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If it wasn't for the gentle nudging of Lee Ann Fedorowicz, her son likely would have committed to Ohio State or Iowa instead of Illinois. So Illini Nation should add her to its Christmas card list because Illini coach Ron Zook hadn't shown any interest in the nation's top-rated tight end until his mother became Illinois' biggest booster.
Johnsburg's C.J. Fiedorowicz wanted to join a football program that had a reputation for passing the ball. He didn't want to be a blocking tight end. He wanted to be a pass-catching tight end. Ohio State and Iowa were his favorites. He was waiting for Ohio State coach Jim Tressel to promise that he would be an important factor in the Buckeyes' offense. If he did, it appeared that Fiedorowicz would commit on the spot.
Then C.J.'s mother had another idea.
"He was going to Illinois for a 7-on-7 camp," she recalled. "I suggested that we go down to Champaign a day earlier to look at the school. Illinois hadn't showed much interest in him and he hadn't shown much interest in them (the Illini ranked no better than fifth or sixth on his list of six finalists at the time). But I thought it wouldn't do any harm to get a good look at his state school."
C.J. couldn't have been more impressed if Red Grange and Dick Butkus had greeted him on the Quadrangle.
"Within two hours I fell in love with the coaches and the facilities," C.J. said. "I only needed one visit to know I wanted to go there. It took two or three visits to get the same feeling at the other schools that I had at Illinois."
What else did he feel that he hadn't felt earlier? Why did he think Illinois hadn't shown any interest after the 2009 season, after he was named to the Chicago Sun-Times All-Area team and analyst Tom Lemming had tapped him as the No. 1 tight end in the nation?
"New coaches had come in," he said. "Mike Schultz (from TCU) is the new tight ends coach and offensive coordinator. I liked him right away. He said the tight end would be part of the offense--and I was looking for an offense that was going to throw to the tight end.
"I also hung out with players on the team and felt I knew them. I'm close with (Illini recruit) Chandler Whitmer (of Downers Grove South). We spent time at the recreation center where the players hang out after practice. I knew Illinois would be the one. I didn't have to wait any longer. I was ready to make my decision."
The 6-7, 250-pounder with 4.5 speed said he relieved that he had finally made his decision. Now he enjoy the rest of his summer, doesn't have to worry about the recruiting process any longer and will continue to work with a speed coach to prepare for his senior season.
He said he might take one or two more visits because he isn't familiar with the recruiting process and wants to know what it is all about. "But I'm 100 percent sure I'm going to Illinois. Once I committed, I felt good," he said.
Fiedorowicz is one of the most proficient athletes in state history. He also is an outstanding basketball player (good enough to land offers from Indiana and Wisconsin) and was a standout sprinter on the track team. He chose track over baseball last spring but his 91 m.p.h. fastball once attracted major league scouts.
"The Milwaukee Brewers came to one game to watch me," he said. "But they realize I'm a football player. That's what I want to do."
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Never went to the UI but wish more high school players would want to attend their state school. CJ and Chandler seem like not only very good football players but also good kids.
I do not understand the state loyalty theme. Why does a math genius choose MIT, why does an engineer choose Purdue? Nobody urges those students to be loyal. Given a choice which school would you choose, Ohio State or U of I?
Illinois is rated higher (slightly) by US News and World Report in engineering than Purdue.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/spec-doct-engineering
WHERE DO YOU USUALLY WORK WHEN YOU FINISH COLLEGE, THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION, AND THE ANSWER IS THE STATE YOU LIVE IN!
SO IT MAKES ALOT OF SENSE TO GO TO A SCHOOL IN THE STATE IN WHICH YOU LIVE!
THE NETWORK FOR JOBS IS GREATER, THE ALUMNI BASE IS BIGGER INSIDE THE SPECIFIC STATE, ASK THE BOYS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN OR OHIO, HOW LOYAL THEY ARE TO OHIO STATE OR MICHIGAN, THEY ARE LOYAL BIG TIME!
U OF I IS A GREAT SCHOOL, AND LIKE AMANDA SAID THE ENGINEERING SCHOOL RANKS HIGHER THAN PURDUE IN THE MAGAZINE SHE SPOKE OF, ALL YOUNGSTERS SHOULD WANT TO GO TO U OF I, THE BIG QUESTION IS WILL THEY QUALIFY TO GET IN THE SCHOOL, CAN THEY AFFORD THE SCHOOL, ARE THEY GOOD ENOUGH TO RECEIVE AN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP?
JAY I HOPE THIS GIVES YOU BETTER INSIGHT ABOUT STATE LOYALTY!
Somebody answer the question. Given a choice, football wise, which school would you choose, UI or OSU?
Don't get caught up trying to prove soemone wrong. Two people wanted to argue PU and UI engineering but didn't want to answer the question. I admit, PU versus UI engineering is close, that wasn't my point. Does anyone question a scholar concerning loyalty when he/she makes a college choice?
Loyalty is best left to the discretion of the individual. No person has the right to question another person's loyalty, or even suggest that he/she can provide better insight about state loyalty.
That's all folks!
Jay, point made. Let me attempt to clear up any possible confusion on your part. You are talking about a student-athlete in its true and intended state and Phil is referencing those kids who only attend college solely for the opportunity to participate in sports. So you see you guys are talking apples and trucks here. I hope this helps.
Darnell, You are also missing the point. If you were a football player and had a choice between OSU and UI, who would you choose? I have asked that question three times and nobody answers. My point was that we don't complain too much when students go to MIT or even PU over in-state uninversities. When an athlete leaves the state there is a perceived lack of loyalty. I hope this helps.
Jay,
I sorry if I missed your point but let me address your question directly. If I were a football player would I choose OSU or U of I? I don't know. There are literally dozens of variables that I would have to solve before making that decision but I can assure you of this; I would not make that decision based solely upon football. Hopefully I got the point this time
I would go to a school where I would get a chance to play sooner rather than later.