.) We went down 5-0 to start I think. I had a horrible game with 3 turns and a drop. We lose (don't know the score.)
Another bye. Sat around and talked to old Monster teammates. And Enway. Roeder gave tattoos to everyone again. It was the logo from The Incredible's. Pretty cool but damn those things are hard to wash off.
Last game of the day against the Hillbilly UCLA squad. They divided their team by SAT scores. Blue Collar Ballers and Nerds. The squad we played had Banshee, Knuckles and Sultan. This was definitely the most exciting game of the weekend. Under the lights, with our women's team watching, and their other split squad also watching. Sidelines were packed the entire game. We broke the first point. I think we trade for a few then they break back. We traded breaks the entire game with neither team going ahead by more than 1. I can't remember who takes half. You can tell during our half time that we want this game. (Although I think even if we had won it we still would have gotten last in our pool.) We are up 12-11 (game to 13) and Roeder throws the game winner to Stig only to have it called back on an iffy pick call. Roeder trys the huck again but its a little too far past Stigs bid. They score to make it 12s. They score again to go up 12-13. We hold: 13s. Pulling on universe, they didn't give us a chance with Frenchie throwing a nice backhand huck for the score and the win. This game was a lot of fun. I played the last 9 points straight while Fish and Roeder played the last 11 points straight. I think the last 5 points or so were Universe lines (sorry rookies on the lack of play time.) I hand blocked Frenchie. Then also threw two turns to Miller (one D'd by Sultan, the other by Frenchie.) Big sidelines help out a lot in big games. Keep everyone focused and they also keep everyone pumped up. Big ups to Enway for helping out so much on the sideline (reminded me of the way Danny used to help out on the sideline.) So we lose 13-14 in a heartbreaker.
Afterwards the team started exploring trying to find this mexican place one of the rookies recommended (although we later found that he had never actually been there.) It was pretty good. The 2 dollar beer made up for the so-so food.
After that we went back to the hotel (first time the team has actually gotten hotels for a SD tournament.)
Anyways, its time to work. To be continued..
12 November 2008
Irvine Fall Huckfest 08
http://www.upa.org/scores/tourn.cgi?div=18&id=5377
Long Beach X (Mineshaft) won. That was the LB team with Smeltzer and Cos on it (arguably the 'stacked' LB team seeming as they made the finals of their home tournament a few weeks ago as well.)
I think the tournament went really well. No huge injuries this year, which is always a plus. I think the last time I ran this tournament we had a broken rib and a severely bruised hip? All I remember is this guy's hip swelling into the size of a small watermelon in front of my eyes. Anyways, nothing like that in the case of injuries.
One really cool thing about this tournament was that it was the biggest one Irvine had ever hosted. Once I announced the bids on RSD I received record response so decided to open the tournament up to 20 teams total. It also helped that I did not have to run a women's division concurrent with the men's division. So 20 teams. Good stuff. Gave a lot of teams the opportunity to go X/Y which I know helps at this time of year. UCI even went X/Y. At first I was apprehensive about this decision by the captains (doesn't help when we only get ~17 max at practice.) But in the end I think it worked out. Teams of 11 weren't super ideal, but I think the teams were able to bond better that way. Plus we had some help from some LPC kiddies that came down looking to pick up.
This post lacks coherence. Probably because it is 2:40am and I'm at work doing my Wind Tunnel Lab.
BJSS hosted a bunch of Arizona guys Friday and Saturday night (always cool guys.) Apparently one other car showed up in the middle of the night Friday night. When I went to sleep the Sunburn guys had taken over every available spot in the living room, but when I woke up I almost tripped over someone sleeping at the top of the stairs. Then went downstairs to see the entire downstairs covered in AZ bodies. Last year's Callahan Award winner Joe 'Loppi' Kershner was actually sleeping on my kitchen floor. Anyways.
Got to the fields Saturday morning by 7:30 to meet the club sports people with Fish. About half of UCLA was already there in the parking lot waiting around. Club sports people were slow to open the gates and every time I passed Linux he would ask if the gates were open yet. (Note to self for next time, don't say 8:15 at the latest, because that is the earliest they will open the gates.) Check-In went smoothly from what I heard. I delegated that to Thunder, Phil, and Dad. Only narrowly avoided a major problem (no cones) with some stellar help from KG and Iris (thanks you two.) Captain's meeting went a lot smoother than I remember from the last time I did it. Also helps to have another 2 years under your belt. Plus knowing most of the captain's helps the nerves I guess. I did forget to mention that the upper fields were going to be used for a field hockey game, but it ended up not mattering. Once things got underway Fish and I flipped a coin to see which of us would play in the UCI-X (Roeder's Runners) vs UofA Y (Decepticons) game (not really, he said they would need me more.) So he stayed to run the tournament while I cleated up. That game was fun. Sunburn always wears the best costumes. Plus I got to play against Kellen again (played with him over the summer at Rocket Sauce.)
I'm going to make this more abbreviated now.
Phil got injured and decided that Fish and I should both play and that he would worry about the tournament. Things were running smoothly so I didn't put up a fight.
Roeder's Runners went 2-2 on Saturday with wins against SDSU Y and Pepperdine and losses to Arizona Y and CSULB X. My mom and sister showed up for the last two games.
I had a sweet huck to Stig (ok, it was a little janky) that got him into the school newspaper (kudos to Claire for getting that picture btw... and to Meeko for getting the same exact timing only from 10 feet away.)
BTW, the reason I'm at work at 3am doing a lab write up instead of at home is because my computer crashed and I had to reinstall windows. And my wireless card needs drivers, but I can't connect to the internet to get the drivers. Isn't that a paradox?
I think I played well during the tournament. I really need to get back to writing my lab report. So I'll post this as an unfinished entry and hopefully get back to it later.
P.S. It is now almost 4am. Just wanted to add a few things.
After games ended on Saturday I headed over to watch one of the UCLA teams play APU (I think.) It was fun to catch up with Dot and Linux and Kiosk again. I miss Monster 08. Too bad the rest of the Monster guys couldn't make the trip to Irvine. Hopefully they will all be at So Cal Warm Up.
Long Beach X (Mineshaft) won. That was the LB team with Smeltzer and Cos on it (arguably the 'stacked' LB team seeming as they made the finals of their home tournament a few weeks ago as well.)
I think the tournament went really well. No huge injuries this year, which is always a plus. I think the last time I ran this tournament we had a broken rib and a severely bruised hip? All I remember is this guy's hip swelling into the size of a small watermelon in front of my eyes. Anyways, nothing like that in the case of injuries.
One really cool thing about this tournament was that it was the biggest one Irvine had ever hosted. Once I announced the bids on RSD I received record response so decided to open the tournament up to 20 teams total. It also helped that I did not have to run a women's division concurrent with the men's division. So 20 teams. Good stuff. Gave a lot of teams the opportunity to go X/Y which I know helps at this time of year. UCI even went X/Y. At first I was apprehensive about this decision by the captains (doesn't help when we only get ~17 max at practice.) But in the end I think it worked out. Teams of 11 weren't super ideal, but I think the teams were able to bond better that way. Plus we had some help from some LPC kiddies that came down looking to pick up.
This post lacks coherence. Probably because it is 2:40am and I'm at work doing my Wind Tunnel Lab.
BJSS hosted a bunch of Arizona guys Friday and Saturday night (always cool guys.) Apparently one other car showed up in the middle of the night Friday night. When I went to sleep the Sunburn guys had taken over every available spot in the living room, but when I woke up I almost tripped over someone sleeping at the top of the stairs. Then went downstairs to see the entire downstairs covered in AZ bodies. Last year's Callahan Award winner Joe 'Loppi' Kershner was actually sleeping on my kitchen floor. Anyways.
Got to the fields Saturday morning by 7:30 to meet the club sports people with Fish. About half of UCLA was already there in the parking lot waiting around. Club sports people were slow to open the gates and every time I passed Linux he would ask if the gates were open yet. (Note to self for next time, don't say 8:15 at the latest, because that is the earliest they will open the gates.) Check-In went smoothly from what I heard. I delegated that to Thunder, Phil, and Dad. Only narrowly avoided a major problem (no cones) with some stellar help from KG and Iris (thanks you two.) Captain's meeting went a lot smoother than I remember from the last time I did it. Also helps to have another 2 years under your belt. Plus knowing most of the captain's helps the nerves I guess. I did forget to mention that the upper fields were going to be used for a field hockey game, but it ended up not mattering. Once things got underway Fish and I flipped a coin to see which of us would play in the UCI-X (Roeder's Runners) vs UofA Y (Decepticons) game (not really, he said they would need me more.) So he stayed to run the tournament while I cleated up. That game was fun. Sunburn always wears the best costumes. Plus I got to play against Kellen again (played with him over the summer at Rocket Sauce.)
I'm going to make this more abbreviated now.
Phil got injured and decided that Fish and I should both play and that he would worry about the tournament. Things were running smoothly so I didn't put up a fight.
Roeder's Runners went 2-2 on Saturday with wins against SDSU Y and Pepperdine and losses to Arizona Y and CSULB X. My mom and sister showed up for the last two games.
I had a sweet huck to Stig (ok, it was a little janky) that got him into the school newspaper (kudos to Claire for getting that picture btw... and to Meeko for getting the same exact timing only from 10 feet away.)
BTW, the reason I'm at work at 3am doing a lab write up instead of at home is because my computer crashed and I had to reinstall windows. And my wireless card needs drivers, but I can't connect to the internet to get the drivers. Isn't that a paradox?
I think I played well during the tournament. I really need to get back to writing my lab report. So I'll post this as an unfinished entry and hopefully get back to it later.
P.S. It is now almost 4am. Just wanted to add a few things.
After games ended on Saturday I headed over to watch one of the UCLA teams play APU (I think.) It was fun to catch up with Dot and Linux and Kiosk again. I miss Monster 08. Too bad the rest of the Monster guys couldn't make the trip to Irvine. Hopefully they will all be at So Cal Warm Up.
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