Duerrisms fires the first salvo in the countdown to Friday Night Football with our preseason Quarterback Rankings
Greetings everybody and welcome to this first (of many) Duerrisms columns for the 2010-2011 school year. We are brought to you, as always, by our good friends at ADVANCE Physical Therapy. My long vacation sabbatical is over. The batteries are refreshed. And I am chomping at the bit for the Fall Sports Season to get underway. But before I begin, a quick public thanks to Joe Murano, Dylan Austin, and Jerod Wells for helming the ship in my absence. They say good help is hard to find, but you know you have great people in place in your sports department when you can disappear to California for a month, turn off your cell phone, and never once have to worry about what is going on back home. That, my friends, makes for quality R&R....
Before departing, Joe Murano and I put the finishing touches on the 2010 GRIDIRON PLAYBOOK, which includes some 40 high school football previews (unfortunately, we did not receive preview sheets from Van-Far, Central Lee, Centralia and Winchester West Central this season and they will not appear in the Playbook, but hopefully we get them all back next season) and 6 college football "sneak peeks" coming your way, completely free of charge on August 16th. The magazines can be picked up in your hometown at any of our local sponsors. All we ask is that when you grab your copy of the Playbook, you say a heartfelt thank you with your words and patronage dollars to those people whose support makes these "above and beyond" projects we do like the DO OR DIE BOWL and GRIDIRON PLAYBOOK a reality. Times are tough and money is short in this economy. And yet, we still get overwhelming numbers of business owners in communities near and far to reach into their pockets and give support our endeavor to give your kids that rarest of high school honors: their own personal "Street and Smith" style preseason publication with local players as the stars; a keepsake they can someday show their children and grandchildren. Without their support, none of these type things would be possible. We are very proud of the PLAYBOOK (which we start writing in late March to make our deadline) and hope it adds to your enjoyment of the Fall Football season.
On a related note, the KHQA BARNSTORM TOUR stars August 9th, with hoped for stops in every football vista in the Tri States before the season starts. We are likely looking at an August 21st or 22nd date for annual hour long Pigskin Preview Show, which will unveil our Top Ten High School Football Power Poll for the coming season as well as our KHQA Preseason Player of the Year. Date to be announced here soon. In the interim, we begin this week with our preseason Player Position Ratings, in an effort to give you a little working knowledge of what to expect before Week One. Be sure to check in here often, as well as at ChrisDuerr@Twitter.com and on Facebook, for the latest news and rumblings from all of our Camp Visits for Football, Soccer, Softball, Cross Country, and Volleyball. I look forward to seeing you all very soon at Two-A-Days. And one last aside: my cellphone blew up on me in California, so while I wait for Steve Jobs to send me a replacement, I am best reached here at the station at (217) 222-6206 if you need to get ahold of me in the next few weeks until my IPhone shows up. And if I have missed any of your phone calls the last two weeks, apologies. Technology is not my friend...
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FOOTBALL 2010
KHQA Preseason Position Ratings: QUARTERBACK
POSITION OVERVIEW: The QB Class of 2009 was awash in star power, so much so that our region produced three All State honorees at the position when the December awards barrage rolled around. Truth be told, was it really any surprise to anyone that already proven commodities like Michael Lafferty, Ryan Cox, and Derrick Hull dominated the headlines last Fall? Granted, Keenan Gillaspy's meteoric ascent proved the most pleasant of surprises, but even ignoring his All State credentials for the purpose of this argument, we could all concede as early as last Spring that 2009 was going to be a terrific year for Quarterbacks. Or at least that the "top of the class" would provide so much star power as to make 2009 at least seem like Signal Callers were the biggest offensive "A-Listers" in our area. The conditions are radically different in 2010. Nine of the Top Twelve Offensive Players in our preseason rankings for this Fall are Running Backs (the remainder of that list includes just one Quarterback, one Offensive Lineman, and a Wide Receiver) and I project seven of those backs, if healthy, to win All State honors. That doesn't leave a whole lot of headline potential, stats, award windows et al left for the guys who throw the football. We would be very fortunate to get one All State Quarterback out of this group. It is just the politics of the game in "The Year of the Tailback" my friends. But if you can move past all the ground game glitz, I think you will find this to be an intriguing group of signal callers. You've got one proven Franchise kid at the head of the class. You've got a couple of others on the cusp forming a potentially exciting top tier at the position. And beyond that, we've got a dazzling array of options to consider. Some of them will boom. Some will bust. But there is just a diverse palate here of position converts in good programs, intriguing young kids with outstanding physical gifts but very little polish, and blue collar grinders who can manage a game that I think the level of quarterback play will be much better across the board than people realize. I think the operative phrase here is cautiously optimistic. But lets start with what we are sure we know first....
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THE GOLD STANDARD: NICK LONERGAN, Jacksonville:
He threw more passes than any other quarterback in Tri State Football last season and yet completed nearly 70% of those attempts. In a word: unbelievable. Lonergan finished his junior (debut) season with over 2700 yards passing and 19 touchdowns through the air; this mind you from a kid who had the added pressure of trying to replace Blake Schnitker under center in Jacksonville. I'd say he more than rose to the challenge. (By the way, does anyone do a better job in Tri State Football right now cultivating Quarterbacks than Mark Grounds? See also Brian Anderson and Blake Schnitker)Lonergan has had the benefit of an entire off-season of Quarterback Speciality Camp and 7-on-7's to ratchet up his skills within the Crimson spread. And lest anyone forget, this kid also ran for 600 plus yards and 14 touchdowns to boot. A perfect fit option in the JHS Spread with uncommon poise, exceptional stature in the pocket, and an uncanny ability to repeatedly put the ball right where it needs to be. And he's only going to better this season. Probably your best bet for All State honors, given his freakish numbers, but remember that the Crimsons also play the region's toughest schedule and it is much harder to ping media radar at the Class 5A level, especially on this side of the state. That's immaterial. The kid is a big time performer and a treat to watch and the most bankable player in Tri State Football who isn't (a) a running back or (b) a Bowling Green Cornerback named Matt Brown....
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THE OTHER FRANCHISE GUY:
KRAMER BARNES, Quincy Notre Dame
Possessed of the strongest arm in Tri State Football, Kramer harnessed both his cannon-esque delivery and his emotions to become a bona fide star in 2010. The Raiders first ever Spread Quarterback, Kramer put up incredible numbers as a junior (1435 yards passing, 15 touchdowns) by adding nuance. See also his phenomenal 61% passing clip last season. Granted, Barnes is probably the one kid in the region who could throw a marshmallow through a brick wall, but he is no longer trying to laser guide every pass into impossible reception windows. He still throws the best deep ball in the area, but now Kramer also now makes those all important touch passes that keep an offense flowing. I spent much of Mizzou Camp this summer eavesdropping on Kramer in the huddle and the sidelines and the most impressive facet of all in this kid's game is his command of the offense. He instinctively sees every check down receiver and finds every breakdown in the defense. The kid is flat out impressive. And he is also blessed to be surrounded by the best offensive support staff in the Tri States, including two of the more reliable wide receivers in the last five years. The downside? Anything shy of Champaign Appearance will be viewed this season as an abject failure for QND. Can Kramer continue to keep his emotional keel with all the pressure he and his teammates will feel under the weight of expectation this season? If he manages that, Barnes has the potential to be a Player of the Year difference maker and a State Champion.
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ON THE BRINK OF STARDOM
SKYLER JAMESON, Mark Twain
The one kid on this list who might be able to rival Kramer Barnes in a radar gun contest, though Skyler gets fewer opportunities to show off his throwing chops than either of the other two elite area quarterbacks. Look, Mark Twain loves to run the ball and the Tigers are very good at it. And the worse the conditions, the better these guys are. That said, I've seen enough of Jameson throwing the laser guided deep ball over the years to tell you with certainty that he would be an absolute monster in Mark Grounds or Matt Smith's system. Heck, he was a second team All Conference pick in the Cannon for a team that played half its season on the slickest surface in Tri State Football. The kid just finds a way to get it done. I hate the old "gunslinger" label because John Madden cliched it to death, but Jameson has more swagger, guts, and fearlessness than any quarterback you will see this season. I've seen the crazy fool lead block for Steven Phillips and absolutely level a 220 pound linebacker who made the mistake of thinking quarterbacks can't hit. He's just an incredibly tough kid with great natural athletic ability who also happens to have a high football IQ. If Skyler was a couple inches taller, he'd be highly coveted and better known in area quarterback circles. The one downside you get with Jameson is that he tends to, again in Farvian parlance, run a little hot. He will attempt high risk passes. He will mix it up with 260 pound linemen in the heat of the moment. And he might be a little too swashbuckling for his own good from time to time. That said, wouldn't you want to play with a quarterback like that? Me too. There is a certain Jensen Jones quality to his game that bewitches me and considering the comparison, that is high praise indeed.
SETH WICKERT, Macomb
A terrific mix of tangible and intangible skills, I think Seth is as promising a package of attributes as exists on this list. If you had to pick one kid to make a high pressure throw in a tough spot, Wickert is the best option this side of Michael Lafferty. Be it baseball, basketball or football, in those moments when other kids hearts start to pound out of their chests, everything seems to slow down for Seth. He is just as poised and mature as they come. And he always just seems like the smartest guy in the room. From a physical standpoint, I was impressed with Wickert's ability to deliver passes last season. He's not going to wow you with laser-tight spirals, but he can make the throws he needs to make and puts the ball were it needs be. Granted, I think he will miss Matthew Gordy immensely next season at Wide Receiver, but Seth is tall enough to stand strong in the pocket and distribute the football around the offense to keep opponents more off balance this season. He is also deceptively quick. I watched him in Summer League basketball this season and he got anywhere he wanted to be on the court at will, looking almost effortless in doing so, because he covers a lot of ground in a hurry with those long strides. Truth be told, I think Seth Wickert isn't a player you truly appreciate until he's either on your team or orchestrating your demise. He isn't overly flashy. Just relentlessly productive and unfailingly consistent. With the rise of Chris Jackson at tailback and the loss of some pretty good wide receivers, I don't know if Wickert will product great numbers this season. All I can tell you is that the good is good and this kid grades out exceedingly high in everything he does.
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THE GLUE GUYS
MITCH MAROLD, Quincy High
He's coming off shoulder surgery, but wasn't necessarily a spectacular pure passer anyway. That said, Quincy High's gutsy field general does a couple of things exceedingly well. He runs a football team with confidence. He runs the football like an extra tailback. And he makes a ton of plays, even if they sometimes look ugly in execution. It's hard to kill a kid over the occasional "wounded duck" pass when he does such a great job turning busted plays into eight yard completions or game changing running conversions. His best quality of all? Mitch is winner, pure and simple and I would suspect even with all of the Blue Devils considerable graduation loses, Marold helps keep QHS on a winning pace. Yeah, I know the schedule is less difficult this season but still, Marold finds ways to beat you without regard to style points.
AUSTIN HINKLE, Palmyra
The kid is a flat out player, but Austin lost much of his "momentum" last season due to an early season suspension that robbed him of the first few weeks of the season. And in turn, the Panther Offense never really got untracked in his absence or, for that matter, in the first few weeks of his return. Hinkle is tougher than a three dollar steak, has an un-teachable elusive quality running in traffic, gets great explosion off his first step, and throws very competent mid-range and short route passes. Best of all, Hinkle matured a lot from his adversity last season and has accepted the mantle of leadership that the Panthers so desperately need him to fill going forward. He's a kid who will win you some games on pure moxie and grit alone and I think if Austin stays healthy, Palmyra will project better than a lot of people think.
ACE HENRICKS, Brown County
Better known as the Tri State's top place kicker, Ace Henricks helmed a Wing-T attack that finished among the top 15 most productive teams in all of IHSA Football last season and kept the Hornets near the top of the Class 1A State Polls all season long. He doesn't get much opportunity to throw within the Hornets largely ground based attack, but I've watched enough of Ace in practice the last two years to tell you he has a decent arm, great decision making ability, and good feel for putting the ball on target. He also boasts a sky high football IQ and some of that same type big game poise that makes Seth Wickert so good. He also has a top notch pass catcher to assist him back in Jacob Wilson. That established, so many of the principals have changed both within the Hornet backfield and on the Horney Offensive Line, that Ace will probably be asked to take a bigger hand in the BC attack this season. How he handles that role will be critical to the growth of the BC program going forward.
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THE CONVERTS
STEVEN RISLEY, PGP
He was housed at Tight End last season because Don Bigley simply had no other place to put him. Ask anyone around Saukee Football and they would tell you the Griggsville product was probably good enough to be an All Conference Performer at Running Back or Wide Receiver, had not PGP been so loaded with senior skill position stars. Now there is considerable talk that the big fella may end up as a Wildcat-type Quarterback playing in a conventional system. Truth be told, he basically looks like a bigger version of Derrick Hull. I can't tell you how he throws a football, but he's got a cannon-esque arm on the baseball diamond (and he is, without question, our number one preseason diamond prospect for 2011) and plenty of good weapons around him in the passing game. More saliently, he instantly becomes the most feared running quarterback in our area the minute he steps under center given his size, speed, and power. Those qualities might make him the heir apparent to Devon Johnson at tailback as well and would put talented newcomer Seth Petty under center as the ringleader of what should still be a very capable offense.
JACOB CONLEY, CSE
And now the team that must replace Derrick Hull. Take nothing away from the Panthers outstanding graduated signal caller, but Bill Reed considers the Quarterback position one of the least of his off-season worries. Stud linebacker Jacob Conley appears poised to slot in under center and while he lacks Hull's coveted size and well hewn throwing motion, the kid brings a lot to the table. He's a proven leader (both on Defense as well as Central's point guard in basketball) with incredible toughness and strength, good feet, and I am told, unfailingly accurate with his passes. Whereas Derrick Hull's lone flaw as a starter was his penchant to get overly excitable in big games, Conley's demeanor is unflappable. He will happily nickel and dime you to death in the passing game and try to kill you with whatever you give him defensively. I am told by sources around CSE Football that there were more than a few practices last year where Conley looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the region and now he gets his chance.
BRADY MORTON, KNOX COUNTY
Meet the guy who has the unfortunate task of trying to replace All Stater Keenan Gillaspy, who was the gold standard for running quarterbacks in 2009. Morton is already a proven commodity on the ground, averaging better than five yards per carry last season as a running back. He's a fearless kid, durably built with good size and the ability to lower the shoulder on a would-be tackler. The question is, how well does he throw? Alex Van Delft has some grooming to do here, but a promising kid to work with.
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THE PROSPECTS
KEVIN JENNINGS, Keokuk
He already looks like a Division Two college quarterback at 6'3" and 190 pounds even though he is sixteen years old. He threw effortlessly for 1000 yards as a mid-season replacement starter during his sophomore year. And his big brothers Pete and Michael set nearly every passing and receiving record in Illinois College history. Do you really want to bet against this kid developing into a big time star? Given all of his physical attributes and his quiet, intense work ethic, I don't think it is unreasonable to project the Keokuk junior as the best "futures" buy among all Tri State Quarterbacks. The question here is what strides does he make in this all important junior season as the Chiefs start to usher in a promising future (see also the wave of really good offensive linemen on the way)
ZANE SCHMUDLACH, Illini West
Michael Lafferty types don't grow on trees and even for the Chargers, there will be some kind of deleterious impact in the wake of the graduation of the KHQA Player of the Year. That established, don't expect Jim Unruh to necessarily end his recent embrace of the passing game. I am told from more than one Charger source that Zane Schmudlach's arm might be the strongest to come out of Hancock County since Rick Little. And we all know from basketball that Zane has plenty of athletic ability to go along with it. This is a kid who has enormous growth potential within a very strong Charger Offense. Considering the conditions, he's a prospect worth constant monitoring.
COLLIN DOOLEY, West Hancock
Yeah, I know, the Titan Offense was really, really suspect last year. But before you kill me on this one, hear me out. A lot of those problems were born of an inability to run block effectively and establish any kind of productive running game, which is every young quarterback's nightmare. Given better support, which we hope will be the case this season, I think Dooley is rife with promise. He's got prototype size and stature, a lot of natural fluidity as both a passer and runner, and has obviously shown his guts by taking an absolute beating last fall. That established, there is a very David Carr "boom/bust" quality to Collin's future. He's loaded with attributes and if given a level playing field, I think you could really see this young man become an excellent player.
TYLER SCHMIDT, Jacksonville Routt
He's got a live arm and a year's worth of experience as the Trigger Man for Nate Graham's passing game, thanks to Ben Heineman's unfortunate arm woes during the season. He's also got a great target to work to in Nick Duke and one of the area's best tailbacks behind him in Michael Tonry. I love Tyler Schmidt's situation this season and based on a nice array of skills, project him as top ten area quarterback who could jump into the top five or six in our region if he learns to take what the defense gives him. He's got a lot of upside left in his game and the chance to make another deep playoff plunge in 2011. If you are looking for a potential darkhorse at this position, don't forget the Rocket's promising field general.
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THE SLEEPER
ALEX O'LAUGHLIN, South Shelby
He only threw for 573 yards last season and toils for what might be the most deliberately powerful running team in Tri State Football this season. Mark my words, though. Don't sleep on Alex O'Laughlin. The senior has had phenomenal summer throwing the football and Rob Wilt enters this season with incredible confidence in his second year starter. I am not telling you that he's going to win you a Tri State Fantasy Football Title with 2000 passing yards, but I am confident that he will double both his passing totals and his touchdowns (just 7 in 2009) and likely make a star out of Tight End/Wide Receiver prospect Josh Hughart.
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KEEP AN EYE ON
CALEB BELL, Beardstown
He was an All Conference Defensive Back last season and loves contact. He's got good bloodlines and a nice set of running backs to work with. There is a lot to sell here in Aaron Elmore's resurgent program.
SCOTT KROEGER, CLOPTON-ELSBERRY
I am 40 years old with the right shoulder of an 80 year old and I would still look like Tom Brady if I had Ryan Bencomo on the receiving end of my passes. Great targets help make the man and Kroeger has the area's best. We think the IndianHawk Junior can clean up his accuracy this season and become one of the most productive talents in the area. He is dual threat with good running ability and a bright future.
ERIC KENT, FORT MADISON
A proven maestro in Todd McGhghy's now firmly rooted running game, Kent has great size in front of him and enough speed to burn opponents on the QB keeper. A kid who is under radar, but if Fort Madison makes the strides that we think may be possible, he could rise in these ratings quickly.
BRANDON HUDSON, HARMONY
Scored 23 total touchdowns last Fall for the Tri State's only Eight Man Outfit. The Rockets lose some key cogs to graduation, but appear poised for a deep postseason run in 2010
ALEX THRASHER, NORTH SHELBY
After splitting duty (71 attempts, 3 TD) in 2009, Alex Thrasher enters camp as the number one option for new coach Josh Brummitt in his Raider Rebuild.
ALEX THOMAS, PARIS
My favorite sleeper on this list. He's a 6'3" 210 pound killer linebacker who still plays the game on offense like 1970's era fullback. He's a sharp passer too boot and gets to work within the Tri State's legacy program for Wide Receivers. Anxious to see how new coach Tim Webster uses Thomas, but he's my kind of kid....
MAVERICK WOODSIDE, R/I
Athletic trigger man will be one of just two returning starters for Mike Bickerman as he tries to end the Rockets winless ways. Woodside's escape instincts will be of great help with a new Offensive Line coming in.
AARON WITTLER, Mendon-Unity
Suffered some growing pains being thrown to the wolves as a sophomore, but Wittler showed some presence and potential for Karl Asbury. More favorable schedule will help.
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THE NEW GUYS
ZACH KIPLING, BPCA
The 6'4" senior may be the tallest starting quarterback in the Tri States this season and he jumps into an offense that rushed for 322 yards per game last season. That would seem a pretty good spot, except that graduation hit John McCormick's crew very hard. There's decent skill position talent (especially quickness on hand) if the new offensive line takes root.
DYLAN PERRIN, MACON
I don't know much about the incoming junior signal caller other than that he was successful at the lower levels of the Macon program. I can tell you, however, that Mister Perrin has the luxury of working with the best collection of running backs in Tri State Football this season and if he is as savvy as I understand him to be under center, the Tigers will be just fine under his command.
GREG PITZER, LOUISIANA
Promising sophomore has the luxury of playing in front of big brother Ryan, a runaway freight train of a fullback, and helming an offense that returns eight other starters. The Bulldogs are rising and Pitzer has a chance to be a key cog in the turnaround over the next three years.
MATT GUNTERMAN, PLEASANT HILL
With the Wolfpack shifting emphasis from the passing game back to a more ground oriented attack this season, the pulverizing Gunterman will serve dual roles as Quarterback and short yardage running option given his size and strength at 200 pounds. The kid is one of the more promising linebackers in Western Illinois too boot.
CALEB SHOEMAKER, WEST PRAIRIE
He's a super smart kid, not to mention one of the very best young fishermen in the state of Illinois. As a Quarterback, the junior to be has a good frame to develop and decent arm strength (at least based on his baseball endeavors) though I'd like to see him bulk up a bit as he gets set to step in for Jansen Baker.
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TWISTS OF FATE
KODY KLEINSCHMIDT, Concord Triopia
One of my favorite players because he has always reminded me of one of those Fisher DeBerry "Flexbone" Quarterbacks at Air Force with tremendous running ability off the option and the utility/durability of a Swiss Army Knife. All signs, however, point to a move to tailback for Rich Thompson next season and maybe promising youngster Jansen Joehl moving under center. Would not be surprised to see Kody rush for 800 plus yards and 10 touchdowns and yet still remain criminally underrated.
AUSTIN REYNOLDS, Monroe City
The Tri State's answer to Tim Tebow lost his Offensive Coordinator and mentor (Ryan Watson is stepping upstairs at Monroe City to become the school's new principal) then suffered a season threatening injury. Heard all the rumors but I am not sure what his status will be until camp opens. If he's healthy, he is a Top Six Tri State Quarterback and an absolute beast to contend with, both as a runner and greatly improved passer. Fingers crossed for the kid.
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SUMMER CAMP WARS
CLARK COUNTY
Maybe the most fascinating August battle of all as Ryan Whiston, the ultimate slash type player with a huge arm and phenomenal overall athletic skills, tries to win the QB spot outright from promising youngsters Seth Williams and Austin Egley. Matt Smith loves versatility and options and Whiston could line up four other spots on the offense and be an All Conference contributor/option pass threat in support of a new QB. Intrigued as heck to see how this one plays out for the loaded Indians.
HIGHLAND
Dallas Job and Kamron Roberts, both of whom spent time under center last season, will hash it out at two-a-days with the runner-up here likely earmarked for Tailback duty. On the plus side, new skipper Kenny Grubb has two very athletic kids on which to build his new new Wing-T system around. Truth be told, I like both of these kids a great deal and think that either are gifted enough to be major contributors for even the biggest, most successful programs around. The bigger issue for Coach Grubb is what he can get from the kids around these two important building blocks, wherever they are arrayed.
SCOTLAND COUNTY
Sabe Sears is a scrappy kid with great moxie, fine overall skills (see also his star turn at Defensive Back) and the kind of inspirational leadership skills you look for. He is cut a little from the Ian Hatton (former Hannibal QB) cloth. Brock Bondurant looks straight out of central casting from the old Dave Shalley era of Drop Back passers in Memphis. Either way, the Tigers appear to be in capable hands, which is a good thing for a team on paper that looks like the Tri-Rivers Conference preseason-favorites.
BOWLING GREEN
With apologies to the good folks in Carthage, the biggest signal calling shoes to fill in Tri State Football are those vacated by Bowling Green All Stater Ryan Cox. Jim Unruh has long proven he can win big with any number of quarterbacks. So much of Jimmy Tucker's success the last two years was predicated on the spread offense. The Bobcats Faustian gambit here? Convert one of the teams (and maybe Northeast Missouri's best athletes) in Zach Pease to signal caller (great size, running ability) or try and shoehorn in promising youngster Joey Ringhausen ahead of timetable. The Bobcats return one of the region's very best defenses on paper. What happens on the other side of the football may well be the difference between six wins or a return trip deep into the playoffs.
HANNIBAL
Mark St Clair, bless his heart, thinks about quarterbacks differently than just about every other coach in our little football stratosphere. While most coaches love having pre-season stability at the position, or a proven go-to guy under center, the Pirate skipper isn't truly happy unless he has an eight-man quarterback battle on his hand during August drills. And heck, he's just as likely to convert a Left Tackle to QB on a whim just to sate his curiosity. By the same token, the guy is as good a coach as you will in the state of Missouri, so who am I to label his method as madness? The Pirates never lack for good prospects during that competition and this year, at the very least, Kyle Arthaud and Logan Hicks are at the forefront of the battle and both have their relative merits. But I learned long ago not to evaluate the HHS Quarterback situation until mid-September, because that is truly when the Pirate Boss starts really honing in on his best postseason options.
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RANDOM MUSINGS
So much for the concept of "the slow season" in Tri State sports. Numerous sources tell us that Jeff Kasparie's successful tenure as Liberty's Boys Basketball Coach could end at the next school board meeting (set for the third Wednesday of August) if the board opts to vote him out at that time.. A source tells us that Jeff was told his reason for being let go is that he "isn't dedicated to the program" and that he "isn't respected by the players." I guess nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the politics of coaching, but as someone from the outside looking in, the timing and tenor of this decision still seem extremely odd. I know that Liberty has an outstanding group of lower level kids coming into the program over the next few years and given that Jeff is among the handful of area coaches to have reached Peoria in his tenure, changing "captains" in midstream seems at the least, counter-intuitive. We will continue to monitor the situation and see what comes to pass as this story continues to develop.
Cleaning up the Diamond Season, with a few "in case you missed it" items from the summer: Former Routt Baseball and two time All State selection Ben Heinemann will continue his college career at Lincoln Land. Randy Mettemeyer's resignation as head coach of Quincy High Baseball has resulted in the hire of Bruce Bonness as the new Blue Devils Skipper. Alum Brock Bainter has left Western Illinois' coaching staff to take over the Macomb Baseball program from Dan Watson, who resigned his diamond duties to have more time to spend with his family.
The Spokane Shock finished the Arena Football League Regular Season with a 64-49 loss to Jacksonville on Friday Night, but still managed to post an AFL best 13-3 regular season record. The Shocks Kicker? Former Western Illinois star Taylor Rowan, who is currently seventh in the league in kicking with 5 field goals and 121 extra points. The Shock will host the Arizona Rattlers in the first round of the AFL Playoffs
Best wishes to Tyler Tomlinson as he leaves the thankless world of TV Sports and embarks on his new career in Academia at Culver Stockton. Saturday morning Soccer Games won't be nearly as entertaining without him cracking wise behind the net.
