|
| Ping!Baseball Spotlight Interview
1B Scott Simon and RP Matt German
Northern Illinois University |
There are a lot of good things going at Northern Illinois
and it shouldn't be too long before the Huskies lose their
"under the radar" status to become MAC front runners
 and
NCAA tournament candidates. NIU has players on both the Wallace
Award (Scott Simon) and Stopper of the Year (Matt German)
watch lists, the only school in the state of Illinois (and
one of a small few in the region) who can make that claim.
Simon and German recently sat down to answer some questions
from Ping!.
Simon opened the 2007 campaign on the Brooks
Wallace Award (National Player of the Year) watch list for
the second consecutive season. He's also been listed by Collegiate
Baseball as one of the "Top Players to Watch" in
the Mid-American Conference, and ranked as MAC's No. 3 Player
of the Year candidate by Perfect Game Crosschecker. German
is on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List and had been
tabbed by Collegiate Baseball as the "Projected Pitcher
of the Year" for the Mid-American Conference.
Ping!: Illinois and the Great
Lakes region have a large number of Division I baseball teams.
What made you choose NIU over the other schools?
Simon: It was an opportunity to earn a scholarship
while staying close to home.
German: It was a good opportunity to play
Division I baseball and be near my hometown.
 Ping!:
With the overwhelming majority of Huskie players being from
Illinois, I assume that there are a number of Cubs and Sox
fans in the clubhouse. Which side of the Red Line Rivalry
do you take?
Simon: I was born and raised a Sox fan. I
cried like a baby when they won the World Series in 2005.
German: I don’t take either side. I
am an Arizona Diamondbacks fan.
Ping!: I understand that
both of you aspire to be professional pilots. What spurred
your interest in aviation?
Simon: My dad is a pilot and I grew up around
aviation. It has always been a big part of my life.
German: Flying has always been an interest
of mine. Being around Scott all the time gave me an avenue
to pursue a career in the field.
Ping!: What's
the more unnerving situation: flying a plane in turbulence
or facing Coach Mathey after a screw-up on the field?
Simon: Coach Mathey does not begin to compare
to heavy chop when you are trying to land that hunk of tin.
German: Coach Mathey’s demeanor is
not that bad. I would rather face him after a screw-up on
the field.
Ping!: The amount of attention
and publicity paid to college football and basketball far
outweighs the national coverage given to baseball. Do you
envy your fellow athletes or appreciate the lack of hype and
exposure?
Simon: It does not bother me that they get
more attention. You can understand the hype with football
and basketball because the guys who turn pro in those sports
are seen immediately in the NFL and NBA. Guys who go pro in
baseball might not make the Majors for a few years, so many
people lose track of them in between their college and Big
League careers.
German: Anytime there is attention paid to
a collegiate sport or student-athlete, it is a good thing.
There is nothing to be envious about in that regard.
Ping!: The Huskies are headed
to Palm Beach, Florida for the week long Palm Beach Challenge.
You can't honestly say that you're looking more forward to
the competition on the diamond than spending time on the beach
and in the sunshine can you?
Simon: DeKalb is similar to Palm Beach, so
being there will not be a big distraction.
German: I am looking forward to being able
to play in warm weather and face other teams from the north.
Ping!: Finally, what would
be the outcome if the NIU career hit leader and CICL MVP were
to square off against the All-MAC and CICL Fireman of the
Year in a bottom of the ninth, two out, one run situation?
Simon: He would probably strike me out.
German: I would intentionally walk him to
get to Jesse Seykora.
PREVIOUS PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS
* - DII
DII
Previous Years
DII
PREVIOUS COACH SPOTLIGHTS
DII
2008
|
