Archive for the ‘YSU Football’ Category

The opening game for Youngstown State against Dayton should be a blowout, right?  Not so fast…  Dayton has a respectable football program.  They won five of their final six games last season.  They return eight starters on defense alone.  They have had 35 winning seasons out of the last 36.  They hold a 9-0 series advantage over YSU, and you can bet they have had this day circled on their calendar for months.

“Coach {Rick} Chamberlin is a UD alum, and that program has quite a bit of history”, said Coach Eric Wolford.  “Dayton is in a conference that gets an automatic bid into the playoffs now and they finished last year on a good note, we have to be ready to play.”

“Schematically, they will run a spread offense with four wide, they do some zone read, and they run some counter plays.  Youngstown State has never beaten Dayton at football, and we are taking that to heart.  Some of our alumni know that statistic and they will be watching.  It is a part of this program that involves them.”

The biggest concern that a spread offense poses to YSU is that the secondary will truly be tested.  Donald D’Alessio, Jameel Smith, Julius Childs, and DeVon McKoy will have to make plays.  Will Bardo has been the starting quarterback for Dayton for the past two seasons.  He had a hand in more than half of the offense that the Flyers put up last season.  His favorite target is Branden Johnson who had 28 catches in the first six games of 2012 before missing the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

One of the Penguins captains, Dom Rich, commented on the opener.

“We are 0-9 against this team,” said Rich.  “With the spread offense, we expect them to pass a lot and try to make big plays.  We have to be ready to play as a team.  As Coach Tresey said, we are ‘more fast and more physical’ this year.”

Kurt Hess is getting a chance to show his skills in front of family and friends making the trip from Dayton, where Hess played high school football.

“It is going to be cool to go up against my hometown team.  I am excited that my family and friends are going to come here to a nice environment.  It will be nice to share this experience with all of them.  You don’t hear about Youngstown State too much there.”

“We are sick of waiting, let’s just play”, said Hess, a self proclaimed nervous energy machine.

“I only have two classes Thursday.  I will do all I can to just get ready and think about the game.  I will listen to music and just focus on what I need to.  Everybody has their own way to get prepared.”

Kickoff is set for 7:30 and there are still some tickets remaining.  Support the Penguins!

 

Saturday’s practice marked the end of camp for the Youngstown State football team. The Penguins open the campaign hosting the Dayton Flyers on Thursday.  They will now transition into a weekly routine… sort of.

“Today was like a Tuesday practice because we are only that many days from Thursday already”, said Penguins Head Coach, Eric Wolford.

“I gave the guys a day off yesterday and we were out here banging pretty good today, but this will be the end of the banging until Thursday.”

Wolford and staff have solidified their depth chart to start the season.  Kurt Hess remains the number one quarterback and will have Torrian Pace (below) and Adaris Bellamy lining up behind him as backfield starters.

The wide receivers to start will be Andre Stubbs, Christian Bryan, and Michael Wheary.  Jelani Berassa, coming back from major surgery, will get some reps on a limited basis in the opener.  Kevin Watts, Marcel Caver, and Andrew Williams are listed as the second group of receivers.

“Whether or not I start or play, we are unselfish and unified as a team.  In order for us to be successful, we must remain selfless”, said Pace.

Up front, preseason All-Conference pick, Chris Elkins, anchors a raw offensive line at center.  Wolford has repeatedly said that this is the most athletic offensive line he has had to work with since he got here.  The rest of the offensive line named as starters are Andrew Sinko and Kyle Bryant at tackle, Brock Eisenhuth and Fred Herdman at guard and Nate Adams and Carson Sharbaugh to pretty much interweave at TE.

Joey Cejudo offers a very strong leg as the Penguins placekicker.  Even though seven is greater than three, Wolford seems like he is comfortable with Cejudo and will use him more than he has used a kicker in the past few seasons.  Nick Liste resumes his duties as the punter and kickoff specialist.

Stubbs and Bryan will return punts and kicks to round out the special teams for the Penguins.

Defensively, Joe Tresey (below) has the defensive units working in the right direction. Tresey is one of the most animated and vocal coaches I have had the pleasure of watching and to his credit, never quits coaching.  After practice on Saturday, Tresey was out there running suicides with his defense after practice.  He is a stand-up guy who is accountable and accepts when all is less than perfect as his responsibility.

Teven Williams, Travis Williams, and Dom Rich comprise the most experienced and battle-tested part of the defense at the linebacker spots.  Ali Cheaib should see some time as well.

Up front, Terrell Williams and Eric Myers will start at the defensive end spots. Emmanuel Kromah will be the tackle, and Octavius Brown will start at nose.  D. J. Moss is a little banged up but should see action at nose for the ‘Guins on Thursday. Kyle Sirl, the Penguins wildcard on defense can line up just about anywhere and contribute.

The question marks that raise the biggest concern are the secondary spots.  Donald D’Alesio was banged up for most of camp but is working hard to get into game shape and is listed on the depth chart as the #1 strong safety.

“I’m not a hundred percent yet, but getting real close to it”, said D’Alesio.  “We have had a great camp and we are really looking forward to hitting someone else besides our own guys.”

Jamarious Boatwright is still a little wobbly but closing in on a return.  While he mends, Jameel Smith will handle the work at free safety.  Julius Childs and DeVon McKoy (below) will start at the cornerback positions.

McKoy, a transfer from Bowling Green, has had to learn the Penguins defense at a rapid clip.  The capable native of Columbus has met the challenge head-on and is excited with the opportunity.

“Right away, when I got here, I was thrown into the mix”, said McKoy.  “When I talked on the phone with the coaches, they told me there would be opportunities to step right in and here it is.  They threw me right into the fire, and I still have some little technique things to brush up on, but I am very excited with this chance.”

Wolford said that the coaching staff did something different in the locker room setup that he hopes will help keep the team unified.

“A lot of people don’t know that we arranged the locker room differently this season. We tried to put people from different positions next to each other, guys that would not normally talk much are now next to each other in the locker room.  I like the move in the sense that it has strengthened the unity of the guys and really helped them grow as teammates.”

Youngstown State University will uncork a brand new season a week from Thursday when they host Dayton.  The Penguins have never beaten the Flyers in a football game (0-9), but the last contest was played way back in the seventies.  Things have changed, and it is a mark of progress to see how the Youngstown State team has advanced almost 40 years later.

There have been National Championships and years to brag about.  This is the year that YSU Football gets back into the playoffs, and regains some of its national charisma.  I will not wait to tell you I am predicting a 10-2 season for the Guins.  If you do not think the Missouri Valley Football Conference is tough, you have not been keeping up for the past decade or so.

So why two losses?  Why doesn’t the “homer”, as I have been affectionately named by other members of the media, pick these Penguins to run the table and put up a perfect season?  I will tell you why…

Michigan State is a program that is in much better shape than Pitt was last year.  They have an established coach using his own recruits.  Last season Pitt was ripe.  They had a new coach and little motivation as they were just trying to find a team identity.  That does not take away from the fact that the win was still considered a big upset, and a notch in the program’s belt.  Keep in mind, those same Panthers ended up getting their act together and taking Notre Dame to the wire.

I believe that the Michigan State game, win or lose, is a good measuring stick to see what  level of competition YSU can provide.  Don’t think for a minute MSU will not use the Penguins win over Pitt as motivation.  They got a taste in East Lansing two years ago, and Youngstown State was in the game until midway through the fourth quarter. I’m not saying it can’t happen again, but it would have to be a flawless effort this time around.

The Penguins should, in all probability, be 3-1 after the non-conference games.  I think the average margin of victory against Dayton, Morehead State, and Duquesne could be in the thirty point range.  After that, the conference games start and anything seems to happen at some point every year.

The hardest part of the conference schedule seems to be at the end, beginning with a road game against Northern Iowa.  That game is followed by two home games against last years #1, North Dakota State, and a good South Dakota State team.  To make my 10-2 prediction valid, the Penguins have to win two of these three games.

The other game to put a mark next to is the November 2 contest at South Dakota.  The reason why is because it follows a bye week, which is when everything fell apart last season.  Eric Wolford knows he will have to keep his team in rhythm through that two week stretch, and it did not go so well last season.

“We talked about maybe doing a little scrimmage in between, to kind of keep our edge this time”, said Wolford.  “I want to keep guys healthy, at the same point, but we are going to have to get into a little more active situations out here.  The most glaring thing after the bye week last season, even though we coaches harped on it, was that we lost our edge.  We had eleven turnovers in three quarters of football, and you just can’t do that.”

Wolford critics are circling Stambaugh Stadium more rapidly in our constant “win right now” atmosphere.  Some say Wolford has to make the playoffs to keep his job this season.  Get your pen ready coach.

Timing and mistakes will go away with repeatability.  This is obviously a very young offensive line and a very young defensive front.  A healthy Kyle Sirl and Steve Zaborsky will pay dividends on the defensive side of the ball.  With a rash of injuries and legal problems in the secondary, Coach Davis has his work cut out.  However, anyone who knows the game will tell you that the best pass coverage is a good rush on the opposing quarterback.

The strength of the offense is Kurt Hess, period.  Hess has the tools to carry this offense following the blueprint.  He can throw accurately and takes care of the ball.  He has the experience to find a fourth read, and he can tuck it and go if he has to.

New running backs coach, Eric Gallon, has the difficulty of figuring out which running backs to recommend to get playing time.  Torrian Pace, Adaris Bellamy, and Demond Hymes were the three that figured to get the reps.  An injury to Hymes has made everyone look deeper to where at least two more backs have stuck their flag in the dirt. Redshirt freshman, Jody Webb, has had a great camp and has turned heads.  True freshman, Ryan Mosora has also made a good impression.

Don’t be surprised to see all five running backs get reps against first-team defenses all season.

Keep an eye on Carson Sharbaugh at tight end.  Under the tutelage of Coach Mangino, Sharbaugh will prosper.  Sharbaugh is already a very good blocking tight end who would sneak out into the open spot of a zone once in the while to catch a pass.  This season, he will be utilized more as a threat to score.

The new coaches (four in all) have seemed focused and have experience in pressure situations.  Gallon and Mangino are joined by Kurt Beathard and Jamie Bryant. Beathard was with Wolford at Illinois when a Rose Bowl berth was captured.  Bryant was a defensive coordinator in the SEC spending nine years at Vanderbilt.

Last Summer, things looked too good.  The team seemed to max out against Pitt, and never really recovered their demeanor until Indiana State toward the end of the schedule when they decisively won a “must-win” game to have any chance of a playoff berth.

Some feel the Penguins should have made the playoff field, others felt that they blew the chance and did not.  Either way, Coach Wolford knows that winning can take the guesswork out of the equation.

“Our approach is going to be that we control our own destiny.  We can’t leave it up to some jury, to some committee, sitting in some room.  There is nobody on that committee that wants Youngstown State back in the playoffs.  We can’t bank on beating Pitt counting for two wins because it is a BCS team.  We are done relying on that system.  All we can do is strive to get better every day, play hard, and take care of our bodies.  That is what we control.  As of today, we control our destiny.  If we start losing, we give up that control.  We control our own destiny, and I plan on not giving that up.”

Wolford recently had to suspend Dale Peterman because of legal problems.

“In this day and age, you have to be accountable for your own actions”, said Wolford.

“We are under the microscope now more than ever.  Hopefully they change some of these NCAA rules moving forward.  We are not allowed to be around our players in the Summer.  You don’t read about college basketball players getting in trouble over the Summer because they are allowed to be around their coaches, they changed that rule.  We need to change the rule for football.  You mean to tell me that all of these kids that got in trouble over the Summer would have been in trouble if their coaches were allowed around them on a regular basis?  I don’t think so.  Changes need to be made.”

Eight days of camp have elapsed for the 2013 Youngstown State University Football program.  So far, there have been no major injuries that will sideline a player for the season, but there are a few bumps and bruises to report as the team prepares for its first scrimmage action Saturday morning.

Demond Hymes (below) rolled an ankle during a red zone drill on Thursday morning. Hymes will be evaluated before an official status will be reported.  At the team’s evening stretch later the same day, Hymes was on crutches and the depth chart for first year running backs coach, Eric Gallon, took another twist.

“Having depth at running back is a must and a key for any program”, remarked Gallon.  “Hymes had some  swelling today, but I can’t really comment on what his status is.  I’m hopeful that he can bounce back.”

Gallon (above) commented on the depth chart situation for his running backs.

“The depth chart has changed quite a bit.  People are up and down.  I am looking for consistency in not only our running game, but also our passing game.  The running backs have to be able to step up and protect our quarterback against blitzing defenses. The depth chart changes based on performance, and there is a lot of ‘what have you done for me lately?’ involved with that.

Joining Hymes on crutches is Donald D’Alessio.  The junior free safety is not expected to miss any regular season action but will not be rushed back anytime soon.

“It was a good day today, but obviously we are worried about injuries and keeping our guys healthy”, said Coach Eric Wolford.

” {Dale} Peterman looks like he will be back for conference play.  D’Alessio should be back in time to start the regular season.  Tre’ Moore, John James and Justin Gallegos are going to have to be ready to step in.  Plus you have to remember we have Jameel Smith and David Rivers, and Jamarious Boatwright can play corner too.  We know we will get those guys {Peterman and D’Alessio} back, so all these other guys getting some experience is a bonus.”

The Penguins, picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley preseason poll, are mixing it up at practices already.  There is a ton of live hitting going on and Wolford seems very enthusiastic to get to Saturday.

“I’m very excited about where we are through eight practices.  This is probably the farthest we have been at this point since I have been here.  Injuries are a part of the game, the next guy has to step up, and that establishes quality depth.”

The Penguins open the 2013 season at home against Dayton on a Thursday night.  They will then host Morehead State before traveling to East Lansing for a matchup with the Michigan State Spartans.  This is the first time the FCS games come before the FBS game.  When asked how to keep his team focused on the first two opponents without looking toward Michigan State, Wolford had a good reply.

“We have never won a football game against Dayton.  That should be decent motivation.”

The Penguins are 0-9 all time against the Flyers with the most recent loss coming in 1977, a 27-23 setback.

Kurt Hess realizes that this is it.  The senior QB has had a storybook career through his three seasons as a starter.  If Hess can put up the numbers he did two seasons ago as a sophomore, he may get serious consideration to be drafted into the NFL.

In his most productive season, 2011, Hess was a statistical machine.  It was in that season that he threw for 26 touchdowns and completed his passes at a clip of  64.8%, both school records.  In fact, Hess could break the all-time yardage mark this season, needing just under 1,000 yards, to pretty much own the YSU record book in passing categories.

Ron Jaworski played at YSU before playing quarterback in the NFL.  Jaws had a nice professional stint before moving on to television.  Jaworski was good, but Hess is better.  So does that mean that Hess gets a free pass into the NFL?  No.  But it is certainly the beginning of a good argument.

When asked about the possibility of playing on Sunday afternoons, Hess downplayed the question in an unselfish way.

“My sophomore year was very productive.  We put up some big stats that year.  The thing that the NFL people look for is a winner.  It will be that much harder coming from the FCS.  If we go 6-5 like we did my sophomore year, there is no chance.  Coach Montgomery has experience with guys who have made it and he knows what it takes. Him and I have talked and the success of the team this year would be the biggest thing I would have going forward.  I think there is an outside chance and I am proud to have an opportunity to be in that discussion.”

Offensive coordinator, Shane Montgomery, has had Hess as his starting quarterback ever since the day he put on his first Penguins Under Armour shirt.  This will be the final season of that marriage where Montgomery does not have to look for a new quarterback to lead his offense.

“He will get a look from the NFL.  He has the size, he runs well, and is in an offense that throws the ball.  Some people want a big arm quarterback, some want a West Coast offense-type”, remarked Montgomery.

“He has to be more consistent this year. At this level, one of the most important things is to take care of the football, and Kurt has done a pretty good job of that throughout his career.  He is a guy that the younger guys will look at because he not only leads vocally, but also by example.  We have 100 players, and you always worry about some of the guys off of the field.  Kurt Hess has never been a problem off of the field, he is on time to everything he is supposed to be at, he doesn’t get into trouble.  He is a hard worker, and when he is on the field, we know we can count on him.”

Hess may get more chances to throw the ball this season with the departure of Jamaine Cook.  Hess and Cook were a nice 50/50 run-pass mix last season.  Torrian Pace and Adaris Bellamy will pick up a lot of slack left behind by Cook this season, but with the game on the line, expect Hess to be the individual making the plays to win the games in crucial situations.

“He {Hess} has been here a long time.  He is a great quarterback, and if he stays healthy this season, he has a chance to rewrite the record books.  He is the leader of this team and he has a good supporting cast this season.  We might not have the experience, on paper, but our offensive line is very athletic and very strong.  I think he will have a huge year at the quarterback spot for us this season.”, said Eric Wolford.

Hess has an arsenal of weapons he can throw the ball to this season.  The two that stand out the most are Jelani Berassa and Christian Bryan.  Expect bigger offensive production from senior TE Carson Sharbaugh this season also.

The unselfish Hess is now a senior and cannot use the “we will want to involve our seniors” excuse anymore, since he is finally one himself.

You will not meet a more likable guy, it is hard not to root for Kurt Hess, who epitomizes the words student and athlete like few else.

The Youngstown State Penguin Club is now accepting renewals and new memberships for the 2013-14 campaign. Being a part of the Penguin Club offers fans benefits while funds go directly to supporting our student-athletes.

 

The Penguin Club is the primary Athletics fund-raising organization and works diligently to enhance the student-athlete experience at YSU for Penguins from all sports. Members can join to assist the football program, the “Gridiron Club”, or the men’s and women’s basketball programs, the “Courtside Coaches”, or just have a general membership which provides support for all other teams.

 

For more information contact Tom Morella at (330) 941-2351 or via email at tmorella@ysu.edu or Jim Morrison at (330) 941-3720 or jwmorrison@ysu.edu.

 

Members who join the “Gridiron Club” have access to tailgating permits and mid-field Chairback seating at YSU football games. Members who sign up for the “Courtside Coaches” group have access to the best seats as well as The Coaches Court, a room that provides refreshments to members before and during games.

 

Membership levels in the “Girdiron Club” are as follows: Booster Level ($75), Royal Level ($250), Emperor Level ($475), Kingbird Level ($950), Coaches Level ($1,425), Captains Level ($2,500) and Champions Level ($5,000). This year the Penguins play seven regular-season home games for just the second time in school history so prices have been adjusted accordingly.

 

The different membership levels include tickets, access to parking, priority seating, post-season ticket availability and other benefits.

 

Membership levels in the “Courtside Coaches” are as follows: Booster Level ($75), Royal Level ($300), Emperor Level ($600), Kingbird Level ($1,050), Coaches Level ($1,500) and Captains Level ($2,500). All benefits are for men’s and women’s basketball games.

 

The Penguin Club has also created an easy way to be a member and spread out your contribution through an ACH Recurring Payment plan.

 

Once again the ACH Recurring Payment feature is available for 2013-14. Through an Automated Clearing House (or ACH), YSU fans can pay for a membership with ease and are now able to spread out their membership dues over a period of months.

 

The option of paying for a membership in one payment still exists, however fans now have the convenience of having membership dues come directly from a checking or savings account automatically each month for an amount that works for them. Authorized regularly-scheduled payments, or “ACH Debits” to the Penguin Club will be made on the 15th day of each month.

 

For example, a $75 membership can be spread out over a five-to-seven month period for a payment of about $12-15 each month. Plus with a regularly-scheduled payment, fans save time, postage and don’t have to worry about late charges or any other hassles. Charges for each month must be the same.

 

The Penguin Club is a crucial part of YSU Athletics. Revenues from memberships generated by the organization cover costs of athletic grant-in-aid provided to student-athletes, which is the single-largest investment made by the Athletic Department. Athletic grant-in-aid can cover tuition, books, room and board. In addition, Penguin Club revenues support and enhance the Athletic Department’s general fund.

 

Here is a schedule of Penguin Club events for the 2013-14 academic year:

 

July 21 – Debra L. Hinkle Scholarship Bocce Social at Cassese’s MVR
Nov. 7 – Penguin Club Jamboree
Nov. 16 – Hall of Fame Ceremony
Feb. 18 – Scholarship Ring Banquet at Mr. Anthony’s
June 11, 2014 – Penguin Club Scholarship Golf Outing at Youngstown Country Club

 

The Youngstown State football coaching staff will host a Youth Football Camp for children ages 8-13 on Saturday, June 8 at Stambaugh Stadium.

The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium and and will teach young football players offensive and defensive drills and skills to go along with two 30-minute sessions of “Penguin Ball”.

The cost to attend the camp is $45 and online registration is available at www.penguinsfootballcamps.com

The registration deadline is Friday, June 7. No walkups will be accepted.

Parents should have their children register in the F-7 Parking Lot just North of Stambaugh Stadium. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

The cost of the camp includes a YSU hat and lunch and participants should wear workout clothes and tennis shoes. A positive attitude is a must to attend the camp!

For additional information, call the YSU Football Office (330) 941-3478.

On a November-like Friday night, Eric Wolford rolled out the early signs of what to expect in 2013, and it may not have been what people would have guessed.  The Red got the best of the White in the 41st Annual Spring Football Game, 17-10.

Defense has been echoed as the weakness since Wolford started at YSU. However, the effort of both defenses was the glaring improvement to give even the biggest pessimist in the barn a pitchfork to help find that buried needle.

“Our  defense has been a work in progress and it is a compliment to our coaches that they came out and played the way they did today”, said Wolford.  “Everyone knows that in any sport, you can’t win a championship without a good defense, and that is what we have been working toward.”

Coach Wolford was loose and joked with everyone before the game.  I got to descend from the press box to the 1st floor with the coach on the elevator, and he was in great spirits and very optimistic about both, the game, and the 2013 season.  During the scrimmage, he applauded the effort of seemingly everyone who played at some point.

As far as the game goes, the Red jumped out to a 10-3 lead at the half.  Demond Hymes plunged in from two yards out to put the Red ahead, 7-0.  The score was set up when Derek Rivers caught a tipped ball off of a Dante Nania attempt.

New kicker, Joey Cejudo, accounted for the rest of the first half scoring kicking a field goal for each team. Cejudo’s first attempt was good from 43 yards out and gave the Red team a 10-0 lead.

Cejudo then put the White team on the scoreboard with a 43-yard field goal.  Could it be a year of field goals?

“I was trying to give him some advice about kicking field goals”, joked honorary coach, Dr. Chet Cooper.  “The kickers did a good job tonight and I think I have him convinced to go for three instead of seven sometimes.”

In the second half, the Red team increased their lead to 17-3 when Aaron Edwards scooped up a fumble and raced 22 yards to the end zone.  Tyler Hogan kicked the PAT for the Red team.

Dale Peterman made a big play at around midfield for the White defensive unit.  Peterman drilled Hymes on a completion, knocking the ball loose.  Jamarious Boatwright pounced on the pigskin and the White team was back in business.

The White team would capitalize on the turnover and cut the lead to 17-10 with 5:02 left to play.  Nick Wargo capped the drive  with a six-yard toss to Justin Getz.

With two minutes left, the YSU video board was switched to the news of the second terrorist of the Boston Marathon being alive and now in police custody.  As I looked to the video board, I saw the flag flying at half mast, and realized that there are things beyond our control that change priorities.

The Red team used the continuous clock to their advantage as they were able to run the clock out and head to the locker room victorious.

“We have stressed competition” commented Wolford.  “When they had bad days, we make changes and wake them up.  As soon as a player starts to feel to good about himself, he will get complacent and take a step backwards.  So we stress to do the extra things that can make a player special.”

Youngstown State junior offensive guard Chris Elkins was selected as the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Offensive Lineman of the Week, the league announced on Monday.

Elkins played all 69 offensive snaps for the Penguins in the season-finale win over Indiana State. YSU had 248 yards passing and 146 yards rushing in the impressive victory again st one of the nation’s top defenses. The 27 points scored by the Guins were the most allowed by the Sycamores in a game this season.

TB Jamaine Cook rushed for 124 yards while quarterback Kurt Hess threw for 248 yards in the victory. YSU had 394 yards of total offense in the contest.

Elkins was the team’s Offensive Line of the Game for his performance. He had an overall grade of 88 percent, a technique grade of 100 percent and led the way with five knockdowns.

The Youngstown State football team learned their postseason fate on Sunday afternoon, and it was not good news.  The Penguins were not awarded an at-large bid by the FCS Selection Committee.

Credit the coaches and team for picking up the pieces and making an exciting run by winning their last three games of the season.

The 7-4 season, which most programs would relish, was not enough.

October was a disaster for this team.  In my opinion, the real problem started in September.  On September 22, the Penguins won a game many thought they could not, defeating Northern Iowa to run their record to 4-0.

After wins against Pitt, Valparaiso, Albany, and Northern Iowa, the Penguins were forced to hibernate for a week.  September 29th was a bye week.  Some saw the bye week as an advantage to better prepare for North Dakota State the following week, but the bye week may have took the sharpness out of the tack.

The next four contests were ugly as YSU got hammered in Fargo.  The next three games, all losses, dropped the Penguins to 4-4.  The resiliency of the football team shined through with wins over South Dakota and Western Illinois (mostly everyone else in the league got to play these two teams also).  The crescendo of the season may have been on the final day, as the Penguins seemed to do everything right in defeating Indiana State.

Dom Rich may have said it best after the game.

“If we get in, we will not lose a game”, said Rich.  “We are playing our best football right now.”

Coach Eric Wolford knew that winning the last three games would still not regain control of the Penguins own destiny and that their fate would be determined by other teams results and voters opinions.

Wolford thought the win over Pitt should carry the weight of two wins, as a win over any FBS team should.  The YSU coach was confident that his Penguins would be given strong consideration.

The reality of being excluded was the automatic bids.  Teams from less talented conferences got a team in, ten of the twenty altogether.  That left two at-large bids going to Illinois State and South Dakota State from the MVFC.  It is a rare feat for a conference to put four teams into that small of a field.

Unseeded at-large bids went to Appalachian State, Cal Poly, Illinois State, New Hampshire, Sam Houston State, South Dakota State, Stony Brook and Wofford.

Trevor Parks, YSU Sports Information Director, and I exchanged texts during the second half of the Penguins game about other teams who would have probably needed to get beat for the Penguins to get in.  By the end, just about all of those teams either were winning or had already won.

So suddenly, the season that started with so much hope has elapsed.  Coach Cochran will probably have a program in place by December.  Linemen will be eating rocks and glass, backs will vow to get bigger, faster, and stronger, and 2013 can be another step forward for a program inching closer to the declared standards of making the playoffs and winning championships.