Oregon Second Men's Team on Board for the NCUS

Joining the Men's Division will be another team on the short list of contenders for the 2008 National Title, Oregon. Having reached the Quarterfinals in Columbus each of the last two seasons, the once youthful roster now looks poised to make a run at College Ultimate's biggest honor, along the way competing for the $5000 grand prize to be awarded to the team that sits atop the National Collegiate Ultimate Series Final Standings.

Dusty Becker once again played in integral role on Portland Rhino, who qualified for the 2007 UPA Club Championships in Sarasota from the most difficult Region of the UPA Club Series, the Northwest, defeating the Bay Area's Revolver 14-13, a game that went to the final Cap horn. Becker likely will be among the few players standing at the 2008 UPA Championships with a chance to be handed the Callahan Award. Also an anchor for Rhino's offensive unit, Eli Janin, will provide the backbone of the preseason favorite to capture the Northwest Region. Oregon continues to be the Region's top draw for high school talent, only bolstering an already promising cast for 2008.

The nation was put on notice of Oregon's return to prominence, after a few seasons outside the spotlight following a National Final appearance in 2003, when Oregon was a surprising Semi-Finalist at 2006 Centex and then went on to win the Northwest Region, by defeating Stanford in the Regional Final. Last season, Oregon made the Quarterfinals at Trouble In Vegas, falling to eventual Champion Florida, the Semi-Finals at The Stanford Invite, dropping a heartbreaking 17-16 decision to Stanford, and missed the Top 8 at Centex, before taking 9th.