Pumpkin Head?

[Michael McDougall]

Hi all, Mike McDougall here.

It’s been a bit since I’ve been on the field, and I have kind of a odd question.

The first place I ever heard the term "Pumpkin Head” - used describe someone who was full of themselves and wanted the disc all the time - was on the Cupertino Ultimate Fields, as best I recall.

Did it originate here, or is there some deeper etymology? I’m wanting to make sure I use the term properly in future conversations :)

Thanks!

Mike McDougall

[Luke Rickford]

I first heard this from Frank H. I have no further data to add. This is an excellent etymological inquiry - the best kind of inquiry, of course. 

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

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[Ed Warner]

Pumpkin Head was probably the nicest thing Frank ever called someone on the ultimate field. 

Any mention of Frank Huguenard always sends me down a rabbit hole I wish I’d never found https://youtube.com/@dogsandbaskets?si=cKTk9VC-W0exhPSe 

His rec.sport.disc threads were legendary https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.disc/c/YIgugZVq8os/m/I35XZe2FS1oJ  and the longest emails I’ve ever received were from Frank. 

Likely, most left on this distribution list have never heard of Frank. I don’t know if that’s a good…or bad thing. 

Eddie (OG)

On Aug 5, 2026, at 3:25 AM, Luke Rickford <rick...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Al Esquivel]

Whoa , down memory lane....

Mikey , is that you , apple Mikey ?   good to hear  you are around .

Eddie-of-the-hair....I do remember you !!! always good to play with and watch play , especially for us that are follicly impaired . he he ...

I too have not been to the field after dislocating and breaking my elbow, while riding home from playing at the Sunnyvale field. it has been a long recovery , at this point I will need to learn how to throw all over again. 

Frank, he was the character. With you on that one Eddie, meeting him may not have been a good thing or maybe it was. He once paid me a compliment, I think it was. But I kept waiting for his smack down addendum ...I waited for days ...he heh. What's that disc quote: Ultimate does not build character, it reveals it !

You guys have fun , enjoy the game ! maybe someday for the warm ups 


Al (aka go-al aka al-lambada) a much older- OG 

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[Chris M]

Thank Eddy. I had no idea in those videos. Not sure if I want to watch them or not.  I played with Frank more than most. 

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[Sprattmedia]

This was fascinating. Thanks for sharing Ed. While I’ve been playing for the last 20+ years Frank H was only a figure of legend I would hear about when the conversation turned to strong personalities on and off the field. To my knowledge I never shared the field with him. 

I am curious if you think his “Triple Threat Dribbling" concept aligns with the dominator offense that has been an evolving handler pattern and strategy over the last couple of years?   

Cheers,

Ryan Spratt  |  650.530.7000  |  spratt.media

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[Luke Rickford]

Ryan, here is the rule for Frank and ultimate analysis: whatever you or anyone else is doing, 

1) it is wrong and stupid,

2) Frank knows better

I hope this clears things up.

[Steve Schramm]

I played with Frank on some of those NCUL Marauder teams in the 80s. I still have the T-shirts with the giant paw print on the front.  We worked so hard on the amoeba defense lol. Oh man. What a character. 

\Steve

On Aug 5, 2026, at 18:30, Chris M <cms...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Tom Louchard]

Hi all,

Yes, memories from Creekside.  

I remember that Frank called me “The most dangerous player on the field”.  

He wasn’t talking about scoring or defense…

Tom Louchard

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 5, 2026, at 11:56 AM, Steve Schramm <steves...@gmail.com> wrote:

 I played with Frank on some of those NCUL Marauder teams in the 80s. I still have the T-shirts with the giant paw print on the front.  We worked so hard on the amoeba defense lol. Oh man. What a character. 

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[Michael McDougall]

Hi all. Yes, that Mikey. 

Just turned 60, and now I’m blown after one point if I play with the kids (which I did, last week, oddly)

This was a different set of kids — but the same feeling.

I’m still wondering if someone had heard the term “Pumpkinhead” somewhere other (and earlier) than it coming out of Franks mouth.

I was 90% sure that this was a Frank thing. Or was it some clever yob who described Frank that way

Now and then I have nightmares, and I wake ups in a cold sweat.

  Something about being on the same team with him, and only having brought one shirt…

With shared loved for the game,

 Mike M

[Chris M]

Good to see you are still hucking Mikey!

 

-Chris illes 

On Aug 15, 2026 at 8:52 PM -0700, 'Michael McDougall' via Cupertino Ultimate <cupertino...@googlegroups.com>, wrote:

Hi all. Yes, that Mikey. 

<2026-07-17-mike-mcdougall-portrait-01-el-cerrito-wire-headshot.jpeg>

Just turned 60, and now I’m blown after one point if I play with the kids (which I did, last week, oddly)

<IMG_9958.jpeg>

This was a different set of kids — but the same feeling.

I’m still wondering if someone had heard the term “Pumpkinhead” somewhere other (and earlier) than it coming out of Franks mouth.

I was 90% sure that this was a Frank thing. Or was it some clever yob who described Frank that way

Now and then I have nightmares, and I wake ups in a cold sweat.

  Something about being on the same team with him, and only having brought one shirt…

With shared loved for the game,

 Mike M

On Aug 4, 2026, at 11:38 PM, Michael McDougall <mmcdo...@mac.com> wrote:

Hi all, Mike McDougall here.

It’s been a bit since I’ve been on the field, and I have kind of a odd question.

The first place I ever heard the term "Pumpkin Head” - used describe someone who was full of themselves and wanted the disc all the time - was on the Cupertino Ultimate Fields, as best I recall.

Did it originate here, or is there some deeper etymology?  I’m wanting to make sure I use the term properly in future conversations :)

Thanks!

Mike McDougall

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[Luke Rickford]

The movie 'Pumpkinhead' came out in the 80s. 

There is an Urban Dictionary entry for the word, meaning "one with an inflated ego," as early as 2018 (so, not very early).

It seems a fairly natural idiom to arrive at, so I expect it has seen at least some use for quite some time. If the implied question is "did Frank coin this usage?" the answer is probably "hell no lol."

[Dave Poeschel]

Nice to read from you all.  I'm getting closer -- about 5-10 lbs. away now from trying my luck with ultimate again... and of course still in need of at least a mediocre flick.  If I can deal with the trauma, I'll watch Frank's video on how to throw; thanks Eddie.

-- Dave, the other Dave, Poeschel

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[Mike Sexter]

Me too. Getting really close to a comeback. Just looking to lose 10-15 YEARS. 

- Mike

On Aug 16, 2026, at 2:51 PM, Dave Poeschel <dave.p...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Chris M]

You are not alone Mike!

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[Greg Pounds]

Mikey,

Great to see you and hear that you're still running the field with young'ins.  For years I would never show up anywhere w/o a light and dark shirt after the tongue lashing I got once playing on the Cupertino fields.

Here's to staying forever young or at least acting like it.

Greg Pounds

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[Tom Louchard]

Hey Mikey,

Great you are still at it.  Drop by the Pickup games at the Stanford IM fields (Churchill and El Camino) sometime.  They play Friday afternoon about 5:30 and Saturday about 4:00.  I try to make at least 2 games a week, and have been doing the BADA Open League in Mountain View.

So you have plenty of time.

Tom Louchard

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 26, 2026, at 9:20 AM, Greg Pounds <gepo...@gmail.com> wrote:



Mikey,

Great to see you and hear that you're still running the field with young'ins.  For years I would never show up anywhere w/o a light and dark shirt after the tongue lashing I got once playing on the Cupertino fields.

Here's to staying forever young or at least acting like it.

Greg Pounds

On Sat, Aug 15, 2026 at 8:52 PM 'Michael McDougall' via Cupertino Ultimate <cupertino...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Hi all. Yes, that Mikey. 

<2026-07-17-mike-mcdougall-portrait-01-el-cerrito-wire-headshot.jpeg>

Just turned 60, and now I’m blown after one point if I play with the kids (which I did, last week, oddly)

<IMG_9958.jpeg>

This was a different set of kids — but the same feeling.

I’m still wondering if someone had heard the term “Pumpkinhead” somewhere other (and earlier) than it coming out of Franks mouth.

I was 90% sure that this was a Frank thing. Or was it some clever yob who described Frank that way

Now and then I have nightmares, and I wake ups in a cold sweat.

  Something about being on the same team with him, and only having brought one shirt…

With shared loved for the game,

 Mike M

On Aug 4, 2026, at 11:38 PM, Michael McDougall <mmcdo...@mac.com> wrote:

Hi all, Mike McDougall here.

It’s been a bit since I’ve been on the field, and I have kind of a odd question.

The first place I ever heard the term "Pumpkin Head” - used describe someone who was full of themselves and wanted the disc all the time - was on the Cupertino Ultimate Fields, as best I recall.

Did it originate here, or is there some deeper etymology?  I’m wanting to make sure I use the term properly in future conversations :)

Thanks!

Mike McDougall

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