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Still working on a time to speak with Skip from Cultimate this afternoon, but I did get a response from Texas’ Steven Darroh today.
Darroh is a senior with TUFF in his final year of eligibility. He started his college ultimate career at Louisiana State University and is one of my best ultimate friends.
Needless to say, he was happy to answer some of my questions regarding Texas’ involvement in Conference1.
Q: Texas clearly is one of nation’s elite ultimate programs, and would be included in Cultimate’s proposed Conference1. How are you guys tackling this situation and has any decision been made by the Texas leaders?
Texas has made no decision yet. We are flattered by the proposal and really excited about the idea of Cultimate trying to instigate some changes on the college ultimate scene. Skip of Cultimate is actually a Texas alumnus, so we are definitely proud of the steps he is taking. Right now, the captains and coaches are discussing the matter, while other leadership on the team and alumni are weighing in briefly with their perspective.
Q: What about Conference1 intrigues you as a player on an elite team? What could this mean for the sport of ultimate in the future?
Right now, we are all kind of waiting for Cultimate’s official announcement so we can see the plan laid out in full, and I don’t want to make any preemptive, ignorant statements. So to preface this response, I want to say that some of this might be presumptive. Being one of the older guys on TUFF, I really like the idea of playing 34 regular season games against the (arguably) best teams in the country. Especially after having one of our best regular seasons ever last year, then having three points be the difference for Texas winning our nationals pool to coming in dead last, the idea is appealing to actually have the regular season mean something. As for the future of ultimate, that is really what Cultimate cares about. They want to legitimize ultimate as a sport. They intend to have the conference and the divisions increase in size every year until you have things that look like the Big 12 or the SEC. Also, under their new system, you would know in January who you were playing and when through May. No more “one-and-done” on Sundays, telling your friends who happen to live in that city that you’ll call them if you win the 8:30 game so they can come watch the next. Things like that. Lastly, I really like the idea of active officials speeding up the game with up/down and
in/out calls. I don’t like with how much subjectivity something that should be so objective is treated under the current system.
Q: Surely, as a grassroots ultimate type of player — Steven used to play a lot of barefoot ultimate — this idea troubles you on some level. What are some of your concerns about this movement by Cultimate?
There are a few concerns that the Texas has brought up internally, as well as ones that have been brought to our attention by other team captains. When, if ever, would we get to see some of the weaker teams in our section/region? There is something to be said about the games where you are enjoying because you are playing against your friends, not because you are trying to make a run at natties. Will those teams not in the predetermined 25 have a fair and timely attempt to move up in the ranks? How will eligibility be regulated? How can we develop our younger players earlier in the season if every game weighs equally? Can we afford to travel to all these tournaments, even with the subsidies that Cultimate is offering? Questions like these are really what Texas has been considering since the idea was pitched to us.
Q: What advice would you give to some of the smaller ultimate programs, like most of those in the Bama Section, regarding the division Conference1 would create between the elite programs and “everybody else”?
Again, I think by separating those 25 teams, Cultimate is attempting to make the whole of competitive collegiate ultimate more media friendly. With the schedules set up ahead of time, the cameras would know when they could film each team. Also, I do not think Cultimate would neglect the rest of the teams. Whether they are doing this for profit or for the progression of ultimate, ignoring the majority of teams wouldn’t make sense. I think what most people would like to see is a business model that includes all the teams more comprehensively. Or a way that allows teams to slide up or down a conference.
Q: How should the UPA handle the Conference1 situation? Should the two parties — UPA and Cultimate — work together and give this a try?
I do think that the UPA and Cultimate should be working together on this. I am sure Cultimate has stepped on some toes in this process, but they are just trying to invigorate changes by taking the reins from a seemingly negligent UPA. I can understand Cultimate’s hesitation in involving the UPA. With all the bureaucracy that the Boulder reps bring to the equation, Cultimate’s creativity might have gotten a bit stifled. However, I also think the UPA having a system that’s already in place could really benefit Cultimate’s goals and help solve some of the problems such as eligibility, etc. The UPA should consider contracting out to Cultimate, as well as rendering a collaborative effort.
Q: OK, enough about Conference1. How is Texas looking so far this fall? This is your last year of college ultimate, right? What would be the perfect ending to the spring season for you?
This is my last season. We have a great group of young guys coming in this year, and we are all excited. I would really love to beat some of those top teams that I have played two or three times and never defeated. Most of all, I want to see Stephen Presley win the Callahan. In the top ten his third year, in the top five last year, and the only one of those five returning this year, he really is the most unstoppable player in college ultimate. I don’t want to harp on it too much now, but I encourage everyone to watch this player any time you get a chance to see Texas compete.
