Super Bowl Champion and MVP Nick Foles Reported to Have Ultimate Frisbee Skills

Philadelphia Eagles backup QB Nick Foles completed 28-of-43 passes for 373 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and a touchdown catch to win Super Bowl 52.

The New York Times reported about Foles' skills in Ultimate Frisbee. Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor is quoted: "You've got to see him in Ultimate Frisbee. We do a little conditioning in Ultimate Frisbee in the off-season. This dude's got hands. got routes. Stupid athletic."

Those stupid athletic hands came in clutch during the Super Bowl...

YUP. Nick Foles is catching TD passes.

In the @superbowl.

Unbelievable. #SBLII #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/NGNpIrrshO

— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2018

Again, NYT claims Foles as being a standout at ultimate Frisbee.

No word on why NYT's first reference to the sport was uppercase "U"ltimate Frisbee, and the second reference was lowercase "u"ltimate Frisbee.

Change the Game of Football to Ultimate Frisbee

The Flagstons - again and again - positively promote the sport of ultimate. Here's another from today's strip:

Hi: What are they going to do about all the injuries in professional football?
Chip: They'll have to change the game.

Hi: To what?
Chip: Ultimate Frisbee.



RELATED: WIRED recommends ultimate > football.

Catch Resemblance: Sean Murray (Spinners) vs Julian Edelman (Patriots)

Different stakes - one from Major League Ultimate, the other in Super Bowl - yet same result for these two acrobatic catches; both catches were inches away from an incompletion.

Sean Murray's catch (MLU 2013 Regular Season)


Julian Edelman's catch (Super Bowl 2017)

UNREAL 😳

Watch @Patriots' @Edelman11 mic'd up making the most clutch catch in #SB51.#InsideTheNFL finale TONIGHT 9p ET/PT. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/pbBEoMAo9l

— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) February 7, 2017

Madison Radicals Offer Support to Atlanta Falcons

After Atlanta Falcons blew an 18-point lead at halftime and a 25-point lead in the 3rd quarter to lose Super Bowl LI on Sunday, the AUDL team in Madison quickly offered their support to Atlanta's NFL team.

Hey @AtlantaFalcons give us a call if you need someone to talk to...

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) February 6, 2017

As you might recall, Madison Radicals (14-0 regular season; 1-0 post season) lost in the AUDL semifinal game at home in August 2016.  The Radicals entered the home game, which was held on Madison Radicals Day, with a 31 home game winning streak and had never lost a home playoff game at home. The loss was Madison's only blemish to a perfect regular season (14-0) and winning the Midwest Division championship.

Madison held a 5-point lead at half, but lost by 1 goal in regulation to Seattle Cascades.

Watch the Madison vs Seattle semifinal

Super Bowl? More like a Super Cup

A frisbee could be a Super Bowl, though it's really more of a super cup.  An ultimate disc can hold a whole lot of liquid.

[image lifted from The Greatest Sport Ever Invented By Man]

Play Ultimate (Super Bowl 2017 Edition)

Play ulti(mate) frisbee.

WIRED Recommends Ultimate Frisbee Instead of Football

WIRED magazine - a fan of the Frisbee - published a parenting guide in its July 2016 issue. Jim Gaffigan, W. Kamau Bell and Kelly McEvers are some of the contributors lending parenting advice. The sports advice from Luke Whelan caught my eye.

Produce an Alt-Athlete
Nerdlets aren't built for football (and there's that concussion thing). But they shouldn't Minecraft all day long - they need to master teamwork! Spatial relationships IRL! The possibility of obscure scholarships! These combos will give you most of the benefits of big-name team sports without the bone-jarring jocktitude.

According to this sports calculation: combining crew + chess + ultimate Frisbee would equate to football.

In addition to throwing spinning things long distances, ultimate is a field sport with players who possess speed, agility, endurance, and requires both hand-eye and analytic aptitude - just like in American football.

It's Gonna Be A Long AUDL Season

The 2017 American Ultimate Disc League season spans from Saturday, April 1, 2017
through Sunday, August 27, 2017. That amounts to a 149-day season (4 months + 27 days or 21 weeks + 2 days) from the first game in early April through late August at Championship  Weekend.

This 2017 season will be the earliest start for any AUDL season, and the 6th AUDL season will end later than any previous AUDL season. The 2017 AUDL season will be its longest in its history. Overall, the AUDL 2017 season will span over 40% (40.8%) of the calendar year.

As a comparison, the 2016 NFL season (September  8 through February's Super Bowl LI) lasted 150 calendar days.

Madison Radicals Really, Really, Really Want Aaron Rodgers to Attend their Games

It started in 2014 with a free food incentive. After that season, free tickets were offered to Aaron Rodgers for each of Madison's home games - again and again.

For Sunday's showcase game in Green Bay, Madison is coming to him. And, they're bringing a personalized Radicals jersey for the Green Bay Packers' quarterback. (#12 on Madison's roster, Scott Richgels, may be concerned about his status with the team.)

Madison has repeatedly invited Mr. Rodgers to an AUDL game. I repeat: repeatedly.

Oh, hey @AaronRodgers12 see you Sunday, should we just leave this with @JordyRNelson? Or maybe meet at the 50? Let us know. pic.twitter.com/gyjtT5vsG2

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) December 1, 2016

Well @AaronRodgers12 you missed our last 31 wins (in a row) now the Superbowl is coming to Madison. #TicketsForYou pic.twitter.com/zEd2D36ySV

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) July 29, 2016

Oh hey @oliviamunn and @AaronRodgers12 here are your tickets for Saturday night - missing a 27 game home win streak. pic.twitter.com/ujyRfwvCIp

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) June 3, 2016

Time to get the band back together. Tickets are waiting for you guys Saturday night. @AaronRodgers12 @Favre4Official pic.twitter.com/v7xZlyL6dZ

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) July 22, 2015

Hey @AaronRodgers12 we are doubling down this week with a free ticket and a free tank top. #YouWouldLookGreat pic.twitter.com/qKZbpdVeI0

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) June 19, 2015

Hey @AaronRodgers12 Dave Wiseman is telling everyone he can throw a pizza further than you. #justsayin pic.twitter.com/ho4vDzUxmM

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) May 20, 2015

Ok @AaronRodgers12 we might be trying too hard now, but @espn3 is back in town Friday night! pic.twitter.com/kshmBlo1cq

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) May 12, 2015

So @AaronRodgers12 the @Bucks lost... time to come watch our 17 game home win streak hit 18 on Sat. #2ndBestTeamInWI pic.twitter.com/pS6Mx8p5vz

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) May 1, 2015

Ok @AaronRodgers12 this is the game! Two undefeated teams, @espn3, and great weather! #YouCanBringJordyIfYouWant pic.twitter.com/BcsiOunnvg

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) April 28, 2015

Hey @AaronRodgers12 we have a ticket with your name on it. #Literally pic.twitter.com/0o2Z8adkFi

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) April 23, 2015

Hey @AaronRodgers12 We will have a ticket with your name on it at will-call for each of these games. #LastProTeamWI pic.twitter.com/xxU5TXCJdq

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) March 11, 2015

Hey @AaronRodgers12 if you come to the Madison Radicals game Sunday (family day) we will include you in the free scoop of ice cream deal.

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) June 3, 2014

@AaronRodgers12 Dear Wisconsin's biggest sport's fan if you come to a game you will get free bacon on a stick. pic.twitter.com/S92vfSvZ5v

— Madison Radicals (@MadisonRadicals) May 5, 2014

Special Frozen Tundra Jerseys for Madison Radicals

The Madison Radicals are scrimmaging during halftime of Sunday's Green Bay Packers' game on the Frozen Tundra at Lambeau Field. The Radicals are playing against a team of Wisconsin college ultimate players who will be wearing newly designed ultimate uniforms that are not these.

The college kids are getting new ultimate threads, so why not the AUDL players? 

I present to you the very special edition "Frozen Tundra" jerseys for Madison Radicals:

An icicle replacing the lightning bolt was attempted, but it does not show up well - trust me. Instead, long icicles hanging from the Radicals' "R" was chosen.

Wisconsin College Ultimate All-Stars Mock Jerseys

The ultimate showcase game between Madison Radicals (AUDL) and Wisconsin All-Stars (College) is scheduled for December 4th at halftime of the Green Bay Packers game. A typical regular season halftime lasts 12 minutes - the same time as an AUDL quarter.

Per an Ultiworld article, Tim Debyl indicated the college players from Wisconsin (University of Wisconsin-Madison, -Eau Claire, -Milwaukee, & -Whitewater)  would be sporting new "sublimated jerseys and shorts" for the showcase game on The Frozen Tundra at Lambeau Field.

The mock jerseys (above) designed by SLUDGE are inspired by Green Bay Packers throwbacks (below) and the Packers' traditional green-and-gold color scheme.

Sunday's forecast is in the 30's, so the team might want to consider a football pants-style legging instead of shorts.

Pittsburgh Ultimate Team Considers Name Change To Washington Redskins

According to Sin The Fields podcast [December 31, 2015 episode], the selection process of Pittsburgh's co-ed ultimate team — Muff'n Men — is underway. The team played as "Muff'n Men" since its founding in 2007, but the mixed division team was forced to change their name by USA Ultimate for the Triple Crown tour 2015 season.

Sin The Fields did a 4-minute segment (starting at 30:00 *WARNING: strong language*) on some of the poll choices of Pittsburghian options plus the write-in choices.  And, the write-in with one of the most votes was...
"Washington Redskins" with 6 total votes.

See the online poll: https://polldaddy.com/poll/9161069/

screengrab of online poll

Patrick Stegemoeller, co-host of STF, labeled the DC NFL football team choice as "Andy Kaufman-level."

Co-host Tad Wissel dared the Pittsburgh ultimate team to "do the right thing."

While some politicians have publicly opined that the Washington professional football team should change the name, it's clear the name change remains a hot button issue for the NFL team. States are even taking measures to forbid the use of Native American names as mascots.

----------

See below for The Muff 'n Men's team name poll introduction and a disclaimer that votes are "informational only and will be used to help determine a new team name."

screengrab via

Use of Movement-Tracking Sensors by NFL, AUDL

According to this Quartz article, NFL players will be wearing movement-tracking devices to collect performance data.

A similar initiative - players wearing sensors that feed data - was tested at the AUDL's pro ultimate Championship in August. Player movement info via Peeq Data may be available as early as the 2016 AUDL season.

Per Quartz: They'll be too small to notice, but the sensors attached to players in the 2015 football season will certainly shake up the sport. The NFL is set to make each player that much "smarter" this year.

Starting with season opener of the New England Patriots against the Pittsburgh Steelers, movement-tracking sensors will be embedded on each football player's shoulder pad that can wirelessly emit unique radio frequencies.

These devices will generate an enormous amount of real-time usable statistics, and could dramatically change the way fans and teams watch and analyze games, who will now be able to see just how fast a player is running, his position, and the distance he traveled. The NFL has partnered up with RFID tracking company Zebra to equip every stadium with 20 receivers, CIO reports.

Playoff Teams in the AUDL

As the American Ultimate Disc League expands, more teams make the playoffs every season. While the quantity of playoff-bound teams is increasing, the percentage of teams in the postseason is declining. In comparison, 37.5% of NFL teams make the NFL single-elimination playoffs.

# of AUDL Regional Divisions
2012: 2
2013: 2
2014: 3
2015: 4

NFL Game by Five Ultimate

Tonight's NFL game matches up Dallas Cowboys versus Chicago Bears.

In an alternate universe where one could only speak in jersey labels, here's how Five Ultimate - known for its shirt tags - would express tonight's Thursday Night Football game:

Labels from two Five jerseys

Crowd Funding in Pro Ultimate

At the start of the 2014 pro Ultimate season, two teams from the American Ultimate Disc League started a crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo. Both teams were new to the league, and neither team met their campaign goals.

Salt Lake Lions started their campaign in March, and ended up with less than 10% ($2477) of their goal ($25,000).

Montreal Royal's campaign started in April and took in over 12% ($1835) of their $15,000 goal.

L.A. Aviators - a new team for the 2015 AUDL season - just started their campaign for $35,000! As of today (December 4th), L.A. reached over 15% of their goal, and has surpassed the combined total ($4312) of the other two pro team's campaigns.

UPDATE: At the campaign's close, L.A. brought in $23,407 - 66.8% of their goal.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

The plea for money from professional ultimate teams smells of desperation. As if the team owner(s) bought a team yet cannot afford to properly run the team without additional funds.

Ticket sales, merchandise sales and concessions are the typical revenue generators from individuals, but require game attendance. Look at the UAB college football program which was recently canceled because it was not fiscally sustainable without the proper fan support. A Division I College football program! While team turnover has not been seen since the completion of AUDL's first year, teams in markets with other professional sports teams must find ways to bring in revenue.

Getting company sponsors and advertisers - a spectrum of local, regional and national entities - is important for any sports team. Crowdfunding is today's popular method to gain financial support from both individuals and companies. The advantage of online campaigns is it doesn't require in-person attendance, so there can be armchair supporters.

If I owned a pro ulti team, I would adopt the Green Bay Packers idea of offering stocks for fans to become shareholders. This model is more congruent with the community feel which Ultimate is known for.

How about Frisbee Football as the Next Olympic Sport

American football has joined the ranks of Olympic sports recognition - JUST LIKE ULTIMATE! It's been suggested that a 7-on-7 version of American football is more likely to be an Olympic event than the traditional 11-on-11 format.

Hey, if the Olympics are seeking a 7-vs-7 team game featuring pass-heavy offenses and end zone scores, there's another spirited sport invented in America, and played worldwide...ULTIMATE!

Background
On May 31st, the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee granted the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) provisional IOC recognition. WFDF serves as the international sports governing body of all flying disc sports - Ultimate, Guts, Disc golf, freestyle, et al. WFDF joins 30+ other international sports federations that are recognized by the IOC but are not currently a part of the Olympic sports program.

Recognition
Besides Ultimate Frisbee, some other sport federations that have received IOC recognition include: auto racing, bocce, bowling, chess, golf, korfball, lifesaving, Tug-of-war, and now...American football. 

Ultimate Compromise
A medley of both sports (Ultimate + American football) might strengthen each sport's bid to be an Olympic event. To help the collective cause, here's a modest proposal.
Ultimate will...

• Change its name to "Frisbee Football"
• Use a plastic flying disc instead of a leather football
• Play with 7 players to a side
• Feature only a passing offense
• Play games on a football field, with 10-yard end zones
• Play timed games, divided into quarters
• A score will count for 6 points, not 1
• Require players who score to spike the disc (Frisbee)

Updated Thanksgiving Tradition

Hi, Lois & the whole Flagston family, rightfully, honor the Frisbee (née Frisbie) on Thanksgiving.

Thirsty Thurston: "I thought touch football was the family tradition."

Hiram [tossing a righty toss to Chip (in red), or overthrowing Ditto (in blue)]: "Not anymore. The Flagstons play Ultimate Frisbee on Thanksgiving."

[via VC Ultimate]

Operation Patience

"Operation Patience" - Robert Griffin III's motto for knee surgery rehab - sounds like a strategy for Ultimate Frisbee. Keeping possession and having 10 seconds to throw the disc are staples for ulti offenses.

(C)Toni L. Sandys/TWP

The Washington, DC football team's QB wore the adidas t-shirt during warmups at a pre-season game in August. RGIII was fined $10,000 for wearing the shirt.

Simultaneous Catch

Ending to 9/24/12 NFL game

A simultaneous catch may be more probable in Ultimate - compared to football - because it's easier to catch the disc with one hand, but rare for either sport nonetheless.


From the 11th Edition [USAU Rules]
XV. The Receiver
...
D. If offensive and defensive players catch the disc simultaneously, the offense retains possession.

II. Definitions
...
O. Possession of the disc: Sustained contact with, and control of, a non-spinning disc.
1. Catching a pass is equivalent to establishing possession of that pass.
2. Loss of possession due to ground contact related to a catch negates that player's possession up to that point.