Foreman Looking to Take Chicago Big Shoulders

Anthony Baines(5-10, 230lbs,jr, OL/DL#66) and David Croff(5-10, 167lbs, jr, WR/LB/FS) of Foreman

Foreman is eager to get back to the Illini conference. Only a 3 point loss to conference champion Taft last year prevented Foreman to winning conference and going back to the Illini. In that game, Foreman seemingly had the game in the bag before a few key plays in the 4th quarter prevented them from taking the game. I did not get a chance to interview any of the players or coaches last year after that game because there was a lot of emotion and things like helmet throwing after the game.

This year Foreman is a strong contender to win the Chicago Big Shoulders. But it won't be easy. Conference champion Taft is back in the conference after declining the invitation to move up to the Illini. I know Taft graduated a boat load of starters, but Taft always reloads and I expect them to be in the mix again. Then you can never count out teams like Lincoln Park, Steinmetz, and even Prosser. Foreman beat those teams by only one score last year.

So why am I picking Foreman as one of the favorites this year. For one, they probably have the conference's top player in Johnny Daniels(6-4, 256lb, sr, DL/OL). Daniels was a former 287lb freshman ROTC member who orginally wanted to play basketball. But he was convinced by coach Grazzini to play foorball and the rest is history. He could become Foreman's first Division I football player. He already has an offer from Northern Illinois and interest from other schools.

Foreman will have to find a replacement at quarterback after the graduation of pass happy Sergio Serrano and his 1200 yards passing last year. Two contenders for the starting QB spot will probably be athletic basketball player Karon Linton(6-0, 195lbs, sr) or Perrin Groves(5-10, 160lbs, jr).

Also look out for captain Denandre Wilkerson(5-10, 250lbs, OL/DL, sr), sophomore Wendell Eiland(5-9, 176lbs, so, RB/S).

Foreman plays a rough first three games. They start with Catholic school St. Viator, then play Chicago conference Dusable who was 7-2 last year, and they open conference play with a motivated Lincoln Park team. After those three games we will know how good Foreman is.

Football Team Previews Page

CPS College Recruiting Page

Comments

[cps fan]

Foreman has Daniels. After that it is largely unproven talent.

Foreman graduated their starting QB, top 3 RB's, almost all of their impact defensive players.

Foreman will be one of a couple players in a Big Shoulders conference that has no clear cut favorite. Everyone is in it. LP, Taft, Foreman, LP, Prosser, Amundsen- everyone.

[cps]

Where is the preview for Amundsen. They hungry to win conference and to go back to the red.

[Football Head.]

This game will finally prove how good Daniels Is. Last year I went to 3 games when they played taft,prosser, and clemente. He was a monster in those games but, is it only because the big shoulder dont have that many good team or is he just that good? we shall see this first game against st.viator

[STFU]

Dude you sound so fuckin dumb!!I watched this kid after my son's game against dunbar. He forced 3 fumbles along with many tackles in the state playoffs against glenbard south who way better St.viator and I hope he does well this season

[LOSER]

Daniels is a good player. But Foreman will lose this season due to its ego of one man, Pete Grazzini.
I try to avoid him as much as possible. He talks a good game, on how he is focused on winning the conference. He will not beat us this year.
This guy is an idiot on how he acts and what comes out of his mouth.

[QWWER]

No disrespect to Foreman, but neilski you've been doing all the CPS teams previews and you did previews for the top teams in the CPS....EXCEPT YOU DIDNT MAKE A CURIE FOOTBALL PREVIEW WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?! VERY CURIOUS ABOUT THEM?! PLEASEPOST ONE UP SOON!

[Anthony Grazzini]

Peter Grazzini got the job due to his brother, Anthony, the former Morton West Coach

[A CPS football fan looking for good coaches]

The overall lack of skilled players in the conference makes it hard to gauge how good any of these kids are.
A talented kid who has been well coached on fundamentals is man amongst boys on these teams.

I am not doubting Daniels is a rock star, just wondering if anyone can figure out who will win the conference.

Let's hope it is not Taft, it is an embarrassment to the system and the school they win and don't move up.

[Embarrassment]

Look no further than Taft to find true cowardly antics. Walsh and company refused to move to the illini after winning the conference. Wonder what hes going to do when he has to play Foreman week nine instead of three. What is going to be his excuse? Walsh has better hope the strike last longer than expected. Foreman will be running on all cylinders by week nine as Walsh wont have a excuse when he loses.

[Embarrassment II]

For years Walsh has had Mickey ensure he plays Foreman week three. Finally Mickey has smarted up and scheduled a instant classic for week nine. When foreman wins they will move up to the illini.

[I GOT FHS!!]

I got foreman winning the conference because like it was previously said, week 3 after foreman lost to taft by 3 points, they picked up there momentum and beat the other teams in the Chicago conference for the rest of the season. I think the same thing will happen this season except, foreman will be ready by week 9 and destroy taft.

[YOU GUYS SUCK!! (Lp Parent!)]

Foreman's gonna suck so damn bad this year!!
Our kids are READY for Daniels! Grazzini! and there over there. Lincoln park never gets any respect, Its time to take over this conference

[if grazzini]

if grazzini gets his head out of his ass then they"ll actually have a shot at winning

[Just wondering...]

At the end of the season, where do you think there will be a head coaching job vacancy?

My top three picks are:

1. Lane
2. Curie
3. Kelvyn Park

[Wonder 2]

@ Just Wondering...Why?
Lane I get, but why Curie and Kelvyn Park?

[Stop Hating on Walsh]

Stop hating on Coach Walsh! He is not perfect - none of us are but, declining to move up is intelligent and keeps Taft in the "neighborhood" conference that they belong in.

This city-wide crap of pitting mis-matched schools across the city needs to stop. We need to have local conferences of schools with similar resources (selectives vs selectives, charters vs charters, neighborhoods vs neighborhoods) in close proximity for fan support. Chicago Big Shoulders is such a conference for Taft and it makes sense for Taft to participate in that conference with other neighborhood schools in their proximity.

When the children of the parents entering CPS now, who are "trapped in the city" get to high school all of this silliness will be stopped and people like Coach Walsh will be looked upon as being very proactive and fore thoughtful. The neighborhood schools need to be in a conference of neighborhood schools nearby that they play for all sports (basketball, baseball, etc.) like it is in the suburbs. What happens in the city is beyond stupid.

Taft is making a good decision for Taft.

If Taft wins - so be it - isn't that what all the supporters of every school wants? To cheer for a wining team? Don't hate on people just because they aren't drinking the CPS "koolade" and make a decision that is good for their, school, players, team, fans.

Wish more CPS sports people considered something other than this antiquated system that no longer makes any sense (if it ever did) and start seeing that the rest of the world can't understand it and thinks it's stupid. Let's start making sense in CPS sports and have local leagues of similar type schools - this way you will not keep having the selectives winning the CITY conference for everything and keep the kids who didn't get into a selective feeling like loosers over and over again. Let the selectives just play against themselves. This way Lane will be the selectives city champions in football and all this whining will end - as there is no other way Lane will be a football champion again - the demographics are not in their favor any more and the doors are closed to "recruiting".

Congrats to Taft for being smart!

[Just wondering...]

@ Wonder2

I think Jay at Curie will not last given his reputation. He always his "good reason" to move on...wink, wink! He may make it 2 years at the most.

Kelvyn Park is now without Brian Carter and you will now see how bad this team is. Think about it...they could not win an inter city conference with him. From a few sources I consider credible they struggled to keep it together last year and this year has not started off so well.

Also, none of those coaches that everyone hates on will get the Lane job if it does open up so please everyone stop talking about them!

[THANKS]

PLEASE stop talking about them

[WOW]

FUCK WALSH HE SHOULD'VE MOVED HIS SCARRY ASS UP. TAFT PUSSY/FUCK/HOE/BITCHES

[observer]

Grazzini is a tool and although his brother didn't help him get the job at Foreman, former head coach Chuck Saeva did. His older brother was a loser at Morton. Foreman 2-7!!!!

[211]

If Grazzini had half the talent Elton Harris had the CPS would hve a title But he don't do make it rain.

[Let it Rain]

If Douche Bag ever attempted to create his own plays, rather than copying them from is brothers libary, he might have a chance. But until he learns some x's and o's hes as stupid as ever.
Grazzini isn't even a pimple on Elton's vocab.

[HATERS!!]

Get off Grazzini's dick, he obviously doing something right because you guys seem to be hating!

[observer]

LOLOLOOLOOLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaajhahhahhaahah...Grazzini is a bum

[Johnny Daniels get some pub]

http://seasonpass.suntimes.com/news_article/show/173729?referrer_id=599124

[Just sayin...]

I'm not hating on the kid because it seems he may have a great opportunity ahead of him but flip flops during that staged photo..cmon man!

[To clear everything up]

We told Johnny not to bring any shoes that day so he can ice his ankle and be ready for this week's game and the guy from the sun-times came that day. It was my fought not his! And Pete is a great guy! stop being judge mental

[Typical Inner City CPS Team]

I'll tell you who is really bad! That Sullivan Coach. He cries all the time! Complains about allt the bad calls during the game. Everyone is wrong and he thinks he is the only one that is right... Just a cry baby! He never shows up to any coaches and misses all the updates. Now wonder he sucks!

[Typical Inner City CPS Team]

FYI, Foreman has played Glenbard South and St. Viators the past year. Both teams are ranked in the top 25 for 6a schools in the state. Lost both games, but atleast they went for the opportunity. Not hiden from a tough schedule.