March 12, 2007
NOTE: The content below was originally published on the Ping! Baseball website.
Spotlight Interview of the Week
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 NIU's 1B Scott SImonand 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.
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