2001 UPA College Ultimate Championships

Colorado (#2) vs. Carleton (#4)

Keys to the game:

This is a rematch of last year's semi-finals, which saw Alex Nord win the game for Carleton by one point after Colorado went to the observer on Nord's foul call. Nord was willing to send it back to the thrower, Sam O'Brien, but CU was forced to give up the disc to Nord on the goal line instead, when the observer upheld the call. An exciting goal line throw to O' Brien and the game was over.

Fans have to be wondering how Colorado is going to contend with Nord, the dominant player thus far in the tournament. We should expect to see some junk defenses, perhaps a zone to man, although the potential mismatches arising out of the transitions could be more devastating than challenging him head-on with strong man defense. There were quite a few stoppages of play in CUT's semi-final win over Santa Barbara. I have yet to see a college team make use of audible calls on defense, but this might be one way that Colorado could throw CUT out of its offensive synch. This requires more spontaneity and defensive communication than many teams can put together, but the result often challenges offenses to adapt and find receivers other than the two-person play. Offenses that are overly reliant on set plays and predictable cuts will stall out trying to hit players covered off-man in a clam or 1-3-3. For teams playing without a coach, the perspective that enables this adjustment is all but impossible to achieve. Colorado's receivers will also need to be outrunning the tenacious CUT defense, whose dogged pursuit in previous games has helped to break some games wide open.

I spoke with Carleton's Derek Gottlieb before the game, and he assured me that CUT would be looking to play hard man defense more than junk or transition, a move which he was confident would play to his team's strength. It came as no surprise, perhaps, that Colorado's assistant coach also swore by the Mamabird man defense. CU plans to match Mark "Manimal" Driver up on Nord, a match-up they feel will contain the big man. This game is looking like it's going to be a slug match of two heavyweights, neither one interested in doing anything fancy. From the perspective of a club player, it's hard not to wonder if these teams are going to be making what could be an easy game harder on themselves by relying on sick blocks to pull ahead. The fans, however, have nothing to lose and everything to gain from the adrenaline rush they are about to witness.

The weather at game time did not appear to be a factor. Overcast skies and mild temperatures in the low 60s with little or no wind. Zimman Field was nearly at capacity, with a few thousand fans filling the bleachers.

0-0

CUT on defense. Pull OB. Man D. Spread offense by CU. Broken mark on the goal line past outstretched hand of Nord on poach attempt.

1-0 CU

Man D. Iso huck to Masulis, macked by his defender and caught by the CUT receiver. Easy backhand to a wide open Brody Felchle.

1-1

Zone D by CUT. To man after foul call. CU sread field offense leads to nice shot by Brent Zionic to the big man, Mad Dog Madzinski.

2-1 CU

CUT spread offense, weak throwaway to Masulis. CU takes possession on own goal line. CUT man D. Spread offense and a sweet huck from Steve Rouisse to Brian Bogle. CUT has a look at a layout block on an earlier throw.

3-1 CU

CU man D. CUT moving disc nicely across the field. Looking for the opening, back and forth from one side to the other. Finds Nord deep for easy sky on a throw from Nick Reich.

3-2 CU

No major defensive plays yet, still offensive exchanges.

CUT in junk to man. Slows CU play, but not for long. Easy throw from Foolio to the big Madzinski.

4-2 CU

CU is up a break on the early throwaway by CUT.

Pull OB. CU comes down in man D. Isolating Nord deep, captain Gottlieb sends a low hard one to Nord, streaking deep. He runs down the throw and sets the crowd off as he scoops it before it hits the turf.

4-3 CU

CUT calls for time. Looks like they'll try to make some adjustments on defense in order to put a stop to CU's flow. CUT comes with man D. Madzinski seems to play pretty physically on his cuts, another foul called on him by his defender. CU on the near cone, contained by CUT, leading to a throwaway. CUT's endzone offense slips one in from O' Brien to Matt Hahn, hotly contested by CU, but he hangs on to the disc to tie it. Carleton breaks back. Hard to tell what adjustments CUT made, but their d seemed fired up and a CU turnover was the result.

4-4

CU spread offense again. CUT man D. Iso to Madzinski, who comes easily back underneath. Leading pass is nearly d'd off-man by CUT, but Madzinski tears it away. CU endzone offense off a stoppage, and a high backhand breakmark for the goal.

5-4 CU

Pull OB. CU comes zone transition to man. CUT's offense running well, with good defense downfield by CU. As both teams try to break the mark, more foul calls are made. Quick release huck by Nord to an off-man block for CU. Big defensive bid by CUT's#32. CU missed connection on good defensive pressure. CUT composure on endzone, several foul calls. Gottlieb hammer to Nord going away in the endzone to tie it.

5-5

CUT zone to man. CU spreads offense and moves it well. #32 with another look at a d. Madzinski completes upfield on goal line and CU calls for time. Madzinski guarded by #35, Sam O'Brien, gets it underneath. He reaches out over the head of the mark, using his 6'10" advantage, and throws a straight backhand over the outstretched arms of his shorter defender. I'd call it a breakmark, but the mark hardly entered into it.

6-5 CU

CU in man D. Garret Westlake jacks it to Nord, who catches the rebound off of his defender for the goal.

6-6

CUT man D. Straight stack O by CU. #7 and #9 handling well for CU. Mad Dog open underneath for easy completions, as his defender cannot afford to play him back to the disc. Mad Dog overthrows a forehand to Skeletor. CUT going the other way. Forced throw to Nord, CU on O. High hammer nearly d'd but caught by #22, Paymaster. CU pushed back and then a foul call on a second effort layout block by Carleton's Matt Dufort. Call overturned by the Observer, Jim Parinella. CUT endzone offense. Sam O'Brien with a breakmark bullet to Nick Reich. CUT breaks to take the lead.

7-6 CUT

CUT man D. Good downfield d by CUT, CU slow to get off own goal line. Works it up, then gets pushed back. CUT playing great defense. Good mark, close defense leads to come back block by CUT's Nick Reich, who is rewarded with the long huck from Derek Gottlieb. CUT takes half, 8-6.

As predicted the early going has seen lots of offense, with a few blocks. Neither team seems to have a consistent answer to their opponent's flow. CUT has come up with a few big blocks through hard marking and fast footwork, but the game is still close. CUT's two defensive breaks should put them at a great advantage going into the second half, when they will start with the disc.

8-6 CUT

CU man D. Quick huck to Alex Masulis, who is double-teamed on the play, gets walloped and calls foul. The Observer overrules. CU disc. Spread offense with a dump for CU. Nate Miller lofts it to Rouisse, who gets up over O'Brien for the goal. One of two breaks that CU needs to get back in it.

8-7 CUT

Pull is out of bounds. CU comes down in man D. CUT spreaks the field nicely, then overthrows Masulis. He doubles back, tracks it down, bobbling it under pressure before catching it. A Nord push pass dump on the goal line almost leads to a CUT turnover. Carleton calls for time. Spreading the stack across the endzone, the Minnesota boys swing it and fire an uncontested goal to Nord.

9-7 CUT

CU in a zone to man. Late transition with no one picking up the thrower, CU's Brian Bogle, who hits an open Timmy Paymaster for the goal.

9-8 CUT

CU sprints down in zone. CUT launches a wild huck to Nord, who is double teamed, allowing Brody Felchle an easy catch. CUT finishes with a nice towing of the sideline by Matt Hahn for the goal. Poor choice and a weak throw leads to a lucky CUT goal.

10-8 CUT

Tight man D by CUT puts CU back in its endzone. Slow steady work by Rouisse and Foolio keeps CU alive. Lofting it once again to Madzinski, CU takes advantage of the height mismatch. Quick finish and CU is back within one.

10-9 CUT

CU sprints down in zone. Uncontested throws by CUT lead to a huge huck to Nord. Nord is played well by position by CU's Mark Driver. When it sails over his head, Brody Felchle is there once again for the grab, a diving catch that brings cheers from the crowd.

11-9 CUT

Pull OB. CUT in man D, then a huge block by Felchle to give the disc back to Carleton. CUT asks for time at stall 9, trapped on the sideline at midfield. Easy swing, but then a throwaway for Carleton. CU jacks it yet again to the Mad Dog, who owns the deep air as he has all game.

11-10 CUT

Offsides by CU leads to a second, weaker pull. CU junk D transitions to man. Gottlieb launches a huge hammer to Nord, who tracks it in despite the near-block by CU's Dave Hunzicker. If CU can't get a break, this game will slip away.

12-10 CUT

Pull OB. Man D by Carleton. Straight stack for CU. Offense moves the disc well, relying as always on the breakmark. CU's offense has trouble with pick calls. Foolio needlessly launches a hammer across field, which Nord tracks down and blocks with contact on a dive. The Observer overrules the foul call and it's CUT's disc. Felchle over throws O'Brien, CU launches it and Mad Dog has his man for lunch.

12-11 CUT

CU down in man D. Carleton spread offense with two dumps. A few swings before Derek Westlake pumps it to Nord. The big redhead gets up and OVER his defender for the one-handed horizontal goal. The crowd roars its approval.

13-11 CUT

CUT down in man D. CU spread offense, looking for Madzinski deep, but he can't find the timing. Skeletor appears to save the possession for CU on a diving grab, but the Observer rules it down. A long throw finds Nick Reich just short of the endzone, and a quick finish to Fujisaki leaves Carleton one point away from their first Championship.

14-11 CUT

CUT narrowly misses an early block before CU drops an easy pass. Then it's Nick Reich uncontested with a quick hand clap on the plastic for the 2001 Championship.

CUT over CU, 15-11

As one reflects on the flow of this championship game, it's not hard to observe that the difference was defense. Colorado matched CUT's deep game with their own looks to Mad Dog and a very deliberate split-field offense. Their throws were nearly always on the money, and they showed they could move the disc effectively against the best man defense in the college game. CUT's Nord had his usual big game for CUT, with a strong supporting cast of Felchle, O'Brien and Masulis. As many big players do, Nord not only made the big plays, but he helped to distribute the offense and create opportunities for others. This was Colorado's fourth consecutive appearance at the Big Show, but with nine seniors on this team, it's hard to tell if they'll be back next year. I don't think Mad Dog has any more growth spurts left in him, but he's still got four years of eligibility. Everyone has to be wondering how to stop a player who turns the endzone into his own personal low post.

Statistically, here's how the game broke down across the biggest players for both teams:

CUT

Alex Masulis (#00) - 1 goal thrown

Derek Gottlieb (#27) - 6 goals thrown

Alex Nord (#5) - 8 goals caught, 1 block

Sam O'Brien (#35) - 3 goals thrown

CU

Mad Dog Madzinski (#17) - 4 goal caught, 2 thrown

Steve Rouisse (#9) - 2 goals caught, 4 thrown

Mike Foolio Rafoul (#7) - 2 goals thrown

Brian Bogle (#20) - 2 goals caught, 1 thrown, 1 block