Lenny Wicks was the toughest YSU football player I have had to interview.  He lives a very structured life and doesn’t have much spare time with football, classes, and a kid.  His time is limited but his effort on the field is limitless.  Lenny knows that something special is brewing in Youngstown these days and can’t wait for everyone to take notice of what a special bunch these 2009 Penguins really are.

Paneech: Talk about the injury that forced you to miss the first couple of games this season.

Wicks: In the Spring game, one of the defensive linemen fell on my leg and broke my fibula and dislocated my ankle and tore tendons in my ankle.  I couldn’t walk for about four months. 

Paneech: Any lingering effects from the injury?

Wicks:  I’m back up there.  It gets a little sore sometimes, but I’m good.

Paneech: Why YSU?

Wicks: Coming out of high school, I thought I was real big, but, I guess I really wasn’t.  I actually walked on here, I didn’t get a scholarship.  I walked on here because my brother  [Eric Wicks] told me this would be a good place for me to go.  he told me that they win games up here and that if I worked hard, I could be a part of that.

Paneech: Speaking of your brother Eric who had some great years at West Virginia, what would happen if you each got to cover Ochocinco for ten plays?

Wicks: Lock Down! (laughs)  Me and my big bro?  That would be alot of fun.

Paneech: What was your reason for choosing criminal justice as a major?

Wicks: When I first got here my grades were very bad.  I was an education major and wasn’t doing very well.  Then my advisor was asking me what my interests were and after she coached me up,  we settled on criminal justice for a major.  It’s been going real good and I find it interesting.

Paneech: With you returning, Crispin [Fernandez] coming back and Mychal Savage healthy, how good can this defense be?

Wicks: I don’t think there is a limit on how good we can be.  As long as we work together, we have the talent to be extremely good.  I can’t set a limit on how good we can be.  In our first couple of games we haven’t even seen how good we can be.  We are not playing as good as we can yet.  As soon as everything clicks, watch out!

Paneech: What have you learned about this team so far in 2009?

Wicks: We have alot of leadership on this team.  We have alot of people that want to win.  The younger guys are willing to follow the leaders and we don’t have too many big egos like we did in the past.  We have alot of leadership and alot of guys that are on board so we can be the best we can possibly be.

Paneech: Being one of 12 seniors, how much stress is there on you to do all of the right things?

Wicks: I don’t see it as stress because I want to do the right things.  I want to get done with school, I want to be a good example for the people under me, so I don’t really see it as stress, but rather what I should be doing, so that’s what I am going to do.

Paneech: Talk about being a parent, practicing, and attending classes during the week.

Wicks: (laughs) Why do people always ask me that same question?  It’s regular to me.  I had my daughter when I was in twelfth grade so it’s very regular to me.  I don’t know anything else.

One Word Answers

Favorite Meal Of The Day?  Breakfast, although I never get to eat it.

Best Class You Ever Took At YSU?  Weightlifting

Favorite NFL Player And Team?  Bob Sanders, but my team is the Steelers.

Nicest Thing Anyone Ever Did For You?  Still waiting for that.

Favorite TV Show?  Fresh Prince.

Best Video Gaming System Of All-Time?  I don’t play video games.

Favorite Vegetable?  Broccoli.

Favorite NBA Team?  I like players.  Kobe, LeBron and D Wade.

WWE or MMA?  MMA.

Favorite Dessert?  Brownies and ice cream.