Topics

16

YSU Penguin Athletics / New Student Section is working....at least for one evening

« on: November 16, 2021, 12:50:43 PM »

Good crowd of over 1300 for the women's game last evening. I was amazed that the new student section in the north bleachers had attracted several hundred.  Most stayed until the conclusion and the noise helped our team prevail despite a bad shooting night. Previous attempts to build a student section had always failed.

I am curious to see if this was a one time phenomenon.

17

YSU Penguin Athletics / Women win opener on the road

« on: November 09, 2021, 02:21:24 PM »

Just beat Eastern Michigan 70-67.  Five players in double figures. 11-22 from behind the arc.  Good start for this revamped team.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Bowling team advances to the NCAA Final Four

« on: April 08, 2021, 08:38:48 PM »

I realize that 95% of you do not care. And like golf, bowling is more a game than a sport. But these women deserve recognition for their outstanding accomplishment. Seeded #13 (out of 16) going in to the tournament, they defeated #4, #5, and #12 to advance to the final four. And this team has been in existence for only five years. Congratulations. Give it your best shot tomorrow.

19

YSU Penguin Athletics / North Dakota game

« on: March 25, 2021, 01:56:35 PM »

The silence about football during this bizarre season is deafening. I could understand that if the team remained as inept as the first two weeks.  But there has been substantial progress over the last three games. 

North Dakota is dangerous because they are accomplished on the ground (206yds.) and in the air (207yds.)  On paper we do not match up at all on offense, but on defense we have the statistical advantage (310 to 374.) They are particularly vulnerable through the air, last in the conference in pass defense (too bad that does not matter for us.)

There are two things that could work in our favor.  North Dakota began with three consecutive home games. This will be their third consecutive road game, and that is tough on anybody.  More importantly, they played NDSU last week. Teams in our conference rarely play particularly well the week after that game.

Only a fool would try to project off of comparative scores.  But North Dakota managed only 21 points at home off of that bad South Dakota team.  They also yielded 153 yards rushing to that nonexistent South Dakota ground game (129 after you reduce the lost yardage from four sacks.)

This Saturday will be an excellent measuring stick as we look ahead to next fall.

20

YSU Penguin Athletics / Illinois State Quits in the middle of the season!

« on: March 21, 2021, 11:17:46 PM »

Illinois State just canceled the rest of their season with four games remaining.  This has nothing to do with Covid. Their coach just stated that he has too many injuries and must prevent more to be competitive in the fall. This travesty is much worse than what Indiana State did. This demands disciplinary action from the MVFC offices. You can not brag about being the elite FCS conference and let stuff like this happen.

21

YSU Penguin Athletics / League Basketball Schedules

« on: November 04, 2020, 06:00:59 PM »

The league schedules for both the men and women are now posted on the YSU athletics site.  Once again the Horizon League did us no favors.  Both the men and women play the first two weekends on the road.  The league also determined that there will be no fans for league games played in December.  Attendance at non-conference games is up to the individual school.

22

YSU Penguin Athletics / Today would have been Opening Day

« on: September 05, 2020, 12:58:25 PM »

Just in case you need to feel even more depressed, you get to celebrate the non-start of the season today. At least we know that sooner or later, football will return.  How would you like to be affiliated with one of the Horizon League schools that refuses to play football?  You would suffer this terrible, empty feeling every September.

23

YSU Penguin Athletics / The Non-political 2020 Football Thread

« on: July 06, 2020, 11:09:22 PM »

Would anybody care to discuss YSU football here instead of the culture wars and the left-right political split? How about this.  Looking at the roster, there are only 8 offensive linemen, and two of those are redshirt freshmen. The incoming freshmen are not listed yet, but have we ever had this kind of lack of depth at such a critical position?

24

YSU Penguin Athletics / Phillips comments on a radio program

« on: March 02, 2020, 06:47:24 PM »

Phillips was just on the radio program this evening.  I will try to summarize the key points that he made.

Quality offensive and defensive line play is a paramount priority.  He is well aware that the best teams in the MVFC have it and we must match it as quickly as possible.  He does like the defensive front from what he has seen on film.

From that film study, he knows that the offensive line requires much work.  Confirms the idea that it takes several years to properly develop o-linemen.

Peterson is a personal friend and it was an easy decision to retain his services.

In response to a question about his style of play, he will evaluate the talent in spring ball and devise the best schemes to work with that talent.  He will not impose schemes that his current roster cannot execute.

In response to the inevitable question about the quarterbacks, the response was refreshing: survival of the fittest.  Earn the right to be on the field.

Technique can easily be taught.  He is looking for players in spring ball that play with passion.

From the conditioning drills, he is impressed with the athleticism of the wide receivers.  Hopes that they can catch the ball.

That is about it.  Lots of "coach-speak" but he is well-aware of the challenges that he faces and has embraced them.

25

YSU Penguin Athletics / History has not been kind to new YSU football coaches

« on: February 10, 2020, 03:09:49 PM »

In his first year, no YSU football coach has matched or exceeded the record posted in the last season of the man that he replaced.  For coaches that were fired, this makes sense.  But it also applies to replacements for coaches that retired or left for other jobs.

4-4-1 Beede in his final season: followed by 4-6 Dempsey in his first season
8-2    Dempsey in his final season: followed by 5-4 Narduzzi in his first season
5-6    Narduzzi in his final season: followed by 2-9 Tressel in his first season
9-3    Tressel in his final season: followed by 8-3 Heacock in his first season
6-5    Heacock in his final season: followed by 3-8 Wolford in his first season
7-5    Wolford in his final season: followed by 5-6 Pelini in his first season

If Phillips can go 6-5, he would do something no other rookie Penguin coach has ever accomplished.  Does anybody else find it odd that of the seven YSU coaches that vacated the position, only Narduzzi had a losing record in his last fling?

26

YSU Penguin Athletics / Great Win for the women today

« on: December 28, 2019, 05:39:53 PM »

What we accomplished today might have been one of the most courageous performances in the history of YSU women's hoops.  Shut out for the first seven minutes of the game.  Out-rebounded by 15 total and a staggering 22-1 on the offensive boards.  Having only 7 assists for the entire game.  Trying to play against the pre-season league MVP center with a true freshman (who picked up two fouls early in the first period.)

Yet somehow we found a way to win this game.  Bravo.  Too bad the freakin' football team can't play with just half of the determination and courage of these women.

27

YSU Penguin Athletics / The Basketball Season Ticket Fraud

« on: October 24, 2019, 03:54:37 PM »

I have purchased season tickets for basketball since 1982, although in recent years I have attended the women's games but just a few men's games.  I bought the total package again this season, somewhat intrigued by the West Virginia game at the Covelli Center.  When my tickets arrived today, I checked to see where my seats would be for that WVU game.  Guess what?  That game was not included in the season ticket package.  I guess you are supposed to pay extra.  Isn't it odd that they neglected to mention that the WVU game would not be included with season ticket purchases BEFORE they took our money.  These idiots are qualified to run a graduate-level seminar with a topic like this: "How to Repel Fans That Are Trying To Support You."

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YSU Penguin Athletics / "Jambar" question: the tool, not the newspaper

« on: September 03, 2019, 11:59:59 AM »

I am all for the hardhat and the sledgehammer if it improves team cohesion and morale.  But has anybody actually seen a real jambar.  I can't find a picture.  I know it was a steel mill tool and used to pry components that were stuck.  If it turns out that the jambar looked vicious and menacing, would that not make a perfect item for this team-building exercise?  Unique with deep meaning to this former steel community.  Better than the generic sledgehammer that many colleges use.  We could probably make one via additive manufacturing.

Of course, if the jambar was small and anything but vicious in appearance, this would be stupid idea.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Women's Hoops: Barnes Contract Extension

« on: August 01, 2019, 03:21:52 PM »

Congratulations to John Barnes, to his staff and players, and to the university for a five-year contract extension.  20 win seasons; top-ten national academic performances; this program is an example of what college athletics should be all about.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Two More Championships: Track Teams Annihilate Horizon League Foes

« on: May 05, 2019, 03:31:46 PM »

Women win the title by 148 points.   Men win by "only" 137 points.  

I took this last opportunity to go and watch Chad Zallow in person.  Wow!  You really have to be there to appreciate his speed and style.  And Gorby has assembled teams that have depth nearly everywhere.

Great track teams.  Very good women's hoops.  Now fix the freakin' football team and I will be a happy man.