ISU

Sweaty,

Know and support a number of players on this team. That being said, I believe that your thought of "something big" is probably off the mark. As far as the campus....compared to what???? Impressive???

Wish the best to the ISU boys especially the DGS boys and Ian.

if you are referring to berger as in Ian....too late, he gone.....and i am comparing they're campus to any other in the midwest. ISU has been putting alot of capital into improving buildings each year and has 1 of the newest and finest business buildings in the country. they can compete with just about anyone as far as an education goes....okay they aren't ND, which is my all time fav but, it is just a name. you get out of it what you put into it. so bigger bolder more colorful campuses are out there but it is all in what you want. i really truly beleive they can start to right this program by keeping the talent of illinois in illinois. hey, i'm looking forward to next season and i'm excited to see the product on the field. IMO i think they are going to be very good. and they have some names in the hat for next year already, that is all i can say. c'mon give a guy a break....i can dream can't i? it aint no FSU or N C but for a local school......i'll take it.

Just dreaming...Illinois needs another state school in a power conference besides Univ. of Ill. Maybe ISU??

What happened to Berger?

ISU does sound like a great place and from what I saw the field and facilities were great as my summer team played there this past weekend. But I still here people called it ISU (I screwed up).

I've heard that Berger asked for and was granted his release and that he has signed or was considering signing with Missouri.

Does this ISU (I screwed up)name have anything to do with Big Ten mentality that U of I is somehow superior?

Berger is on the Mizzpooh roster and good luck to him. As for Big 10 baseball, don't get me going.....someone tell me the last time a Big 10 school was in the sweet 16 of baseball?? they pad there schedules in my opinion. if i were a baseball player and an excellent student, i would opt for a big 10 education and a baseball experience but, if i were a baseball player with a suspect track record in class, then i would consider a different conference. these are my opinions and i will stick with them. i know there are alot of experts out there on this subject, i admit that i am new to this and all but, its how i feel and the facts dont lie about the finals in baseball......

First of all let's not refer to the Big 10 as a "power conference".

The Missouri Valley (ISU) is far ahead of the Big 10 in terms of success over the last 15 years.

Ian Berger asked for his release, got it and signed with Mizzou. Based on the 30 or so innings I've seen this summer he will be very successful.

I agree with sweaty. They are really loaded with talent. The question is....will the coaching staff ever be as successful on the field as they are in the recruiting process and can they hold on to stud's like Berger instead of losing them. After watching Kevin Dubler all summer, it is obvious this 5 tool catcher with an outstanding attitude could play anywhere.

It seems odd to me that a freshman who pitched as much as he did would want to leave. I have never watched them play at ISU & I understand losing is not fun but it appears to me they had some really good kids there (2 drafted)and now add 3 All Staters coming in 2007. So what is up?

just so you know, my son says tell your son to sign and join the ride....he hopes that all this "talent" can gain some chemistry this year and start the train rolling. danny says your boy has the arm to do it. so, come on and lets get this train on track for the next 4 or 5 yrs....the coaches have got to be able to work with this group....they are all coachable kids who want to win...i should say are used to winning and don't want that to change. get your son to commit early...come down in the fall and see what you think. i think he'll be happy there and from what i hear already, he will be welcomed with open arms.... i know thats how my son feels.

We are going to take a "tour" there next week. My baseball experience (30 years ago)was a really bad one so I am the cautious one around here...probably makes me overprotective. His high school coach is less than optimistic about the ISU program but like I told Kyle, make up your own mind and live with your own decision. A certain scout told us a while back, don't worry about the name on the building. Unfortunately, I think too many people get caught up in that stuff. The Dominicans don't worry about where they play- they just play! I will pass on your comments. Thanks Sweaty!

he would do just fine there. and I can't get caught up in the coach thing....danny made up his mind after the "official visit" and cancelled all others. if the coaches are gone the program will still be there. i love the coaches thou and i would hate to see them leave but, its not up to me or anyone else but the A D. i know i will get involved and help to raise dough for a new field. it would really help with the new guys if the field was nicer than the hs field they just came from. good luck to you and kyle, if we can do anything to help your decision pls don't hesitate to ask. i know he will make a good decision for himself. i think they like him big time....he has great upside. GREAT business school if thats what he wants.......

If I might interrupt sweaty's recruitment for the moment.....what other schools are recruiting this young man?

cmon pat im working here. and ill be working on getting danny on the dragons next season too...ill need your help for that one.

sweaty....soxnole....

If you guys start hug'n and kiss'n, I'm gonna puke!!!!

Sweaty, be careful and don't lead anyone down the "primrose path"!!!!!
There are alot of ball players that are capable of playing D1 ball. The problem is, will they be playing? You and I both know of several players that are "supposed to be" playing, but are not.

I also see a possible problem where so many guys who know one another from there past high school days, and are at the same school, that someone is going to be left behind. Both athletically and socially. Team chemistry then changes, and it probably leads to poor performances. This is just my opinion based on alot of converstions over the past six years.

I know, I know, opinions are like you know what??? Everyone has one, and they all stink!!!

Boomer Boomer, its nice to read your words of wisdom....i miss you man. the same thing i am trying to say , you are trying to refute...i think it takes a bunch of kids who not only know each other but actually like each other to build team chemistry. we(the white sox) kids were 34-4 this summer and they all know each other and they all go to different schools but have one common goal....WINNING. now in my HUMBLE unknowing opinion, that is all college coaches care about. its not about practice time and you'll get better with this and that **** like you hear from the h s coaches. build some chemistry and start winning some ball games early and often....common goal, only goal. now go back to sleep old man.......i miss you...i cant wait for ltdad to chime in too....im waiting....but i do preface, THESE ARE MY OPINIONS and no one elses....

sweaty.....

I can only recall some of the conversations you and I had this past spring about schools and coaches at the next level. There is more to the story, and I don't have first hand information, just information which is pretty close. All I will say from here on out is that, I will let "sleeping dogs lie".

Now, as for the 'old man' part, I know that you can only hope to look as good as me WHEN, you get to my age!!!!!

Of coarse, by that time, I might be in trouble.

Soxnole,

He has some very good choices... His HS coachs job and part of my job as his Summer coach is to work for these guys and give the oppurtunity to have some choices. Then its up to the kid ,the family, the academic fit and of course, the recruiters have to close the deal!

Sweaty did you lose your job at PBR?? I hope you left on good terms.Now that you are the head recruiter at ISU.

He is pretty good, isn't he. No matter what happens, I am going to have to meet this guy!!!

nc42dad......

Be careful, if you get to close, he might bite!!!! Coffee and a cigar should tame him down to where you can converse with him. And, when it gets cold outside, and he has his "jesters" hat on, well, you should be able to approach him with no problem, EXCEPT, if his son is pitching!!!!! Man, when that happens, he is up-and-down the fences along both sides of the field. Just be careful!!!!

Boomer, so you're saying that when I watch my boy pitch at ISU from my spot behind the backstop I'm gonna have to watch out for some guy flying all over the place?

If I know sweaty, he won't be walking up and around...he'll be jumping right over you.

i can't believe all this talk....yada.yada.yada...i only had to walk when birks was catching....lol. i sat in the stands for the last 3 games of his hs career and just observed, you know you observe alot by watching. ncdad, just get him in the fold and we'll have a root beer at the pub11 on campus. and of course , you'll buy cause im cheap, right boys? heck, i'm going to start a savings account now that i don't have to buy 300 dollar bats anymore...imagine 47 and just starting my own savings account......that paper route may finally pay off. i love you boys and im going to miss this chit chat patty whack when it is officially over. i hope soxnole can have nice things to say about all our boys next spring from the local papers......i know, i can dream........

sweaty....

Cheap!!!! Your so cheap that when you walk your *** squeaks!!!! S-q-u-e-a-k, s-q-u-e-a-k, s-q-u-e-a-k........

'Ol buddy, at least you didn't charge me tax for the bat!!!!!!! Must be nice to go D1. I doubt if Andy gets a bat. He's bringing the "COMP" to New York anyway. Been playing in the Mens League, locally. The Cicero Pirates. Doing good, playing left, right and second (he can turn a double play). Leading-off. Couple of round trippers. Beat Brewers team last night. Danny wasn't there, but no biggy. Having fun!!!!!

24 more days!

To all those pitcher dads,

When my kid was pitching as a sophomore on Varsity I couldn't feel my body from the waste down- I was afraid to walk cause I might fall. When my freshman was pitching on Varsity last year I thought I was gonna have a heart attack!
Now as a "seasoned" Dad, I find I can now even talk to people and even move a little.
As for the free drinks, you must remember I am a poor teacher- so I don't supersize.

and im a poor stock options trader who quit drinking the real stuff when i was 24 so im a cheap date. love my root beer....sprecher and berghoffs....once in a while i splurge on a virgils. and the numbness wears off as they become more seasoned. ill be sitting in my chair for 9 innings. i quit smoking stogies in october, geez i don't have alot of vices left. wanna bet? just kidding, learned that the hard way too.....only bet what the wife dont know about. good luck to andy and justin too boys...i dk about rochester but i talked to justins coach for quite a while at ISU this summer and he is excited to have him...why wouldn't he be? see ya around town, honk back once in a while

I played at ISU in the Missouri Valley in the 1980's when the Valley was very strong. The Valley is no longer the league it once was. It could change back in a hurry, but the Big Ten overall the last 5 or so years has been a little better conference. Although this year the Big Ten was way down.

ISU is in the middle of a great baseball state, in between 2 major cities where baseball is very popular. ISU is in a conference that has a great reputation going back to the great SIU teams of the late 70's, Indiana State teams of the 80's and the continuing strength of the WSU program. There is no reason ISU should not be able to get this thing turned around and return to respectability under Brownlee. It has taken far longer than any of us would like at this point.

I graduated from ISU, and yes I dont mind people calling it "I Screwed Up" because I know its a good school and I turned out ok. I will be the first to say its most peoples back up plan but whatever works.

ISU is a great campus, in a great area. They have made some huge improvements campus wise and the baseball field won a lot of awards when I was there....its just to bad there is nowhere to sit! ISU offers some what of a big campus feel but its a small campus. So to a lot of kids its a great alternative

I didnt play at ISU, but from the second I got there all you heard about was all this local talent and the rebuilding plan....well 5 years later they are still rebuilding. They landed some of the top players in the state but it just seems like they just dont click and some players have even regressed. IT seems like there has been some individual success but not as a team...which leads to a lot of questions. It seems like their may be a shift with a lot of local talent going to bradley, niu, uic and some other schools now...so ISU's window of opportunity may have passed then by

Indians, I have been trying to make my point all along about chemistry. you have to have chemistry to have a TEAM. it can't be all about you at this level. it HAS to be about the team and the school you play for. These coaches(imo) are doing a fine job bringing in talent. Now, let's get some chemistry and play together like we are capable of doing. no egoes, no inidivuals, just play like a team and back each other up in all situations. even if they lose a few games early next spring, they have got to stick together and lift each other up. And I believe it will happen this year....this IS a good group of kids and the ones from last year got it going late...

sweaty, maybe the chemistry is already there......you don't know. Maybe egos aren't getting in the way, as you suggest. Maybe they aren't playing as individuals. You don't know what you don't know.

Invidual success cant be controlled or frownded upon....its if the person puts that in front of team success when its a problem

Ive been a part of a program for almost 20 years, one that has a lot of success over the years. One of the main reasons is chemistry we have never had a loaded roster of d1 kids, we have never had top players in the state, we had 18 kids that loved the game and played hard every day and meshed well. No room for ego's on a baseball field. People watch us and they say "wow, these guys really play well together" and you can visualize the team concept....so I understand what your are saying

Ive heard "this is the year" for the last 4 years...so there is something missing, something that outsiders cant see and will never no about. Id love to speculate what the I think the problem is, but I was critisized a few years ago for stating my thoughts on the program

grateful, i NEVER said or suggested that egoes were involved, i merely said there is no room for egoes. please dont put words in my mouth, i don't need help trying to get in to trouble. i can do fine on my own. what im saying is don't let them get in your way, or you will NOT have success. thanks for reading though

Ok, i will hand in my resignation as a recruiter for ISU. now that the school year is fast approaching us, i will have to start worrying about the educational side of the stuff and therefore i will have to stop my recruiting tips. i wish all the 2007 kids the best of luck in wherever they choose to go and wish them the best of luck with they're decisions. remember, get an education before you start worrying about anything else.

sweaty:

quote:

Originally posted by sweaty:
remember, get an education before you start worrying about anything else.

Very well said!

Could it be that sweaty has landed another one!

Kevin Tokarski - Verbal- ISU

Congratulations to Kevin. Joining older brother Mike at ISU should make it a little easier on the parents as far as game travel is concerned.

Good work Sweaty!

Mike F

all i have left is getting Casey Mc to come and visit. he would be a great addition to a very talented team(imho). it is going to be interesting to see who lands where. Mike F, good luck to your boy this year, he should start to get a lot of serious pub this spring. he has alot of talent and they should have a decent team. thanks for the kind words all year. danny will have a fun time at ISU and i think they should have a very good team. i can only hope that they do well in conf. and then see what happens from there. most of the 06 guys are off to there respective sights and will begin working out this week and start for real after labor day. good luck men.....see ya down the road