Category: Youngstown State Penguins
YSU football adds two more transfers
You know your program is going in the right direction when your transfers start to recruit more transfers.
Youngstown State picked up two more players on Monday when former Cincinnati wide receiver Lynell Payne and former Syracuse kicker/punter Jake Smith signed with the Penguins.
The sophomores are the seventh and eighth players to transfer in since the end of spring practice.
Tyler Seeks Big-Time Atmosphere, Playing Time At Youngstown State
Najee Tyler couldn’t help but like what he saw.
The former Xaverian quarterback had recently gotten his release from Purdue, a Big Ten school with a rich football history. He got the feeling he would get a similar experience at Youngstown State, a Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) program.
“Everyone there just lives and dies for Youngstown State football,” Tyler said of his experience on his June visit to the Ohio school. “It’s a smaller school, but when it comes to their fan support, it’s just like playing at a big-time program. We were going around town, the players were introducing me to a lot of people. You could just tell it was a real football town. Everything in the town said Youngstown football.”
So will Tyler’s jersey next season.
- 545 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Youngstown State Penguins YSU Lands Purdue Quarterback Transfer
YOUNGSTOWN - When Purdue asked Najee Tyler to make a switch, he decided to make a change.
Tyler, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound quarterback, will transfer to Youngstown State, bolstering the Penguins at the game’s most important position — and the one with the most question marks entering the fall.
- 486 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Youngstown State Penguins YSU’s Bellamy: ‘I never wanted to be average’
When standout running back Adaris Bellamy signed with Youngstown State in late February, he opened eyes by saying he hopes to win the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the best player at the FCS level.
He hasn’t backed down since.
“I never wanted to just come in and be average or just something that people expected of me,” said Bellamy. “I always wanted to go above what I knew I can be.
- 618 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Youngstown State Penguins YSU looks to spring into summer routine
YOUNGSTOWN - The first phase in the coaching career of Youngstown State’s Eric Wolford came to a close on Saturday afternoon, but the real quest was just beginning.
The Penguins closed out spring practices with the annual Red-White Spring Game, but the journey to return YSU to a national contender begins in the coming weeks.
Last chance to impress
Stage is set for annual Red-White spring game at Stambaugh Stadium
The Youngstown State football team will start the 2010 season as a big underdog against Penn State. The Penguins will probably be favored in several other games.
Coach Eric Wolford wants his players to have experience with both, which is why today’s spring game pits the first string (in red jerseys) against the backups (white).
Not-so-special teams getting better
YOUNGSTOWN
At the end of Friday’s practice, YSU kicker Stephen Blose told special teams coach Louie Matsakis he’d just had his best day kicking off.
“I don’t know where that came from,” Blose said.
“I know where it came from,” said Matsakis, breaking into a wide grin. “From doing what I told you.”
YSU defense impresses during scrimmage
YOUNGSTOWN - Impact was what Youngstown State coach Eric Wolford said he was looking for at the first scrimmage of Spring Practice, and he saw plenty of it.
A hard-hitting and swarming YSU defense made its presence felt throughout the 2-hour-long practice on Saturday, impressing the first-year coach who got his first real look at the team he inherited from previous coach Jon Heacock.
Much of the talk during the spring had been centered around the offense, which has several holes to fill after the Penguins lost its starting quarterback, leading rusher and receiver to graduation. The defense did the talking on this day, holding the offense to numerous three-and-outs and applying constant pressure on the quarterback. The aggressiveness and intensity of the defense were what caught Wolford’s attention.
YSU Continues Spring Practice
Youngstown State senior receiver Dominique Barnes had just finished a TV interview on Monday evening when his position coach, Phil Longo, walked up to him and said, “Did you say good things about me? Did you tell them how fast I am?”
Barnes looked at Longo — a former college quarterback who’s now built a little like a fire hydrant — and chuckled.
“They didn’t really ask about you,” Barnes said.
It was a light moment in a relationship that’s been a little rocky at times over the past two months.
- 1010 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Youngstown State Penguins FCS Foes Help Fund Athletics
Some people say college football has recently turned into a business.
However, the first “guarantee” game for Penn State football can be dated back to 1887 against Dickinson College.
According to Lou Prato’s book, “The Penn State Football Encyclopedia,” the Nittany Lions paid Dickinson $50 to play at Penn State on Nov. 22 of that year.
Though guarantee games were not common practice then, nearly every college football team participates in them now.
- 2529 words - FCS News Articles, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Youngstown State Penguins, Eastern Illinois Panthers YSU Staff Know What’s Expected - Wins
In the mid-1980s, when he was a standout quarterback in New Jersey, one of Phil Longo’s good friends was recruited by YSU coach Jim Tressel.
He went to Michigan instead.
“He has two Rose Bowl rings and never saw the field,” Longo said. “His biggest regret is never having gone to Youngstown. During that tenure, Youngstown won two national championships.”
- 564 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Youngstown State Penguins MVFC Players Trying To Make Waves At NFL Combine
Three former Missouri Valley Football Conference players are working out for National Football League scouts, coaches and player personnel directors at the NFL Combine.
Missouri State tight end Clayton Harbor, Youngstown State wide receiver Donald Jones and Southern Illinois punter/placekicker Scott Ravanesi will be representing the conference at the week-long combine, which began Thursday in Lucas Oil Stadium.
- 938 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Southern Illinois Salukis, Youngstown State Penguins, Missouri State Bears, FCS In The Pros Eric Wolford Named Sixth Head Coach in Youngstown State History
The energetic Eric Wolford, a Youngstown native who has been labeled a top recruiter at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivison level, was named the sixth head coach in Youngstown State history on Tuesday, YSU President Dr. David C. Sweet announced. Wolford, a graduate of Ursuline High School, takes over his hometown program after building an impressive resume the past 16 years as a collegiate assistant. Of those, 12 have been spent on the FBS level.
- 789 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Youngstown State Penguins Missouri Valley Football Conference Announces 2009 All-Academic Team
Forty-three student-athletes, including 12 who earned first-team honors, highlight the 2009 all-Missouri Valley Football Conference all-academic team, announced by the league office today.
Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale). Student-athletes must have reached sophomore academic and athletic standing at their institutions (freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution. League sports information directors voted on the team by designating 11 players for first-team honors and 11 players for second-team honors.
- 522 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Southern Illinois Salukis, Indiana State Sycamores, South Dakota State Jackrabbits, North Dakota State Bison, Northern Iowa Panthers, Youngstown State Penguins, Western Illinois Leathernecks, Missouri State Bears, Illinois State Redbirds Heacock Steps Down as Youngstown State Head Coach
Nine-year Youngstown State University Head Football Coach Jon Heacock announced on Sunday that he is stepping down. Heacock guided the program to a 60-44 record during his tenure, which was highlighted by a trip to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoff semifinals in 2006. A national search to replace Heacock will begin immediately.
- 567 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Youngstown State Penguins Missouri Valley Football Conference Recognizes "Silver Anniversary Team"
Founded in 1985 as the Gateway Football Conference, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is celebrating its 25th season of FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) football during the 2009 season. As part of a season-long celebration, the conference is paying tribute to its all-time greats by selecting a Silver Anniversary Team. Also selected was an NFL Greats and Institutional Greats team.
- 3203 words - Missouri Valley Football Conference, Southern Illinois Salukis, Indiana State Sycamores, South Dakota State Jackrabbits, North Dakota State Bison, Northern Iowa Panthers, Youngstown State Penguins, Western Illinois Leathernecks, Missouri State Bears, Illinois State Redbirds Young (but experienced) YSU gets ready for Week One test
The Penguins, who are 0-4 against Bowl Subdivision teams, will face the Pitt Panthers on Saturday at Heinz Field.
YOUNGSTOWN — Today officially begins Pitt week for the Youngstown State football team.
The Penguins will open their 2009 season on Saturday when they travel to meet the Panthers in a 1 p.m. contest at Heinz Field.
YSU is coming off a disappointing 4-8 season and the Penguins haven’t had much success in their four previous encounters against Bowl Subdivision opponents. Not unexpectedly, they are 0-4 in those four contest, but the Penguins also have not scored a touchdown in those games.
Offense still seeing red as Penguins wrap camp
YSU’s offense led from start to finish to keep the red practice jerseys in the team’s jersey scrimmage.
YOUNGSTOWN — The offense retained the red practice jerseys, YSU coach Jon Heacock saw definite improvement and the Penguin football team wrapped up fall camp here Saturday morning.
The Penguins, who begin classes on Monday, have another week of practice before getting into game week for their season opener at the University of Pittsburgh on Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. at Heinz Field.
Last week the offense had to come from behind with a trick play on the last play of the scrimmage to pull out a win. Saturday, it led from start to finish (although it was a close contest) for a 28-20 win to keep the red practice jerseys for the remainder of the season.
Senior Mellott likes YSU’s offensive line
The Austintown native will lead a veteran and deep offensive line in today’s jersey scrimmage at Stambaugh Stadium
YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State’s first jersey scrimmage of fall football camp is this morning at Stambaugh Stadium and nobody is more excited about it than senior offensive guard Brian Mellott.
Mellott (6-foot-3, 280-pounds), an Austintown native, is in his fourth season with the Penguins since he transferred to YSU from Ohio University.
After spending one season with the YSU defense, Mellott has moved back to offense where he’s been as standout, seeing action at guard, center and even some tight end. He’s back at a starting guard position this season and will head up a veteran line that also has some of the best depth in years.
Back in the fold
Mike Kolakowski returns to the YSU staff
Although it’s been nearly three years since Mike Kolakowski roamed the sidelines at Stambaugh Stadium, it seems like just a few days to the veteran coach.
Kolakowski re-joined the Youngstown State football team last month as a defensive assistant coach in charge of safeties. He took over for Michael Zordich, who coached the Penguins through spring practice before leaving to take an assistant coaching position in the NFL.
Kolakowski was the defensive coordinator for the Penguins from 2004 through 2006. He spent the past two seasons as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Central Michigan University.
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