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Excellent feature article in the Indy Star (if you can access it)..

ptrich

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Nov 2, 2001
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on how the recruiting class that brought in Phegley, etc., jump-started the Hoosier program into national prominence. Here's an excerpt from it:

“I go into Phegley’s house really pissed off,” Smith said in a phone interview last week. “I go, ‘I’m sick and tired of you Indiana guys. All you guys say you’re the pride of Indiana, but none of you have the (expletive) (expletive) to commit.’”

On their drive back to Bloomington that night, Smith turned to Neal and apologized. He knew how much work Neal had done to lay groundwork with Phegley, and he was sure he’d screwed it up.

In fact, Smith did the opposite. He had planted an idea in Phegley’s mind and helped set in motion one of the most stunning turnarounds in the history of IU athletics.

The above incident happened after Smith and Neal had visited another Terre Haute baseball prospect that same day in Nick Ciolli, who politely indicated he wasn't interested in the IU baseball program. Ciolli went on to play at ISU.

Again, it was an excellent article.
 
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