How did we win it all? Part 2

After the semi final against Calgary we crowded into the shuttle line to wait for our glorious ride back to the Fairmont. An hour and a half later (one hour spent just waiting for the darn shuttle) we rolled into the parking at our hotel and had some time to decompress, do some laundry, have a pre-dinner meal and then go for dinner with the team. All the while knowing that on Sunday we would be faced with a golden opportunity, unlike any we have ever had before.


If there was a year for us to win Nationals it was this year. No Goat, No Furious and no other teams left in our way except a Phoenix team that we were confident that we could handle. Most of the players on our team participated in the previous year’s final loss against Nomads so at least had some experience playing in a final and, more importantly, dealing with the nerves that one can experience leading up to the final. On the way to the stadium most of the guys were acting very loose which was a stark contrast to our previous final experiences. That in itself was a good sign.

I think that the feeling going into the game was that we were going to win. I don’t think anyone doubted that. We were all happy and prepared for the weather conditions; grey and overcast with a slight drizzle, so we really felt like there was no reason for us to have any problems in the final.

We ran off to a bit of a lead but then we let Phoenix back into the game to the point that they were leading 14-13 with the disc to win the game. I didn’t even realize it until the game was over but we actually came within inches of losing the game as Billy Alexander just barely overthrew his receiver in the endzone to give possession back to us. We went on a 4-1 run at that point and managed to close out the game 17-15.

Of course we had the big celebration, rushing the field; there was the trophy and medal ceremony and we had a few celebratory drinks in the stands. We were obviously really excited to win but I have a nagging feeling that we almost blew it. The game should have been easier for us but we let Phoenix in the game for longer than they should have been. I must give credit to Phoenix for not rolling over and playing a great game but the fact remains that we should have won more comfortably than we did.

I think there were a couple of things that worked against us. Our first problem was that we were a bit too profligate with possession. Some players still displayed some nerves and turned the disc over too much. Our second problem is that our fitness level is nowhere near where it needs to be. Phoenix’s superior fitness level kept them in the game longer than they should have been in it. Our last problem was that we didn’t make the adjustments that we needed to make on defense to really close out the game quickly. We knew what we needed to do, we just didn’t implement it. I think this last issue was our biggest problem. With Shaggy, Eric and myself all playing on offense we didn’t have as much of a voice on the D line as we should have had. We were standing on the sideline watching our defense making strategic mistakes when we should have taken a bigger role in helping our defense figure out what they should have been doing on the field in the first place. We should have been making sure that the D line had their plans in order but we didn’t. I think that comes back to the fitness issue. It was very tiring just to play our O points; we didn’t have it in us to run downfield and, within the 90 second time limits, coordinate the defense at the same time.

I recall being on the sideline for our first 6 or 7 D points thinking to myself that we should be forcing backhand and not flick but for whatever reason I didn’t get my butt on the field to make sure the D was doing that. I guess part of that would be due to the fact that we were ahead by a few points. That is exactly when I should have made sure that our defense would have employed that force since I really do think that it would have taken Phoenix right out of the game (their offense works better against our flick force than against our backhand force). Instead we were just good enough to take the lead but not to run away with the game. Eventually, once Phoenix had come back, we switched to backhand and that let us get back in the game and win it… but like I said, we never should have been in that position.

Regardless, we won. We finally won a National Championship!!!!! I don’t think that I ever thought that I would be less of a player if I never won one of these but I definitely felt like a monkey off my back. Now it doesn’t matter anymore. I have won a National Championship and no one can take that away from me.

Now it’s time for another off season and once again the, “is it time to retire”, discussion. Thankfully I don’t need to think about that for a while. I’m just going to enjoy my winter by not playing any disc… have fun at league guys, I won’t see you there except on the odd nights I drop by to say hello.

DF