Talk to News-Gazette prep sports coordinator Fred Kroner
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 12:31 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Greetings to all. Lots of questions this week. I'll try to get to as many as possible. So much going on, I may need to let a few go, but I will do my best. Here we go!
David from Danville, IL — 12:31 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Of the teams left in the playoffs which two have the best chances of advancing this weekend?
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 12:36 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi David. Not sure if you
James from Tuscola, Il — 12:36 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Do you have any info on the lineman that plays for South Fulton that has signed with the Illini? Just curious as to what he brings to the table, especially since Tuscola plays against him this Saturday. Will be interesting to see how he does against us!
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 12:40 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi James. I don
Shaun from Gibson City, IL — 12:40 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
What is your prediction for the GCMS game this week. Think hard since you were wrong last week.
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 12:44 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Shaun. Well, I have a 50-50 chance of being right this week, don
cmore from illinoisloyaltyville, illini country — 12:44 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
hey fred, always enjoy your chats!! Can you give us a little preview of the casey/marshall game? Who wins? and now i will put you on the spot.......who are our 8 state champions at years end???
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 12:53 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hey there! You think I have a crystal ball or something??? Wow! First for Casey-Westfield vs. Marshall. They met once, back in the season-opener and Casey-Westfield won 28-7. There will be no doubt in their minds they can win, having done so once. Marshall rebounded to beat a very good Mahomet-Seymour team in Week 2 and then, in my mind, played a tougher schedule down the stretch and hasn't lost again. The final five weeks of the regular season, C-W played teams which had seven wins at season
Jerry from Tuscola, IL — 12:53 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
According to the seeds, Tuscola is favored to win against South Fulton. However I just heard about South Fulton's huge line. It's as big as most college division 1 lines! What does Tuscola have to do to control the line of scrimmage? I also heard one of the South Fulton lineman is an Illini signee, any comments on him?
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 12:59 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Jerry. Tuscola has to take advantage of its strengths and continue to mix things up. Throw in some passing plays. Run to the outside. Keep the linemen moving and working and hope to tire them out by the game
Brian from Urbana, IL — 12:59 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Fred,
what do you think the chances are that the remainging area football teams win there games this week?
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:00 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Brian. Excellent. In our contest between News-Gazette sportswriters (published in the Friday editions), I am picking Danville, Unity, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley and Tuscola to win this week. Wouldn
TOM EGELSTON from champaign, il — 01:00 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
why isn't maroa or central a&m mentioned as area teams in playoffs they are in okaw conference with tolono&tuscola which gives them 4 playoff teams left.maroa plays a&m in quarterfinals which means one will be in semifinals and could play gibson city in 2-a finals anything possible.seems like okaw blue and black aren't getting enough recognition.i believe for their clasifications 1-2-3a they have the best conference year end and out in state.
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:02 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Tom. Excellent question and I bet a lot of people don
TOM EGELSTON from champaign, il — 01:02 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
with your article on danville in todays paper ought to keep person in danville who wrote in and wondered why danville wasn't getting enough coverage quiet.i believe you have covered danville as much or more than other teams.seeing possibility of danville meeting providence catholic in semi- finals would be 1 game i will go see rain or shine.
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:06 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Tom. The funny thing is people will probably think we saw the letter to the editor and immediately went out and decided to do the story. Nothing could be further from the truth. The story was planned on Monday, I spent most of the day Tuesday in Danville and wrote the story that night. By the time I saw the Wednesday letter to the editor for the first time when I got my paper at home that morning, all my work was already done. It didn
mick from danviille, il — 01:06 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
what is your thoughts are the arcola football team is year. They went 1-8 and was expected to be in the top three of the conference this year?
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:10 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Mick. I think it was just a case of circumstances. For one, there were injuries to key players, such as quarterback Tony Van Gundy. For another, there was a brutal schedule to start the season. It doesn
TOM EGELSTON from champaign, il — 01:10 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
i would like to commend you on your article today on danville.it was without a doubt the best high school article i have read all year.not something you do in 30 minutes.tony blieil and marcus jackson someday may be as good.
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:14 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Tom. Thanks for the compliment, but I
john from urbana, il — 01:15 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
have you heard when the urbana football banquet is being held and where?
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:15 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi John. I spoke with Greg Hall, the Urbana athletic director, this morning. He said the tentative football banquet date is Nov. 21. The time and location have not yet been announced. When I hear, I will pass it along.
Julie King from Arcola, IL — 01:15 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
What team do you see as the number one threat in girls basketball for Little Okaw Valley this year? Shiloh seemed strong the past few years, but didn't they lose most of their starters?
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:17 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Julie. I know the girls' season opens next Monday (Nov. 16), but I
Rita from Monticello, IL — 01:18 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
What criteria do you use to pick an athlete of the year for a particular sport? (Volleyball for example)
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:21 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Rita. One reason these selections are so challenging is that there is so much to consider. Some folks think we should (or do) look solely at statistics, but that is a very tiny factor. Schools play different levels of competition and schools have different levels of talent within their own team. Some have to rely on one hitter so much they set her in the back row, too, so she
Kristi from Champaign, IL — 01:21 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
What criteria do you use when you look for a volleyball player of the year?
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:24 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Kristi. Hopefully you can get most of your answer from my response to the previous question from Rita. The Player of the Year gets picked along the same lines as the members of the first and/or second teams. If a player clearly distinguishes themselves above all others, that is the pick. Sometimes, several players are virtually equal and then we look at the success of the teams, how far the particular player led her team in the postseason and the other factors which I detailed. I
Larry Kanfer from Champaign, IL — 01:24 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
When are you going to change the picture that runs with your columns? It looks like it was taken 25 years ago.
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:24 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Hi Larry. You must not have seen me 25 years ago.
Fred Kroner (moderator) — 01:25 PM on Thu, 11/12/2009
Thanks to all for the questions. It was fun. We'll check back again next Thursday.
Greetings to all. Lots of questions this week. I'll try to get to as many as possible. So much going on, I may need to let a few go, but I will do my best. Here we go!
Of the teams left in the playoffs which two have the best chances of advancing this weekend?
Hi David. Not sure if you
Do you have any info on the lineman that plays for South Fulton that has signed with the Illini? Just curious as to what he brings to the table, especially since Tuscola plays against him this Saturday. Will be interesting to see how he does against us!
Hi James. I don
What is your prediction for the GCMS game this week. Think hard since you were wrong last week.
Hi Shaun. Well, I have a 50-50 chance of being right this week, don
hey fred, always enjoy your chats!! Can you give us a little preview of the casey/marshall game? Who wins? and now i will put you on the spot.......who are our 8 state champions at years end???
Hey there! You think I have a crystal ball or something??? Wow! First for Casey-Westfield vs. Marshall. They met once, back in the season-opener and Casey-Westfield won 28-7. There will be no doubt in their minds they can win, having done so once. Marshall rebounded to beat a very good Mahomet-Seymour team in Week 2 and then, in my mind, played a tougher schedule down the stretch and hasn't lost again. The final five weeks of the regular season, C-W played teams which had seven wins at season
According to the seeds, Tuscola is favored to win against South Fulton. However I just heard about South Fulton's huge line. It's as big as most college division 1 lines! What does Tuscola have to do to control the line of scrimmage? I also heard one of the South Fulton lineman is an Illini signee, any comments on him?
Hi Jerry. Tuscola has to take advantage of its strengths and continue to mix things up. Throw in some passing plays. Run to the outside. Keep the linemen moving and working and hope to tire them out by the game
Fred,
what do you think the chances are that the remainging area football teams win there games this week?
Hi Brian. Excellent. In our contest between News-Gazette sportswriters (published in the Friday editions), I am picking Danville, Unity, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley and Tuscola to win this week. Wouldn
why isn't maroa or central a&m mentioned as area teams in playoffs they are in okaw conference with tolono&tuscola which gives them 4 playoff teams left.maroa plays a&m in quarterfinals which means one will be in semifinals and could play gibson city in 2-a finals anything possible.seems like okaw blue and black aren't getting enough recognition.i believe for their clasifications 1-2-3a they have the best conference year end and out in state.
Hi Tom. Excellent question and I bet a lot of people don
with your article on danville in todays paper ought to keep person in danville who wrote in and wondered why danville wasn't getting enough coverage quiet.i believe you have covered danville as much or more than other teams.seeing possibility of danville meeting providence catholic in semi- finals would be 1 game i will go see rain or shine.
Hi Tom. The funny thing is people will probably think we saw the letter to the editor and immediately went out and decided to do the story. Nothing could be further from the truth. The story was planned on Monday, I spent most of the day Tuesday in Danville and wrote the story that night. By the time I saw the Wednesday letter to the editor for the first time when I got my paper at home that morning, all my work was already done. It didn
what is your thoughts are the arcola football team is year. They went 1-8 and was expected to be in the top three of the conference this year?
Hi Mick. I think it was just a case of circumstances. For one, there were injuries to key players, such as quarterback Tony Van Gundy. For another, there was a brutal schedule to start the season. It doesn
i would like to commend you on your article today on danville.it was without a doubt the best high school article i have read all year.not something you do in 30 minutes.tony blieil and marcus jackson someday may be as good.
Hi Tom. Thanks for the compliment, but I
have you heard when the urbana football banquet is being held and where?
Hi John. I spoke with Greg Hall, the Urbana athletic director, this morning. He said the tentative football banquet date is Nov. 21. The time and location have not yet been announced. When I hear, I will pass it along.
What team do you see as the number one threat in girls basketball for Little Okaw Valley this year? Shiloh seemed strong the past few years, but didn't they lose most of their starters?
Hi Julie. I know the girls' season opens next Monday (Nov. 16), but I
What criteria do you use to pick an athlete of the year for a particular sport? (Volleyball for example)
Hi Rita. One reason these selections are so challenging is that there is so much to consider. Some folks think we should (or do) look solely at statistics, but that is a very tiny factor. Schools play different levels of competition and schools have different levels of talent within their own team. Some have to rely on one hitter so much they set her in the back row, too, so she
What criteria do you use when you look for a volleyball player of the year?
Hi Kristi. Hopefully you can get most of your answer from my response to the previous question from Rita. The Player of the Year gets picked along the same lines as the members of the first and/or second teams. If a player clearly distinguishes themselves above all others, that is the pick. Sometimes, several players are virtually equal and then we look at the success of the teams, how far the particular player led her team in the postseason and the other factors which I detailed. I
When are you going to change the picture that runs with your columns? It looks like it was taken 25 years ago.
Hi Larry. You must not have seen me 25 years ago.
Thanks to all for the questions. It was fun. We'll check back again next Thursday.