Messages

1561

YSU Penguin Athletics / The long term significance of the Pitt victory

« on: September 03, 2012, 11:10:18 PM »

Well, we have now celebrated for two days.  Time to reflect on the significance of this win for the future of the program.  What are your thoughts?  I'll start with the most obvious.  Historically, we have done a really poor job of recruiting in western Pennsylvania, despite the fact that the region across the border is devoid of full scholarship IAA teams.  Even Tressel snagged only a few impact players there.  I cringed at our performances against Pitt in 2005 and 2009 precisely for this reason. Wolford had already started to address this deficiency.  Now this impact win has suddenly changed the landscape and has sent our stock soaring among very good Pennsylvanian football players that can't quite secure an offer from Penn State, Pitt, or West Virginia.  In the long run, that might be just as important as the 400k.

1562

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: His name is Andre stu-D-D-s

« on: September 02, 2012, 06:34:12 PM »

Power,

Remember that we have not seen Hymes yet, supposedly another breakaway threat.  We expected Stubbs to be explosive and he certainly was just that.  But this kid is the complete package despite his small stature. On several runs, he dropped his shoulder and barreled into defenders to pick up a few extra yards. And he has moves too.  It must feel like trying to tackle a gnat!

1563

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU knocks off Pitt

« on: September 01, 2012, 11:58:25 PM »

A glorious day!  But remember that our ultimate goal is that fifth ring.  Our skilled athletes will receive much praise, and every bit of that is well-earned.  But the offensive line put on a magnificent performance.  Pitt hardly touched Hess in the pocket, and he was rarely even hurried on his throws.  Then, when Pitt closed to within 28-17 with about 9:00 minutes left, we ran it down their throats for about six minutes. 

Now everybody who believed (not just hoped or prayed) that our much beleaguered defense could hold Pitt to 17 points, raise your hand.  A glorious day indeed, but the season is just beginning and our prize is many months away.

1564

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU at Pitt - Link to stories, reports. etc

« on: August 28, 2012, 10:23:05 PM »

This is exactly the kind of shallow, uninformed opinion that I had expected Pittsburgh's media and fan base to adopt.  The constant references to the 2005 and 2009 games are about as relevant as our game against Boise State in 1994.  Heck, we would have no problem against those boys today, now would we?

Pittsburgh has more quality players than we do, obviously.  But they do not have the talent of last season's Michigan State team....not even close.  Scalzo's comments about YSU having a ten percent chance of winning seem right to me.  Let's just hope that this uninformed opinion has penetrated deeply into the brains of Pittsburgh's players.  If we can get ahead, if Pittsburgh starts making a few mistakes, if their crowd grows restless or even turns on them, ....well.  That is a lot of "ifs" but that is how Scalzo's ten percent becomes reality.

1565

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Men's basketball schedule finalized

« on: August 27, 2012, 01:21:55 PM »

I hate to return to the "dead horse," but there is money available for basketball guarantees and other needed things.  Unfortunately, the Strollo administration will never access it.  We have now reached the astonishing total of six assistant athletic directors.  If you do not believe me, go to the university web site and confirm this.  Each year we waste tens of thousands of dollars in salaries and benefits on these superfluous administrators.  Meanwhile, we are told that we must play garbage like Hiram and Geneva because we lack the funds to give guarantees to real basketball teams.  Madness!  To be fair, Tressel began this process of empire-building, but Strollo has expanded administrative turf like some freakin' Spanish conquistador!  Expect a shabby athletic department until we place less emphasis upon "suits" and more emphasis upon "sweats." 

1566

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU releases depth chart

« on: August 24, 2012, 04:08:39 PM »

Only two true freshmen on the depth chart.  That is a monumental improvement from Wolford's first season. I was also surprised to see D'Alesio back at safety.  But Wolford and the new dc must be stressing that work ethic and the self-discipline to perform assignments outweigh pedigree.  Perhaps the same can be said about Pace on the offensive side of the ball.  And that is fine with me.

1567

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Men's basketball schedule finalized

« on: August 24, 2012, 03:56:26 PM »

I have been a season ticket holder since the renovation of the gym (1982?) but this is the final insult for me.  Unless they offer a deep discount that basically gives those December junk games away for free, I will not renew.  I accept what IP just posted.  My response is this: if you cannot schedule real basketball teams at home, just play a bunch of road games for some kind of paycheck and stop embarrassing the fan base.

Here is what I plan to do.  A few days before the home season begins, I will go to the ticket office and buy tickets for individual games for St. Francis, Kent State and the entire league schedule.  I refuse to pay anything for that December junk.  When the annoyed office staffer (are there any other kind at the YSU ticket office?) asks me why I don't just buy season tickets, I will unload verbally with both barrels.  If you have the time and patience, I recommend that you follow my example.

1568

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Panther forum

« on: August 18, 2012, 12:30:56 PM »

We were inept during our two previous performances against Pittsburgh.  Their media and fans will assume that we still stink and will be oblivious to our coaching change and our current talent level.  In the unlikely event that Pittsburgh players listen to their fans instead of their coaches, we would gain some advantage.

Pittsburgh has more quality football players and should win this game handily.  But given the chaos surrounding their program, I agree that this is by far our best opportunity to break through in the "blood game."  For what it is worth, and probably not much, Pittsburgh beat Maine last season, 35-29.  Maine ended up a playoff team who scored a lot and gave up a lot.  Just like us.

1569

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: TELEVISING YSU vs PITT GAME

« on: August 16, 2012, 11:30:16 PM »

IP,

You are correct about 99% of the time, but you missed on this one.  The local stations are blameless because ESPN does not allow them to access their ESPN3 feed (which is internet only.)  Only way to watch on the internet for free is if a carrier has a deal with ESPN.  Apparently, Time-Warner does but Armstrong does not, as Pita noted.  This will impact YSU fans negatively on two more road games this fall (SDSU and Western Illinois.)  The road games at NDSU and Illinois State are league productions that local stations should be free to pick up.

1570

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU to build Soccer Stadium this summer

« on: August 13, 2012, 01:53:27 PM »

I was pleased to see that the drawings included that outdoor track around the soccer field.  Elpenguin had suggested months ago that that would be the case.  The plan looks very impressive.  Strollo did mention in that article that construction might come in stages as funding becomes available.  For example, lighting and permanent seating might not be part of the original installation.  My guess is that a portion of the "blood game" money each year will be assigned to this venture.  This is going to look really good, eventually.

1571

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Guins Report Today

« on: August 05, 2012, 06:58:33 PM »

Peterman came out of Ursuline and committed to Syracuse (I think.)  He could not qualify academically and went first to a prep school and then a junior college in California.  He would have two years of eligibility left (I think.)  Don't get your hopes up as most kids in such situations do not make it in the class room.  Hope that Peterman is the exception.  Wolford did mention in his press conference that he had recruited Peterman while still coaching at Illinois.  So the kid could play.

1572

YSU Penguin Athletics / 2012 Football TV Schedule

« on: July 30, 2012, 07:23:01 PM »

The MVFC web site (www.valley-football.org) has just listed the tv schedule for conference teams.  Look under the category MULTIMEDIA.  The good news is that all five of our road games will be available via internet.  ESPN3 will show the games at Pittsburgh, SDSU, and Western Illinois.  MVFC TV, obviously an in-house production, will do the games at NDSU and Illinois State.  Here is the bad news.  I expect WFMJ will pick up the NDSU and Illinois State games from the conference, but ESPN in the past has refused to allow  local stations to tap into their ESPN3 webcasts.  So expect to fork over money to see those.  Of course, if you have AT&T DSL, ESPN3 comes to you free.

1573

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: PSU to YSU / 2013 Recruiting Class

« on: July 23, 2012, 01:11:53 PM »

I would assume that Penn State players will transfer to other Big Time programs.  Under these circumstances, they would be eligible immediately.  However, if Wolford can grab a few, that would be wonderful.

Ursuline does not have many DI prospects this year.  Their quarterback is getting some DI offers, but he is not as good as Nick Wargo and we probably are not interested.  Mooney has two impact defensive players, a linebacker and a corner.  Both have already committed to Nebraska.  Mooney has two big offensive linemen (6"3""-320 and 6'6"-270 as listed in last year's program.)  Don't know if either are DI prospects or if we are interested.  Here is a question for our football alumni.  Mooney has a junior linebacker who is going to be a big star.  But he might get overlooked because he is short (5'11" program height is really about 5'9".)  So can somebody that short play linebacker successfully at the FCS level?

1574

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: I know this is a sore subject BUT.....

« on: July 20, 2012, 06:03:32 PM »

Here is my two cents.  Things have changed radically in the past year.  The Horizon League without Butler is highly likely to sink from a RPI of about 12 to about 20.  That will be very good for us since we could compete very well in that type of DI basketball league.  We go from being unable to compete in a basketball league to being highly competitive by doing exactly nothing.  Can't beat that.

In the past year, NDSU has restored prestige to the MVFC and repaired some of the damage to our reputation caused by the yearly playoff disappearance of Team Choke (Northern Iowa for the uninformed.)  Conversely, the CAA has lost Massachusetts, is losing Old Dominion after this season, and might lose Villanova whose program remains in Big East limbo.  If we could just get our gridiron act together, I would now prefer to join NDSU as driving forces within a revived MVFC.

But my opinion really does not matter.  Every reliable source to which I have access tells me that our future includes the Horizon League and the MVFC.

1575

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: No Guins on the Preseason Buchanan List

« on: July 19, 2012, 07:24:46 PM »

We are coming off the two worst defensive years in the modern history of the university.  Baby steps.  Let's just hope that we can first become "average" on that side of the ball.  Because with this offense, average will be good enough for the playoffs.  But the fifth title won't emerge until average transforms into "very good."