Force Flick: October 2010

I received an email the other day from Skyd magazine. They were asking about the rivalry CUT has with the hodags. Some quickly written answers below. I didn't realize how much I respect the hodags, because at the time I definitely did not.

1. How did your rivalry with the Hodags start?

I don’t actually know. We’ve been in the CN region since I can remember and I assume that’s how the rivalry started. We used to have bigger games with Colorado because they were also in our region. When I talk with the older alums they say that we routinely beat up on the hodags. It wasn’t until the early 00s that we actually began to have close games. We won the regional title something like 15 times in a row. The Hodags first won it in 2006. So until then, things were pretty one-sided.

2. Who are some of the best players from the Hodags that you have

played against?

I played mostly offense so I had some pretty epic match ups with the hodag dline. Spelling is suspect here - Dan Heijman, Drew Mahowald, Dan Miller, Brandon Maleckchic (sp? Muffin) Shane Hoestein, Will Locke, Jim Foster, Tom Annin, Matt Rebholz. We had some epic matchups so these guys are some of my most memorable opponents in college

3. The most memorable game you’ve ever had with the Hodags. Why?

To be honest, no game really sticks out in my mind. We played them so many times. I guess my favorite victory was in 2009 when we won at a very rainy regional finals game. The tournament was at Carleton so we were playing in front of a huge home crowd. Really awesome. But we played the hodags all the time. At exit 69 in the fall, at Missouri loves company in November, at Vegas, many times. My first victory came at Vegas when we beat the hodags 6-5 to get to finals my freshman year. Centex, and of course regionals. I never played them at nationals though.

4. What is it about the Hodags that makes you characterize them as a

must beat team.

I entered college in 2006, the first year we lost to the hodags at regionals. That year the CN region had only 1 bid, so we sort of got screwed out of a nationals appearance, we were definitely a top 4 team. Ever since then it was a goal of mine to beat the hodags. I didn’t happen for real until my senior year in 2009. So I lost to the hodags probably more than any CUT player of all time, seriously. The type of intensity and pressure the hodags brought on d is what I loved. It made CUT’s offense what it was in 2009 when we won it all. Plus there were a few guys on the hodags I hated ( I no longer feel nearly as strongly but in college people can be real dicks, on both teams). I loved watching muffin fail, it was great to see the hodags lose to Florida in 2006 (something I have since come to regret). I think I have a lot more love for the CN region now, even the hodags.

5. Are you disappointed by the college restructure?

No. I think that CUT/hodags should put together an annual game with some sort of trophy or cup, much like in other sports. The game could switch between Carleton and Madison, it would be sweet, really sweet. I think it is an important restructure because it will allow the hodags and CUT to both make nationals on a more consistent basis.

6. What does your team lose/gain by not get to playing the Hodags on a

regular basis?

Regular basis? Being in the same region we only saw them in the regional finals, so with the redraw, it’s only 1 less game a year, which will be supplemented by the annual CUT/HODAG game

7. What new team do you think is going to be your largest competitor

in your respective conference for a bid to nationals?

Minnesota is definitely the up and coming power. You can only lose so much before you start to win. The Hodags got trashed by CUT for 15 years, then the hodags beat up on CUT for 3 years, Now we are stomping on the hodags again, eventually U of M will get in on it.

8. Are there any special mental/physical preparation that you went/go

through to prepare for games against the Hodags. Was there something

you will tell yourselves to get ready to compete?

I knew the defense was always going to be tight. The hodag dline had great players that bated well. Throws had to perfect or they got d’ed, I threw a shitton of turnovers against the hodags. I didn’t do anything special. A lot of times as a team we would try to not let ourselves get sucked into call matches with them, especially muffin, he was a bitch sometimes.

9. How do you feel after you win/lose to the Hodags?

It felt great to beat the hodags, mostly because I lost to them so much. I give the hodags a bunch of credit for the team CUT became, best sparing partner in the world. Since 2006 either CUT or Hodags have been in the finals, with 3 championships between us.

10. Spirit. Do you think teams have any consideration for this in

heated/rivalry game? Or, does spirit automatically take a back seat

when playing the Hodags?

There were times when things got pretty heated, we usually had observers though. Games against Florida were much worse, they were cheaters, the hodags were not. They played a very physical style and we learned to play with it. I said earlier I don’t remember too many games against the hodags. It’s probably because we had so many tight, intense, games that it’s hard to pick one out. I remember them all though.