Hi again-

To put it simply: we've got a big weekend ahead.

We leave for Hanover, NH, on Friday afternoon, to compete at New England Regionals. There are two spots out of our region to go to Nationals.

Although the seedings/possible matchups have yet to be finalized, one thing is for sure: every game will be a big game. Every game will require 100% focus and 100% effort. While we are absolutely one of the top teams in the region this year (if not the top), we are not in the same situation as last year, where it was a foregone conclusion that we were going to Nationals. No, this year is different- we've got to earn every inch before we can go a mile. No one is going to hand us a plane ticket to Columbus. No one is going to "rest up" for the backdoor bracket when they play us. Everyone will be looking to be the team to send the reigning National Champions home. Call me biased, but I think that everyone else will go home disappointed.

Why do I feel this way? Here are a couple of good reasons:

1) We have two great leaders as captains, Reid Hopkins '06 and Colin Mahoney '07. Look for these two to take over games, lead by example, and take us to the promised land.

2) Four-year veteran Michael Pozar '05 GS '06, who is going to take the field this weekend for his fourth and final New England Regionals. Look for Po' to put away some Zone Ds with his calm throws and excellent field sense.

3) Mike Vandenberg '08. Look for Mike V. to establish that he is by far the best thrower in the Region. It could be rainy, it could be windy... but Mike V. doesn't care. He ain't scared.

4) Break-out seasons for Jimmy Lowe '08, Jonas Levi RISD '08, and Elliot Bock '07. These fellas have all gone from mostly sideline players last year to huge contributors this year. This is the tournament where people will start talking about them, putting up posters of them, the whole nine yards.

5) How about some D-line love? Look for Dave Erickson GS, Daniel Goldberg '07, Ben Saper '07, and Noel Fetting-Smith '09 to get lots of PT. After all, the D-line stays on when it gets a break- and another, and another. And, let's be honest, we all know that defense wins games.

6) Our freshman corps. It's become sort of a cliche around campus to talk about "how good our freshmen are"... but seriously, if you haven't noticed yet, you will this weekend: our freshmen are awesome.

Logistics:

So far, the list of parents that I have coming to Regionals reads: Mike Pozar's parents, Reid Hopkins's parents, Noel Fetting-Smith's parents, Elliot Bock's parents, Colin Mahoney's parents, and Owen Miller's parents. If you are a parent/friend of BMo and you are reading this, and you are not on that list but are coming to Regionals, please contact Linda Hopkins, Reid's mom, at linda1@rochester.rr.com . Also, if you are an Alum who would like to get involved with the parent/sideline stuff, you can e-mail Linda Hopkins as well. Thank you, Mrs. Hopkins, for coordinating that stuff.

We are playing at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, NH. Here is the tournament webpage: http://mikko.kent.googlepages.com/ultimate as well as: http://www2.upa.org/scores/tourn.cgi?div=122&id=2593 . Neither has much info yet. We will be playing a standard format of 16-team single elimination championship bracket, and a backdoor bracket for teams that lose in the main bracket. Check those aforementioned websites for the schedule (should be up soon).

I can't think of any other information about this weekend. It should be a great tournament. We've been looking forward to another shot at UMass after Yale Cup... hopefully we'll get what we wish for. I hope that you can make it out this weekend. I have heard from a few alums who have said that they are coming. Of the '05 alums, I can only think of 3 that have valid excuses not to be there... and those excused are in Nepal, Israel, and Croatia. For the rest of you alums out there: show up, give us some love, and cheer us on. Come out and watch us turn the doubters into believers.

Lastly, I'd like to make a last-ditch effort to encourage you to support us financially. Last year, at this point in the season, we were receiving donations every day. After winning nationals, we received even more donations. I'd like to see that our base can support us now, too, because the needs are the same every year. We need your help to pay for things as mundane as gas, hotel rooms, rental cars, or as fancy as plane tickets, and caviar (joking). Please help us to continue to do what we love at a cost that is affordable to all players. You can do so here: http://www.sportsfoundation.brown.edu and select Men's Ultimate.

See you at the fields,

Jon #4