Scrimmaging Davis B and Cal B

Today we played games against Davis B and Cal B at a local middle school. We had about two lines worth of players come out including the elusive Danny Cassman and the recently unseen John Murphy.

Davis B:

We started off against Davis B and came out strong. Right away a (Sheehan?) huck went up to Danny who sauntered towards the end zone and layed out for the score. 1-0. We then scored again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. That's right, the score at half was 7-0 Stanford. I've already forgotten half of what happened today but a few highlights from that half were a goal line stand by our defense that ended in a layout D by The Bard and Cody running down the pull to stop the first throw (to my man - I wouldn't have been there eventually) then chasing down his own man while the disc was in the air and getting the D. After Coach Tickle talked to us about not getting lazy on D in the second half we let Davis score 3 of the first 4 points out of half. The bad luck that Davis seemed to have at times in the first half wore off onto us and we let them tighten the game. While Davis outscored us in the second half we managed to hang in there, finishing something like 11-5 or 12-6, hard capped because Cal wanted a shot at us.

Cal B:

Stanford carried the lack of fire we had in the second half of the Davis game into the beginning of the Cal game. Cal went up 2-0 then 3-1 on us before we remembered that they were Cal B and should not compete with us. In what I think was one of the better turnarounds by our team this year we fought back to go up 6-3. If I remember correctly we went from there to half at 7-3. In the second half things didn't fare as well for us as Cal kept pace with us to bring the score to 11-6. At this point hard cap went on again so that Davis could attempt redemption on Cal. Cal scored the last point ending the game 11-7 Stanford. There were more highlights in this game than I can remember (mostly because I have a bad memory) but I remember Mitch scooping a disc from inches off the ground, Donny expertly poaching a swing from the front of the stack, Gage expertly calling a strip, and a picture perfect backhand huck from Ed to Danny for a score.

Ed tells me that both games will be sanctioned and added to Stanford's 'official' record putting us at 6-6 overall and 10-8 for the season. While there were some slow points today (mostly second halves) Stanford played its game and moved the disc well. Props to all the rookies who are boosting the team so well.

Stanford Open Recap - Saturday

Well, I don't remember all that much of the tournament because instead of taking meticulous stats I was curled up on the sideline in pain. Luckily Chris got a great picture right before I got hurt that shows a) I had to go for it, b) Sheehan never would have gotten to it in time, and c) Cody didn't need to headbutt me. Also thanks to Chris I have the photos to jog my memory of what happened.

Our first game was at noon (home team advantage) when the rain and wind were still factors. Azusa Pacific suited up in black jerseys with pink hearts on it, apparently a motif of our pool. Because of the wind Azusa played a $#!t ton of zone and often forced us to punt on high stall counts. Sometimes they just happened to come down with the disc. We ended up losing the game pretty bad, 5-11, but at least we played hard enough that the game was capped. We should have had at least 1 more point on this play, but I did not argue for it correctly. There were some great grabs by Aneil, Estevan, and Mitch/PLOTS/Furby. CVL may not have gotten this D, but he did get a picture of my layout D catch. And one last sentence about this game as an excuse to link to these amusing pictures.

Our second game was against the 1 seed CSU Long Beach. We let them win 13-3 so that we can catch them off guard on their home turf over spring break. Based on the pictures it looks like there was a lot of intensity in the game and a little awe at Estevan's throws. There is so much intensity in this picture that it needs its own sentence. The game had some great layouts on offense by Ben and some guy Berger was guarding on the next field. Predictably Sheehan and Gage went flying on D making David jealous.

Game 3 was against Oregon B wearing some of the ugliest jerseys I've ever seen and let me tell you this team is as friendly as their football team is law abiding. Thank you to Sheehan for stepping in when a duck wearing a pink and purple heart logo shoved a disc into my bruised rib for calling disc space on him. Sheehan certainly was willing to get up in the other team's faces. While Naveed and I watched in pain Stanford went down hard to half 2-7. Prison X fought back in the second half going 7-5 to end the game at 9-12. Kellen scored the final point of the hard capped game on an impressive layout grab in front of a crowd of A teamers. I should mention Estevan's hucks were still jaw dropping. Jamie here looks completely casual as he sits horizontal in the air pounding on the ground in frustration or possibly triumph. Bobby once again got himself in a awkward pose for the camera. Ethan showed off his impressive ability to get open as well as get Ds.

Our final game of the day was against undefeated Gonzaga and not wanting to let them down we let them win 13-7. They were definitely a solid team and we managed to hang better with them than some of our first games. Kellen had more impressive plays in front of adoring fans. Sheehan skied a bunch of people. Jamie has really improved his ability to step out and throw (so important!). But Ed, I must call you out publicly for this. When you huck stop trying to do the limbo. Find balance and your hucks will go that much farther. Look at Sheehan's balance, its good.

Ok, so there was pretty much no recap in all of that, just excuses to show off CVL's photography, but whatever, I'm old and forgetful. How about this. Do you remember the highlight play you said at the end of the day? Add it to the comments section.

If and when Chris adds Sunday photos I'll add more recap.

the Gimp

J Men and Santa Clara Scrimmages

Two weekends ago we scrimmaged the J Men, a local pickup/club team. Last weekend we scrimmaged Santa Clara. This is my rundown of the two events, mostly the J Men scrimmage, based on CVL's photography.

What I remember of the game:

We (college students) beat J Men (old people) at waking up on a saturday morning and showed up when we said we would. We are so on top of our schedule that we got to Roble early just to throw around a lott. Eventually the other team showed up and started playing us. At that point Cody threw an almost believable fake, which most likely was followed by this throw to Wolverine.

You remember their fucked up rule about no brick marks? I think this is Ed not caring. Bobby cares though, perhaps a little too much.

We teach our rookies good habits, demonstrated by these textbook clap-catchs by Kellen, this early jump on D, and this immaculate kag set. Our old vets play a little lazy, but who needs to pivot to get open on a Norwegian superstar anyway? But out alumni play crazy good (but not good enough). Speaking of which, Sheehan you are the most photogenic person wearing a pig hat ever. Really, much better than me in a green visor. The camera even blurs me out I'm so bad (this is after the D and despite what it looks like I was spatially adjacent to the red dude).

Cody and Ethan kept getting Ds all day long. But it may have tired Ethan out here.

Sheehan, late in the game, was still dominating. So were the rookies. Ocelot a lot, Jamie (mack it for yards), and Kellen (make him dance). Even Ed by the end managed to open his eyes, puff out his chest, and show off his high-release backhand.

Travelling rant:

Billy that was an absolute bullshit travel call. I did not catch the disc, slow down, speed up, and then stop. My knees are too weak for that. But if its the only way you (old and fat [not as fat as Ethan's man here]) can keep up with me (broken and out of shape) so be it. Just try not to cry too much.

Some good advice:

Jamie, you aren't supposed to bite the disc. Its still a strip. Ed, I know you are good enough to play with your eyes closed, but please don't. John, staring at your mark's, lets say, midsection isn't much better. At least Bobby does it right.

Ed, more advice. Don't huck the disc into the guy right in front of you. Wait for someone to get open and throw around your mark. John, that's a foul. Don't let your mark feel you up. Naveed, thanks for cleaning up my crappy throws. Next time throw to Kellen, he was open.

The Santa Clara scrimmage:

Well, I was in Berkeley when this happened, but based on the slide show I'm pretty sure I know what happened.

Santa Clara had some pretty loose defense that Bobby and Ben took full advantage of to score many points. Bobby put all his energy into gritting his teeth, letting him get ridiculously open to throw the huck for another score. Sheehan played so well he got bored. John Murphy was having such an easy time of it he waved to the growing crowd every time he caught the disc. Jamie threw the bucket pass to Bobby to win the game. My guess for final score: 15-2.

Thats approximately what happened.

*All photography courtesy of Chris VanLang*

What Happens in Vegas

...gets an overly long write up here. Trouble in Vegas was Feb 5-7 (really just Feb 5th).

We started Friday off with a 12:00 pm game against Northern Michigan, a team that practices indoors all winter long and was attending their second ever tournament. Perhaps because they were a newish team or perhaps because they were wearing pink, we immediately went up 4-0. In the second point of the game Will had an impressive layout D, earning the first forty of the game. At 4-0 the wind started to pick up and we started trading points. Sheehan had the first two of many hucks to Cody for scores in the first half. Pink earned one break off a John Murphy throwaway, but Stanford answered back. Ds by Zach Lott, Sheehan, and Jimmy in the next point weren't enough to stop N Michigan, but Murphy completed to Kellen to end half 7-4. Estevan tore up the field earning a game high 5 fantasy points off 2 goals, an assist, and two Ds. Kellen cleaned up Will’s attempt to sky two pink players and dished it back to Will for the score after half 8-5. CVL caught the disc for the first time towards the end and then threw it away, eventually leading to a pink score to tie the game at 9-9. Universe point did not phase Jimmy (nothing does) as he passed to Estevan to win the game 10-9. John Murphy finished the game -7 in fantasy points despite 2 assists.

Next up was Washington B, who has become, thanks to Pariser and several rainy games, somewhat of a rival. We pulled it together and got fired up to beat them for the first time in the last three match ups. However, by the time I got back from a water run Stanford was inexplicably down 0-2. In response Stanford mounted a 4 point, nay, 3 point run. Excuse me for my stats sheet says BS where UW scored to tie at 3-3 after Kellen was called out of bounds on a Sheehan 'dime' huck. UW seemed to like picking on rookies, but Jamie would not have it, contesting a stall called on him. Arguing is important. Arguments win games. We traded from there to 5-5 at which point UW broke us to 5-6. Donny may have dropped the pull on that point, but as a freshman handler with 2 assists and a goal that early in the game, I personally forgive him. Bobby got a layout D on the next point and Jimmy converted to tie 6-6. UW took half 6-7 but we rattled two off after half to take the lead 8-7.

At 7-7 the point lasted a good 20 minutes during which soft cap was called and included two injury subs and +3 fantasy points for Ed. UW scored on serve to tie 8-8 and then broke us to 8-9 as hard can may or may not have gone on. As I deflected the whining of some UW players on the sideline our glorious captains led a line onto the field and continued play, scoring to tie at 9-9. At this point I agreed with UW's sideline that hard cap may possibly have gone off at some point so there was a good chance this might be universe point, leaving room for argument should Stanford not break UW. My worming proved unnecessary as Kellen got a D then later threw the assist to Estevan to win 10-9.

I should point out (since CVL nicely provided photographic evidence) that DBard / Love Tractor can get really open, Sheehan can wow asian people, Estevan makes a good effort at helping John Murphy's fantasy score, Bobby cleans up well but still get kicked in the balls (not really though), Gage is a pro cutter, and John Murphy can take on the entire opposing defense at once.

The rain started during our third game and combined with the lack of Tourney food energy on the team was down. That didn't stop us from going up 2-0 on Cal Poly San Marcos at their first ever tournament. Until 9-5 us each line played two points in a row and each line scored at least one point. Two of those points were scored by Mitch / Furby sporting paper towel stuffed in his nose to stop the bleeding after an almost Callahan D. Sanjay / Bishop also stepped up and scored two of those points. John Murphy got a D and an assist when we took half 7-2. Gage and Ed's Ds to start the second half weren't enough to stop San Marcos from scoring 2 to 7-4. A few points later at 9-5 CVL threw the disc away twice but that only made him want it more and in return he got a sweet layout D by the endzone. San Marcos scored 3 in a row as exhaustion and weather took their toll on us to bring the score to 9-8. We clamped down with a Sheehan to Murphy score 10-8. In the next long point Stanford turned the disc 8 times (Ed, Bobby, Jimmy, and Murphy) and San Marcos eventually scored 10-9. But that was the last we let them score as Sheehan connected with Cody three times in a row to end the game 13-9.

By the time ANeil flew in on Saturday the games for the day and later the weekend had been cancelled, but Coach David convinced Illinois to put aside their fear of Stanford B and scrimmage us as the sun came out for most of our game. Later that evening, Sheehan questioned Cultimate's organizational abilities at the captains meeting and may be singly responsible for all talk about possible refunds. Before I passed out Saturday the Vets beat the Rookies in a boat race at the party in Izzy's suite. Cody (1 beer) narrowly beat the coaches (1 beer each) in a second contest, but the coaches regained their honor by beating Cody and Donny in a 2v2 boat race a few minutes later.

just what I saw.

*All photography courtesy of Chris VanLang*

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