Mississippi State University’s ultimate Frisbee team, “Dark Horse” is hosting the Cowbell Classic Tournament Feb. 23 and 24. There are currently 14 teams signed up for the two-day extravaganza, and with teams like LSU, Ole Miss and Southern Miss in the mix, the Dogs expect the tournament to be good practice for conference play. Two slots remain available, and the bids are $300 a team.
Dark Horse team members said they are already excited about and looking forward to the upcoming tournament. These tournaments allow players and teams a chance to get a glimpse of teams from all over the country instead of being confined to the Gulf Coast Conference. Robert Stroup, team president, said even though it is good and helpful to the sport to see teams from up north come down every now and again and play in their tournaments, the Dogs still have their eyes set on the bigger picture.
“We are looking to defend our home turf and win the tournament,” Stroup said. “Each tournament we play is practice for the Gulf Coast Conference Championship tournament. While it’s fun to play and win throughout the season, we’re always looking forward to April.”
The Cowbell Classic of 2012 was canceled due to lack of teams signing up for the tournament, but this time around, things are in top gear.
The tournament will start next Friday on the intramural fields. Normal field food and water will be served throughout the tournament, and pizza will be served Saturday after the last round.
MSU finished No. 13 in Southeast rankings last year, and with a win in this tournament, its stock would continue to grow. Dark Horse made it to regionals the past five years, and this year when the team plays next weekend, it will sit at an unblemished 15-0.
Last weekend, the team placed third at the Mardi Gras Tournament, winning five more games. Dark Horse practices year round, so even in the off season, the guys are preparing while most other teams enjoy breaks.
Along with having a slight edge on the competition with its non-stop preparation, Dark Horse also made some additions during the off season. Erik Allen said the addition of the newcomers was key for the team.
“We picked up a solid group of young guys,” Allen said. “They traveled and played with us during the Mardi Gras Tournament, and they all played really well.”
Longevity is needed in sports such as ultimate, especially when playing multiple games on multiple days, and Max Mosely said the extra bodies will be beneficial for Dark Horse.
“We have a deep bench we can rely on to give our starters a break throughout the day, so we can be firing on all cylinders on Sunday afternoon,” Mosely said.
In addition to the men’s team, there is a women’s team that goes by the name “Night Mare.” The Mardi Gras Tournament was the first tournament in which the team competed, winning one game.
Night Mare currently consists of 10 players and is looking for more ladies to get involved. Anyone interested in playing can contact captain Katy Fuqua at [email protected]or visit msuultimate.com.