Messages

5566

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Greetings Penguins!

« on: August 29, 2011, 11:50:13 AM »

You will notice around the 1:40 mark in the video how TB Cooke knows where he is at all times & has a great ability to cut quickly for the first-down. Notice the offensive coverage at the 2:53 mark, with our TD. Everyone executes well. If we can do that, we stand a chance in this game.

5567

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Greetings Penguins!

« on: August 28, 2011, 07:58:56 PM »

Welcome to the board Spartan. I think we have a few people making the trip. As to YSU:

We are team in transition, but we have a strong football history. As you probably already know, your head coach is a local product, and our former DC ... your DC is a former Penguin linebacker, and the son of Bill "Duzzer" Narduzzi ...our head coach from 1974 through 1985. Bill was also our AD. Mike Tressel is the son of our next former head-coach/AD Jim Tressel ... for 15-years perhaps the most beloved figure in Penguin Sports history. Your former OC, Don Treadwell is a former OC for YSU as well.

Our traditional style of offense if very power (old school Big-10) oriented, with deep lines and a 6-pack of players that carry the ball. Our traditional defense is very Big-10 as well. We will put lots of pressure up front, contain the run game, & play strong man-to-man in the secondary. We are called the Syracuse or Penn State of I-AA (now FCS) in that we use our linebackers for everything on defense. They blitz, they block, they spot, and they are our primary pass defense. We traditionally have the top linebackers at our level and they are very opportunistic.

However, our new staff has changed things quite a bit. We play a much more SEC style of ball, yet we have a pro-set quarterback. QB Hess is very good. Last year we could hardly believe he was a freshman, most of the time. However. our receiving corp is brand new, so I cannot tell you much. Hess does like to wait for his receivers to open up though.

Our coordinators are very established in the college ranks. Our DC is Rick Kravitz, and our OC is Shane Montgomery. Both have brought in smaller (taller) lines with more speed and stronger hands. Montgomery will call his plays from the box, and is quite gifted. Kravitz likes to mix up his defenses and hopes he can cause some confusion. However, we are very inexperienced on that side of the ball. I think we will be solid in the middle, but need to get more pressure in the front. Our secondary is athletic, but they need to take it to the next level in terms of contact, tackling and keeping an eye on the ball.

Key players are:

Offense:

RT: DJ Main
LT: Andrew Radakovich
All 4 of our TE's are outstanding, but not heavily used in this offense. Don't lose track of Rogers or Sharbaugh ...I know QB Hess won't.
WR: Are our biggest unknown this year, but I know we will throw quite a few of them at you Friday night. Something has to stick.
RB's: We will put one of the deepest set of backs against you that you may face all season. Skill is not too bad either. Cooke is the star, with all of the preseason accolades ...he is on the Walter Payton award watch list going into the season (that is the I-AA/FCS version of the heisman trophy). Thompson, Pace, and Bellemy are larger backs, but we no longer use a full/power back. Pace is the closest thing we have to one. He came to us with a tremendous background ...he was Mr. Virginia. However he has always been injured. He seems healthy this year, so I would like to see what he can do.
QB: Hess is a pro-style QB, young but experienced beyond a Soph. He will not hurt himself too badly, and seems to have more poise in this year's camp. He is the first person under a Junior to be a captain in YSU history. His first collegiate game was Penn State last year, where he went 21 of 25 for 189-yards and 2 TDs. You have to respect anyone that can do that.

Defense:

RCB: Davis is a Miami (FL) transfer and 3.5 stars.
LBD D'Alesio is a very good athlete, but needs to work with his hands.
Mike: John Sasson is very good ...much the traditional YSU middle-defender.
Will: Travis Williams in another Miami (FL) transfer ...highly starred as well.
DT: Andrew Johnson is very good.
DE: Obinna Ekweremubu (Obiwan) is probably the best athlete playing on either team. Although he has never played American football prior to last year, you will be impressed. He is a true NFL-caliber player, and I understand he had a very good camp.
-Again most all are inexperienced. Unfortunately a game against a Big-10 school may not show us what we need to know, but should be very exciting.

Special teams: we have some returning speed, and solid kicking (especially good punter). Our coverage, last season, was so poor. So it has no were to go but up. We lost two games with less than 1-minute remaining because we gave them the ball almost in scoring range.

Last season we had the lead against Penn State until 1:20 left in the first half. I am hoping we can stay competitive even longer this year ...hopefully 4-quarters against the Spartans.

5568

YSU Penguin Athletics / Scalzo: Optimism high as YSU begins 2011

« on: August 28, 2011, 09:18:34 AM »

YOUNGSTOWN

Last summer, Youngstown State left tackle Andrew Radakovich confidently predicted that the Penguins would pull a Week One upset over Penn State, figuring the Nittany Lions would be distracted by their Week Two game against then-defending champion Alabama.

“I’m pretty sure they’re looking more toward the Crimson Tide than the Crimson Penguins,” he said at the time.

YSU lost 44-14. A week later, Penn State fell 24-3.

A year later, when asked about making that prediction, Radakovich smiled and said, “That’s what people told me. I blacked out during that interview. I don’t remember that.”

Friday night, YSU will open its season at 17th-ranked Michigan State. The Penguins are coming off their worst season in 15 years but Radakovich hasn’t softened his stance.

“I hope to win every game we play,” he said. “I’m not trying to be arrogant. That should be every team’s goal — whatever opponent you have, to beat them.”

The Penguins went 3-8 last year, losing their last seven games. It was their worst season since Jim Tressel went 3-8 in 1995 but the record was somewhat deceiving. YSU led in all 11 games and held second-half leads in seven of those games.

Maybe most telling: YSU lost by five points or fewer to the league’s three playoff teams, North Dakota State (34-29), Western Illinois (40-38) and Northern Iowa (34-30) and held fourth quarter leads in all three.

The last-second losses led to a litany of “What if?”s — from the poor kick coverage against North Dakota State to the Hail Mary loss to Illinois State to the last-second defensive stand by Indiana State — but none bigger than this one: What if senior safety Andre Elliott hadn’t suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4?

Considering the team’s problems in the secondary, would they have won at least two more games?

“Possibly,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said. “We could have won five more. You just never know. You can always say ‘What if?’ and this or that, but our thing is, you’ve gotta play the cards you’re dealt.

“Last year was last year. It doesn’t matter whether we were close or not. This year we’ve got to go out and play again.”

Unhappy with a defense that ranked next-to-last in the conference in yards allowed (439 per game) and points allowed (34 per game), Wolford brought in 29 new defensive players in the offseason and 45 new players overall.

Eight of those newcomers earned starting spots as the Penguins upgraded their depth, size and team speed.

“We had some pretty talented guys last year but we have a lot more talent on the field now,” said Radakovich. “We’re playing at a higher level than we were at this time last year.”

The change is most evident at wide receiver and defensive back. The three starting wideouts (senior Andre Barboza, sophomore Jelani Berassa and freshman Christian Bryan) have a combined one start between them. Only one starting defensive back, sophomore cornerback Donald D’Alesio, has played even one game for YSU — and those all came at safety.

Fortunately, the Penguins have experience at quarterback (where sophomore Kurt Hess is entrenched after earning conference freshman of the year honors), running back (junior Jamaine Cook, the team’s MVP, anchors the team’s most talented unit), offensive line (Radakovich has started the last 19 games at left tackle), defensive line (senior DT Andrew Johnson started every game last season) and linebacker (senior John Sasson led the team in tackles last fall).

“I think what’s different this year is we have a little better idea of where we are just because we’ve been through the rodeo with these guys,” said Wolford, who was a rookie head coach at this time last year. “A lot of times when you’re a coach, you don’t know what to expect from the first game or how they’re going to respond.”

YSU hasn’t had back-to-back losing seasons since 2003-04 and while the Penguins are picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Missouri Valley Football Conference, anything less than six wins would be considered a disappointment.

Wolford didn’t want to make a prediction about wins and losses but it’s clear he expects to compete for a postseason spot sooner rather than later.

“We expect to have success and I’m gonna leave it at that,” he said. “We all know what success is around here and what the standard is.

“Anything shy of that will be a disappointment.”

5569

YSU Penguin Athletics / Sasson, Johnson, Cook, Hess Named Football Team Captains

« on: August 27, 2011, 08:06:41 PM »

Youngstown State Head Football Coach Eric Wolford announced to the Penguins on Saturday morning that senior linebacker John Sasson (Pittsburgh, Pa.), senior defensive tackle Andrew Johnson (Detroit, Mich.), junior tailback Jamaine Cook (Cleveland, Ohio) and sophomore quarterback Kurt Hess (Dayton, Ohio) have been selected as team captains for the 2011 season.

Hess is believed to be the first sophomore in school history to be named captain. He is the first quarterback to be tabbed a captain since Tom Zetts in 2007. Last year as a redshirt freshman Hess started all 11 games at quarterback.

Cook, who is on the preseason Watch List for the Walter Payton Award, rushed for 1,276 yards as a sophomore and was named second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Confernece last year.

Sasson is coming off a career-high 89 tackles from the 2010 campaign. Entering last year he had a total of 90 career tackles before doubling his career output last season.

Johnson, who transfered from Bowling Green prior to last season, had a strong camp and should be ready for a breakout season on the defensive line. He started last year on a good note before being slowed by an ankle injury the remainder of the season.

YSU is set to practice on Sunday morning at Stambaugh Stadium. Monday brings the first day of classes and the first evening practice of the season. The Guins are scheduled to practice beginning at 7 p.m. that night.

YSU opens the season on Friday, Sept. 2 at Michigan State. The contest will be televised on the Big Ten Network and carried on 570 WKBN AM.

Season and Individual Game Tickets for the 2011 season are now on sale through the YSU Athletic Ticket Office. For ticket information contact the YSU Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 941-1978.

5570

YSU Penguin Athletics / Soccer and Volleyball

« on: August 27, 2011, 01:03:17 PM »

I think both of these clubs will be much improved this season (especially soccer). Lady Pens Soccer won last night over VMI; while the VB lost to Sienna ...playing Syracuse today. They looked like they were going to "smoke" Sienna, won first game easily, second one not quite as easily ...then lost the next 3, along with the match.

Good luck to both. Remember we cover all Guins sports here !!!!

5571

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Department Releases 2011 Football Broadcast Dates, Partners

« on: August 26, 2011, 05:53:55 PM »

I like the hour long-pregame. Hopefully they will integrate some tailgate festivities. Nice to See Elliott Giles doing the TV coverage. Always thought he was something special.

ONE WEEK TONIGHT!!!!

5572

YSU Penguin Athletics / Department Releases 2011 Football Broadcast Dates, Partners

« on: August 26, 2011, 05:50:06 PM »

The Youngstown State football team will once again receive complete coverage from the area media through radio and television. The Penguins will be blanketed during the week and 570 WKBN offers complete gameday access for fans.

YSU fans can once again listen to all 11 Youngstown State football game broadcasts on 570 WKBN this season starting with next Friday’s opener at Michigan State.  Bob Hannon will return for his 21st season as the Penguins’ play-by-play announcer, while former NFL lineman and Youngstown businessman Ed Muransky is back for his second season. They will begin their coverage of each game 30 minutes prior to kickoff with the “A.S.E.C.U. Pre-Game Show”.

During home games, the coverage will get started an hour before kickoff with the "Pizza Hut Tailgate Show".  WYTV sports anchor Chad Krispinsky will serve as the host of the show.  He will also wrap up each broadcast with the “Fifth Quarter Call-In Show” that follows the “Prima Express Care Post-Game Show”.

After all YSU home games this season, you can watch a replay on MyYTV beginning at 8 p.m. and again on Sunday's at noon.  Krispinsky will handle the play-by-play duties with former YSU wide receiver Elliott Giles stepping in as the color analyst.

This season, “Penguin Playbook” is Monday night's at 7 o’clock live on NewsTalk 570 WKBN.  The weekly radio show will be hosted by Hannon, who will talk with head coach Eric Wolford about the team and that week’s opponent. They’ll also be joined throughout the season by a Penguins’ Assistant Coach and other special guests. “Penguin Playbook” will debut on Monday, August 29.

Plus, Coach Wolford will join Sports Director Dana Balash for “Penguin Gameday driven by Sweeney Chevrolet-Buick-GMC” every Wednesday on 21 WFMJ at 7 p.m.  The half-hour show will also feature an inside look at the athletic facilities and a trip down memory lane with members of YSU’s 1991 National Championship team.  The first “Penguin Gameday” will be on a special night, Tuesday, August 30.

YSU fans can also follow the Penguins all season on YSUsports.com for up-to-date statistics, student-athlete profiles and all gameday information. Youngstown State Athletics coverage is available on the official facebook site at www.facebook.com/ysusports or on twitter @YSUsports.

For coverage sent directly to a mobile device visit www.YSUsports.com/texts for more information.

5573

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Speaking of Depth Charts ...

« on: August 26, 2011, 10:24:49 AM »

Looks much better size wise on paper.  I'd like to see the D just a bit bigger although that's what Appy St does smaller faster "D" and it gave the Big 10 a "L"

Not to disrespect our I-AA comrades, but that was the worst team in Michigan history ...absolutely pitiful. Now I also remember a Penguin team holding the lead against a solid (not great) Penn State club until 1:02 remaining in the first half at Happy Valley. I am hoping for even more in East Lansing this year. We have a former Penguin coach at the helm, and a former Penguin player (son of a former Penguin Head coach) at D coordinator.

5574

YSU Penguin Athletics / Speaking of Depth Charts ...

« on: August 24, 2011, 05:01:18 PM »

Here is the depth-chart for Michigan State:

OFFENSE


RT 77 | D.J. MAIN 6-6, 310, JR.; STRONGSVILLE, OHIO
73 | Brandon Ferguson 6-8, 300, Fr.; Beloit, Ohio

RG 66 | CHRIS ELKINS 6-4, 285, SO.; BEAVER FALLS, PA.
74 | Andrew Sinko 6-4, 280, So.; Strongsville, Ohio

C 76 | MARK PRATT 6-3, 320, JR.; TOOELE, UTAH
65 | Stephen Page 6-4, 285, RFr.; Newton Falls, Ohio
-or- 61 | Zach Conlan 6-1, 310, Fr.; Liberty, Ohio

LG 55 | LAMAR MADY 6-3, 315, JR.; TOPEKA, KAN.
57 | Fred Herdman 6-5, 285, So.; Scottsdale, Ariz.

LT 72 | ANDREW RADAKOVICH 6-6, 325, JR.; STEUBENVILLE, OHIO
75 | Eric Franklin 6-7, 340, RFr.; Youngstown, Ohio

TE 13 | DAVID ROGERS 6-4, 255, SR.; KENT, OHIO
86 | Carson Sharbaugh 6-5, 250, So.; New Wilmington, Pa.
-or- 10 | Will Shaw 6-3, 240, Jr.; Baltimore, Md.
44 | Nate Adams 6-5, 250, RFr., Newark, Ohio

WR 2 | CHRISTIAN BRYAN 5-10, 180, FR.; IRWIN, PA.
11 | Kevin Watts 6-0, 220, So.; Middletown, Ohio
4 | Andre Stubbs 5-6, 160, Fr.; Maple Heights, Ohio

WR 1 | ANDRE BARBOZA 6-2, 215, SR.; HYANNIS, MASS.
7 | Ely Ducatel 6-1, 210, Sr.; Lely, Fla.
80 | Andrew Williams 6-2, 170, Fr.; Bowman, S.C.

WR 6 | JELANI BERASSA 6-4, 215, SO.; MIAMI, FLA.
84 | Pat White 6-6, 220, Jr.; Warren, Ohio
15 | Juilian Harrell 6-2, 220, Jr.; Harrisburg, Pa.

QB 12 | KURT HESS 6-3, 235, SO.; DAYTON, OHIO
19 | Marc Kanetsky 6-0, 195, Sr.; Hubbard, Ohio
14 | Patrick Angle 6-1, 220, RFr.; Logan, Ohio

TB 35 | JAMAINE COOK 5-9, 205, JR.; CLEVELAND, OHIO
32 | Jordan Thompson 6-1, 220, So.; Cincinnati, Ohio
25 | Torrian Pace 5-10, 225, So.; Chantilly, Va.
-or- 9 | Adaris Bellamy 5-10, 220, So.; Dunedin, Fla.

DEFENSE


RCB 2 | DEVONT’A DAVIS 6-1, 175, RFR.; GAINESVILLE, FLA.
25 | Jimmy May Jr. 6-1, 175, Fr.; Warren, Ohio
12 | Brandon Thomas 5-10, 185, Fr.; Cameron, S.C.

FS 1 | JOSH GARNER 6-1, 205, SO.; DAYTON, OHIO
21 | Sir Aaron Taylor 6-1, 210, Jr.; Carmel, N.Y.
16 | Gannon Hulea 6-1, 215, So.; Poland, Ohio

SS 5 | JEREMEY EDWARDS 6-1, 210, JR.; LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
24 | Scott Sentner 6-3, 215, Sr.; McDonald, Ohio
17 | Tahir Blount 5-10, 185, Fr.; College Park, Ga.

LCB 8 | DONALD D’ALESIO 5-11, 185, SO.; YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
10 | Josh Lee 5-10, 195, Sr.; Lutz, Fla.

SAM 11 | DAVION ROGERS 6-6, 215, RFR.; WARREN, OHIO
20 | Dom Rich 6-1, 230, So.; Canfield, Ohio

MIKE 53 | JOHN SASSON 6-2, 240, SR.; PITTSBURGH, PA.
3 | Teven Williams 6-0, 220, Fr.; Huber Heights, Ohio
6 | Deonta Tate 6-1, 245, Jr.; Palmetto, Fla.

WILL 4 | TRAVIS WILLIAMS 6-3, 215, RFR.; NORFOLK, VA.
34 | Thomas Sprague 6-1, 225, So.; Gainesville, Ga.
22 | Dubem Nwadiogbu 6-2, 225, Fr.; Atlanta, Ga.

DE 19 | DANIEL STEWART 6-0, 255, SR.; LONG BEACH, CALIF.
99 | Josh Fenderson 6-2, 240, Jr.; Detroit, Mich.
59 | Chuck Lengyel 6-1, 240, Jr.; Columbiana, Ohio

DT 44 | ANDREW JOHNSON 6-3, 285, SR.; DETROIT, MICH.
45 | Nick DeKraker 6-3, 255, Jr.; Marne, Mich.
33 | Kyle Sirl 6-3, 255, So.; Westfi eld, Ohio

NT 94 | ARONDE STANTON 6-2, 290, JR.; DETROIT, MICH.
98 | D.J. Moss 5-11, 285, So.; Austintown, Ohio
97 | Eric Myers 6-3, 240, Fr.; Clyde, Ohio

DE 90 | OBINNA EKWEREMUBA 6-3, 250, SR.; ORLU, NIGERIA
92 | Luis Quinones 6-3, 250, Jr.; Compton, Calif.
91 | Trevor Strickland 6-6, 245, Fr.; Clyde, Ohio


SPECIAL TEAMS


PK 18 | DAVID BROWN 5-10, 180, JR.; OJAI, CALIF.
81 | NICK LISTE 5-10, 185, SO.; NILES, OHIO

H 19 | MARC KANETSKY 6-0, 195, SR.; HUBBARD, OHIO
2 | Christian Bryan 5-10, 180, Fr.; Irwin, Pa.

LS 46 | NATHAN GIBBS 6-2, 225, FR.; CHINO HILLS, CALIF.
16 | Gannon Hulea 6-1, 215, So.; Poland, Ohio

P 81 | NICK LISTE 5-10, 185, SO.; NILES, OHIO
14 | Patrick Angle 6-1, 220, RFr.; Logan, Ohio

PR 10 | JOSH LEE 5-10, 195, SR.; LUTZ, FLA.
4 | Andre Stubbs 5-6, 160, Fr.; Maple Heights, Ohio

KR 35 | JAMAINE COOK 5-9, 205, JR.; CLEVELAND, OHIO
4 | ANDRE STUBBS 5-6, 160, FR.; MAPLE HEIGHTS, OHIO
10 | Josh Lee 5-10, 195, Sr.; Lutz, Fla.
12 | Brandon Thomas 5-10, 185, Fr.; Cameron, S.C.

KO 18 | DAVID BROWN 5-10, 180, JR.; OJAI, CALIF.
81 | NICK LISTE 5-10, 185, SO.; NILES, OHIO

5575

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Interesting quote from coach W

« on: August 24, 2011, 04:48:46 PM »

If they're that beat up then they need to be on the bench.  I'm not sure what you mean by "they deserve something".  They are paid to perform via scholarships. If all is equal then the under class men should get the nod since he's going to get better.  The JR/SR seems to be peaked out.

On the bench for a rest? That is what the back-up is for. If not, I now have a dejected former starter, that is going to give a little as possible as a back-up. Now you can easily say, then go down to your third-string ...but then what have you accomplished? The former starter at 50% is probably better than the third-stringer at 99%. The better plan is to keep your upper-class starter, then increase your back-ups playing time as needed. Eventually it may become more than the starter, that is the cycle I would like to see on any team.

Again this only general talk on coaching philosophies. I like what I see from coach W so far.

5576

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Interesting quote from coach W

« on: August 24, 2011, 09:55:06 AM »

I am not trying to create controversy ...I just did not agree with Wolf on this topic and we need something football to talk about for a couple weeks, or we will go crazy. 

I agree with Nova and Red, but only to a point. Most players come in and are pretty beat-up by the end of their career ...there is no pro future for 99% of all players ...they deserve something. Again, the word "equal" was used, and everything else being equal ...rank has to have it's privileges or they will not stick around. Then you lose your back-ups (poor depth). Then word gets out & you lose your recruits (poor team). You do not honor underclassmen on senior day. Good point that coach W could be using the word "equal" for the players, but we need back-ups that are "chompin at the bit" to play. A young guy has reason to wait for his chance to play, a senior does not, and he certainly will not be very "hungry". Not to mention that your upper class-men do most of the coaching on a team, as they have experience that a coach cannot teach. I do not want to be fielding a team of "rookies" every year. We did this last year, and this; we need to take the field with veterans at some point.  Are we trying to build a winning team ...or a winning program?

5577

YSU Penguin Athletics / Boldon Releases 2011-12 YSU Women’s Basketball Schedule

« on: August 24, 2011, 06:00:43 AM »

Youngstown -- The Youngstown State women's basketball team will play 13 games against opponents who won at least 20 games last season and participate in a Thanksgiving tournament in Los Angeles during the 2011-12 season, YSU head coach Bob Boldon announced on Tuesday.

The Penguins will have a challenging start with five of the first eight contests against teams who won 20-plus games a year ago. They'll also play five of their first six contests away from Beeghly Center.

Boldon's second season will start at West Virginia on Friday, Nov. 11, and the Penguins will remain on the road to play at IPFW (Nov. 13) and at Bucknell (Nov. 16). YSU's home opener will be against American on Nov. 21, and the Guins' league opener will be versus Cleveland State on Dec. 31. YSU has just 12 home contests on the 29-game docket.

"This is a very exciting and challenging schedule for us as we continue to build our program," Boldon said. "We have a very demanding non-conference slate that will definitely prepare us for the Horizon League, and we're adding New York City and Los Angeles to our list of attractive travel destinations."

Following the home game against American, YSU will play in a two-game tournament at Loyola Marymount on Nov. 25-26. The Penguins will open against the host Lions and play against either Wyoming or Northern Iowa the following day. Youngstown State's last trip to California was at Pepperdine in 1998. YSU senior Macey Nortey (Long Beach, Calif.) and junior Brandi Brown (Pomona, Calif.) are both from the Los Angeles area.

The Penguins will return home to play back-to-back games against Western Michigan and Bowling Green on Nov. 30 and Dec. 6, and they'll close out their non-conference slate with three road contests at Ohio, Akron and Stony Brook.

The Penguins and Vikings will open Horizon League play and conclude 2011 with a contest on Saturday, Dec. 31, at Beeghly Center. The Guins will then begin their league rotation of playing on Thursdays and Saturdays when they visit Butler and Valparaiso before returning home to play Loyola and UIC on Jan. 12 and Jan. 14.

YSU will head back on the road to play Green Bay and Milwaukee before starting a season-long four-game homestand that will end the first half of Horizon League play and begin the second. The Guins will play Detroit and Wright State on Jan. 26 and Jan. 28 to end the first round against the circuit, and they'll play Valparaiso and Butler on Feb. 2 and Feb. 4 to start the second cycle.

Road games at UIC and Loyola will follow on Feb. 9 and Feb. 11, and the Guins will conclude their home schedule on Feb. 16 and Feb. 18 against Milwaukee and Green Bay. The rest of the regular-season schedule includes games at Wright State, Detroit and Cleveland State.

5578

YSU Penguin Athletics / Interesting quote from coach W

« on: August 23, 2011, 06:20:26 PM »

“If you look at the big picture, we’re gonna do what’s best for the program,” Wolford said. “If things are even and you’ve got a guy that’s going to be around here three or four years and another guy that’s only going to be here for another year or two, he’s had his opportunity. “If you’re gonna let someone come in and take your job, then that’s on you. You’ve got to live with it.”

What is your opinion? I absolutely do not agree with this statement. If two people are even ...you go with the seniors (then work your way down). Anything else can be misinterpreted as favoritism to your recruits over the previous coach. If you have a player that has been "busting his backside" for 4 or 5 years ...he deserves something in return. One loyal deed deserves another. Again this is only if the two in question are 'even'. Because what will happen is that you will lose players & will have no depth. Tressel and Heacock had 8 starting guards/tackles, and two centers on offense. They even rotated starters many times. Sure skilled positions are different, but if you expect to attract players away from larger program offers ...you had better be prepared to hand over the "keys to the city". To put this ins NFL terms ...No one is going to take a signing bonus in lieu of a salary. Do you think Pat Devlin transferred to Delaware, or Bo Levi transferred to Eastern Washington for "a chance" to play? That football was in their hand before they even set foot in camp the first time.

Am I seeing this incorrectly?

5579

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Football Prediction for 2011

« on: August 23, 2011, 11:25:30 AM »

I am saying 6-wins ...hopefully 7 (to me, ILS is the key & that is very early), but I do not think that will make it a 20-team field unless our conference record has us at the 1 or 2 spot in the former GFC. Another wild card is SIU ...Lennon had his own players last year & a few issues. This year they have lost a few key players. If we defeat both SIU and ILS, we will have 7-wins minimum ...and no less than #3 in the MVFC.

5580

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: depth chart

« on: August 22, 2011, 07:28:50 AM »

I would assume Maddy is the starter, which is why Radakovich was at guard. The one to take notice on is QB Nania. He took lots of reps. I would hope we will red-shirt him to get a solid gap between he an Hess. Looks like Rach did not pass his summer class & will sit for 2011. Shaw is doing well. I understand D'Alesio will be healthy by start. We could have a battle at safety.