Captain's Corner Special Delivery # 1

This week's Captain's Corner features the heart and soul of our team: Joel. I asked Joel to write a few words on how he gets himself pumped up before a game. I shall now share his passionate words of wisdom.

Being pumped up for games is important to becoming a dominant ultimate player. As a team, we are psyched for big games easily. When we are jacked up, we play at a much higher level, so we need to be pumped for all games and create our own level.

Generally, I like quiet time where I can focus on the upcoming task before the game. I try to get a bunch of good forehand throws and backhand throws warm. Then I try to focus on my catching, especially when we do cut-tos. I run hard through the disc to practice catching.

After completing the basic throws and catches, I try to focus on what I need to do to win the game. I try to remind myself to get more D's than I throw turnovers. And, right beforehand I like to get a quick short sprint to warm up.

This can get me pumped to a certain level, but what really makes the difference for me is how I play the first few points. If I start on defense, I try to sprint my absolute hardest on the pull to set the attitude that this is going to be a fight. I also try to get close to my guy and make a layout bid early in the game to warn them I am right there and will be all game.

If play on offense, I try to get to a high level by running hard on the first few points, so the other team does not think they can stay with me. It is great when another team keeps switching defenders on you because you outrun everyone they try.

I know everyone has a different philosophy about getting pumped up. But, everyone should try getting as excited as they can for every game. We cannot afford to look past people and teams. Motivation is a big part in playing your best, so find the motivation you need. Whether it is betting some on the team that, you can get more d's or betting you will not turn over the disc. Or if it is I am going to play perfect, so I get more playing time in the future. Set goals right before each game and try to achieve them.

CCC Preview

It looks like the D Line will be at full strength this weekend. Lamp adjusted his schedule, Rip is still broken but able to play, and if Lefty gets his mask on time, it’s game over for any offense that we’ll face this weekend.

Classic City Classic always draws good competition, and this year is no exception. Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida, and Georgia are seen as the big players coming into the last tournament of the fall, but one doesn’t always know what to expect. Teams usually use this tournament to make their final A team cuts for the spring season. Overplaying a rookie line on Saturday could jeopardize a team’s chance to make the championship bracket on Sunday; however, players step up when the situation calls for it. Any rookie at any time could break out and change the entire dynamic of the tournament.

The Illini have some favorable match-ups in their pool and a legitimate chance to vault their fourth seed and make a run at the big dogs on Sunday. We have five rounds and zero byes on Saturday. That’s a long day for every team at the fields. We need to take advantage of the easy games and maximize our recovery time.

Each game on Saturday looks to be a good match up for the Illini, and every team is very beatable. But we cannot afford to look past any one of these teams. That was a big part of our downfall at MLC. If we take a game for granted, we’ll find ourselves in a dog fight when we should’ve won it 20 minutes ago. This tournament is the last chance to play for two whole months. Bring everything every game. Don’t save anything for later, because there is no later.

Now, I am normally a nice guy that has a lot of respect for his opponent. I hold the spirit of the game near and dear to my heart and would rather make friends on the field than enemies (pretty much the exact opposite of pappy). However, there is one dark spot in my soul that is reserved for Wisconsin-Whitewater. I hate these guys, and seeing them seeded above us in our pool just touches off every nerve in my being. The last time we met, I laid out into a kid causing head-on collision that literally knocked him out of the game and into an ambulance (true story, just ask any one who went to MLC last year). As broken as I am, I will not hesitate to break one of those tools in half by laying out through him. I’m pretty sure that most of the team feels the same way. So if you’re reading this, Whitewater, be prepared for the game of your lives on Saturday, and look out for number six. He’s coming for ya.

The Indoor Season is Upon Us

The indoor season is upon us. This is where we work. This is where we put in the effort. This is where it sucks, but the reward is worth it all.

The armory consists of 2800 square feet of the most unforgiving flooring this world has known. The dry air seeps into your lungs and sits there, revolting against your body’s process to bring oxygen to your tired muscles. The still air gives rookies that illusion of good looking forehands. It is in this harshness that we push ourselves to become great players.

Running form is key. Everyone on the team can get better. The goal of each drill is to increase efficiency by exaggerating the correct movement. The guys at the front of each line know what they’re doing. Watch them. Strive to imitate their exact movements. If you aren’t sure about a movement or if you think you aren’t doing it right, ask Jman, Phenom, or Rip to watch you. They’ll tell you the exact way you can maximize the drill for your benefit.

I cannot stress this next point enough. Give 100% in each drill. Do not save anything for the rest of practice. The only way to get better in the armory is to push yourself. Your endurance and strength will improve quickly if you suck it up and push through the pain. The sooner you do that, the sooner the pain goes away. Take it from a vet, you want that pain to go away as soon as possible.

The crossfits are all about personal bests. Do not be discouraged if you cannot do a pullup. Work at it. Set goals for yourself. This doesn’t mean that you should take it easy, but killing yourself doesn’t do the team a whole lot of good. Make sure your always working past the edge of your ability. It really helps to pair up with someone of equal or slightly greater crossfitability (yeah, I made that word up). Push each other. Make it a competition. Because by winning against him, you’re winning against yourself.

Throwing in the armory is almost a waste of time. If you struggle with a particular throw, it may help to get the basic mechanics down in a controlled situation. However, there is no substitute for throwing outside. Just because the throw looks good in the Armory, doesn’t mean that it is game ready.

We will doing a lot of drills that focus on making smart cuts and getting into the right position. This is the chance to develop ultimate smarts. Pay close attention. Soon the fundamentals of flow and timing will become second nature. Also, work on playing defense. This is the key to rising fast and getting playing time. Really focus on learning to read your guy. Keep your hips square to him until he commits. Unless you know you can get your hips turned around in half the time it takes him to (since he’ll have a head start), then keeping your hips square is absolutely essential. By the way, not even Jman can get his hips turned in half the time of anyone on the team.

My final bit of advice, don’t get discouraged. The winter is long, and the crossfits are brutal. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Spring breaks forth with Las Vegas, Mardi Gras, Terminus, and Centex. Ultimate is fun, boys. And there ain’t much that’s more fun than winning. It starts now. Taste it.

MLC Recap

The men’s team headed into this tournament with high hopes. With the likes of Colorado, Wisconsin, and Carleton in attendance, we saw a chance to prove that we were a legitimate threat and national contender. Unfortunately, injuries would cripple our run at taking the tournament trophy home.

Going into the weekend, the team was down three starting defensive longs. Rip and Lefty were out with injuries, and Lamp was forced with the difficult choice of choosing career or tournament. Becoming a doctor is tough, and one can hardly blame him for not attending this tourney. Without these three impact players, the rest of team would have to step up. First year A-teamers had an opportunity to prove that they belonged with the squad.

Pool play on Saturday seemed to be a good start. We held seed. However, one could see trouble brewing by the fact that all our victories were much closer than they should have been, but taking Carleton and Colorado to double game point provided the team with hope going into Sunday.

The wear and tear of Saturday weighed heavily on the Illini. Everyone was a step slow. Each throw was a bit off. Drops plagued us. The game against Wash U was an utter disappointment. Our D-line could not get a break even if they got the turn on the goal line. That loss hurt. It hurt a lot.

The next two games were close, but that loss to Wash U gave the team the wake up call it needed to close the next two rounds out. Ohio State was in our sights.

Revenge stalked the mind of every A teamer that played in regionals last year. We didn’t care that the game only meant ninth. We wanted to win. The game stayed tight, but OSU held the lead most of the way. I’m pretty sure they went on a run at some point, but we answered right back. Sick plays were made all around. My favorite was Joel skying an opponent in the endzone with the suns rays steaming out of cloud in the background. It was as if Joel snatched the disc from the hand of God.

It came down to double game point. We called timeout. After losing twice yesterday, we needed something to spur us to victory. Joel had us turn our Jerseys inside out; hence, he created our universal point jerseys. But all was for nothing. OSU scored, and we walked off the field defeated.

How to win the Party

Step one: Steal shit

Step two: Break shit

Step three: DO NOT MAKE ANY FRIENDS

Step four: pull a Noe

At around 10pm, ten of us piled into one van and drove to the MLC party. Located in downtown Jefferson City, Bones (a somewhat classy establishment) hosted the festivities. The streets were practically dead except for all the police officers making sure that everyone was safe (a pretty easy task since there was nobody around).

The bar was located in an alley, which made it quite difficult to find. Upon arrival, we discovered that it was a 21+ party. Cole and I walked in and the other eight kids went home.

Cole and I had a job to do, and we took this responsibility pretty seriously. Unfortunately, the turnout was rather poor and our competition wasn’t much. Also, we didn’t have exclusive rights to the bar, so we had to share the space with quite a few non-ultimate types and plenty of cougars (Troy would have been in heaven).

The night progressed quickly when we started playing flipcup. About 6 Mizzou guys were there along with a few girls from Colorado St, a Michigan guy, a couple guys from Arkansas, and us. Cole and I rolled flipcup like it was nobody’s business. Any team that we were a part of instantly became team domination.

As flipcup progressed, many excursions were taken to the dance floor to throw down thriller and soulja boy. A lot of people left, and eventually it was the three girls, us, and Karl from Arkansas (that kid is crazy). We played for a little while longer, but it was obvious that the party was winding down. We sent Karl down the back steps with a pitcher of beer and we preceded to exit out the front. We still had a lot of tickets left that were worth free beers at the bar. We made the patrons very happy when we gave these away.

Cole mad sure that we were the last ones to leave the bar thus ensuring and Illinois victory, even if it came on a technicality. The six of us chilled in the parking garage next door, taking pulls from the pitcher until Cole decided to finish it and keep the pitcher as our trophy (step one accomplished). Turns out the pitcher had a chip in the bottom of it (step two accomplished).

Karl said he knew of a house a party, and it wasn’t 1am so we hopped in a car driven by sober Max (against Cole’s wishes I might add, and for this I apologize, but hey we were only halfway done with our goals and I’m not a quitter).

The house party was the Arkansas hotel room. We bust in waking up all the rookies (step three accomplished). We drink a lot of their beer and then get Max to drive us home at around 1:30.

“But wait,” you say, “what about step four?”

“Yeah,” the rookie reading this chimes in, “and what the hell is ‘pulling a Noe’”

I was getting to that. Noe is a distinguished graduating member of the Ultimate team (replaced distinguished with Mexican). At last year’s MLC, he threw up in the bar thus ensuring our loss at the party (although, pappy had pretty much lost it for us by then anyway). The bar summarily kicked Noe out. As soon as he walked out the door and girl came up to him and asked him if he had a girlfriend. Considering Noe’s face, I’m surprised she had to ask. Noe said, “no”, and she preceded to make out with him.

One of the girls left with us, so I knew I had step up. I didn’t throw up (lucky for her), so I guess I only pulled half of a Noe, but the kiss ensured that we accomplished step four.

Welcome

My friends,

It has come to my attention that our other anonymous blogger has grown weary of the responsibility that a blog entails, or he has forgotten the user name and password for his account. We may never know. So, in the spirit of free competition, I have designed this site to serve as your source to all things Illinois Ultimate. And I do mean all, so you will see posts detailing the women’s and coed team.

My hope is that others will contribute since it is impossible for me to be around everything all the time. A majority of the writing will be handled by myself, but at the very least there will be a post by one of the captains every week.

You will also notice that unlike our other blogger, I have not hidden my identity in shame. So send all posts to pripsky@gmail.com.

So without further ado, some posts that are long overdue.