Anybody want to give me the lowdown on the SIU program these days? The coach and my son have been emailing back and forth lately.

My son is playing with a couple of kids who will be attending SIUC in the fall and playing for the Salukis. Both are good kids and very nice players. Very skilled players.

Kellerdad,

I have a couple kids heading that way in the Fall. Cal does a great job with the guys. He recruits the right kind of player. IMO

Keller...Bret25 is a player's mom (starting second baseman as a freshman, I believe).

I know the centerfielder...a very good player; and, I coached Danny Wells, a crafty lefty who had a nice year.

Good program...likely the best in Illinois.

Keller,

I agree with everything written so far but one correction. The 2nd baseman's mom is 2ndbasemom, not Bret25. Always 2 or 3 good teams at the top of the MVC. Carbondale, great place to go to school and play ball. I was there in the late 60's (no comments please) and just loved the place.

Boy Beenthere,,,,I'm gone a little while and you forget who I am....lol Bret25 attends Notre Dame...not SIU, but my kid Bret plays for
Coach Cal at SIU!

It is a GREAT school! Bret loves it. The coaches are really great too! We had 4 guys drafted this year. Coach Cal works for his guys.

And he always says, if you earn a spot you'll play, and he meant it. Bret started at 2nd base all but maybe 10 games, (he pulled a hamstring in practice) as a freshman.

Take a visit...I think your son will love the campus, the atmosphere and the climate...maybe a dusting of snow every once in a while! And, if you like to fish,,,there are lakes gallore!

Gosh, I sound like a travel brochure! If you have any other questions, let me know, I'll be glad to try and help

its....gosh, that makes you older than me!!!!
lol....sorry!!!!

rosy....is there a contact for a kid that wants to try out for the TT program? I haven't seen him play, but he wants to get onto a competitive team. He will be a SR. this year.

2ndbasemom,

If he goes on the website, www.toptierfp.com there is a recommend a player link. As you know, the season is already underway, but anything is possible.

Coach Cal is the man. He is without question a very honorable man. Stuck to his word throughout the whole recruiting process. He doesn't promise anybody anything. He will give you a chance to make it on your own....I have the utmost respect for Cal and the program he runs. And I wish him the best of luck this recuiting season. He has some guys in our area in mind.....I wish him luck except when they play ISU...sorry Cal.

Beenthere and 2ndbasemom, I am glad that in the almost four years that I have been posting on this board that I have made such a big impression on the two of you.
My name is Bret Ehrlich, I am a former Bartlett HS catcher, A Steve Hayward deciple, and currently attending local Junior College Powerhouse Elgin Community College.
http://www.elgin.edu/ath2index.asp?id=5205
As to Southern Illinois Carbondale, it has a great reputation as a party school, any comments on this Rosie.

Thanks for your continued support, Bret

Bret,

Well, I really cannot comment on SIU as a party school circa 2006. Back in 1967-70, well, it was what it was. I do remember that Wednesday was chocolate ice cream day at Dairy Queen.

I know just how difficult it is for an Illinois student to be accepted at UW Madison and that bastion of liberal thinking (for all you liberals out there) is always ranked at or near the top of "party schools". Let's fact it, there is drinking and drugging at all colleges and Universities and it is up to the individual student to put things in proper perspective and prioritize. The "party school" rankings that are published by Playboy or Forbes or whoever is usually a long list of schools which include some highly ranked academic institutions.

Bret25...my bad....I'm sorry, but you have to admit, if you had to be confused with someone
Bret Graffe is a GREAT one to be confused with!!

As for party school...Any school is a party school if that's what you're going there for!
As for my kid...he did well academically (I'm sure he could hold his own alcaholically (SP)
also) But in the end he finished the year with
a 3.4 gpa, started every game at 2nd and passed
three drug tests....sooooooooo.......lol

It is what you make it...

Thanks rosy for the info...I'll pass the website
along. The kid is on a team this year but would like to see what he needs to be better!

Coach Callahan and Coach Henderson and Coach Wolfe are excellent in teaching fundamentals..The Mo Valley Conference is a tough one and siu plays a good non league schedule...
I work very closely with Coach Callahan on my tourneys and he is a very outgoing individual who delegates authority to his asst coaches and does alot of the recruiting himself...
SIU is no more of a party school these days then any other Illinois school...The city council and university has stopped the big Haloween Party festival which gave the school the party label....The strip has moved and the bars are more spread out now which eliminates the publicity of bad week end party school...
Cant beat the weather to play college baseball...