Posts Tagged ‘Nick Gooden’

Saturday was the end for some young men and women.  It was the last football game that the seniors would participate in.  It was the last football game to cheer, twirl, march, or dance for.  This was a good group of seniors that played football.  A 3-8 record is not something to pattern a life after, but as Coach Wolford said, “It will be the way that these young men handle real life situations in the face of adversity that will define the people that they have become.”  On that note, this group was undefeated.  Here are a few pictures from that last day to remember what a life-changing event the last game is.

  

 

Congratulations on all of your achievements as athletes, cheerleaders, musicians, and scholars.  Best wishes on a productive and healthy future, and keep Tweeting!

If you analyzed the turnover that first-year coach Eric Wolford had to deal with in his inaugural season, you probably would scratch your head trying to figure out how Youngstown State was even in so many close games.  Saturday, the Penguins dropped another heartbreaker, 41-39, to Illinois State.  The loss dropped the Penguins to 3-7 overall, and 1-6 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

The NCAA standard for scholarships to award for a football program sits at 63.  Youngstown State is only using 53 due in part to some of the fallout of a new program.  People quit when they do not buy in to something new.  Wolford is a hard-nosed coach who wants his team to be on the same page.  Some of the returning scholarship players from last season’s Jon Heacock era did not buy in to what Wolford was selling and left seeking greener pastures.  The result of this process is a group of talented seniors who are surrounded by youth and inexperience.

The best example would be the defensive secondary.  The loss of Andre Elliott has crippled the Penguins defense, period.  One guy does not make a team, but his senior counterpart, Brandian Ross, just can’t do everything else while the new guys learn as fast as they can.  Coach Ron Stoops recently discussed the blowing of late leads and how inexperience can contribute to such patterns.  We discussed Donald D’Alesio, the talented Cardinal Mooney recruit who earned playing time.  “Donald is good and has the talent, but he hasn’t even had a year to adapt to the speed difference at this level, has not had a full year of weight training which will help him down the road.”  D’Alesio, Will Shaw, and Randy Louis tried to do as much as they could to keep opposing teams out of the end zones late in games.  Since the loss of Elliott, the Penguins are winless.

My praise goes to Defensive Coordinator Rick Kravitz, as well as Stoops, for working with what they have to come so close.  In Saturday’s loss, this defense actually kept the Penguins in the game allowing the offense to score a couple of times before yielding the big play at the end of the game again.  In this situation, Kravitz has tried many different things.  He has blitzed and gotten burned, he has sat in a prevent, like he did yesterday setting up a pair of defenders 25 yards off of the ball, he has disguised blitz and dropped back into coverage, he has disguised coverage only and blitzed…  bottom line is Kravitz is relying on mostly inexperienced players to make big plays at a new level, and it hasn’t worked yet.  He has no alternative, and I am sure it drives him crazy, as much as it baffles Wolford.

“We got closer, there was only point seven seconds left this time.  Usually we let it get away with 53 seconds or so”, commented Wolford after the game.

The critics are running their mouths about how the coaches are losing games.  Coaches do not lose games, despite Wolford always taking the heat with every loss to keep the negativity off of his players.  You can put guys in position to make plays all day long.  If no one makes a play or steps up in these crucial situations, it can’t be pinned on the coaches.  The players are giving their all, some have just never been in these situations at a higher level.  It is unfortunate, especially for the seniors.  In yet another classy gesture, Wolford has exclaimed then when this team wins a championship (and they will within the next three years), he will make sure that this year’s senior class receives rings for their contributions into the new program.

This coming Saturday marks the end for Dominique Barnes, Brandian Ross, Stephen Blose, Eric Rodemoyer, Andre Elliott, Nick Gooden, Bob Gratz, Erik Johnson, Kyle Banna, Jaimie Frasure, Rob Fernbeck, Luke Matelan, Torrance Nicholson, Brad Miller, Bobby Coates, Kyle Brown, Chris Gammon, and Tyler Figueroa.  This senior class did all they could to win, the situation with the turnover in roster hampered their chances. 

Plan on showing up to honor these seniors Saturday as they take the field one last time as Youngstown State Penguins, they are a great bunch of young men who stuck things out when they doubted where the program was headed and came out better people for it.

Kickoff against Indiana State is at 1 p.m. and the seniors will be honored. 

Youngstown State University (3-5, 1-4) is not going to throw away the rest of their season to focus on the future.  This team has been in transition since Eric Wolford was hired.  Guys have quit, transferred in, transferred out, redshirted, adapted, walked on, and have all played a part in the rebirth of football at Youngstown State.  The seniors who had to accept changes are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  This team is so much better than the record indicates.

Northern Iowa comes to town ranked 19th with only one loss in league play, and in sole possession of first place.  The Panthers are 4-3 overall and have remained a consistent winner for years.  In fact, Northern Iowa vs Youngstown State has had a consistent theme for the past nine seasons, a Panther win in every contest since 2000.  Throw in the fact that  YSU has lost four straight Homecoming games, and the writing should be on the wall.

Here are some things to consider before throwing this game into the loss column for the Penguins.  Eric Wolford has never lost to Northern Iowa or Mark Farley. Three of the nine consecutive losses have been by two points or less.  The last time they met in Youngstown, a blocked extra point late in the game preserved a 21-20 win.  Last season, the Panthers pretty much had their way and handed the Penguins a 28-7 setback.

Youngstown State’s Defense needs to put forth a great effort to have a shot at a win this week.  Losing Andre Elliott has really hurt a secondary not expected to have problems this season.  Brandian Ross has been bouncing everywhere but teams have learned over the past few weeks to keep it away from him and pick on the young guys.  Will Shaw, Randy Louis, and Donald D’Alesio are contributing but also getting picked on at crucial spots of games.  Louis is now out indefinitely with shoulder problems.

Secondary Coach Ron Stoops talked about the defensive lapses.  “Andre Elliott is hurt and we went into the first game with Nick [Gooden] and Shaw rotating.  Really, its not been the personnel, there is a pass rush, linebackers, underneath coverage and all kind of factors to consider.  We are not getting beat deep, more underneath and not tackling well as a defense.  Bottom line is that we do have some youth in the secondary and inexperience can also be a part of it.”

Offensively, the Penguins are scoring.  Senior Dominique Barnes set a record for catching a pass in 31 consecutive games and has more personal awards within reach.  Barnes is a team guy and personal records remain secondary.  The young “quad of doom” (Kurt Hess, Adaris Bellamy, Jamaine Cook, and Jordan Thompson) have produced as a group all year.  Not at all what you would expect from a sophomore and three freshmen.  Eric Rodemoyer has also been a force on the line.

Northern Iowa could care less about it being the 70th year of YSU Football, the WATTS, or Homecoming. Their mission is to keep winning to make the postseason playoffs again.  The Panthers are led by QB Tirrell Rennie who likes to run.  Rennie had four rushing touchdowns last weekend against Illinois State and leads his team with 754 yards on 129 carries.  The Panthers also boast a very strong run defense that has only given up 100 yards twice this season.  They are a methodical and well-coached team.

Homecoming Festivities incude a pre-game parade to start jus before 11 a.m. and proceed to the stadium.  The court will be announced at halftime and a new king and queen will be crowned.  Kickoff for the game is 1 p.m. and the radio telecast can be heard on AM-570.  The game will also be shown on myTV at 10 p.m.

   

Youngstown State University (3-1, 1-0)  takes to the road this weekend to face Missouri State (1-2, 0-1).  Both teams opened Missouri Valley Conference play last weekend.  Youngstown State cleared the big hurdle called Southern Illinois in convincing fashion scoring 31 unanswered points against the defending champs.  With the big win, the Penguins find themselves ranked 20th in the latest FCS polls.  Missouri State lost a nailbiter to Illinois State in two overtimes, 44-41.  The two teams will play for a fifteenth time Saturday with YSU holding an 11-3 series lead.  However, Missouri State has won the last two meetings.

The Bears won 17-7 at Stambaugh Stadium last season and posted a 42-28 victory the last time these two teams played at Plaster Field in Springfield, Missouri.  The teams have split with three wins each over the past six years with Youngstown State winning seven consecutive times before that.  For Youngstown State, the bullseye has been officially placed after being forecast as a seventh place team.  No more hiding in the weeds, everyone knows there is talent on this team.  The next hurdle for first-year coach, Eric Wolford, is to win one on the road.  The Penguins are a perfect 3-0 at home and 0-1 on the road with a loss to Penn State. 

For Missouri State, a better defensive effort is needed across the board.  Wolford and his crafty Offensive Coordinator, Shane Montgomery, have used a variety of weapons all season.  Nobody has truly emerged as the #1 running back.  Jamaine Cook has gotten the most carries but Adaris Bellamy and Jordan Thompson have been very effective and Torrian Pace has shown he can handle the load when called upon.  Kurt Hess has been outstanding for a Freshman.  Hess does not make mental errors and does a great job controlling the football.  Ely Ducatel and Kevin Watts have proven that if Dominique Barnes is taken out of the game and double teamed that they can step up and make plays.  The Bears can score, but are giving up 462 yards per game and 34 points per game. 

Youngstown State needs to realize that Missouri State rises to the challenge of big games.  The Bears have a very capable offense with senior quarterback Cody Kirby at the controls.  Missouri State averages 222 passing yards per game and just under 200 rushing yards per game, that is a pretty healthy balance.  Kirby poses adual threat of being a good runner as well as a great passer.  If the Penguins can bring the heat and contain Kirby at the same time, they should be successful stifling the Bears offense.  Coach Wolford has praised the Missouri State offensive line all week and called the Bears, “a dang good football team.” 

The Penguins will be playing without Andre Elliott, who is sidelined with a neck / shoulder problem.  Nick Gooden will step in and see some quality minutes in place of Elliott.  Brandian Ross (last week’s Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of The Week), Randy Louis, and Donald D’Alesio will have to work hard not only to contain Kirby, but also concentrate on shutting down Bears RB Chris Douglas (76 YPG) on the perimeter and WR Jermaine Saffold (16 catches, 263 yards) to keep the Bears on the ropes.

When asked if being ranked meant anything at this point, Coach Wolford responded.  “It’s obviously good for the fans and the media and the alumni.  It is what it is and we try not to let it be a distraction.  The only rankings that matter here are the ones at the end of the year.”  The last time the Penguins were ranked was in 2008 and this years 3-1 start equals last seasons record after four games.

You can catch all of the action on AM-570 with the pregame show starting at 1:30 p.m. and kickoff slated for 2 p.m.  Bob Hannon will have the call with Ed Muransky offering his analysis and Dave Sess chiming in from the sidelines.

The Youngstown State University football program has a full plate this season.  On September 4, the Penguins travel to Happy Valley for a visit with the #14 team in the country, Penn State.  The Penguins will play every Missouri Valley Conference game with a chip on their shoulders after being picked to finish seventh in the conference.  Monday night the Penguins opened full-contact practice with a bang at a public workout.

The most obvious thing that was different in the Summer edition of the “Oklahoma” drill compared to the Spring version was the increased vibe of intensity.  In the Spring, the coaches did most of the pointing, yelling, and screaming. At Stambaugh Stadium on Monday the players made the noise, hit with aggression, got into each others faces, and the coaches were a side dish this time.

Eric Wolford, if for nothing else, has a feather in his new cap already – the ability to motivate.  Wolford is a no-nonsense coach who has and will continue to run a tight ship.  Vowing to eliminate all of the riff-raff and dead weight is one thing, but actually doing just that in a very short period of time is commendable.

After the Oklahoma drills, the offense and defense scrimmaged under game conditions.  Purdue transfer Najee Tyler looked like the frontrunner for the quarterback derby.  Tyler looks like a young Randall Cunningham and will create headaches for defensive coordinators all season.  Another newcomer, Adaris Bellamy had a couple of slick runs for the offense.  Eric Rodemoyer, Nick Gooden, and Torrance Nicholson all looked sharp and focused.  Dominique Barnes is going to have a monster season and played consistently during the scrimmage portion Monday.

Penn State plays #1 Alabama in week two of the upcoming season, a week after they face YSU.  Don’t look too far ahead JoPa, the kids from the valley are coming to visit.

2010

Jabari Scott and Nick Gooden play different positions for different coaches.  Scott is a Senior, while Gooden is a Junior.  Scott is a Communications Major while Gooden claims he can sell me a toothpick for twenty dollars using tricks he learned in his marketing classes.  The thing these two guys have in common is that they went to the same high school.  Taft High School is in the San Antonio area where both of these guys were standouts, and heavily recruited.  Now Penguins, and adapting to Winter as best they can, they also share the goal of making a statement on the field this season.

Jabari Scott

Jabari Scott was a standout running back while at Taft.  In his Senior season, Scott scored 33 TD’s and had 2493 total yards.  Last season as a YSU Penguin, he carried the ball 55 times and gained 403 yards, that is a 7.3 yards per carry average.  He missed the final four games last year with a leg injury.  “I had a quad injury that kept me out of the last four games last season.  It was very hard for me to move around.  I feel 100% now, I’m ready to go and get some action,” remarked Scott.

Scott was optimistic about the 2009 season saying, “Anything is possible.  I feel like we have a good, strong squad.  As Seniors, we are trying to lead, and I think we are gonna be real good this year”.

I asked Scott how involved he was in the recruiting of his high school teammate Gooden to which he stated, “I talked with the coaches and let them now that he was a pretty good player and that they should go after him”.

” I won’t lie to you, I still get homesick.  It gets too cold up here, I’m not used to all of this snow.  Back home it will go down to the thirties or forties, that’s the coldest it ever gets.  Here [Youngstown] was the first time I ever saw snow and I thought it was crazy”.

Scott said he really doesn’t have a favorite place to eat in this area, he would rather hit different spots.  He is a Communications Major and enjoys the classes that deal with his area of concentration. 

Jabari was recruited by some bigger Texas schools but opted to play at YSU.  “I was recruited bu SMU, Tulsa, a few other Division 1-AA schools as well.  I chose YSU because i had some falls in high school with grades, and YSU was my best choice [academically].  It’s tough to practice and go to classes during the season, you have to get the girls out of your mind and just focus on school and playing football”.

Scott referred to his position coach (Sam Eddy) as a nice guy and a good coach who has helped him progress into a better student-athlete.  He also praised the Dallas Cowboys as his favorite NFL team, but cited Warrick Dunn as his favorite player.  

Scott has all of the seasoning to be special this season.  He is healthy and happy and really thinks that this team can perform beyond expectations and surprise the doubters.  He was very serious with most of his answers, unlike his colleague, Nick Gooden, the other Texan in Youngstown.

 

Nick Gooden

Nick Gooden said Jabari Scott played a big role in his recruitment from Taft High School.  “He [Scott] came back home on a Thanksgiving or Christmas break and we were in the process of distributing tapes to different teams and I was like, Jabari, take this tape back to Coach Heacock and see what he says.  So he played a big role, he was kind of the middle man”.

Gooden, a Marketing Major, said his favorite class was English with Dr. Cook.

In 2008, Gooden did not see the field much.  2009 shows more opportunity and Gooden is doing all he can to prepare himself.  “I’m working hard and staying in the playbook.  I’m really trying to get a hold of everyone’s positions because that was my struggle last year”.

Gooden compared Youngstown to San Antonio.  “Back in San Antonio, we have a big Mexican population. so we would always eat alot of Mexican food at any occasion.  Up here [Youngstown], it’s like we eat spaghetti and Italian food for every occasion”.  Gooden also remarked that authentic Mexican food and Taco Bell are very different and that he does not frequent the fast food chain.  He also said he would choose David Robinson over LeBron James if he had to pick, staying loyal to his Southwestern upbringing.

When asked about the cold Winter months and snow, Gooden chuckled and said, “I got used to it a little last year.  My first year. I was down, no sun for five months.  It was kind of weird for me”.

When I was doing my Gooden research, I stumbled across his Facebook page, which said he absolutely loved Freeze Pops.  When I asked Gooden, he laughed hard and said he thinks he has some in his freezer right now and referred to himself as a ‘fiend’ of the frozen treats.

Gooden’s position coach is Mike Kolakowski, who he referred to as simply ‘Coach K’.  “He gets on me, but I need a coach like that.  He’s crazy though”.  ‘Coach K’ is prepping Gooden for the opener against Pitt, which Gooden is anxiously awaiting.  “I’m ready to play at Heinz Field.  I never played against Pitt before, only Ohio State, so I think this will be a good game and think we stand a good chance”.

In his spare time, Gooden said he is keen on studying the game Black Jack.  “I got the strategies, so when I can play legally someday, I think those strategies will work”.  He also spends spare time watching the History Channel.  If he could go to a zoo and bring home a pet, Gooden said, “I would bring home a lion.  I have got a lion tattooed on my arm and I feel like I am a lion sometimes, see the mane?”

Jabari Scott and Nick Gooden can really step up to make a difference for the YSU Football Penguins this season.  With the September 5 opener fast-approaching, the hard work they are putting in will hopefully pay off for both guys.  It doesn’t matter whether YSU has the ball, or is on defense, there is gonna be a guy from Texas making an impact either way.