East Plains Sectional Championships - Day 1

Is there a College Ultimate weekend more exciting than Sectionals? I submit that there is not!

OK, there might be, but there's just something so beautiful about the kick-off to the College Series that's hard to articulate in words. But there's just something about it for a team like Ghetto Force, where in 2006, the program (playing mixed) managed just one win, against Ohio State-B, on Universe point. The very next year, the team showed up to the most miserable conditions in Versailles, OH, only to take the 5th of 6 bids to the Great Lakes Regional Championships. This year, of all things, Dayton came into the Sectional Championships as the 3rd overall seed (of 25...the nation's largest sectional) and the number 1 seed in Pool C. To many people's surprise, it seemed as though Ghetto Force sort of came out of no where....how all of a sudden had this team become the 3rd seed in this sectional? And did they really deserve it?? Many voiced opinions that clearly stated that Dayton's 3rd seeding, all though currently well coached and hosting a crop of young talent, would quickly be dethroned by the Ohio U or the like.

Nonetheless, there were a plethora of enthralling story lines all unfolding this weekend. From one of the Region's best handlers, Miami's Matt Mastrantuono, playing in his last college series, to the amazing uprise of a youthful Xavier program, looking to making Regionals, the East Plains provided a host of fun, strong, and intense matchups.

Dayton, holding the #3 seed overall, quickly looked at the 7 bids the Sectional would be getting, and firmly decided that holding or beating the seed were the only options. Slipping further down the list and succumbing to a lower finish (but still squeaking into Regionals) would not suffice. Last year was the time for thinking like that. Ghetto last year was just happy to get to Regionals. This year, Ghetto wanted to go and make an impact. And in order to do so, Dayton would have to finish as high as possible, in order to aptly establish a positive seed heading into Detroit. Many doubted, Ghetto believed. It could be done, it would be done.

Round 1, Dayton v. West Virginia - Wearing their sharp yellow jerseys, the Pool C 3rd seed of West Virginia unknowingly stepping into an early morning bear trap. Dayton-X, who had played WV at Romp in the Swamp, fell upon an untimely Sunday loss to WV to end their tourny weekend. Can anyone say revenge? No losses would be taken today. Ghetto awoke with an intense passion to gorge on the Pittsnogle Groupies (not the real team name) and to make an early Saturday point - Ghetto was here, and was here to give the business. Utilizing some much needed Foor family resting, Butters and The Haymaker arose with the intention of inflicting pain. With that intention, Butters dropped a sick 4 D's, 2 scores, and 1 assist in his first outing of the day. Mr Snuff, not to be outdone, decided to run around a little bit, and go ahead and score 4 goals and chip in a D of his own. Riding the back of a full team showing, Ghetto indulged in a freshly cooked early morning breakfast of champions, romping WV 15-3.

Round 2, Dayton v. Walsh - I love this crew. The Walsh guys, in their first ever semester of play, are rocking. Sure, they're still learning, a bit rough around the edges no doubt, but the passion and enjoyment is definitely there. Their attitudes are great, and they're out on the field looking to learn, compete, and have fun. Can you ask for more? Not only do they play tough, but they have team matching shorts....they're all set for National Championship dress regulations! It was a pretty straightforward game. Dayton brought a rough Man-D, and took full advantage of miscues and poorly placed hucks. Those turns turned quickly into scores and Dayton rolled swiftly to a full team decisive 15-3 win. It is worthwhile to note, that the boys of Walsh have obviously been raised well. At one point, The Show took an inadvertent pivoting elbow to the nose. With blood anxiously scurrying from his model-esque nostrils, Anderson had to leave the field, pissed about the elbow to the face, and pissed that his beautiful looks could be tainted. Who comes over to Mark in his time of need? None other than the Walsh-elbow-throwing-player's mother, with ice and cotton puffs in hand. Does it get any better?

Round 3, Dayton v. Denison - As a constant rival of years past, Denison has been known to give UD good games. One in particular was in the Spring of 2006, when the two teams went head-to-head for some Wright State tournament title. The game was close the whole way and ended up being won by Dayton, by a mere two points. Denison is fronted by strong handler/cutter Cory Hylton, and in general seems to have strong teams and a growing program. We'd roughly been aware of Denison at the OWU EMR Memorial tournament, unfortunately, our paths had not crossed, and Dayton would not see Denison in the Spring of 2008 till Sectionals. As the 1:30 start time commenced, it quickly became apparent that Ghetto was in complete control. Starting the game with a massive ankle-breaking fake out to simple swinging up wind score, the first point showcased Dayton's ability to quickly work over the Denison defense. The rest of the game would follow suit. Denison gave up 3 caught D's to FoorMoney, which helped translate into 3 caught scores from the K-State Killer. However, their strong showings were quickly overshadowed as the unveiling of The Family Connection was issued. Baybay and cousin (first year player) Pegasaurus connected for the assist and score on 4 separate occasions in this game. The Family Connection, coupled with a wealth of d's and Denison turnovers, helped fuel a 2nd half OATBAG and sound beating of 15-1. It's hard to say what's happened to former rival Denison. It wasn't long ago that these two teams had close games and a tight rivalry. Has the Denison program gone downward? Some may argue so. However, DFUC managed to pull a winning record of 3-2 in pool play....so it's hard to say if that's really the case. Perhaps the elevated Dayton program is really what it all comes down to.

Round 4, Dayton v. Bowling Green - BGSU, like Denison, has been a consistent program over recent years, of which Dayton has managed to butt heads with on numerous occasions. All though there seemed to be players in attendance for BG that may or may not have been eligible, bottom line was clear, Dayton was just one win shy from a perfect first day. To secure a spot in the Championship Bracket, Ghetto Force would need to play hard and fight well against the Pool C 2nd seed. BG, looking to make a fierce run to Regionals, obviously, would provide the stiffest and most competitive competition of the first day.

With things running smoothly for the first three games of the day, Ghetto surely knew the last Saturday game would be filled with excitement (new team motto - keep it exciting). However, none of the players, fans, or onlooking teams could have imagined what would ensue.

Dayton started out on top, initially taking the lead at 6-3. However, as if catching Dayton off guard, BG began to hit on consistent deep throws, confusing the Ghetto D. Moreover, relying on the strength of their predominant handlers, BG managed to continually run efficient offensive points and regularly convert on poor Dayton turnovers (the full team combined for an atrocious 18 this game). With half coming and going, it suddenly appeared as though Ghetto had lost control of the game, without knowing it! With Miami, the B-pool winners, finishing early and coming over to watch, it was to their surprise that upon arrival, they found their expected future opponent, in the University of Dayton, losing. Not just losing, but down by multiple scores, and seemingly out of gas.

Ghetto Force's sidelines were in shock. The on-field Ghetto players were in shock. And lastly, everyone watching quickly began to feel the presence of an astonishing upset quickly coming. With the Ghetto players already sweating blood, the far off sound of an air horn quickly signified a new dimension of pressure - the cap had sounded. As opposed to 15, the game had quickly added 2, and would be promptly finished at 13. Current score, BG 11, Ghetto 9.

Ghetto, receiving the pull, focused on getting one point at a time. The game, still faintly in reach, would have to start with a straight forward offensive possession. With some meticulous swinging and fierce in-cutting, Ghetto managed to punch in the offensive point, bringing the game to 11-10. Captain Corcoran, emphasizing focus and all out defense, rallied the troops to bring the pain on D. It would be an absolutely crucial moment, Ghetto HAD to get a D.

It didn't happen. As they had throughout the whole game, BG kept it's composure and punched in another score to bring it to game point. Ghetto was quickly seeing it's Top 3 finish at Sectionals being dashed. At 12-10, the insurmountable task of rattling off 3 scores in a row seemed to be too much.

With palms sweating and family members turning red in the face (literally), the pressure had amounted to heights unknown. In front of absolutely shocked players (namely the Miami crew that stayed around), Dayton received the pull, taking offense. Somehow, with tension building, Ghetto managed to get a timely score, keeping the hopes of a comeback still faintly alive.

At 12-11, Ghetto was completely at do-or-die. The D-line would have to make it happen, otherwise, the day would be done. With such promise at the start of the day, Ghetto was quickly beginning to envision the awful nature the rest of the day/night/weekend would take. This wasn't how things were supposed to play out, and the D-line committed to not giving up.

Pulling to BG, the D established. As the BG offense swung and moved the disc, everyone focused on what seemed to be an eternity of a point....when all of a sudden, the disc was on the ground. Either from a tough mark, or tough man D, a turn had been forced. Ghetto would establish the key handlers and, as talked about on the line, patiently work the in cuts and punch a score in the endzone. The first part of this plan seemed to be fulfilled aptly, as the disc was worked downfield with little hesitation. As Ghetto approached the endzone, it seemed like every player was holding their breath....with so many turns throughout the game, many on the endzone, would Ghetto stab themselves in the foot again? Yes! Everyone knows how Ghetto loves to keep things exciting, and exciting is an understatement. As an outside-in flick down the sideline missed the target, it seemed as though Ghetto had again foolishly missed the mark. That was until Brendan Corboy, the consummate professional of oral skills, called for the man, the legend Travis Knight. Mr. T, who had been looked off, was clearing out, when, by some source of wizardry, the disc was making a b-line for his, and his defender's, backs. Travis, reacting to the plea for help, turned to find the forehand approaching his unknowing defender. T, as the hardest worker in show biz, decided to give the people what they came for. Unleashing all fury, Travis lit fireworks for the onlookers, making a u-turn on a dime, and somehow managing to dive over his defender to save the disc, the score, and the game. As the sidelines rushed the field, it again was Mr. T, who, like a semi-truck driver, used the clutch and came through huge. The high fives were aplenty, and the emotions were flowing.

But the job wasn't done.

Dayton, through tenacity, some luck, and sheer will, was somehow still in the game. With things all tied at 12-12, Dayton again would be forced to bring the Universe D-line (for the 4th Universe point in just 7 days). The guys standing on the endzone line, prepared to attempt the unthinkable, seemed like old pros at the universe point thing...something like 4 of the guys, had been on every single Universe line to that point, and up till Saturday the 5th, were batting a thousand and had taken down and won the first 3 universe point games.

This was different though. BG would be pulled to, with the opportunity to control the disc and have the chance to immediately put it away. Furthermore, it seemed as though BG surely wouldn't let another opportunity slip away. And as the point began, it seemed as though BG would have it that way. They marched, and marched, and marched. Within 10 yards of the Dayton endzone, again, as if by some good karma, a turn was forced by shutting down the in-cuts and strengthening the marks. Dayton, with the disc lying on the ground, knew what it was about to do. All Dayton needed was to swing, hit the in-cuts, swing some more, and repeat, until the opposing endzone was reached. With two swings completed, the disc was found on the flick side, where as if by some horrendous karma, it was turfed badly. The players and onlookers all felt the tension increase. Unbelievably, Dayton had somehow come back from 12-10, and made it 12-12, then forced a turnover to get the disc on universe point - and given it right back.

With BG threatening, the look on every Dayton player's face was disbelief. How had they come so far, and managed to give the disc to BG with no more than 20 yards to get to the endzone?!? The O and D set up and BG began to work the disc again, determined not to slip up. As the in-cuts again were shut down, the primary BG handler made eye contact with a cutter, and they both immediately knew it was time to punch it in. As the outside in backhand was released, it was a footrace. The disc, passing the endzone line, was being quickly attacked by the BG offensive player, and his defender, Mark Anderson. Mark, taking the more direct line, went down the sideline, while the BG player came from over his right. As everyone stood and watched, everyone knew the game was about to be decided. As both players left their feet, The Show, as always, lived up to his name and put one of the most tremendous layout d's of the tournament on the disc. Smacking the disc past the BG player, Mark Anderson had successfully saved the game and made one of the most outstanding Ultimate plays most Dayton players have ever seen. Oh wait, a detail has been left out.....FOUL! It was like nails on a chalk board. Boos ensued, a captain's hat was thrown, and furious players everyone were dumbfounded.

HOW COULD THIS BG PLAYER CALL A FOUL!?!?!?

Mark Anderson, to everyone watching, clearly had position on the disc, and if there was ever a foul based on contact, it would have been the misplaced BG player colliding with Mark. The Foul heard 'round Granville had been committed. Anderson was in shock. Ghetto Force was in shock. Most of the BG players were in shock. It just seemed fake....but in some regards, that's how a lot of the calls had been made over the course of the whole game.

Mark, knowing full well that it was clean, immediately began to contest and plead his case. This call could not stand, it was highway robbery. Knowing all that rode on the call, the two hottest negotiators not in mergers and acquisitions, rose to the occasion. Corboy and Hoover, stepping up to the plate, began to break down the play, and using rational, positive discussion techniques to approach the situation. Lines like "you have a valid point" and "lets discuss how you both approached the disc" were used. Everyone knew that all the stops had been pulled when Hoover, from over 20 yards away, decided to unveil his voodoo powers embodied in the dual timed, double three-finger O-hands. Between the magic hands and Corboy's unusually calm tone of voice, every approach had been used, and the negotiators had nothing left to give. It was universe point, and the disc would be contested, and BG would regain possession. That was, until the BG-foul caller, somehow (we'll never know), understood everything with a new found clarity. Karma, perhaps. Voodoo hands, maybe. Positive Corbizzle body language, couldn't have hurt. Honestly, who knows what happened, other than this guy turned to the field, stood upright, and in succinct phrasing, simply said, "No call".

It was as though the heavens had opened. Dayton didn't even know how to react.....did Ghetto just get the disc? Did Mark's amazing D count? Did he just give up the call on universe point?!?! Yes, yes, and yes. It was so amazing, a Miami Captain, who was watching, may or may not have lost control of his bodily functions.

The new life was awarded, and Ghetto would not waste it. Picking up the disc, Papa Corc, with Corboy and Hoover as wingmen, hit every in-cut and marched the Burma Road of Ultimate, all the way to the endzone line. But of course, theatrics and excitement, up to this point, had not reached maximum levels. Ghetto, wanting to set the amps to 11, had to make this (if it's even possible) more heart pounding. As Ghetto swung the disc, no more than 5 yards from the BG endzone, everything collapsed. Corboy, being the flick handler, had been left for dead, and stranded on the right sideline. The count, like the tap of a slow drum beat, escalated slowly but surely. Before an open swing could save the day, Corboy's mark had reached 8, and everything was riding on it. Corboy, having flash backs to a week before, knew the disc must be thrown to the endzone and simultaneously, he'd have to somehow work in a quick Hail Mary. With unparalleled field vision, Corboy somehow saw the Gieseanator amidst all the endzone traffic, and at stall 9, released a OI bladey flick. The Geezer, who's as clutch as they come, kept his left eye on the line, and his right eye on the man (if that's possible). Somehow making the endzone bigger with each step, he took to the back of the endzone, and pancaked the final score just his defender gave everything to stop it. How it got there, how he reeled it in, how Ghetto didn't give it up, are all hard to comprehend. However, in that moment, it all had worked. The game, somehow, had been saved and won by Ghetto.

It was one for the ages, and in all honesty, it probably was one of the most gut-wrenching sporting events most Ghetto players have ever witnessed or participated in.

Somehow, through the roller coaster finish, Ghetto had completed the job, and wrapped up Day 1 with a 4-0 record. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't how it was supposed to be done. But the job got done, and Ghetto could breathe again.

Sunday would be a new day, and Ghetto somehow was in the right position to take on the rest of the tournament. It was an amazing end to an amazing first day. However, for Ghetto, it was just the beginning......

The 2008 East Plains Sectional Championships

25 teams, yes, it is the largest Sectional currently registered in the nation. Seedings, yes they're posted, and yes, they're exactly as most would expect. Graville has come up quickly and now is the weekend that everyone had sights set on.

Much more will be coming over the next 48 hours...however, for now you'll find links to the Sectional Championship website and a close look at the University of Dayton, Ghetto Force pool. It's a weekend that's sure to be exciting, and unbelievably important....it'll be one for the ages!

LET'S GO GHETTO!

Roll Call 2008 - Day 2

As the Dayton squad managed to enjoy the Sleep Inn, thoughts were quickly turned to the Sunday bracket. As it would be, Ghetto would be faced with Pennsbury High School squad to start the day...the Ghetto Force squad made it a point to get to bed early with the impending 8:00 am start time quickly arriving.

With players waking up as early as 5:40 am, the team quickly got ready and made the short trek to the Polo Fields. Upon arrival, a field of frost was readily visible and the 5Ultimate tent made home as Ghetto cleated up to the pulsating bass sounds of the apparel tent.

As Ghetto took the field, it quickly appeared as though this second high school team of the weekend, may quickly turn the D.C. trip sour. Dayton, almost immediately out of the gate, was down one and two breaks throughout the beginning. Ghetto managed to keep it close, and in the second half, finally brought on the necessary breaks to get the game back to serve, and then earn the lead. Of course, taking the lead and pounding it home, would just be too straight forward....universe point anyone? Naturally, Ghetto was getting pulled to, 11-11, and the Universe-O line would be faced with the third universe point of the weekend.

Working it down, the tension could be cut with a knife. The high school kids were coming in hot and playing strong Man-D. Eventually, Ghetto had the disc within endzone striking distance and the victory could be tasted. Unfortunately, the handlers, namely Hoover, stranded primary cutter Kid Ic on the force side sideline....Giese, one of constant poise, called out for a strike cut...which wasn't made....so again Giese was still be pinched tightly on the line, with the endzone in sight. With the stall count rising past 7, Goose looked for any options, to no avail. With the stall count approaching 10, Giese unleashed a forehand rip down the line. As both lines, and even some of the on-field players, held their breath, Corbotronic unveiled his Super Glue 2008 Grip, and ripped the disc down from the sky, completing the come back and ending another heated contest.

With another atrocious victory complete, Ghetto again took a moment to reflect. Though far from pretty, there is something to be said for playing poorly (or horribly) and still winning. They weren't how we wanted them, but we got the victory, and now would be taking on Penn State.

Not much to say here. Legs were spent, guys were lagging, and Penn State just had a bit more in the tank. If Ghetto had come in having not played multiple universe games, things might have been different. Penn State took the win, with a final of 12-7.

It was a long weekend, that when it's all said and done, might have been timed really well. Ghetto learned a lot of worthwhile things from the games in D.C. and now, has a firm grounding as Sectionals quickly approach.

Roll Call 2008 - Day 1 Recap

With the frost still remnant on early morning grass, Ghetto Force arrived at the Poolesville Polo Club before 7:30 am on Saturday morning. Saturday would be filled with intense (understatement) pool play, with the pool winner earning a spot in the Championship bracket. With Ratatat being pounded out of the 5Ultimate speakers, Skip driving recklessly around in a golf cart, and endless boxes of bagels being eaten, Dayton approached the fields ready to begin.

After being well rested from the oxymornonic Sleep Inn, it seemed as though Ghetto's focus was initially lacking during the early warm up. On top of that, many Ghetto players decided to Noob Stamp themselves by not bringing discs to the tournament....ah buh? I'm sorry, how long have most of us been playing? The lacking supply of discs was a poor way to begin the day, as all of a sudden guys were warming up in groups of three and four. This less than stellar warm up quickly translated to on field play in the first game of the day.

With Columbia High School, the pool's 3rd seed, providing the first day's competition, Ghetto started slow out of the gates. CHS, the home of the creators of Ultimate, came ready to rock, and with a slew of quick, smart, and aggressive young talent. Giving up the early break, Ghetto immediately felt the pressure to get it together, and quickly. With any loss during the day being unacceptable, Ghetto quickly regrouped, earned a handful of breaks, and took the lead. However, the momentum was short lived, as the 2nd half showcased a fired up CHS run, bringing the game back to serve. A Ghetto break gave the team a one point lead. Points would trade, and CHS would continue to work the disc and exploit speed match ups (they were a well coached, and strong program, to say the least). Ghetto scored downwind, to take it to the score to 12-11, game to 13. The hot D line was established, guys got pumped, thriving for the break. Roughly 20 seconds later, CHS had efficiently punched it in.....universe point. Ghetto was getting pulled to, going downwind with the game on the line. The Hitman, Boo Radley, and Corbotronic would work the disc from the handler positions, emphasizing patience with cutters. As the upwind pull was thrown, the disc was stopped by Double D's just past the half way mark of the field. Hoover, approaching the disc with steadiness and patience running threw his mind, picked up the disc, and said to hell with it. With The Name Brand cutting deep, the opportunity to close the door and end this circus was mouthwatering. H-to-the-Vizzer unleashed a full field backhand, that when it was all said and done, was just a bit too easily reeled in by Jolt'n Joel. Dayton wins 13-12.

It was an atrocious start with far too many drops, way to many breaks given, and just sloppy play. It wasn't pretty, but the victory was confirmed and game two would be next on the plate.

The next game would be against Swarthmore, a team with plenty of games under their belts, and solid wins against Yale, Edinboro, and Wheaton. Unfortunately for Swarthmore, Dayton was pissed and ready to hand out some punishments....and for awhile, it appeared as though things were going to be that way. Ghetto started up and built a 4-0 lead to begin the game. Taking half at 7-3, it looked like Dayton was going to utilize their new life for pummeling the competition. Unfortunately, as historians will tell you, Dayton hadn't learned it's lesson, and decided to repeat the past....letting a lead slip, bringing a capped game to 11-11. As if a heartpounder against some high school kids wasn't enough, Ghetto Force was now being faced back-to-back universe point games. Dayton put out the Universe-O line, and emphasized making it happen again. With major defenders Gieseapalooza and Mr. Snuffalupagus playing with the O-line, the squad talked defensive strategy in case of offensive collapse. This, would prove worthwhile. As Dayton worked the disc all the way to the Swarthmore endzone, an untimely turn would force UD to bust out Universe-D....this turned into the most intense and perfectly calculated Zone-D....with Swarthmore picking up the disc, the Universe-O-turned-D line had swiftly forced a turnover by Swarth's third throw. Regaining the disc and being on the endzone, with the game on the line, Dayton was ready to punch it in. Hoover, somehow ended up cornered in the left hand side, pinched right at the goal line. Luckily, from this position, everyone knew who the disc was going to....The Show. Mark Anderson, clearly having the sickest cuts known to man, was the immediate ISO. The Show and Hoover, playing the role of The Side Show, immediately eye-balled the breakside endzone line, which was hit easily for the score. Oh wait, there was an awful pick call.....disc goes back to Hoover. Same thing? The Addi-Ander-son ESP was in full motion, and the same cut seemed automatic. Anderson, breaking ankles for a living, literally told his defender the cut was going to be the same, and proceeded to get open on the breakside, again. Addison, releasing the exact same high-release backhand, was blatantly fouled while getting the throw off (to which the foul was called). Luckily, the throw was just good enough....and The Show put the full extension, toe dragging, special on air....again, sealing the deal with some Anderson Beautification.....OH WAIT! The marker, who enjoyed rocking some serious hand choppage, somehow matrixed best perspective on the play, calling Anderson out.....erroneously so, considering A) There's no way he could even see him and B) Addison was standing on the line looking the whole time at Mark, violently saying he KNEW he was in!

So, by this point, Swarthmore was playing the major deuche card, to which Hoover responded, "I think we're up 13-11 now". With the crap parade of calls rolling through town, the disc, AGAIN, was brought back to Hoover, forcing Ghetto again to regroup and attempt to punch it in. The irony here was that the hardest part of punching it in, wasn't so much scoring, but finding some way to score without Swarthmore having an opportunity for a call. With Anderson and Hoover livid by this point, it was obvious that again, The Show would be iso'ed to the same corner, for the same backhand high-release, just to rub the impending victory in everyone's face. As the disc was checked in, and the same (for the 3rd time in a row) play unfolded, however, Hoover withheld letting the high-release backhand go. The Show left the breakside and the cuts and flow continued. As the count reached 7, Addison looked to swing, when eye contact with Erik Krissek was made. Krispy Krissek, knowing the backhand break was always there, sprinted to the same spot Anderson had gone to each time, and to finally finish the game, Krissek took Mark Anderson's spot and reeled in the final score of the game, 12-11.

Ghetto Force had a bye, and during the post game huddle, emphasized chilling out and relaxing. We'd been forced to the brink twice in our first two games, and now we needed to just settle down before our 3rd and 4th games. Most players walked the polo grounds, checked out the 5Ultimate tent, and made necessary phone calls. One of which was to Capitan Corc, who was unable to arrive in D.C. till Sunday. Sparing the details, Papa Corc quickly voiced his displeasure with out things appeared to be going. It was time to take care of business, and more sloppy play would not be allowed.

After an hour and a half of downtime, Ghetto took a nice long warm up, and prepared to take on SUNY-Oneonta. We'd already met Classy Ryan, to flip for the disc, and his potent smell of PBR implied that SUNY had already succumbed to their fate. The game was fairly unexciting....Dayton played more consistently, taking the game 13-9. Closer than it probably should have been, but Dayton took the time to rest some legs and play new lines. Ghetto was now 3-0, with the toughest test of the day coming next.

Edinboro, a team that Ghetto had hoped to play at the OWU EMR Memorial, was finally matched up against UD. As a team nearly attending the 2007 National Championships, Dayton knew they'd be a test. Exposing our defensive weaknesses, and doing everything to perfection in the first half, Edinboro laid a pounding down in the first half, taking it 7-2. Dayton, exhausted and down, regrouped and began utilizing a wall/trap/man defense to stop allowing the ever-present Edinboro deep looks. Though it worked well, it didn't come quite early enough. The second half of the game was scored 6-6, but with the early first half meltdown, the second half run wouldn't prove to be enough, allowing Edinboro to take the pool on a 13-8 victory.

Though disappointed, the group's most promising moments came in the last half of the day. When the group buckled down, made some plays, and in losing, showed far more character and skill than in any of the three earlier wins. It was tough to take a loss to end the day, but Edinboro earned it. Dayton would cool down, eat some free pizza, and settle in to watch the Harvard v. Western Washington Showcase game. Day 1 was complete, and sights would be set on Sunday.

Roll Call 2008 - Quick Recap

70 teams, 40 Open and 30 Women's, all made the trek to fabled ground in Maryland for Cultimate's first ever Roll Call Tournament.

Dayton received a 2nd seed in their pool (which would be held.....unfortunately), and set sights on finishing in the Top 16. It was a long weekend, filled with pulled hammies, cleated backs, cleats to the face, the occasional crappy-as-all-get-out call, and backhand rips to the eyeball. It was a tough, tough weekend. The gang is beaten and battered, and unfortunately, the final goal of Top 16 was not met.

Ghetto finished in 21st place, and an official record of 6-2. Unfortunately, the two losses were poorly timed and both seriously hindered Championship Bracket and Consolation Bracket play. Nonetheless, the tournament, in hindsight, may or may not have been perfect. As mentioned in previous posts, this tournament was all about timing. For some, like Pitt, the timing proved will and consistency were at the helm. For others, like Indiana, timing maybe showed some scares that the College Series was quickly approaching. For Ghetto, the timing has given the team an introspective look into the finer points that all need to be addressed prior to Sectionals....and it's much better those points be addressed before Sectionals, as opposed to after.

The full write up and game recaps will be coming throughout the week. Here are the final game scores, and a quick peak at the heart pounding Universal nature of 3 Ghetto games:

Columbia High: 13-12
Swarthmore: 12-11
SUNY-Oneata: 13-9
Edinboro: 8-13
Pennsbury High: 12-11
Penn State: 7-12
Columbia High: Win by Forfeit
Winner of Richmond v Rensselaer Polytech: Win by Forfeit

Cultimate's Roll Call 2008 - New Pools

The team is migrating eastward, as Ghetto Force's A squad is preparing to descend on Washington D.C. If there was more time to simply analyze the pools and the matchups, now would be the time.....unfortunately, there is no time. We've been chosen, our number has been called, and Roll Call is upon us. Below you'll find the entire tournament field's breakdown, as well as Dayton's Pool F. More updates to come over the course of the weekend.

Roll Call - The Time Has Come

The time has come. As this season has had its fare share of timing issues (multiple canceled tournaments, horribly timed injuries, late notice van cancellations....lame) its time again for the Men of Ghetto Force to again hit the pitch.

Coming straight off a spring break lapse of 10 days, the UD Men's Club Ultimate team has a week of practices leading into a power-packed weekend of Cultimate competition. With most teams coming in from the Metro East, Great Lakes, and Northeast Regions, the final round up of teams has made for two strong Elite Pools, followed by six sub-elite ranking pools. With the likes of Pitt, OSU, and Harvard rounding out the Elites, many high caliber teams scatter the lower six pools.

Of the 30 in those six pools, Regional contenders, new faces in the crowd, and perennial powerhouses all meld together. From Georgetown to George Washington, Messiah to Michigan State, Princeton to Penn State, the 6 sub-elite pools are as highly competitive and experienced as anything Dayton has seen so far this year.

With a 2-seed in the E Pool, Dayton is sandwiched by teams with loads of playing time and impressive track records. The 5 team grouping of North Park, Dayton, Georgetown, Salisbury, and NYU, should make for strong matchups with heated games. Oh, and does it get better. As if the competition wouldn't be cutthroat enough in the sub-elite pools, Skip and Cultimate are making things more interesting. Because of the stiff competition in the Elite pools, all teams playing in them will automatically get into the Championship bracket. Translation: Only the sub-elite pool winners will get into the Roll Call Championship Bracket. That means, if you want to start Sunday off on the right foot, you have to take down the pool.

With a 7+ hour ride rapidly approaching, a deep threat rocking a Kanye West metal plate in the face, and El Capitan doing debits and credits for The Man, Ghetto has reached the gut check. The headphones will be put on. The eye black will be smeared. The jerseys will get christened with some serious stains. And the fire will be lit. The Noob Stamp must be reoiled and reaffirmed. For Ghetto, the recipe, as it's been all season, is simple. Bring the energy early, keep the tempo fast, and stay on till the end. The Force has a potluck selection of veterans, a German-American Beowulf incarnate, a Jackson Hole Juggernaut, and oh yea, has anyone seen this Kid Ic?

The Pain Will Be Brought.
The Noob Will Be Stamped.
The Respect Will Be Earned.
The Ho Will Be Air Alerted.

Roll Call 2008 - Timing is Everything

Cultimate continues to grow, and in doing so, has added what may be (with Terminus getting canceled and Easters being a tad weaker) one of the strongest tournaments on the East Coast. Roll Call, in its flagship year, has proven to be uniquely timed. For the 40 teams that received bids (there were over 70 that submitted), the consequences of March 29th-30th, could be outstanding. Namely, there are two key issues to consider:

1. Roll Call is immediately preceded by two big time tournaments, Centex and College Southerns. Thus, teams playing at both Roll Call and Centex (Pitt, Harvard) or Roll Call and College Southerns (OSU, Penn State, VaTech, Oberlin, etc.) may be at either an advantageous or a disadvantageous position. Only next weekend will tell.
2. Roll Call is immediately preceding many Sectional tournaments, most notably the East Plains and the East Penn. Having teams from both sectionals competing against inter-sectional rivals the week prior to the start of the College Ultimate Series, could have serious repercussions. Match ups, injuries, the mental game, etc., all could quickly be affected based on Roll Call.

Therefore, with Terminus essentially being canceled, Boogie Nights being snowed in, and many Sectional teams not having seen each other, Roll Call may be the surprise tournament of the spring. I'm by no means saying it will be the most competitive East Coast tourny of the spring (although with 14 teams above 2300 in the RRI, it will most certainly be competitive), I'm just saying, with the way things have played out up to this point, it may be the most surprisingly important tournament of the season. With a good or bad showing, have potentially uplifting or deflating affects on the important start season College Ultimate Series looming.

Click here for the Roll Call 2008 Website

Click here for the Roll Call 2008 UPA Team Listing

Push it to the Limit

To the person who got lazy.....they're for you.
For the person who continually throws behind their man......they're for you.
And yes, for the patented drop the pancake guy......they're for you too.

When it comes to the go-to drill, along with it's many inverted, breakside, and detailed variations, the push-ups are the equivalent to a drill sergeant's boot briskly grazing your backside. For the drops, the miscues, the laziness, and the many other creative errors that are uncovered over time, push-ups have become Ghetto's calling card for focus. When practice wavers, give me 20. Latta hit another cone? Give me 5. Butters cracked the Noob Stamp on you during Battle Royale? Kiss the concrete.

The push-up, however simple, represents everything that's changed about Ghetto Force over the last 3 years. With a combination of beauty and brute force, Ghetto has slowly, but steadily, made a name for itself.

It wasn't long ago, that Sectionals meant getting thwamp-thwamped. It wasn't long ago Ghetto players didn't have numbers (or in many cases, jerseys). It wasn't long ago that people didn't come to practice. It wasn't long ago that practices were just hotbox, with 5 guys and 3 girls. It wasn't long ago......

Taking a note from The Shawshank Redemption, Ghetto has steadily applied pressure and time.....and, in just a handful of years, has completely reshaped the face of Dayton Ultimate. Today, Ghetto's use of the push-up physically represents the difference in standards the team has taken on, but more importantly, the ever-present pressure to push hard day in, and day out.

Ghetto Force (the #50 Team in the Nation), and the Ghetto Ultimate Blog, will be going on a temporary hiatus to indulge in the University of Dayton's Spring Break. The squad (for the most part) will be taking some time to head home, to see friends and family, and in many cases, make a pilgrimage to a spring college destination (Vegas anybody?).

For those keeping track, the start of Spring Break signals an exciting time for Ghetto. It's going to be a whirlwind tour d' ultimate upon our return....here will be Ghetto's upcoming Schedule:

• March 29th-30th, Roll Call, Washington D.C. (A-Squad)

• March 29th-30th, Wooster Warm-Up, Wooster, OH (B-Squad)

• April 5th-6th, East Plains Open Sectionals, Granville, OH (Both Squads)

• April 26th-27th, Great Lakes Open Regional Championships, Detroit, Michigan (Based on Sectional Qualification)

Stay safe, enjoy your down time, and come back hungry. We've got a full plate, we're going to need plenty of energy for all the Noob Stampings we'll have to give out.

Have an awesome break Ghetto!

Though We Were Ready to Dance, Boogie Nights Was Not Meant to Be

Mother Nature, as was the case in the Dayton Invite, felt that Ghetto just wasn't meant to run the risk of injury this weekend (could she have thrown a bone to Broken-Cheek-Dano?).

With quite possibly the biggest winter storm of the year coming after we're a week into March, everyone is frustrated and disappointed that the Boogie Nights Tournament won't be happening. However much Ghetto and other teams wanted to play, we have to commend the TD, Matt Mastrantuono, for making the right call. With teams coming from as far as 8+ hours away, it's just not worth it to risk people driving and playing in such horrendous conditions. Nonetheless, a ton of work has been put into this event, and it's obvious that people are frustrated with the curve ball the weather has thrown at us (Dayton had a high of 49 yesterday....naturally).

For Ghetto, more than anything, the weekend's cancellation is a sincere disappointment. For the first time in recent memory (at least 5+ years) Dayton holds a Top 50 National Ranking, and an Ultimate RRI in the Top 5. The best thing for Ghetto would have been to subdue rumors by going out and repeating the massacre of last weekend. Though the competition would have been stiffer, and the results potentially different, it was imperative for Ghetto to have an opportunity to see better teams, and to analyze their game at a higher level.....this, unfortunately, will just have to wait till Roll Call.

The best teams deal with adversity all the time. Ghetto is going to have dig just a little deeper this year. With two spring tournaments being canceled (Ghetto Invite & Boogie Nights), Ghetto is going to have to find ways to press even harder in practices. The focus has to stay strong, and as everyone has said, we have to stay right where we're at (Top 50). And as Addison Hoover said, in regards to our RRI in the recent full-page spread in Flyer News, "we’re not yet the No. 2 team in the nation. That doesn’t mean we can’t be in the future." However, to compete and sustain that level of play, everyone, from top to bottom, has to push. To allow each other to be complacent with our recent successes does nothing but a disservice to everyone.

For all the Air Alert (GOD BLESS IT!), for all the suicides, indoor practices, and the many times YOU'VE RAN INTO CEMENT WALLS FOR A DISC, DON'T LET UP! Ghetto, as a squad and unrivaled brotherhood, has to find the energy.

We have to elevate our level of play every single day.
We have to be out throwing on our own time.
We have to come to practice on time, ready to whoop some ass.
We have to stay intense, and get in each other's faces when the intensity isn't there.

We've earned the right to be #39 in the Nation - and everyone in this Sectional believes we'll spoil it the first chance we get.

I won't let this happen.
You won't let this happen.
We won't let this happen.

Ghetto, in the word's of a Sectional rival, "is an Army". And this Army is on a mission. We will stay hungry and we will not be denied.

Ghetto For Life.

How Good is Ghetto Force?

97 - 14 Point Differential

+ 8 Stitches
+ 7 - 0 Opening Record
+ 7 OWU Tournament Opponents
+ 1 Broken Cheek Bone
+ The UPA RRI Algorithm
___________________________________________________________

= How good is the University of Dayton Men's Club Ultimate Team?

People love to talk. And if there's one thing that crosses nationalities, languages, and interests, across the globe, people love to talk sports.

And in a day when technology allows information and opinions to be transmitted at the speed of The Kozby Show, sports debates rage hotter than a Joel Brand burnt defender. And Ultimate, although certainly unique, is no exception.

With the advent of Mssui.com, Ultimate has turned the professional corner, and is beginning to look at itself with more serious, and credible, opinions than ever before. And just as avid readers of Mssui saw a week ago, Ultimate is constantly going to be analyzed and speculated. With more media coverage, and more reliance on the UPA's Score Reporting system and RRI system, teams across the country are being sized up every day.

And it just so happens that Ghetto Force is being looked at as you read this.

After dropping a Cactus Bomb on the entire OWU EMR Tournament field, Dayton has made some waves.....tsunami waves, if you will.

With the most massive point diff any human being will ever see, people are beginning to ask how good is Ghetto Force? Then, only to make things more interesting, the UPA updated their RRI algorithm, and none other than the University of Dayton sat comfortably as #2 in the Nation. Quite a step for a program that couldn't get two wins at Sectionals, just two years ago. And, to comment on this topic, I would like start by saying this:

Ghetto Force hasn't proven anything yet.

Ghetto went to OWU, and did exactly what it was supposed to do - trounce every team along the path to a Championship. The RRI, though outstanding, doesn't mean we're the second best team in the country. It just means that based on the UPA RRI Algorithm, we've proven we're a strong program, that's capable of doing outstanding things. The real point of the #2 RRI ranking, is to put pressure on Ghetto Force to continue to have the same success story week in and week out, the rest of the year.The math is far simpler than the UPA RRI Algorithm...trust me.....For Ghetto it's easy. We absolutely cannot let up. Dayton Flyers Basketball, The New England Patriots, it's a simple equation....if you don't add successes throughout a season, the final total is negative. Ghetto must be absolutely certain to not let last weekend's victories go to our heads. Relish it, be proud of it, but let it be fuel. We have a target on our backs now, and we have to push ourselves harder because we have to prove ourselves to everyone all over again. Each weekend is a new weekend, and there's no way now, that Ghetto's going to take the foot off the gas.