Thoughts on Some Weird Stuff

It doesn't get much more bizarre than this.

We finished 4th at the Stanford Invite. Not 4th in the bottom tier...4th. Overall. Above Wisconsin. And Oregon. And UW. We unintentionally exploited the largest bracketing flaw in college ultimate history. Because we were underseeded, and the two tier one teams that were supposed to beat us (Oregon State and Humboldt) were overseeded, we went 6-0 on the weekend, making us one of the only three undefeated teams. Because Cultimate decided, for some reason, not to distinguish between tier 1 and tier 2, that immediately put us in the 3/4 game against Stanford, where we choked and went down 15-8 despite some gutsy play. The 0-5 start didn't really help, but the 4 straight points after that did. So we finished 4th, despite not deserving it, although we quadrupled our wins for the season and demonstrated that we most definitely are not a tier 2 team. I think everyone knows that at least now.

It's a little tough for me to go to tournaments like that, though. Playing Stanford was awesome. It was like high school again. Late Sunday, playing for an audience right next to frisbee central, where the air is charged and you know every point matters...

I hate Stanford for having coaches, and a split B team that could still put up 5 or 6 points on us. They have a feeder program that will keep them strong for years and years. And they had a track workout this morning. Before breakfast. That's how much dedication they can demand from their players. We can't get a full squad out to Saturday afternoon workouts...

On one hand, it really makes me wish I'd gone to a school like that. I want a coach, and I want leadership, and more than anything I want to be around people obsessed with the game. Stanford has that, Carleton has that, even the UW has that. Maybe I should have gone to Carleton. But on the other hand, I have an opportunity to do something great with the Braineaters. We aren't a big school and we aren't CUT. If anything, we're like Northwest, albeit without the obsession. I'm just hoping that will come.

Attitude reflects leadership, and it's clear that we don't have much in the way of leadership this year. I need to seriously improve over the summer so that I can not just lead, but command next year. Not in the sense of wanting more power, either. I know what we need to do, but on a team where everyone isn't as committed as they could be, as I would like them to be, strength and capability count for more than they should. I can't allow our team's opportunity for greatness slip away because I wasn't willing to put in the effort to be an inspiring and motivating enough leader. Not to sound conceited, or like it's all dependent on me, because clearly it isn't. But I play a pivotal role on this team that isn't filled by anyone else, at least at this point. And while I think the same holds true for anyone, at least in specific regards, I think I that my decisions and actions over the course of the next two years (with decreasing benefit) will determine the trajectory of this team.

So while I don't have senior leadership, I don't have my high school friends and mentors, and I don't have a program, I have a team with raw talent and a tight-knit core of young players with the potential to reach the limits of college ultimate. And if that isn't motivation, I don't know what is.

Vegas and More

Vegas was not a good tournament. It was the worst weather I've ever played in. Friday - heavy wind. Saturday - driving rain, wind, inches of mud and standing water, occasionally sleet. Sunday, heavy wind. We went 1-6. We're 2-15 on the season.

On the plus side though, Drew was arrested at the party. That's huge points in the ultimate world, and talking to the Dirt guys, I think the consensus was that we won the party. w00t!

But we're coming together actually. Practices are looking better, the team is looking better. We've got more energy, a little more discipline, and a lot more drive. Given another month or two, we could still be quite good.

We've got the reworked Stanford Invite this weekend. It's fifty or so teams, but we're (deservedly) in the bottom pool (of two), so we aren't playing the good teams. We're mostly playing chump teams. Stanford Bx < Other teams < Humboldt.

A shot at some wins, if not redemption.