Messages

46

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Announcement Tomorrow - Pelini

« on: December 16, 2014, 01:15:38 PM »

"Anything short of MVFC Titles, wining record vs NDSU, winning games against FBS teams and winning an FCS Title in the next 3-4 years will be failure. Not saying that is fair, it's just pointing out how high the expectations will be for Pelini at YSU. AS for returning home, Ytown is a craphole, as is the ENTIRE area."


I totally disagree.  Let's start with a playoff invite next year or the following year.  Maybe win a game or two in the playoffs.  It's about starting a new era in the YSU Football program.  Heacock and Wolford failed, let Pelini dig in and see where it goes before you start putting "FAILURE" next to his name. 

As for your comments about Youngstown.  Glad you left, don't come back IF/WHEN Pelini helps this program move forward. 

47

YSU Penguin Athletics / Eric Wolford

« on: December 16, 2014, 11:02:33 AM »

Any rumors as to where he'll end up?

48

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Who Do You Want For Our Next Coach?

« on: December 14, 2014, 08:38:17 PM »

Damn Scarlet, you aren't lying.  Try to buy some of the crap at the bookstore.....geesh.  And it's sooooooo expensive. 

49

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Official: Head Coach Search Thread

« on: December 12, 2014, 02:39:25 PM »

I have a sneaking suspicion that it's all or nothing with Pelini.  Unfortunately, you may see the other guy drop out as well.  As each day goes by, any other candidate is going to realize that they are Plan B, C, D, etc.

50

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Official: Head Coach Search Thread

« on: December 12, 2014, 08:41:36 AM »

Scarlet, I can understand that and it's all well and good.  Except, here's what ESPN is reporting about Wisconsin.
"Former Wisconsin assistant and current Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst is poised to become the Badgers' new head coach, a source confirmed to ESPN.com.
An announcement could come as early as Friday."

Soup - not to argue, but is this the same ESPN that reported Bo to Youngstown?
I think Chryst will go to Wisconsin because he fits the criteria that Alverez has mentioned.  Also, didn't Anderson go to the Rose Bowl when Alverez stepped in as coach?  The 14 day wait is sort of a song and dance routine to me.
If Wisconsin announces their new coach today, it should speed things up for YSU as the coaching chase should get narrowed down quickly.
I can't say I want Fickell, but I don't remember people accepting Tressel.  My feelings are I don't think the YSU program can afford the few years to get back on track.

Scarlet, I got what you were saying.  I just don't believe there is any mandatory waiting period for a coach.  We're all good!! 

51

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Official: Head Coach Search Thread

« on: December 12, 2014, 08:09:33 AM »

Scarlet, I can understand that and it's all well and good.  Except, here's what ESPN is reporting about Wisconsin.

"Former Wisconsin assistant and current Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst is poised to become the Badgers' new head coach, a source confirmed to ESPN.com.

An announcement could come as early as Friday."

52

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Official: Head Coach Search Thread

« on: December 12, 2014, 07:48:19 AM »

I'm starting to believe that Bo isn't coming as well.   If he was, this would have been done already.  He's waiting to see how everything shakes out with the big boys.  And of course, YSU will wait on him.  Which I'm really beginning to hate at this point.  But I guess that's part of the game.

53

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Official: Head Coach Search Thread

« on: December 11, 2014, 02:47:34 PM »

This is bigger than people realize. This hire needs to get the fan base excited. I don't know who else is a candidate. Could be somebody we haven't thought of yet. The fan base and excitement is dwindling here in Youngstown. Just the RUMOR of Bo Pelini coming here got people fired up and excited. Who's to say he can't stay here for 2 to 3 years, get this program back into the playoffs and a contender, and then find himself a nice NFL job or another big job in FBS. The program would be in better hands than it ever has been.

I can't say that I would agree with those statements.  It would be easier for me to accept that, IF he brought along a "coach in waiting" as well.  2 or 3 years, albeit nice for recruiting and short term playoff goals (maybe??), would hurt future recruiting/playoffs IMO.  To replace an ENTIRE staff in 2 or 3 years would be ludicrous.  Now, don't get me wrong...it would be exciting to see him walking the sidelines at YSU.  BUT, a short stay doesn't do this program any good. 

54

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: BO PELINI: THE NEW HEAD COACH AT YSU

« on: December 09, 2014, 10:56:01 PM »

Pally, 9 wins at YSU and it's playoffs every year buddy.

55

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: BO PELINI: THE NEW HEAD COACH AT YSU

« on: December 09, 2014, 10:54:30 PM »

WOW.....never in a million years would I have thought Bo Pelini would come to YSU.  Yeah, he can be a real JA, but holy crap. 

Pally, crawl back under your rock man. 

56

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Official: Head Coach Search Thread

« on: December 03, 2014, 02:01:08 PM »

On the matter of salary, from discussions on the national board about the Montana vacancy, it appears that Montana only pays about 164k while neighboring Eastern Washington shells out about 152k.  Leads one to think that YSU is near the top of the FCS salary pyramid.  Any coach searching for an opportunity on the FCS level would be foolish to ignore our "package" (high FCS salary, facilities, tradition, chance to work for Tressel.)

I did some searching as well.  ISU(r) coach is at $268K, SIU is $221K and WIU is $207K.

57

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Official: Head Coach Search Thread

« on: December 03, 2014, 09:23:09 AM »

"It is funny to me that:
 - Coach Wolf gets on the hot seat after continued progress season after season...pressure from fans and administration.
 - He continually improves the team (yes, I understand the lack of playoffs...but my eyes see improvement we were losing games on the last play in year 3.  Did he win to quickly and thus 7-5 in year 5 was a bad thing?
 - Less fans in the stands (they don't like the coach and its been cold outside of September)
 - No playoffs and the staff gets the ax."

Z, what I don't find funny or progress is the fact that his teams went on losing streaks in each of the last 3 seasons that cost him the playoffs.  If that's progress, YSU should do away with its football program.

What I don't find funny or progress is the fact that his failure to develop players is the most glaring weakness of his legacy.  Yes, they weren't losing on the last play.  They just failed to step up when the program NEEDED a single win.  Multiple times, in multiple years and in multiple games. 

What I don't find funny or progress is the fact that less people in the stands had more to do with his lack of winning a big game than who HE is.  Inevitably each year fans knew there would be month where YSU would go 0-fer.  Regardless of how people feel about Eric Wolford's personality, if he won that 1 or 2 games that he needed to each year, this wouldn't be a discussion.  He would still be the head coach.

For the one-millionth time, YSU under Eric Wolford did not progress, nor did it improve as a whole.  When you make the same mistakes every year, lose 3 straight games every year, fail to adjust during games, etc., you get removed.  That is the nature of the beast.

58

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Wolf Officially Gone

« on: November 26, 2014, 10:41:59 AM »

Paladin, WINNING isn't enough anymore.  Everyone on here realizes they waited too long for Heacock to be removed.  Wolford hasn't show the ability to adjust in 5 years.  If he stayed around any longer and continued to lead this program like he did for the last 5 years (and who is to say he would have gotten any better as a Head Coach) then you would be b****ing with your BS about being 7-5 every year.  THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!

I really wish everyone would look outside of their tunnel vision of wins/losses.  Yes, Eric Wolford brought more wins to the program.  Yes, Eric Wolford brought better athletes to the program.  Yes, Eric Wolford provided much needed depth to the program.  And everyone saying, YSU was 1 win away for the last 3 or 4 years.  WINNING is only going to get you so far, when you INEVITABLY go on month long losing streaks.  Based on what most people here think, 1 WIN....just 1 WIN would have gotten YSU to the playoffs in each of the last 3 years.  GUESS WHAT....Eric Wolford was not able to get that 1 WIN to get over the hump.  What does that tell you?  The program hasn't improved enough to be a perennial playoff team. 

What Eric Wolford didn't do is properly develop and coach said athletes.  Athletes are only going to take you so far throughout a season.  And I can even state, that his athletes are not very good FOOTBALL PLAYERS.  Maybe they are, maybe they aren't.  Hopefully the new coach will be able to develop the athletes into football players.

Read the article again with Shaw and Radakovich.  His biggest failure, was not being able to develop a TEAM.  Favoritism, personal relationships, adjustments or lack thereof cost him the job.  Last time I checked the NDSUs of the world have great TEAMS.  YSU may have GREAT athletes, but they're not a great team.  End of story.

59

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Official: Head Coach Search Thread

« on: November 25, 2014, 04:13:51 PM »

The question is, is Tressel also working the OC/DC positions as well!!!

60

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Wolf Officially Gone

« on: November 25, 2014, 09:36:39 AM »

Here's the link to another article that says a lot:



Here are some quotes that I found interesting:
“The one thing that Heacock did really well was, everyone bought in,” Radakovich said. “Everyone loved him as a coach. Wolford was a much more polarizing figure. You either loved him or you hated him. I think that was an asset at times but it was also a detriment, because when things went bad a lot of guys weren’t ready to stick by him.”

“Guys would say, ‘What superstar is going to come in now and fizzle out?’” Radakovich said. “That lack of continuity makes it hard to build that bond you usually see in a football team, where you’re fighting for your brother. We always had great talent but with that comes a lot of individuality.”

"Shaw, who went through four position changes in his first two seasons before developing into an all-conference tight end, said the coaching staff also played favorites, which hurt team chemistry.“We knew it as players and it would rip through the locker room,” he said. “I’m not afraid to admit that. They were bringing in different guys that maybe necessarily shouldn’t have played right away, so there was never that true team camaraderie.  “A lot of us really did buy in, like [RB Jamaine] Cook, [QB] Kurt Hess, [OL] Lamar Mady, but you know that was their personality. Wolford had a personal relationship with some players, but it was lacking with other players. I think he was a great emotional leader but he couldn’t always relate on a personal level.”

"Both Shaw and Radakovich said Wolford is an extremely talented offensive line coach but felt he struggled to develop a complete team, particularly the defense and special teams. Shaw also felt the coaching staff struggled to make second half adjustments, often dominating the first half offensively before getting out-schemed in the second half."

“I love Wolford and I don’t regret the decision to come there,” Shaw said. “He’s a great recruiter, so it was never a problem trying to get talent. But I felt like we should have been a playoff team a couple times and made a couple long runs.”

Very telling statements about Wolford's coaching style.