Hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to say I lost to the national champs.

After our first round of cuts, we had 1 practice and then the madison kids came up to Minneapolis for 2 games to 15 on Saturday. Our roster at the moment is in the 30s. But that includes 3 guys on the current hodags roster. At the actual scrimmage for us were 28 healthy guys (and a couple not so healthy).

The hopunks would win both games. The first somewhat easily 15-10, running away with it after we traded points almost the whole first half to 8-7. I think they went on a 3-0 run to start the 2nd half. The 2nd game was a little closer, 15-12. But another short run in the middle saw us unable to claw back.

This was the first time I felt like I was really running at game speed all year. It felt really good to challenge and be challenged. The 5 or 6 throwing turns I had did not feel good. Including an absolutely awful hammer upwind, getting foot blocked by Heijman, and an interesting backhand. The legs feel good, the throwing, ummm, not as good.

It is an interesting thing to take 28 guys and try to sub them equally. And actually, you try to sub in the bottom 10 or 12 more frequently. In our case, we were obviously using this to see how the tryouts would perform against a good team, fast, with throws, and they play well together. It was fun to watch them at times and frustrating to watch us. Of course, every line we put out there was relatively new.

Anyone who has ever played on a team where I have been involved in subbing knows you have to make a play or 2 early to stay out there (esp. if you are low in the rotation). Well, here I felt like I had to keep putting the same guys out there. Even if they weren't getting ds or getting open. And even though there were really good players on the bench sitting there making fun of q tip.

Oh, and easily the only time I have played the least # of points since my first tournament. That was in the first game. The 2nd game, I called my # more often.

Mix in all the new guys playing plus a bunch of rust from the old guys, it got ugly at times, especially when we received the pull. I will admit to making the o line better in the 2nd game by getting more vets p.t. then. That is why we kept it sooo much closer in the 2nd game.

We have scrimmaged cut every year since 02. This was the first year we every took on Madison. This mad-town team is impressively deep and fast. I can understand why they are rolling over everyone.

But back to tryouts, the weather was great out today. In the 80s probably for the first time all year. We are in a lull b/c we are about to make our next round of cuts on Wed. It should be interested. Basically, taking what was once a 38 man tryout roster. Down to ~30 or so. We have no real set #, but it will be interesting to see what happens when the 4 of us sit down and discuss players. Plus, there is potential for some new hodags to be trying out....

Basically, these next couple of days will be "fun" from a leadership standpoint. As I said, the first round of cuts are usually easier b/c there are so many there you do not get an attachment to certain players. The 2nd round is much harder. Everyone there is working their butt off. Who knows, maybe we will have a 40 man roster this year.

Workouts- 6 days in a row last week, although I missed track workout and Wed. practice. The first time this year with 6 days, the legs are feeling pretty good. We did stairs on Thursday and definitely the best I felt on Friday afterwards. Hopefully, that will be able to put me in decent shape for Boston. Twice, I did 25 minute runs, so still nothing long endurance wise. Endurance, I am not too worried about. That pretty much takes care of itself for me. The quickness is what takes a couple months to get back.

Predictions- Hodags over Florida 15-11, Pistons in 7 (currently down 1-2) Prince goes wild in game 4, Tigers beat the Cardinals in 6 games in the world series. Curtis Granderson MVP.

The first round of our cuts is over. If you count every person who showed up at one of our open tryouts, the number is 60+. But those who showed up to 2 or more is somewhere in the upper 50s. Wed was a pretty fun practice. Close to 55 total, we eventually split into 3 teams once we figured out a field in between softball games. A quick round robin, all games to 3 kept my team in the middle at 1-1. We then split the winning team and played another 2 games. Good times. It was the first of the CUT boys up in town and they delivered as expected. Several people held their own and not many collapsed under the new pressure of more good players.

On Saturday, we arrived to an overcast day that promised to be very cold and windy, possible rainy. Luckily, the rain held off and it warmed a little bit. A cold day to play, but not horrible. Much better than anything last year. With only 2 of our 4 captains there, many of our cuts were made beforehand. But I believe there was a list of 8 or so guys that could play their way into the 2nd round. We had ~40 guys there, but only 35 playing due to injuries. After warmup/drills, we had 5 teams randomly chosen. Each team played a point, if you scored, you stayed. If not, go to the end of the line. The longest run, I believe, was a 5 point run by the first team out there. We ended with a 1-on-1 huck drill and a couple longer games. The other captain and I were looking at our "list" and trying to find if any of those guys would play their way onto the team. No one really did, we took a couple of flyers on guys who look promising and have typical ultimate athletic skills (good in air, on d, fast, etc).

We ended with a # of 40 by the end of the last scrimmage. After that, we announced those who advanced (all 23 returners and 17 newbies). I think we had ~14 of those guys set in stone before Saturday. They had done enough the first 2 days to warrant an extended look. The other 3 were made throughout the practice. Two things really stick out between those who can possible play at the level we want and those who can't - 1. Ability to move the disc side to side. It was somewhat upwind/downwind, but there was a decent crosswind as well. It exposed some handlers. 2. Ability to time a continuation cut. I feel that continuation after an upfield pass is not the hardest skill to learn/understand. But it seems that many people don't know it.

I would prefer to talk to each person individually, but really that is too time consuming. We do make ourselves available to discuss why or what needs to be done to get better, etc. Most of the people there know they will get cut and they are there just b/c it is open. There are a fair # who are disappointed and want to discuss it. This is easily the worst part of being a captain, telling someone they can't play with you.

So now round 2 begins. Round 2 will be 6 practices over the rest of May including a 2 game scrimmage with Madison this weekend. That will be fun. Anyone who makes it our 3rd and final round of cuts will go to Boston with us for the Boston Invite. And we decide after that. June will be even more intense and then we back off for a little bit in July concentrating on the disc sport of the future, Goaltimate.

The best part about tryouts is it allows me to slowly get in shape. Anytime I am tired, I can't stop what I am doing and "watch" the other tryouts... My workout schedule has been inconsistent at best, although over the past 14 days, I have only had 2 days off. Including a hard hill workout, a couple 800s on the track, and a couple sets of stairs. So my legs are slowly getting there. Unfortunately, my training has not really fit in anything above 25 minutes in terms of my longer runs. So endurance wise, I am not where I am usually there. Now with less guys at tryouts, more running and more intensity. That will be good.

Music stuff- if you go to a concert, do not hold your cell phone up in place of a lighter. Completely uncool. Why is your cell phone even on or out to begin with? And if you answer, "B/c I am taking a picture with my camera phone" well that is not a good answer. And you are even more uncool. New Pearl Jam is pretty good. I would not compare it to Ten/Vs/Vitalogy. But it is up there, definitely more of an attitude then some of the newer stuff. The first 2 songs are great. Oh, Raconteurs out today. I have not purchased it, but have heard a couple songs. Jack White does no wrong.

Tryouts have begun. This is our 4th year of starting the weekend after college regionals. We figure we are mainly recruited college kids, so that have momentum and hopefully they are in shape. We start out with 3 open to anyone tryouts. This past weekend was beautiful and we had ~35 guys there. We are expecting more tomorrow b/c there was a conflict w/ a high school tourney as well as most everyone is Northfield had a conflict.

That was actually a low # for us, the past 2 years we have been close to 50 the first couple of tryouts. 35 worked out well, 50 is way too much for only one field (it was crowded at Nokomis on Saturday). It seems there are 60+ at Moe tryouts this year, maybe they are more attractive.

We tell everyone we are looking for defense, athletic ability, good decision makers, and good teammates. I think Dave has given the same talk all 4 years. After that we did various amount of drills to showcase either 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 skills. Everything live o and d. We are looking for that unexpected hit that we have been lucky with the past couple of years (berkseth, shane, mark, to name a few). Then split into 2 teams and had 3 scrimmages. With one team coming out on top all three times. And that team was not mine.

There was some solid players, no one made the decision ez by clearly dominating. This year, we are doing 3 rounds of cuts. This coming up weekend being the first round. After nationals 2nd round, and after Boston 3rd round. There were several guys who did enough to advance to the 2nd round. No real set # for round 2, but whoever we think could make our team. But the competition always increases when the CUT boys (and if any Madison boys show up after natties). Last year, tryouts were completely different before CUT/Hodags arrived and after they arrived. Obviously, those 2 schools are the class of the region and they expect to be the best. They carry themselves in that fashion. While some of the smaller, newer programs have guys who are not nearly as confindent and not nearly as used to succeeding. Let's just say, the CUT/Madison boys were in control of tryouts when they were there.

The exceptions are the ones that make it. Kyle last year. Berkseth, Shane, etc from 2 years guys. Guys who go out there with something to prove and to show they belong. It is fun to watch, although they are less experienced, they are a sponge. Soaking everything up and not wanting anyone from those 2 squads to take a spot from them. That is when tryouts get fun. Usually this takes place in early June, b/c that is when the guys who qualified to nationals arrive. This year it starts tomorrow due to the epic 1 bid battle in Iowa City. {We have a rule, if your team makes college natties, you do not have to be there until after Memorial Day}.

It is crazy though. Not much teaching of an offense. 3 handlers, 2 sets of buddies downfield. Some rules, but not many. I personally like to see creativity out of the tryouts this early on. Do they have any clue what is going on besides themself? Or are they just running around only concerned about themself getting the disc? At times, it is very disorganized and very chaotic. This also allows more opportunities for ds.

This year, it is probably more competitive than ever. We have most of our squad returning. Plus, the quality of ultimate in twin cities area is picking up. Plus, there are some good locals who are a year or 2 removed from the college scene that are now interested in playing with us. All this for up to 8 spots or as little as no spots. Definitely makes the decision making process more fun and much harder. The first round will be ez. The second round, that should be interesting. We will venture to Boardman's house, fill up the whiteboard with names and go from there...