Whats everyone's opinion on The Redbirds and coach Brownlee?
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Known as a great school for "drinking".
Will take him a while to be as successful here as at Evansville.
They need some new seats (last time I was there a couple of seasons ago it was terrible)
The big kid on the block in Illinois is now the Flames at UIC!
Will take him a while to be as successful here as at Evansville.
They need some new seats (last time I was there a couple of seasons ago it was terrible)
The big kid on the block in Illinois is now the Flames at UIC!
Beenthere, ISU baseball plays in a great conference, the Missouri Valley Conference, which is head and shoulders a more competitive conference than the Horizon League that UIC plays in.
The baseball players at ISU take baseball seriously, and none of them attend school there because you perceive it as a great school for drinking. Drinking occurs on every campus in the country.
ISU had four players drafted a couple weeks ago (5th round, 10th, 11th, and 25th). Coach Brownlee will continue to upgrade the talent level, which is not an overnight process.
And by the way, ISU beat UIC 2 out of 3 in a non-conference series AT UIC this season. UIC still has a wasy to go before any college baseball experts would consider them the 'big kid on the block in Illinois.'
The baseball players at ISU take baseball seriously, and none of them attend school there because you perceive it as a great school for drinking. Drinking occurs on every campus in the country.
ISU had four players drafted a couple weeks ago (5th round, 10th, 11th, and 25th). Coach Brownlee will continue to upgrade the talent level, which is not an overnight process.
And by the way, ISU beat UIC 2 out of 3 in a non-conference series AT UIC this season. UIC still has a wasy to go before any college baseball experts would consider them the 'big kid on the block in Illinois.'
Grateful,
I totaly agree with you about the MVC being the superior league. With the 4 drafted players that Coach Brownlee had on his squad, he still couldn't qualify for the MVC post season tournament. The Valley is a brutal conference. Unless you want to go south or out west, the MVC is tough to beat here in the Midwest. I would choose Illinois St. or Southern Il., if I wanted to stay in Illinois.
I totaly agree with you about the MVC being the superior league. With the 4 drafted players that Coach Brownlee had on his squad, he still couldn't qualify for the MVC post season tournament. The Valley is a brutal conference. Unless you want to go south or out west, the MVC is tough to beat here in the Midwest. I would choose Illinois St. or Southern Il., if I wanted to stay in Illinois.
I have to be careful with what I say because of my affiliation with UIC. At this time I think any D1 IL school (except Chicago St) could beat another on any given day. However, there are only a handful of schools in the country that have improved (RPI) as much as UIC since Mike Dee took over the program. If you asked the IL D1 coaches who they would see as a potential "big kid on the block" I think they would say the UIC program has been on the rise and has yet to flatten out, only time will tell.
As far as conference affiliation, be careful. Orl Roberts a traditionally good team plays in a traditionally lousy conference. But they are not badmouthed for their conference affiliation.
I think it would be great to have a Spring round robin Il D1 tourney in FL. that would include at least UIC, UI, SIU, and ISU as part of the pre-season. It would be a putup or shutup situation. I would bet you would also have a good fan turnout.
As far as conference affiliation, be careful. Orl Roberts a traditionally good team plays in a traditionally lousy conference. But they are not badmouthed for their conference affiliation.
I think it would be great to have a Spring round robin Il D1 tourney in FL. that would include at least UIC, UI, SIU, and ISU as part of the pre-season. It would be a putup or shutup situation. I would bet you would also have a good fan turnout.
Leave it to rz to try and work out a way to be in Florida in the early spring! 
rz.....of course you are right about everything you said.....I didn't really mean to downgrade what Coach Dee and UIC have done. I suppose I was defending ISU more than anything against the perception that apparently Beenthere has about it being a drinking school. Like most baseball players who take their game seriously, drinking had nothing to do with their college choice.
I wish the best for Ryan this summer.....I think the Florida idea would be awesome!!
I wish the best for Ryan this summer.....I think the Florida idea would be awesome!!
