University of Minnesota

As far as northern schools go, Minnesota is a top choice. It is Big Ten, the coaching is excellent, and best of all, I believe they play the first part of their season in the Metrodome, so early spring weather isn't a factor. Go for it!

Wally...Know Coach Anderson and the Minnesota program well. Have followed them for years when Mike Dee (now at UIC) was still there for about 15 years.

Can answers tons of your questions. Gary Perinar, from Minooka, is a freshman right handed pitcher, who pitched with us (Upper Deck Cougars) in 2002. Quite a player. Was Illinois GAtorade Player of the Year, in 2004, and now on the Gophers' team/rotation..not sure how much he'll play/pitch.

jp 815-469-4520 Call me if you like.

Thanks guys for your info./advice. Beenthere, im still looking at my schedule as far as going up there only because I have the ACT coming up and I have a class that might interfere. Otherwise, if I can't go, I am going to call them and let them know my situation but that I really appreciated the offer, and that I would keep in touch with them.

Wally, my son is an 04 RHP now playing for a D3 college, but he attended a couple of camps at U of Minn and played in their Fall league when he was a senior in HS. Besides the fact that the Gophers have a strong, competitive program, we continually were impressed with all of their coaches, and my son particularly liked the Gophers pitching coach, Todd Oakes. After the early-season games in the Metrodome, on-campus Siebert field is also a nice place to play.

Wally,

If they invited you, take the time and go!

They are very selective as to who they invite and I suspect that if you were to turn them down you would be crossed off of their recruit list as not having enough interest.

Other then being in Minnesota, I can't think of a negative.

Thanks a lot everyone...I think they talked to my coach as well...I am a left handed pitcher so I hope that will help...I know that this visit wouldn't guarantee anything, but would this help them with the recruiting process if they could put a face and a name together?

Wally- I just signed with UofM this fall and I am also a LHP. If you have any questions about anything I can answer them for you. Good Luck and you won't find a much better pitching coach than Todd Oakes. He is a great coach as long with Rob Fornasiere and John Anderson. Top notch program that has won the Big Ten 4 out of the last 5 years.

Wally, the coaches are quite personable and I think it would help a lot to put faces with the names, on both sides. Also, I am sure this is true of most colleges, but I have heard this more often regarding the U of Minn program than others - they recruit players who WANT to play for the Gophers. They don't tend to chase players who are playing hard to get. So research the program and the school, learn more about the aspects that are most important to you, and if you decide this is a top pick on your list, let them know that.