U of Illinois 2006-2007 roster

[Dragonmaster20]

They updated the roster now so the whole team is listed

[BARR]

Conquistadors we are on the same page here. I am an Illini fan and will remain one, but they do need to a better job of keeping us fans informed. I am also a big fan of Michigan and Northwestern. I can't wait for the season to get started.

[Conquistadors]

In my opinion it is hard for wrestling to get a good following and fan support because they are so "secret santa" with all of the information. I know it is still early and most of these questions will be answered, but they will be answered by people "in the know." And if those people don't give the answers the vast majority won't ever get information.

I noted these lack-of-updates a few hours before BARR posted this.

BARR, I agree with you whole-heartedly: U of Illinois wrestling is terrible at communicating with their fan base. Before 2005-06 at least the web page was good; but that too was terrible last year.

Being a fan of a program is a choice, and I see other programs that clearly are more interested in attracting fans. The Penn State coach does a weekly radio show; Indiana has an excellent web page; Lehigh has a tremendous alumni/fan base support, etc. I live in St. Louis and follow and support both Illinois and Mizzou. I have definitely found myself more interested in Mizzou lately, precisely because of their efforts at communicating with their fan base. Heck, Coach Smith sends out emails a couple of times a month-- I realize I'm just one of 100s who get this email, but I know that he making an effort to communicate. When I had a simple question on last season's Missouri Open I simply sent Coach Smith an email and asked him: he promptly responded. I would never dream of sending Coach Johnson a question. I have, however, sent questions to several Illinois coaches and they were not very interested in responding. I understand that there are many items they can't respond to... so I don't ask those things.

U of I could clearly, IMHO, use some basic lessons in PR. I know Coach Johnson and his assistants run a first class operation, but I think they take their (relatively small) fan base for granted.

As I said, being a fan of a certain program is a choice.

[BARR]

• BARR, that's a good question. But I've got a better one. Is Poeta really going 149 this year? Is Smith-Bergsrud really at 157? Is Don Reynolds sufficiently healthy to be the 165-pounder during the Big 10 season. Is Sean Reynolds red-shirting?

Yeah I don't think they update the weight classes either. Poeta has been listed at 149 since his true freshman year, the same with all of the guys I think. I would like to know if Donny is planning on competing this year or not. I know that answer is probably still up in the air and will depend on how well he recovers. I think Sean would fall into the category with the rest of the freshman since this is his first year enrolled at U of I. I know he has been out of high school a year longer, but he wasn't enrolled at U of I last year. I don't know, but I could see Sean red-shirting since they have Pero at 141.

In my opinion it is hard for wrestling to get a good following and fan support because they are so "secret santa" with all of the information. I know it is still early and most of these questions will be answered, but they will be answered by people "in the know." And if those people don't give the answers the vast majority won't ever get information.

[dww]

• BARR, that's a good question. But I've got a better one. Is Poeta really going 149 this year? Is Smith-Bergsrud really at 157? Is Don Reynolds sufficiently healthy to be the 165-pounder during the Big 10 season. Is Sean Reynolds red-shirting?

[BARR]

Here is the link to U of Illinois roster for 2006-2007. It looks like there are few names missing. Why aren't the true freshman listed? They have been in years past.

http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sport...restl-mtt.html