Why?
Why do I torture myself every August? This always seems to happen around the same time of the year.
Sure. you would think that preparing basically 30 plus conference previews from all across the state wasn't a hard enough task (go ahead, you try and sort out the Mid Illini or the Corn Belt conference....I dare you!) but noooooo. I need to "challenge" myself even further.
Now what has me so upset once again at this time of the year you ask?
For the past several seasons on my website www.edgytim.com, I've been stupid enough to "challenge" myself to come up with a Preseason All State team. Yep, trying to make a prediction on how high school kids will fare in the upcoming 2009 season that kicks off in just a few days. Doe!
So what's the big deal, right? Just pick a handful of kids and move on with my life. Yet I take my teams, polls and rankings pretty seriously and this remains one of the hardest tasks I have all year.
So who do you select at quarterback? Wheaton North's Taylor Graham? Or downstate dandy Sean Robinson from Rochester? What about a kid like Billy "The Kid" VandeMerkt from Riverside-Brookfield, who will only throw for like 23,000 yards in 9 games this season? Again, it's not an easy choice and that's just one position.
I'm sure I'll come up with a solid group before Kickoff 2009.
So do you have any thoughts? Suggestions? Then make sure to ask or tell away but remember the clock is ticking here.
3 Comments
Chicago Expatriate said:
I wonder is there a list of NFL players who played for Illinois High schools? I also wonder how that talent stacks up against other states?
Tim O'Halloran said:
I know that the NFL Players Association used to put this out from time to time, if I can find it I will link it here. I think we stack up pretty well when compared to the size/amount of schools that play football. We won't touch say a Texas or Florida or California but I'm willing to bet we are definitely in the upper half.
Chicago Expatriate said:
I know at various times in the last decade both Thornton and Mt. Carmel had five alumni on NFL rosters, which was tied for the most players from one high school. It would be interesting to see an updated list.
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