The 2008 season was a disappointing one for the Youngstown State University Penguins and Head Coach Jon Heacock.  Heacock has assumed the duties of defensive coordinator, the position he held under Jim Tressel in the 90’s,  for the 2009 season.  I recently caught up with Coach Heacock and talked about what we can expect to see from YSU this Fall.  He also discussed the importance of playing a big team like Pitt every year and what it does to a program.

In the sweltering August heat, I watched an enthusiastic bunch of players practice.  Many of those players were around last year and tasted some success late in the season.  To my surprise, practice was upbeat.  Crowd noise was piped over the PA system, and array of songs ranging from “We Built This City” to “Back In Black” played during the practice.  YSU is getting ready to face a new challenge, a new day.  September 5th, the Penguins travel to Pittsburgh to face the tough Panthers.

I asked Coach Heacock if he had high expectations for the season.  “The expectations are high, they are always high.  The standards here are high and in turn, that makes the expectations high.  Aim for the moon and if you hit a star that’s good, we are aiming for the moon.”

I asked Coach Heacock about the enthusiasm level to which he replied, “I think this group has worked hard, they had a long season a year ago and they are working hard.  We are not a very veteran team, so there is alot of competition going on, that obviously contributes to some of the enthusiasm.”

This YSU team has only 12 seniors.  Heacock commented on the importance of thir leadership, “There are only twelve of them so there is nowhere to hide, it is critical that they play well.  It’s like I tell them all the time, there are no mulligans when you are a senior, you get one shot at it and they have done a good job so far.”

We then started talking about whether or not it makes sense to play teams like Pitt or Ohio State, sometimes referred to as ‘money beatings’.  I asked Coach Heacock if he was in favor of these type of games, and whether or not the big check is worth risking a demoralizing loss or injury.  Heacock replied with, “There’s alot of different thoughts in that process.  One, we do get a substantial check, and obviously that’s part of the reason we are doing it.  It [the money] supports all of our athletic programs, it helps track, helps soccer, helps volleyball, and so we are contributing to that.  On the selfish side, it forces our players to get ready to play a strong football team early in the season.  I think it has motivated our practices, so I look at it is getting us ready to play the rest of the season.  I don’t think that I, or any of the players, ever go into one of those games expecting to lose.  There is alot of different philosophies there, I understand some of it and some of that is true.  I think it’s a great challenge for us because I think it helps us judge where we are as a football team.”

Coach Heacock says he wants this to be a team that takes care of the football and minimizes turnovers this season.  He also said there are accountability drills for those who do cough up the ball, but ther are also rewards for those who protect it.  Heacock made refrnce to the 1991 season saying that in YSU’s first seven games, the turnover margin was +0.43 and the record was 4-3.  Winning their last eight games, the turnover margin was +1.75.

Heacock knows Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois will be tough opponents but says every game is important and that is how 2009 will be handled, one game at a time.