Regional Analysis: 2007 to 2008

Atlantic Coast

It was a strong year, but it didn't live up to the hype. Florida met expectations (ours, not theirs) with a semifinals appearance at nationals. Georgia couldn't repeat and almost crashed out to Pitt in the prequarters. UNC had a terrible second day at nationals and nearly (should have?) lost to Pitt on Friday. NC State looked promising at the beginning of the year but couldn't gel as a team or in a system. Mid-level teams performed well across the country and produced highlight reels.

Next year: This will be an exciting region to watch. There will be at least four teams fighting for three bids that could go to anyone in any order. Florida, NC State and Georgia look the most solid, assuming Kurt takes his 5th year. But look for UNC to play spoiler again. I don't think UCF or JMU can hope to do better than that 5th place spot.

Central

A great year for the Central region, at least for their top 3 teams. Wisconsin roasted everyone at Nationals on their way to a 55-1 season and a national title. Carleton roared back at Centex and they have an excellent recruiting class coming in this fall. Minnesota surprised a lot of people and nearly upset Carleton, and they made waves at Terminus. The rest of the region, besides Wisconsin-Whitewater, seems mostly to stay in-region or in the Great Lakes. The problem with the Central region is that until Carleton and Wisconsin both have a great year, the third teams will never get their shot at the big show.

Next year: It will be a dogfight for Regionals - Carleton loses Goldstein but only two other seniors and picks up a great group of juniors players, including Chain Lightning player Grant Lindsley. Wisconsin loses a lot of veteran leadership but they're still returning a large core of a team that doesn't know what losing feels like. Minnesota and Whitewater battle for that meaningless third spot yet again, but Minnesota will keep getting stronger as they feel the benefit that a strong in-state juniors program will bring.

Great Lakes

The good news for the Great Lakes: they get to keep their size bid (presumably). And once again a Great Lakes team takes 9th. Congratulations Ohio State - and congratulations on finally getting your jerseys. Aside from Ohio State's rise to prominence this year, Great Lakes teams were largely unimpressive. Illinois made waves earlier in the season, beating both national powers Las Positas and Wisconsin-Whitewater on universe point. Indiana managed to ruin Delaware's shot at any winner's bracket glory following their upset of Florida and made it a game against Texas in prequarters before finishing 11th at Nationals, and the Michigans never really turned up this year. Michigan State even lost to Paideia High School 13-6.

Next year: Really, who knows? Michigan is getting a junior worlds player from Paideia, Ohio State returns a large group of players, and maybe Kalamazoo will finally break out and beat Michigan State. But they have two bids and will probably provide two four-seeds once again.

Metro East

Is this signs of a new era? Or will Pitt just become the next Michigan, sitting on the edge of elite ultimate but not quite able to break in. Being bred on Metro East ultimate, I can say that Pittsburgh has come a long way since they beat our high school team 13-3 just three years ago. They acquitted themselves well as they travelled across the country, took Wisconsin to double game point, and will hopefully continue to grow as they pick up a lot of very talented juniors players from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Hopefully they'll come out to Stanford Invite next year. Delaware was the other traveling Metro East team - they took Regionals without beating Pittsburgh, upset Florida at Nationals, and then promptly finished tied for 15th. But they got their glory, and I doubt anyone will overlook them again. The rest of the region was, as usual, unspectacular. Cornell got their glory by upsetting Pittsburgh on Saturday of Regionals and then were put back in their place in the game-to-go. Edinboro placed well at Easterns.

Next year: Once again, the Metro East remains the largest region and once again will have two bids. I'm going to boldly predict that Pittsburgh will actually win the region this year, and go out on a limb and say that ... some other team will beat a rebuilding Delaware to that next spot. But if Brandon Redding has another year left in him, then Delaware will be hard to beat.

New England

This is not the same New England region that produced the 2005 national champion. While some of the players from that team still remain, for the most part Brown is a younger, less experienced team. As we were watching Brown defeat UNC 15-11 in a consolation game, Neale Mahoney told me that for most of the players, that was their first-ever win at nationals. Williams played the "just happy to be here" role at Nationals, despite not even being from the Metro East. A topsy-turvy Metro Boston sectionals saw the rise of a new "on any given sunday ...", one that spelled the end of a dominant second team in the New England. And unless one team can assert itself next year, the New England region will provide the other two four-seeds at Nationals.

Next year: Brown once again, almost by default. It looks as though Northeastern might finally be able to break through, if they can hold on to Will Neff and Camden Kittredge continues to develop. I know better than to pick UMass, and Harvard and Tufts both seem to be in flux. Can Williams repeat? I doubt it, but anything's possible. Dartmouth seems poised for a run as well, and that loss in the game-to-go will leave them with a bitter taste in their mouth going into the spring.

Northwest

Ah, Stanford and Oregon. Oregon and Stanford. Is there really much more to say? But all kidding aside, Stanford went out and got another semifinals appearance (whoop-de-doo) and Oregon lost in quarters. The rest of the region ... UBC was anonymous until Regionals, UCSC started strong but couldn't reach that higher level, LPC was inconsistent, the Washington teams were decent, and Cal disappointed. It's almost as if all of the NW club talent is brought in from the outside, because there was little evidence at Regionals that the region could produce four of the top six teams in the country. But c'est la vie ...

Next year: Stanford loses 10, returns 13. Reloading, not rebuilding. Oregon will make a serious bid to win the region. What's good for Oregon and scary for the Northwest is that Kevin Stout is possibly still in eligibility, which will make them a threat for the semis next year. Anyone else on the horizon? I don't really see it happening, but we might be able to bring back a strength bid for the next year.

South

Ah, the South. The region that sneaks by while the Metro East and New England are trashed by the critics. It was a ridiculous one-horse race this year, as Texas crushed Kansas *15-4* in the finals at Regionals. Kansas proceeded to tie for 15th at Nationals behind fat handlers and their all-heckle line. Somehow fourth in the spirit award rankings ... I guess they're jovial? Texas A&M made waves at Centex, upsetting Georgia, before they promptly tanked at sectionals and regionals. Texas State and North Texas were hyped big but didn't deliver. But there's good news! They only have one bid to Nationals next year! Hallelujah!

Next year: One cheer: Texas, Texas, yee-haw!

Southwest

The region that got "shafted", a year after having three bids to nationals, did produce a legitimate contender for a quarterfinals spot at nationals. UCSB was good, intense, and just not quite good enough to beat Colorado. But they'll be back. Mamabird will also be back after a year of reloading but not rebuilding. Their biggest losses are Rabbit and Beau, but everyone at Colorado is on the five-year plan, so they keep Jolian and Martin. Claremont and UCSD battled for a meaningless third, with UCLA coming up fifth. Their club experience is helping, but it can't compare to the rigorous training and preparation of the top teams in the region.

Next year: Colorado takes the region and Black Tide head back to Nationals. Colorado is getting another group of juniors players, but most will be shuffled off to the B-team for a year as they get used to the Mamabird system.

Nationals 2008

I guess that makes the field: Georgia, NC State, Florida, Carleton, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Delaware?, Brown, Northeastern, Stanford, Oregon, Texas, Colorado, UCSB