Knox Recap

[Contributed by Sam #6]

Great job at Knox this past weekend Gnomes!!!!

Game 1: Knox A

We came out running a vert in this game, and we never really got it going. While we took half, we never built a substantial lead, and knox had a couple of athletes that really kept them in the game. They got out and got some easy points on hucks, and easy points are the key to indoor ultimate. But in the end of the game we played solid D and kept them in check, ISU 9 Knox 7.

Game 2: Bradley

This game we kept with vert, and our offense remained a little stagnant. We gutted through the first half, and took half, but our play remained pretty sloppy. The second half was more of the same, our offense just wasn't clicking, but we played good enough defense to make up for it. ISU 10 Bradley 9

Game 3: Knox Old people

We came out this game and switched things up, running with a Ho we really got the disk moving and came into our comfort zone on offense. Our D kept up and we took half pretty easily for a change. Our progress kept up through the end of the game, and we continued to move the disc and make the right plays. ISU 11 Knox Alum 8

Game 4: Western ILL

This was our big game for the day, and we started it out with great intensity, just like we needed to. Our disc movement kept up, and we kept Western's offense on their toes with great pressure from our D, we took half with a few point lead, 7 - 3 (or 4, or some variation of scores, depending who you ask). Our play stayed consistent through the second half, largely in part to Jeff Afryl being a super hero. ISU 11 Western 8

Lesson for the day: Intensity is the key for our team. We need to get fired up for the start of games, and keep it going. When we play intense and aggressive we are a great team, but when we don't we play down to a lesser level and allow ourselves to get beat. So lets remember this going into tournaments this spring; Intensity will win us games!!!!!

Sunday

Game 1: Peoria Parrots

Our first Elimination game pitted us against the Parrots, after we got to sleep in. They played a clammy sorta zone, which gave us some trouble in the first half, as we tried to force throws against it and got in some trouble. As a result our D lost a little of its edge and we got discouraged. Parrots take half 7 - 6. Huddle at half, Mega-Captain Stuart Huizinger gets the troops fired up and ready to reek havoc with a zone. We come out of half excited and playing hot, tear up the zone and play great D. Huge turnaround after half. ISU 12 Parrots 8.

Game 2: Semis vs. Eastern ILL

The game starts with a couple of traded points, both teams lookin pretty good. ISU then makes a couple of mistakes and the intensity is gone, poor D is played, and turnovers en masse follow. Reaper takes half 7 - 2. Second half is just more of the same, ISU only improves a little. We stopped playing to our strengths and let the game get away from us. Eastern 13 ISU 7

Weekend lesson: We need to play excited and energetic if we are gonna win. This can't stop with a couple of bad points. For fear of sounding like a broken record - INTENSITY WILL WIN US GAMES!!!!!!!! Great weekend Gnomes, lookin forward to a ballin spring.

* All scores are arbitrary and mean nothing. *

Knoxxx Winter Whiteout: ULTIMATE!!!!!!!

[Contributed by Sam #6]

Its Super Bowl weekend, and that can only mean one thing: Indoor Ultimate at Knox, and some early season domination for Gnomes. This year should be no different, except, knock on wood, no injuries, sorry Hollywood. We are going into it this year with the disappointment of finishing second last year, and hope to put this tournament win under our belts and get this spring off to a good start. This should be a good chance for us to start out with some good fun, and a great opportunity to get some early wins. Not to mention we have put in some great work already this winter, and this will really let us see how our legs are coming.

The schedule at Knox kind of drags by, as they only have one game running at a time, but we still get a full day on saturday with four games.

Game 1: vs. Knox A

This game should be a great chance for us to get going against a pretty decent team that we can beat. Knox has some very solid players, with very good fundamentals, but we should really be able to out run them, and get a lot of easy scores with our athleticism and legs. This should allow us to start out our season on a good note.

Game 2: vs. Bradley

This is another game we should be able to control pretty easily, not to mention I would still like to avenge a sectionals loss to Bradley from last spring. With a combination of smart play and athleticism, we should be able to handle this game too.

Game 3: vs. Knox Alum

The host's alumni are going to be like the Knox A, but with better fundamentals, albeit a little bit older and slower. To have success in this game, we have to get after the disc, and want it more. They will be able to control the game, but we have to use our legs to create opportunities, and really play up our advantages.

Game 4: vs. Western IL

This game is fittingly last, against a team that ISU has played hotly contested matches against since.... I guess the dawn of time. The epic battle of Robots and Gnomes has never failed to disappoint, with countless games coming down to nail-biting finishes. For this game it is super important that we come out intense with our game faces on, and play at a high level from the start. With such short rounds, it is important to get out to a good start in every game, but this one for sure.

With some success on Saturday, we will get to sleep in on Sunday, and get ready for some more domination through the tournament, and a repeat appearance in the finals. Who needs the Super Bowl when the Gnomes are out Bustin' Nuts.