As always interesting stuff from Dan on the Front Row

[OptionQB]

Coach Dakich called in with his scheduled Monday afternoon phone call to the Toledo "wise" guys Norm Waymer and Mark Benson with some interesting tidbits.

Apparently he and Andrew were doing some batting practice on the women's softball field and Dan had just caught a line-drive off the ankle and was feeling it. He later responded that he was going to call his wife and get the chin shield attached to Andrew's helmet, b/c the next pitch was coming under his chin! Good humor from Coach!

Anyway, Norm starts off by asking if Dan has any "short-term trips planned to Chicago?" Dan says "I don't know, why?" and Norm goes into his usual schtick about the "Internet guys have you going to DePaul" as well as quoting the Chicago Sun Times pegging his as a leading candidate as well and Dan's only response was "whatever." He spent the next two or three minutes rambling about how the "internet guys perceive a problem with our team b/c so and so wants to transfer." He mentioned that he didn't know people would throw that big of a fit over losing a guy "that only averaged 2 points a game (Montgomery) and that the "only thing I'll talk about concerning VanderMeer is that it was a 'mutual agreement' on the decision to transfer."

The next part of the conversation went into a spiel about Dusan Radivojevic. Apparently Dakich is a Serbian name. Dan claimed that he talked with a scout who knows the NBA game rather well and is a great scout "especially for Yugoslavian kids" and he gave Dan the first call concerning Dusan. There were DVDs exchanged and the scout it sounded, did a lot of legwork for us in the recruiting process. Based on conversations I've had with people that have been close to the situation at some point or another, the scout was Wally Szczerbiak's dad. That would be my guess at least.

Anyway, Dan goes into detail about a conversation he and Dusan had over the phone recently . . .

Dan, having already seen the DVDs and tape on him . . . "Dusan, can you shoot the ball well?"

Dusan (and Dan trying his best European accent) "Oh yes, Coach, I can shoot it good."

Dan "Dusan can you rebound and pass, do you have good fundamentals?"

Dusan "Oh yes Coach, I love to pass and make my teammates better"

Dan "Dusan, can you play defense?"

Dusan (LONG PAUSE)

Dan said "I held out the phone and I was like 'Dusan are you there? Are you there?'"

Dusan "Coach, I do not know what you mean about this defense?"

Dan "Good, you'll fit in just like everyone else!"

Coach Dakich then went on to describe the rest of the recruits and mentioned that he'll be in NY tomorrow recruiting, not sure if he means the additional scholarship he has now or next year. And when asked how he would replace a "near 7-footer" Dakich said "Well you go out a get a 6'8" kid that does a lot of different things well or something like that . . . "

That sure as hell sounds like Kyle Gillette from Loudonville who lost in the state semifinals to NBA expansion team in the making North College Hill.

He's 6'8"/240 or bigger and was said to have excellent footwork. I actually missed his game on Thursday afternoon. But most of the people that I talked to, with good evaluation skills, said that he's the real deal. A "hidden gem" at the D-3 level.

Dan described the other recruits as the following . . .

Samarco . . . "A 6'2" kid who was a JUCO second team All America and a kid who can really score it. That's something that we looked for in this season, was a kid who could come in and score, anytime and right away."

Holland . . . "He's 6'9, about 230 or 235 and has an exceptional jumper for a kid his size and he can move a little bit too."

Sullivan . . . "A really tough 6'6" kid who can do a lot of things and has really worked to get his academics in order since we've been with him."

Dusan . . . Everything mentioned above

Marschall . . . . Dan LOVES Marschall . . . "6'8" kid who we told he has to add 15 pounds before he joins us and he's up 12 already. A great worker"

Clements . . . "A 6'4" kid who plays a lot of positions . . . Probably is a lot closer to a point guard than anything, but really does a lot of things well."

Wilson . . . "A 6'5" kid from a 'tough' area who is just a fantastic athlete. He's a hit his head on the backboard and dunk it with his elbow, kind of guy."

He calls in at 4:30 roughly or thereabouts every Monday and is usually one of the few bright spots of the show.

[BleedOrange]

Good stuff, Option. Thanks for the post.

[Metz]

Good stuff, Option. Thanks for the post.

Ditto! I have high hopes as always for the season but this just makes them higher!

[Flipper]

Good post Option...I always miss Dan's call on that show because Wamer is such a goof I find myself tuning in something else. Like a good Todd Rundgren CD.

Radio sure does suck in Toledo. Look at WSPD...I'm a republican and I can't take that station. Every show is hosted by some right wing white guy who's right around 40. Rush Limbaugh is fun, but you can take the rest of that line up and move it over to the high school station it belongs on.

[Warthog]

I caught some of that piece too. When Norm asked how the heck do you get a guy from Serbia, Dan didn't miss a beat with "I'm Serbian!" I thought he was joking and was going to get thrown under the politically correct bus for saying that. But he really is Serbian! Who'd a thunk it? That Dusan story was hilarious. You had to hear Coach trying to do the Eastern Eurpoean accent. Great stuff.

He did mention trying to get one more kid in this year. I thought he mentioned something about 6'10" guy from Serbia, but he may have been joking about that.

[Metz]

He did mention trying to get one more kid in this year. I thought he mentioned something about 6'10" guy from Serbia, but he may have been joking about that.

6'10? Maybe he should join the ladies team to keep falconboy happy Really though, we need some more height. Although I'd take an Anthony Stacey type power foward over a 6'10 skinny guy anyday!

[Falconfreak90]

Thanks for the update, Option! Lotsa news there with the hoops team.

Coach D should have gone into comedy...that dude cracks me up all the time.

Dan "Dusan, can you play defense?"

Dusan (LONG PAUSE)

Dan said "I held out the phone and I was like 'Dusan are you there? Are you there?'"

Dusan "Coach, I do not know what you mean about this defense?"

Dan "Good, you'll fit in just like everyone else!"

Man, that is funny stuff!!


Flipper,
Radio sucks everywhere...it isn't just Toledo.

[falconstein]

I heard that the tall Serbian's name is Ivan Renko.

[kdog27]

I heard that the tall Serbian's name is Ivan Renko.

Should be Ivan Drago from Russia.

[hammb]

I heard that the tall Serbian's name is Ivan Renko.

Should be Ivan Drago from Russia.

I will break you!

[Flipper]

Everything he hits...he destroys!

[BGSU33]

Thanks for the info OptionQB.

[OptionQB]

Kyle Gillette from Loudonville who was rumored to have received a BG offer verballed to D-2 Northern Kentucky yesterday.

Dan did mention that he wanted to fill the remaining scholarship for this year.

Sorry I missed Freak and Hammer and the rest of you guys at the Spring Game, I had to take those damn Teaching Certification tests!