The 2008 UPA National Championships

A couple months back, this blog made it known Joe Kershner, the demon of the desert, was blasting all over the college Ultimate scene. Some college blogs, looking to follow the lead of this blog, hopped on board and made similar posts and remarks. Well, needless to say, this blog had it right.

The Arizona Sunburn's frontman was being touted as one of the best in the nation. Doing more (making Quarters at Nationals) with far less of a supporting cast, Kershner was crowned today as the nation's top player, the Callahan Award winner.

Congrats to Kershner, as he his now immortalized in Ultimate history.

In other National Championship news, the Great Lakes has had a moderately disappointing weekend. Michigan, the Pool D #1 seed started on a stellar note dropping their first Friday game to Georgia....whoops. Michigan rallied to take the next two games (Texas and Harvard) and put themselves in position to play early in the Pre-Quarters round on Saturday.

Illinois, playing in Pool A, also had a less then memorable Friday. Yea, they were supposed to lose to Florida. And they beat Delaware like they were supposed to, but the loss to North Texas sure didn't help things for the Great Lakes. Not only did it give Illinois a losing record on Day 1, but oh whammy, it pitted the two GL teams against each other in the Pre-Quarter round on Saturday.

Though many Ghetto players picked Michigan (correctly) to take down Illinois for the GL Championships....most didn't see the Illinois revenge comeback coming to fruition at the Championships. Needless to say, Illinois has gone from nearly losing the Sectional Championship game to North Park, to working their way to 2nd place at Regionals, to grinding it through to the Quarters at the National Championships. Where, while facing Colorado sans Beau, they put up a strong effort in a 15-12 loss.

Which left Colorado to face Wisconsin and Florida against Carleton in the two Semis. Textbook? Predictable? What other word can you use? It all played out to plan like clockwork. Wisconsin took their game 15-10 and Florida made quick work in a 15-6 routing. Leaving us an '06 Championships Final rematch. With then Callahan Tim Gehret leading Florida in '06, and Dan Heijman leading the Hodags last year, both finalist squads are in the 'ship without their respective Callahan winner (which probably has surprised more than just Rook and Florida).

No difference, it'll be the best game of the tournament, and I'll just come out and say it right now, best game of the year.

You heard it hear first....no matter what any other college blog writes.

Ghetto Gets Ready for Evan Matthew Reas Memorial

With the winter still bearing down outside, Ghetto is finally beginning to taste the start of the 2008 Spring Season. Although many players, some for the first time ever, experienced College Ultimate while down in Tennessee, Ghetto hasn't started the season as normal.

For the first time, at least in recent years, Ghetto has had enough talent, and more than enough in numbers, to fulfill two full squads. Thus, to best serve the program, Ghetto has been split into A and B teams. The squads, which had been announced just prior to the cancellation of the Ghetto Invite, will both be playing this weekend at Ohio Wesleyan's poorly titled Evan Matthew Reas Memorial Tournament.

With more talent than you can shake a stick at, Ghetto Force looks bring the pain this weekend.....serious pain....like taking Dorothy Mantooth out for a nice seafood dinner, and never calling her again, kind of pain. The itch to start hitting the grass, to really wear the jersey, and to showcase what all the hard work is for...it's ever-present right now. Ghetto is focused on....keeping the focus....with all the weather issues and the indoor practices (limiting the hucks, just a wee bit). It's time to make the first step, and believe me, it's going to be a big one.

In the mean time, I best update all you foolios out there. If you're not in the know on Mssui (pronounced Mus-oWee) then you're missing out. As the hottest thing in Ultimate, since the high-release, no-look, scubber, you need to get on the up-n-up and start checking out Mssui. They do major damage on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and cover Ultimate in a serious way...it's like the ESPN, for Ultimate. I highly recommend the recent articles on Trouble in Vegas and college rivalries. You need to check this stuff out!

Lets just hope that everything pans out correctly for this weekend....we all need to pray to the patron saint of Ultimate weather, Saint Dorothy Mantooth. Of all things Holy, this weekend cannot get canceled. However, at least in the meantime, we have plenty to read on Mssui. Ghetto is going to keep the focus, and get ready to scissorkick the entire field in Delaware, Ohio.

PS. If you're with Ghetto, and you haven't figured out your ride/where you are staying, please make a comment below. If you're not in the know, we need to know. So keep us up to date if you're at all confused about travel arrangements for the weekend. Gracias.

PSS. Have you seen this freaking catch?!? Your boy from Arizona, Joseph Kershner, is no joke. He took on leading Callahan candidate, Kurt Gibson, mono e mono, on Universe Point no less, and straight pwned him. Kershner showed up to Trouble in Vegas, put on his big boy pants and started choppin' broccoli. Don't believe me, scope the vid.