CCC Write Up - Sunday Championship Bracket
Grant
I would publish Sunday's results last night but fatigue got the best
of me. For a reference here is the link to Saturday's post:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.sport.disc/browse_thread/thread/4f6a5464524c4a13?hl=en#
And without further adieu...
After showing up to the fields not bright but very early on Saturday,
I took the leisurely route of sleeping in till it was time for the
quarterfinals to start on Sunday. Keystone Light is to blame.
Quarterfinals
Wisconsin vs. Florida
Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota
Of course this match up had to happen. Three years of top flight
rivalries don't simply die in the finals of College Nationals. Match
Diesel where are you? The bloggy red head might not be anywhere to be
seen but there certainly is a crowd gathering to watch Round 1 of this
season's tilt between the teams.
Not being ones to lull their opponents to sleep, Wisco and UF both
take deep shots early with Brodie getting what he asked for in a
completed huck for the first score of the game, 1-0 Florida. #21's
second deep shot is partially blocked and the disc descends quicker
than intended and the Florida receiver can't change direction in
time. Wisconsin picks up the disc and looks to go the distance for
Alex Simmons. Simmons body's his defender just a little too much and
foul is called negating the score. No matter as Baby Blue continues
to work the deep game and succeed in getting a break to make it 2-1
Hodags.
In the other quarterfinal game on the main fields, Michael Arenson
continues to show off his quickness when he tracks down a huck just
short of the goal line, but can't get the quick score. Arenson resets
dumps the disc and Grey Duck continues to swing the disc left and
right but can't penetrate the goal. Pitt finally shuts down the
Gophers with their D and takes over. Arenson would get redemption his
redemption though as he puts up a smooth upline huck that grazes the
chins of the players and spectators on the sidelines but stays on
track for the Grey Duck receiver to get the score, 3-2 Minnesota.
Switching gears, Animal gets a big layout D on Brodie but the pace is
too quick for the Hodags and they turn the disc over back to Florida.
Brodie gets a good look and continues to huck the disc. While Cole
Sullivan has a few inches on his defender, the disc has a few too many
inches on him and sails past. Back and forth the disc goes until
Wisconsin finally ends the marathon point when their umpteenth huck is
completed for the second break of the game 3-1.
Pitt is clicking when Mike Pannone puts his entire body in front of a
disc for the ESN D. His coach informs me that was brought up from the
B team this year and it looks like he's earned it as Pitt uses the D
to get the score, 5-4 En Sabah Nur.
The next series of plays might or might not have been inevitable in
the Hodag UFUCT matchup. Ben Feldman gets the D on a Florida huck but
fails to catch the disc and instead ends up macking it right to a UF
receiver. A travel call on Brodie brings the disc back. A few throws
gets Florida in striking distance when Brodie gets handblocked but
calls a foul drawing the ire of both the Wisconsin sideline as well as
the crowd.
Once Wisconsin completes the break to make it 4-1, the teams trade
points when another controversy arises. Brodie hucks the disc (again)
to Fernando "Ferns" Lugo who grabs it right at the goal line. Too
close for this reporter to tell and Ferns calls himself in. Wisconsin
doesn't think so, especially Foster. The sideline again balks at a
Florida call but it's not their choice. Diplomacy between the two
teams prevail and it stays a goal, 5-3 Hodags.
Still no sign of Match Diesel.
On the other field, En Sabah Nur's Jake Christian gets his second
layout D of the game for Pitt and completes the bookends as Pitt
starts to pull away from Minnesota, taking half 8-5.
Alton Gaines gets the disc for Florida and throws a huck we wish all
throws could be like. The disc never gains much altitude but its a
got enough velocity on it going up the line to bypass the Hodag
defender and now all Miguel (didn't catch his last name) has to do is
keep pace with the disc and wait until it crosses the goal to finally
stop rotation. Seriously, he and the disc were traveling right next
to each for the last 10 yards with nobody else around. If only life
we're that simple all the time. 5-4 Wisco.
Excited about getting a break back, the entire Florida contingent
gathers on the field to celebrate and high five each other. Meanwhile
the entire Wisconsin squad is also gathering to give a quick mini
talk. Before anyone realizes whats going both teams are huddled on
their respective sides so Cyle Van Auken yells towards the Hodags,
"Hey is that a time out?" To which Foster replies, "No... is THAT a
time out?"
"No."
They realize there is a game to be played.
Minnesota continues to have red zone troubles with several miscues
near the goal line which allows Pitt to go on a 3-1 run at the start
of the second half. The ESN D is thick as well as the dust on the
field and Grey Duck is forced into several high stall situations
leading to ill advised throws each time in a constant wind. Not to
take away from their skill level, if Minnesota only had a few less
turnovers, this could be a completely different game.
As Pitt starts to pull away, every few points, Grey Duck's Arenson
gets to show off his speed when his teammates look deep and he grabs
to goal to make it 11-7 Pitt.
Jon Gaynor gets a semi-rare double chance at a Foster huck as he can't
get a grasp on the initial descent, but as Alton Gaines can't quite D
the disc beyond reach, Gaynor lays out over a fallen Alton to pick up
the pieces. Wisco 9-6.
Two points later Brodie finds the Florida speedster Miguel near the
goal as his teammates vehemently urge him to call a timeout. A plan
is formed and when the disc is tapped in Miguel resets to Brodie who
has to work hard to get open, and the big guy gives props to his
receiver, finding Miguel again in front corner for the Florida break,
9-8 Wisconsin. The smell of epicness is in the air.
The same cannot be said for the other quarterfinal game. Facing
elimination, Minnesota uses a Pitt turnover to work the disc in for a
goal, 14-8 Pitt.
En Sabah Nur feels the game is well within their hands and after
several goal line swings and resets, advance to the semifinals with a
quick cut to the right for the score. 15-8 Pitt.
With only one game to concentrate on, I catch Ferns grabbing a disc
near the goal line and he calls himself in. The only problem is
Wisconsin doesn't think so, especially Jim Foster who enacts a 1 man
replay of the situation. After a minute Cyle steps in as the voice of
reason which suits everyone just fine and Fernando taps the disc in
signifying no score and game on. Ferns to Brodie to Gibson for the
score, 10-9 Hodags.
Calls are becoming more rampant as well as Conference1 heckles.
Florida forces a turn shortly after the pull and get a short field to
work with. The first Gator throw is a toss up for several players
that results in multiple collision and subsequent foul calls. Miguel
feels he was fouled with a play on the disc. Foster feels he can't
get no satisfaction. The sidelines can't do anything but chuckle at
the situation. A solution is agreed upon and the disc is sent back to
Brodie. The hardcap horn sounds and the end is near. Brodie taps the
disc in and finds Cole Sullivan with plenty of space behind him to
secure the disc. 10-10. Universe point.
With both teams evenly matched to this point, the clear advantage has
to go to Wisconsin who's receiving the disc. The gravity of the
situation doesn't escape the Hodags as they throw in their seven men
of offense. Out of the gate the Hodags are running the Gators
viciously and four throws later a disc to Foster gets the job done for
Wisconsin. The Hodags rush the field and advance with an 11-10 win
over Florida.
Semifinals
Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh
UNC Chapel Hill vs. Wisconsin
Notre Dame and Pitt get going first with Pitt jumping on the board. A
hospital pass to the back of the end zone is met with a Panther arm
for the 1-0 lead. Pitt is amped to start the game up but its no match
for the absolute frenzy going on the other field where Darkside and
the Hodags are vocally draining out the other semifinal. Everything
the comes to a halt as a Darkside player goes down to the ground and
he's not getting up. The trainer and the cart are called for as it
appears to be an injured right ankle or foot. The Hodags and the
Heels clap as he gets up and is driven away but its time for the game
to resume.
A Darkside shot to the endzone is too long and Wisconsin takes. They
look deep and they too go to far out of the field of play. Feeling
that they've taken their first big chance, UNC plays a shorter more
conservative game, working the disc upfield for the first score, UNC
1-0.
Notre Dame comes out on top of a turnover heavy point to settle the
game at 1's, and follows that up with a D and a huck to give the Rage
their first lead of the game. 2-1 Irish.
It's too bad their next point doesn't count because it could have been
the play of the tournament. On a turnover Rivas puts up a high huck
to the back of the endzone towards a couple of Irish and a couple of
Pitt players. My view is somewhat obstructed as this takes place in
the opposite corner from where I am standing and can only see the
white disc go down, four players ready to pounce and then a pseudo
pileup, when out of nowhere the disc is floating back up into the air
in a rainbow fashion that ends up in the hands of Daniel Reimer. A
greatest! Hold the phones though as the Pitt players claim Danny
Collom took a step out of bounds then lept and threw the disc back in
bounds. The disc eventually gets sent back to the thrower.
UNC strings together a few completions but their long ball is a no
go. Wisconsin takes possession and plays smart Ultimate all the way
up the field to tie the game at 1's. A Darkside player comments that
it's going to be a long ass game and whoever has more endurance will
win.
Darkside gets a D on Wisco near the goal line and patiently works the
disc side to side, with the NC sideline cheering every completion a
little bit more until they punch it through to the take lead again,
2-1 Carolina.
Several points later in the opposite semifinal, Notre Dame hucks it
deep to a 1 on 1 matchup but the Rage reciever has too many steps on
the Pitt defender. The difference maker is in fact whether or not the
receiver has enough room left to make the grab before the disc goes
out of bounds. As the disc floats towards the back, he finally makes
the grab, and begins to slow his momentum, changing his route and
trotting back towards the field. His team is still standing in
wonderment? Was it a goal? Was it out? He hasn't given a signal
yet. Finally after he acknowledges his teammates requests, he lifts
both arms with palms flat above his head and the rest of the Irish
proceed to cheer and rush towards the enzone for obligatory
congratulations. 4-3 Pitt.
Back to Darkside, who wants to get back to square with the Hodags,
takes a chance deep with the disc going towards the opposite sideline
as well as downfield forcing the receiver and his defender to change
course. The consequence is a mid air collision which looked horrible
from the sideline as the two met the disc at the same time, came
crashing down to the ground with the Hodag landing on top of the Tar
Heel and rolling over him. The play is getting sorted out as the
Darkside player laid on the ground and the Hodag is slow to get up.
There is discrepancy as to whether the UNC receiver was fouled or
legitimately D'ed. Refraining to comment at the time, this is what I
observed: In the span of two seconds, the Wisconsin defender gets to
the disc a hair early, hits the disc but the UNC receiver still
manages to outstretch his arms enough to grab the disc and stop
rotation and then force of both bodies trying to occupy the same space
caused the disc to be dropped. The trainer has to be called over
again for UNC and they are running out of healthy bodies. We might
start seeing more crazy haired UNC rookies getting playing time.
After the subsequent time out by Darkside, they finish what they
started and the game moves on with Wisconsin leading 5-3.The Hodags
execute during the next three points, utilizing mismatches especially
to Jim Foster. Hodags take half 8-3.
Before this takes place Pitt starts to get on a roll of their own and
take half 8-3 themselves.
Some of the intensity from the beginning of the game is starting to
wane as Notre Dame is struggling and Pitt is riding high. On a Papal
Rage huck, Brenenborg yells, "Give me a fucking up call!" He's
absolutely right as he's the only voice I hear on the field. Notre
Dame gets the break back, 10-6 Pitt.
Coming out of the half UNC throws a zone on UW, assumingly to level
the playing field by utilizing the wind and avoiding mismatches with
their rookies on D. Wisconsin is unphased and once they get their
throw through the cup, the field opens up. Gaynor is too far poached
and easily catches the disc for a Hodag goal 9-3.
Representing the last remaining non C1 team, Notre Dame is furiously
making a comeback with a 6-2 run against Pitt including 3 breaks in a
row!
The horn comes on for both games but UNC won't quit. After forcing a
huck, they get the D back and convert. 10-5 Wisco.
Notre Dame is still laying on the rage (sorry, that was bad) and gets
another break during their horn sounding and the game is all tied at
10's. Exciting finish!
Pitt is receiving and turns the disc over around half field. It's
hard to tell exactly because pitch on both semis has been reduced to a
lot of dust and dirt with minimal amounts of green showing through.
Rivas picks up the disc for ND and looks deep with a two a piece
heading long. A Rage player blatantly shoves his defender to maintain
position which likely means something will be called mo matter what.
Notre Dame snags the disc but offensive foul is called. Send the disc
back. Notre Dame works it closer and then another violation negates a
score. Pitt frustrates ND enough with their D to get the turn and
stop the bleeding with a score 11-10. Game point Pitt.
The halftime underdogs in both games keep fighting as Darkside gets a
break to make it 11-7 which brings animal, Foster, Gaynor, and the
rest of the vets in to finish things.
Notre Dame gets a point of their own to tie it up at 11's and
extending the game to 13.
With the hard cap horn sounding, Darkside ends on a high note,
grabbing the final goal and getting a chance to rest after losing
healthy bodies throughout the game. 12-8 Wisconsin.
Notre Dame and Pitt now take center stage and its do or die for the
Rage. For the time being, it's do as ND gets the equalizer with the
hard cap on. 12-12, game to 13 for all the marbles. What could
potentially be the last chance of seeing this kind of competition for
the rest of the year, Notre Dame is out to prove something. Tensions
are high and Pitt is receiving. Not even thinking about a
conservative game, En Sabah Nur goes for the throat with a deep huck
that is uncatchable giving the potential game winning possession to
Notre Dame. The Irish look to finish things with the deep game
themselves and send the discthe length of the field towards a myriad
of players, specifically a Rage receiver with a Pitt defender on his
hip. The Pitt player gets up first touching clean plastic but can't
quite clear the D enough, merely macking it further away. The ND
quickly changes directions after coming down from failing to sky the
disc on the initial attempt and now looks to layout and grab the
disc. At the same time the Pitt defender exhausted his ability to
stand upright by throwing his body upward towards the disc and comes
down to the ground on all fours in front of the Irish player getting
ready to make his second bid at the disc. As if it was meant to
happen, the two get tangled up and the entire Irish squad calls foul.
Calamity ensues.
The Rage claim the receiver still had a play on the disc. Pitt argues
otherwise. A long drawn out argument is almost at the point of
unsettleable when the disc is finally sent back the the original
thrower. Notre Dame tries to recollect itself by working the disc
upfield but turns it over to who seals the deal in just a few throws
to take everything 13-12. The game left a sour taste in some the
Notre Dame players with some obscenities overheard but life goes on
and players still shake hands.
The Finals
Wisconsin vs. Pittsburgh
The two teams who never left these fields all day resurrect their
quarterfinal tilt to close out the weekend. For Pitt to win this game
they can't get broken early and have to keep running because Wisconsin
is one, if not the most, well conditioned teams in college. Wisconsin
is receiving and ceases to yield the disc, starting the game on the
right foot 1-0. Pitt wants to answer back but are on the receiving
end of a few unfortunate circumstances. Brenenborg's huck is gobbled
up by Animal and on the ensuing Hodag drive, a Pitt player is in prime
position to D a low throw but ends of D'ing it directly behind him...
with two Hodags waiting. One grabs the disc and the other one heads
to the endzone for the break 2-0 Wisconsin. Pitt calls timeout.
En Sabah Nur gets on the board when they neutralize the Hodag zone and
its 4-1 Wisconsin. It's looking like another dominating performance
by the defending national champions but the Lee Corso in Pitt says,
"Not so fast my friend." After a series of turnovers Pitt gets a
break back with an Eddie Peters huck off of a dead disc. 4-2.
Chris Brenenborg puts up a picture perfect huck to the back of the end
zone to maintain the two point gap with the Hodags. This guy is a
star. 5-3 now. The two teams have settled into a back and forth
rhythm of trading points with neither team stepping out of line and
getting a break, but then Tyler Degirolamo gets a big D for ESN and
immediately sprints deep pulling down a warranted huck to get Pitt in
the red zone. A reset to the center and subsequent swing is
implemented to try to other side of the field but travel is called.
With the disc tapped, the field is quiet enough to hear the SCHBWAP!
of a hand blocked disc. The point is turning into a D fest as both
teams are making plays on defense. Wisconsin gets an opportunity on
the goal line and burns a time out. They don't get the goal
immediately as miscommunication leads to a turnover but they get this
disc back and Animal finds an open man in the endzone. 7-4 Wisconsin.
Another Pitt point and Ben Feldman shows off some sniper-like
precision for his receiver as Wisco takes half 8-5.
Three points at half is a tough gap to overcome for anybody,
especially against the boys in baby blue with two gold stars (soon to
be three) gleaming from their sleeves. Pitt is receiving and
Wisconsin starts the second half with a break. At 9-6, Pitt has the
disc near the endzone when the handler throws a disc that will result
in a score if someone on ESN grabs it but there is no one there and a
foul is called. Now the players discussing continuation rules when
Jim Foster starts coming to the sidelines because players not in the
point from both teams want to get their say in as well. This reporter
then yells, "CONFERENCE 1!" and the argument halts. Play resumes with
Wisconsin taking possession and working it down. 10-6 Hodags.
Finally at 12-7, the Jim Foster/Chris Brenenborg matchup takes place.
Speed and height is the name of the game with Brenenborg getting a
step on his defender and hauls in a mid range huck setting Pitt up for
the score to close the gap 12-8.
The Hodags can seemingly do little wrong as a Wisconsin huck gets more
altitude than distance and a convention gathers underneath. What
looked like the crowd parting, Foster gets an almost uncontested grab
and throws a blady forehand that his receiver grabs. If only we could
all be so lucky to circumstances like that go right. 14-8.
Pitt gets one more in before the Hodags get the championship 15-9.
I had a fantastic time and I was pleasantly surprised by the level of
play and the accompanying spirit. From the games I saw, if I had to
give out an individual spirit award it would go to Chris Gibson on
Florida who kept a level head and avoided making some questionable
calls even when his team thought otherwise. I can't wait to see what
the spring brings and more teams enter the mix.
Grant
Keegan
> Sorry I couldn't get this up sooner as I had promised a few folks that
> I would publish Sunday's results last night but fatigue got the best
> of me. For a reference here is the link to Saturday's post:
>
Grant,
I enjoyed reading your write ups. It's nice to have something to read
when I'm supposed to be studying. The only thing I would suggest, and
maybe I'm in the minority, would be to write up one complete game at a
time instead of switching back and forth. I'm sure it was cool to
watch both games simultaneously, but i personally found it a lil
annoying going from game to game while reading. just when i got into
picturing a game, my thoughts went elsewhere. anyone else feel this
way??
otherwise, great up write ups! real fun to read!
-keegan
Grant
>
> Grant,
>
> I enjoyed reading your write ups. It's nice to have something to read
> when I'm supposed to be studying. The only thing I would suggest, and
> maybe I'm in the minority, would be to write up one complete game at a
> time instead of switching back and forth. I'm sure it was cool to
> watch both games simultaneously, but i personally found it a lil
> annoying going from game to game while reading. just when i got into
> picturing a game, my thoughts went elsewhere. anyone else feel this
> way??
>
> otherwise, great up write ups! real fun to read!
> -keegan
Yea I understand completely and debated going one way or another,
choosing to go back and to try and explain what was going on in real
time (plus thats how it was written down in my notes). In retrospect
it was also a hassle to provide commentary in order to lead into game,
going back and forth and I think next time I will go for the complete
games method.
Grant