UPA 2003 COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
North Carolina State University
How they got here:
1st in Atlantic Coast Region
Scouting Report
Tall and fast, they're a scrappy NC team with patience to go along with their intensity. With multiple deep threats--both throwers and receivers--they'll likely test teams deep early.
Ryan Smith (#55) will most likely put it, but don't mark him straight up to prevent that--he'll get it by you anyway. He's tall and long, can put some stank on his throws, and can break the mark consistently.
Jesse Overby (#66) does more than program the score-o-matic, he's a centerpiece in the Wolfpack's offense. He's got good patience and can put it deep but you won't see him with many turnovers.
Eddie Garmon (#12) has been hurt since Ultimax in Greenville, NC. He played some at AC Regionals, but he wasn't 100%. When he is healthy, he's fast and plays tall with his hops. A major deep threat. Most defenders will play behind him so as to keep him from going deep. Garmon will then get large gains from in-cuts and then he's got the disc in his hands where he's an able thrower.
Mike Moore (#2), State's Callahan nominee, is a great defender and solid with the O as well. He's not extremely flashy, and he probably won't receive the Callahan award, but he will be key to NC State's success at Nationals.
While Smith and Moore get all the recognition from the masses, Dave Snoke (#8) is the X factor. Captain of the varsity soccer team during the fall, he's now clear to play ultimate in the spring. This guy is blazing fast and has the throws and mindset of a 10-year veteran. And he's a class act too. Snoke seems to throw or catch 50% of State's goals and he or Moore defends the other team's best players.
These players are complemented by a similarly athletic supporting cast. State has a fairly deep roster and they make use of that fact. Look out for their chumps on the sideline. With no PT, the freshmen have nothing left to do but attempt lame heckles. There's nothing quite like a scrub yelling nonsense in a North Carolina southern twang. "Hell yeah, State!" With only one loss this spring and the #1 seed at Nationals--perhaps one of the weakest fields at the big tournament in some time--the Wolfpack is one of the favorites to win it all.
On the other hand, they're now the favorites with 15 other teams gunning for them. Although they lost only one game this spring, a look at their opponents isn't all that impressive. If the team had played at Easterns, there'd be a better indication of State's strength. Wins over Brown, UCSD and Oregon at Ultimax were against teams that weren't at full strength. State's biggest win this season was probably against William and Mary in the AC Regional finals.
State's relatively weak schedule could prove to be their demise, but the confidence that comes with winning all but one game in more than four months of ultimate could very well put them over the top.
Self-reported stats
Big season wins:
beat Brown University, Oregon University, UC San Diego at Ultimax
Big season losses:
only loss all year, in finals of Queen City Tune-up to William and Mary
Players to watch on offense:
Ryan Smith, #55, senior, 6'4"
Jesse Overby, #66, grad student, 6'1"
Dave Snoke, #8, senior, 5'11"
Jason Cade, #83, sophmore, 6'1"
Players to watch on defense:
Mike Moore, #2, senior, 6'0"
Jack Galloway, #17, senior, 5'11"
Adam Stetten, #10, sophmore, 6'0"