The beginning of Ultimate at Bates is surrounded in myth. Ultimate initially shows up at Bates in the form of a game similar to Ultimate during the late '50s. Perhaps this was the true beginning of Ultimate? A few Bates students would toss around a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer tray as a Frisbee. Eventually rules and end zones were introduced to there new game (Bates Magazine 1999). However, Ultimate faded away and disappeared from the Bates campus.
Ultimate reappeared at Bates during the '80s. A group of students played the current game on a field that was where the Olin Arts center is today. Another place they played was the "field" surrounded by Commons, the Library, the Grey Cage and the Bill. In the winter, the pickup players moved into the Grey Cage which had a dirt floor at the time. The spirit of Bates Ultimate was relaxed and fun. Occasionally they would play against Bowdoin and Colby.
Bates' "formal" Ultimate began in 1992. The Crack Babies tentatively existed until 1995 when they became a recognized club sport by the college. In 1995 with club sport status and few returning Crack Babies, Bates Ultimate decided to take on the new name Discoboles for the Greek statue of the Olympic discus thrower in his stance. That was also the year of the inaugural NESCRACK Invitational Tournament hosted at Bates College. In its first year there were only 4 teams, but NESCRACK has continued to this day and plays host to teams from all over Maine and New Hampshire. The changing façade of Bates Ultimate was not over yet. In 1996 the team changed its name to Big Fat Yak. The final name change occurred in 1998 to Orange Whip (also an alcoholic drink).
The name Orange Whip comes from a John Candy quote in "Blues Brothers": Candy sits down at the concert and points to the three people sitting around him and says "Who wants an Orange Whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips."
Today Orange Whip competes in college tournaments throughout New England and strives to improve as a team. We hope to continue the light-hearted nature and camaraderie that was enjoyed by the Bates students before us.