Youngstown State Head Coach Eric Wolford announced on Monday that seniors Jamaine Cook and Aronde Stanton and juniors Kurt Hess and Dom Rich have been selected as the Penguins' 2012 captains.
It marks the second straight season that Cook and Hess have been named team captains while Stanton and Rich are first-time selections.
Cook, Hess and Stanton started all 11 games a year ago. Rich, who had a solid spring and has had an impressive fall, was sidelined following the third game last year with an injury. He has worked his way back and is now the starter at SAM linebacker. In 2011, Cook and Hess were first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference picks and already this year are on the preseason Watch List for the Walter Payton Award which honors the FCS's top offensive player.
The Penguins worked out for a little more than two hours in full pads on Monday morning in what was their 20th practice of the fall. YSU worked on individual situations and spent the final 30 minutes holding offense vs. defense team situations. Highlighting the period was a long touchdown pass from Hess to wide receiver Andre Stubbs.
YSU is set to resume practice on Tuesday at 10 a.m. The first day of classes on campus is set for Wednesday.
The Penguins open the season on Sept. 1 at Pittsburgh. The contest will be available on ESPN3 and 570 WKBN will provide radio coverage.
Season and individual tickets for the 2012 campaign are on sale by calling the YSU Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 941-1978.
