Archive for the ‘YSU Football’ Category

If I were starting a college football team, I would want four Brandian Ross‘s in my defensive backfield.  Ross, who shares the duty of captain with DL Torrance Nicholson, showed versatility last week in a loss.  Ross was asked to slide over to safety to cover for the injured Andre Elliott.  His coverage was superb, just like it is at corner.  This guy is no Average Joe, he is a player, a superb player.  Last week in the Penguins win over Southern Illinois, Ross was named Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of The Week. Don’t expect the recognition, praise and awards Ross will get by season’s end to end there.  If I were a betting man, I would pick Ross to be First-Team All Conference at the end of the season.  Sold Yet?

Here are a few of the highlights in the career of Ross at YSU:

• Lettered as a freshman.  Given the Special Teams Player of The Week Award vs Stony Brook and again vs Indiana State.
• Honorable Mention All Missouri Valley Conference as a sophomore.  Led entire team with 98 tackles.  Led special teams with 15 tackles.  Played a team-high 724 snaps.  Named Hill Barth & King Defensive Player of The Week for his great effort against Indiana State.
• As a junior he was named Defensive Player of The Week for the Pitt game.  Received the Derek Pixley Hit of The Week against Northeastern.  Started all 11 games at a new position, cornerback, making a successful transition from safety.
• Ross leads the team with 189 career tackles, including 26 this season.  He also leads the team in career starts with 27.

Sold Yet?

There is a whole side of Brandian Ross that most people don’t know about.  His personality is outstanding and he stays humble and grounded despite his numerous on-field accomplishments.  Ross commented on being a defensive co-captain.  “I don’t see myself as any more important than a teammate just because I am a captain.  On the field, Torrance [Nicholson] and I handle the calls and penalties, but it isn’t an ego thing.  Whoever is closer to the ref can declare whether to accept or decline penalties.“

Ross talked about his friendship with defensive backfield associate, Andre Elliott.  “Dre is probably my best friend on the team we have the same major and have a lot of classes together plus he is the roommate of my brother.  You gotta respect him [Elliott] because he does the whole parenting thing with his kids, but we hang out when we can.”  Ross is majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice.

When it came to food, Ross was definitive about his choice.  “There is nothing better than Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich.  It is a number six on the board and it satisfies.”

The most comical answer I got out of Ross was when he answered what he liked best about Youngstown State.  “The girls”, replied Ross, “There are some pretty women here.”  Cant blame the guy for his honesty.

Ross keeps busy.  Between classes, practice, study tables, meetings, and meals, there is little time for anything else.  However, Ross makes time for one essential.  “I love Twitter .  I Tweet something everyday after practice and usually update throughout the day.  Dre [Andre Elliott] turned me on to it and now I am pretty well into it.  The most famous person that follows me is Donald Jones.”

Ross also expressed his mad passion for video games, including the red hot 2K11.  He uses an Xbox and will play online against friends.

It is refreshing to know that there are student athletes who have their head and their heart in the right place.  I don’t believe I have ever interviewed someone so close to both since I started covering YSU Football.  Keep grinding BRoss, keep grinding!

Youngstown State University (3-2, 1-1) will play host to North Dakota State (3-2, 1-1) this Saturday at 4 p.m. in Youngstown.  For the Penguins, undefeated at home, it is a chance to redeem themselves after falling 35-25 at Missouri State last week.  For the Bison, winners of three out of their last four road games, a win is a must to stay ranked.  North Dakota State is ranked at #17 this week.

Last season, YSU won a 39-35 shootout at the famed Fargodome.  Youngstown State leads the all-time series 3-1 and has never lost to the Bison at The Ice Castle (2-0).  However, the largest margin of victory in those three wins has been eight points.

If the Penguins can shut down the tandem of WR Warren Holloway and redshirt freshman QB Brock Jensen, they greatly improve their chances of winning this game.  Last week in a 28-16 loss to Western Illinois, the pair hooked up seven times for 184 yards.  With Andre Elliott’s status unknown, the Penguins have to dig in and take the big plays out of the Bison offense.  YSU will also have to play much closer to the first quarter of the last game rather than the last three quarters because North Dakota State boasts a big-play defense that already has ten takeaways this season.  On the ground, DJ McNorton is the Bison workhorse.  McNorton had 105 yards on the ground last week and over two hundred rushing yards the week before.

This will be a good test for first-year Penguins Coach Eric Wolford.  In the past few weeks, Wolford has been adamant about the importance of these Missouri Valley Conference games.  He has also stressed that this 2010 Penguins team is still getting better.  Expect changes on this weeks depth chart on the defensive side of the ball.  A no-nonsense coach with respect for the game, Wolford claimed he would be sick watching last weeks game film.  Believe me, 106 penalty yards are keeping this man awake at night.

Jamaine Cook and Adaris Bellamy need to keep grinding it out to open the passing game up for Kurt Hess.  Once the Penguins got to the second quarter, they really struggled running the football.  Two touchdowns within 90 seconds forced the Penguins to revert to the pass which was ineffective due to the lack of a ground game to keep the opposing defense honest.  Offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery is a great thinker, expect a couple of new wrinkles.

Defensively, YSU played pretty decent last week.  One blown coverage and a couple of drives in the second quarter hurt, but the two offensive turnovers resulting in touchdowns were the difference.  Look for Brandian Ross and Torrance Nicholson (defensive co-capains) to have big games for YSU’s defense.  Also, Luke Matelan, David Rach, and John Sasson have to keep playing big for the Penguins to have a chance.  Donald D’Alesio has stepped up as a true freshman recording 11 tackles in last week’s loss.

The 4 p.m. start will also mark Alumni Day.  Be sure to hit the tailgate lots before the game and make a day of it.  This group of guys are busting their butts to be better.  The new coaching staff is spending countless hours preparing each week, and the enthusiasm is back, it’s in the players eyes this season.

Youngstown State entered the game ranked for the first time in a couple of years.  First-year Coach Eric Wolford said before the Penguins meeting with Missouri State that this game would be no cake walk.  “They don’t care that we are ranked, nor do they care that we are 3-1. All they care about is that they can beat Youngstown State.”  In the end, the Penguins came out on the short end of the stick and were handed a 35-25 setback.  The Penguins opened strong racing out to a 17-0 lead, but Missouri State roared back countering with 27 unanswered points to grab control.  It is also hard to win when you compile 106 yards in penalties.

Youngstown State got out of the gate early as Jamaine Cook (above) burst through the right side of the line for a 71-yard touchdown. On the play, Senior guard Eric Rodemoyer (next photo down) pulled and buried Missouri State’s DE to spring Cook for the long run. Stephen Blose knocked in the extra point to put the Penguins ahead 7-0.

Blose increased the lead to 10-0 when he connected on a 24-yard field goal.  On the drive, the Penguins were deep in Missouri State territory when Jordan Thompson mishandled the exchange from quarterback Kurt Hess.  Thompson fell on his own fumble to retain possession, but the chance for a touchdown instead of a FG was decreased.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Penguins caught a big break when Jamarious Boatwright fell on a free ball deep in Bears territory at the 25-yard line.  With 3:10 remaining in the opening quarter, Cook scored from five yards out to give YSU a 17-0 cushion.  Missouri State responded before the half when Cody Kirby hooked up with Cadarriu Dotson from 30 yards away to cut the YSU lead to 17-7 with 13:43 left in the half.

In the second half, the Penguins came unglued and played very undisciplined football.  With a 17-7 lead and the ball on their own two yard line following a punt, Hess and Thompson again had exchange problems, this time in their own end zone, and this time resulting in a Bears touchdown.  Howard Scarborough pounced on the loose ball in the paint to make it a 17-14 game.

On the next drive, Hess was picked off by Bears LB Adam Beauchamp who returned the pick 40 yards to give the Bears a 21-17 lead. Jordan Chiles, who had a rough day missing three field goal attempts for the Bears, knocked in all of his PAT’s on the day.  Suddenly, Youngstown State’s Offense was shooting itself in the foot.  Two defensive touchdowns should not be indicative of the performance of YSU’s Defense.

After Missouri State made it 28-17 on Chris Douglas’ 22-yard scoring run, YSU found some rhythm on offense.  Hess connected with Sophomore Juilian Harrell for gains of 11, 24, and 12 yards.  Those gains set up a 2-yard Thompson touchdown to make the score 28-23.  Coach Wolford opted to go for two points to draw the Penguins into a three rather than four point deficit.  The decision was a good one as Hess popped in for a successful conversion to make the score 28-25.

Starting the next drive on their own 38, the Bears marched the field in nine plays with the end result a Jemain Saffold 43-yard touchdown reception on a third-and-twelve.  Chiles kick was good to make the score Missouri State 35, Youngstown State 25.

The Penguins got the ball back when Chiles missed his third field goal of the game with 2:46 left in the game.  After moving the ball about 30 yards, YSU ran out of downs and Missouri State was able to kneel on the ball to run out the clock.  The Bears improved to 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Sophomore Juilian Harrell lead the Penguins receivers with five catches for 65 yards.  For Harrell, a transfer from Miami (OH), it was his best game of the season.  Jamaine Cook racked up 167 yards on 26 attempts with a pair of touchdowns.  Kurt Hess was 13-33 for 165 yards but was picked off twice.  Freshman Donald D’Alesio had 11 tackles and John Sasson 9 to lead the Penguins defensively.

For Missouri State, a much more experienced team, QB Cody Kirby connected on 24 of 39 for 298 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  Chris Douglas recorded 11 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown.  Jermaine Saffold hauled in nine balls for 114 yards and a score.  The Missouri State offense only had a couple of truly effective drives, but the Bears (based in Springfield, MO, home of Brad Pitt) came up with the big plays and used their prevailing veteran status to punch the ticket when they needed to most.

The statistic that was the hardest to comprehend were the penalties.  The Penguins compiled nine penalties for 106 yards. Many of the penalties were of the undisciplined variety, things such as late hits and personal fouls.  Many of the nine penalties were also 15 yards or more.

After the game, Coach Wolford commented on his predominantly young team’s mental mistakes and penalties.  “It’s hard to win games in the conference on the road, especially when about 30 of our guys have never played a conference game on the road before.  I have to watch the film and I’m sure I’ll be sick. We have to get those kind of mistakes corrected or we are not going to win many conference games.”  Wolford also put the blame on himself and the coaching staff, deflecting the heat from any of the players, yet another reason to like him.

With the loss, the Penguins dropped to 3-2 and 1-1 in the conference.  YSU will return home to face North Dakota State and kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.  The Penguins are 3-0 at home and look to keep the momentum at The Ice Castle intact.

   

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.

Health,  it affects all of us at some point in our lives.  Ely Ducatel has been a member of the Youngstown State University Football Team for awhile, but in 2010 something is very different — he’s healthy.  Ducatel has not enjoyed the countless hours of pain and rehabilitation to get back, but he is enjoying his role on the team.  The 6’1″, 195 pound junior from Naples, Florida has goals beyond the field and had some enlightening answers to many questions.

Paneech: You had a couple of years where you got hurt.  How hard is it to sit there and just watch?

Ducatel: It is really hard to deal with.  I put a lot of time in, especially my first year going into that Spring.  I redshirted and worked on getting stronger and faster and ended up tearing my ACL.  After that, I had a series of injuries including reinjuring the ACL, dealing with back spasms, and hamstring injuries.  It feels really good to get back on the field.  I took care of myself this year which meant working hard but also eating right.  Coach Longo always let me hear about eating right and kept telling me to stay away from McDonald’s.

Paneech: Let’s shift gears and talk about your education, how is school going for you?

Ducatel: My education and studies are going really well.  I am surrounded with good people, such as tutors,  who are willing to help me when I need it.  The football players have a great academic center to work with.  We have study tables where people are making sure that you are going to class.  Even the teachers are willing to work with you because they know you travel and they really do hold the players best interests at heart.

Paneech:  Dominique Barnes is the big-play receiver on offense, do you feel like if a team wants to take him out of the offense that your role expands?

Ducatel: When our top receiver, Dominique Barnes, is getting double-teamed, of course I want to step up and make plays knowing that I have one-on-one coverage on me.  Usually they will just move the safety over and that leaves just a cornerback for me to work on and I can run routes into areas where there is a linebacker.

Paneech:  Is the team chemistry better this year than it had been since you arrived here?

Ducatel:  It’s much different, I can’t really say what is better and what is worse.  This year, we are definitely more focused.  These coaches really get after you, but they honestly want the best for you.  They are not here to be your best friend, they are here to coach you up to be the best player that you can be.

Paneech:  Who is going to the Superbowl this year and who wins?  Stephen Blose picked the Raiders.

Ducatel:  I definitely want to see the New England Patriots go.  I would say the Saints or the Packers, although the Packers lost their running back.  Michael Vick is starting now, so I am going to say it will be New England and Philadelphia.  The NFC won last year, so I think it will go back to the AFC, I will say the Pats win it all.

Paneech:  What other sports do you follow besides football?

Ducatel:  I like basketball, both NBA and college.  I love watching certain players like Lebron James.  Lebron is still growing as an athlete and he will keep improving.  With him going to Florida, it is just electrifying down there right now.  I also watch a little Tennis, the Williams Sisters are interesting to follow and you can actually pick up things to try on the football field such as lateral movement.

Paneech: Now that Coach Longo has left the field, please tell me what you were eating that was so unhealthy.

Ducatel: (laughs)  I love Charley’s Steakhouse.  After the season is over, I will probably go over there and grab me a little steak sub, some fries and a lemonade.

One Word Answers

Best Show On Television: Sportscenter.

Favorite Pro Wrestler: I loved Hulk Hogan.

Song No One Would Expect On Your ipod: Christina Aguilera – I’m A Genie In The Bottle.

Gum You Chew: Minty or Winter Fresh Orbit.

Favorite Beverage: Lemonade.

Best Move You Ever Made On The Field:  Catching a bubble screen and cutting across the middle of the field for about a 60-yard touchdown.

Toppings On A Pizza:  Supreme, everything.

Tell Me What Picture To Use In Your Profile: I would like something of me and all the other receivers together.  That would be a really cool thing.

After being picked to finish seventh in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, Youngstown State University had to have September 25 circled on their calendars for a long time.  Not only would that date signify the beginning of conference play, but it would also mark a game with Southern Illinois, defending champs and reigning FCS powerhouse of the past few years.  Coach Eric Wolford and staff proved up to the biggest challenge of the season and rattled off 31 unanswered points to stomp the Salukis, 31-28.

Southern Illinois hit the scoreboard first with 2:16 left in the first quarter when Taylon Hunter returned a blocked punt 38 yards.  The blocked punt came after YSU had punted the play before and downed the ball on the 1-yard line but a penalty forced the Penguins to kick again.  The Salukis are not a team to give second chances to, and this particular instance proved that.

Southern Illinois scored again to push their first quarter lead to 14-0.  Chris Dieker found John Goode in the end zone for an eight yard touchdown strike with just four seconds left in the quarter.

The mark of a good team is how they play in the face of adversity.  Down 14-0, YSU could have packed it in and handled the beating. Coach Eric Wolford transcends a difference not seen here since Jim Tressel as his Penguins would rattle off 31 unanswered points over a quarter-and-a-half.  The Penguins took the ball on their own 19 and marched 81 yards to get on the board.  Kurt Hess put the exclamation point on the drive finding Kevin Watts in the right back side of the end zone.

When Southern Illinois got the ball back, YSU showed a flash of serious momentum on defense.  David Rach (pictured above) knocked the ball from Dieker and Luke Matelan landed on it to give the Penguins the ball on Southern Illinois 18-yard line.  Hess again found Watts from eight yards out to tie the game at 14.

Brandian Ross got into the act with a spectacular pick of Dieker setting the Penguins up on the Saluki 41-yard line.  Hess showed a lot of poise on the drive that would give YSU a 21-14 halftime lead.  Three times on the drive, Hess looked as though he would be sacked for a loss but each time managed to throw the ball for a completion.  Carson Sharbaugh hauled in  a 3-yard heave (below) from Hess to give the Penguins their first lead in the contest.

In the third quarter, YSU gave Southern Illinois a healthy dose of Jamaine Cook.  Cook had consecutive carries of 10,8, 3, and 1 yard with the one-yarder resulting in another YSU touchdown.  The plunge of a yard made the score 28-14 with 5:59 left in the third quarter and the lid came off of the place as all 17,660 red-wearing Penguin fans were cheering wildly.

Stephen Blose hit a 37-yard field goal to increase the Penguin margin to 31-14.  The Penguin defense was outstanding and set the offense up with great field position the entire game.

Southern Illinois scored a touchdown with 1:28 when Dieker ran one in from four yards out to make it 31-21.  Dieker then found Joe Alaria cut the lead to 31-28 with 44 seconds remaining.  Southern Illinois attempted another onside kick but the ball went out of bounds on the hop and YSU ran the clock out for the win.

After the game, Hess talked about the victory.  “Being down 14-0 is not what we expected or wanted, beating the defending champions was a big win for this program.  We worked hard all Summer for this, we are going to celebrate and then get ready for Missouri State next week”.  Hess finished the game 9-15 passing for 94 yards and three touchdowns.  He also had six carries for 24 yards but more importantly, he did a great job managing the clock and making some clutch plays under pressure.

Jamaine Cook was the leader on the ground for the Penguins (3-1, 1-0) with 26 carries for 115 yards.  Cook commented on the win.  “I think this win sent the message to everyone that this is not the old Youngstown, this is a new Youngstown, and we’re back.  The offensive line did a tremendous job and they are getting better every week.”

Coach Eric Wolford was in a great mood after the game and had praise for everyone involved with his program.  “It’s a big win, I tried to downplay the game.  We worked fundamentals hard this week.  We gave them the 14 points at the beginning.  They are a good football team but I didn’t sense any panic on the sidelines.  You really find out what kind of person you are when you face adversity in your life.  I have a lot of confidence in our football team and we all believe in each other, we have a really tight family.  I told the team that we have been one of the teams doing the hunting, now we have officially become the hunted.  We are ten scholarships under everyone else using 53, this win is a tribute to this coaching staff.”

Southern Illinois  (1-3, 0-1) was paced by Dieker’s 24-42 passing for 258 yards.  Dieker flipped a pair of touchdowns in the loss.

Youngstown State University (2-1) welcomes Southern Illinois (1-2) to town for the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams.  Southern Illinois has enjoyed recent success against YSU winning the last three meetings.  Things have changed at both schools in the past year.  Eric Wolford has taken over YSU’s program and has the team really playing with a beam of confidence.  Southern Illinois seems to be missing their patented running game.  Overall, the series is tied at 10-10-1.

Last season, the Salukis defeated the Penguins, 27-8.  The last meeting at Stambaugh Stadium was forgettable for the Youngstown sports faithful as Southern Illinois won in a blowout, 33-0.  There are several streaks heading into Saturday’s game to make note of. Southern Illinois has won a conference record 14 straight Missouri Valley match-ups.  However, the Salukis are currently on a two-game losing streak falling to SE Missouri State last week and being handled easily by Illinois.  Their lone win came in the opening week of the season, a 70-7 (not a typo) win against Quincy.

Youngstown State opened with a loss at Penn State and the Penguins have posted back-to-back wins over Butler and Central Connecticut to boost their win total, but more importantly, their confidence level.  One notable streak to watch will be based on the performance of Dominique Barnes.  Ironically, Barnes originally signed a letter of intent to attend Southern Illinois but later changed his mind and came to Youngstown State.  With one catch, Barnes will extend his consecutive games with a catch streak to 27 straight games. With two catches he will tie Renauld Ray for sixth place on the all-time Penguins reception list.  With six catches, Barnes can tie Lorenzo Davis for fifth on the all-time Penguin reception list.  If Barnes goes completely ballistic and catches 14 balls, he will tie Bob Ferranti for fourth.

The thing Southern Illinois has to be most concerned with is the arsenal of players Wolford has used this season.  Last week against Central Connecticut, the Penguins used four different running backs who all had at least nine carries each.  Adaris Bellamy, Torrian Pace, Jamaine Cook and Jordan Thompson have all had quality touches the first three weeks of the season.  Wolford has proven in the last two games that this year’s Penguins team is multi-faceted.  Take the run away and Kurt Hess can throw to Barnes, a healthy Ely Ducatel, and Kevin Watts.  It has been set up rather cleverly as a “pick your poison” type of offense.

The key to Youngstown State coming out of this with a win is to minimize penalties and mistakes.  The perfect game is what YSU needed to play to beat Penn State.  Sloppy play will not cut it this week.  The Penguins do a good job taking care of the ball and Southern Illinois is not the type of team you can make too many mistakes against .  YSU Receivers Coach, Phil Longo, coached at Southern Illinois as the Salukis Offensive Coordinator over the past two seasons.  He will surely provide some insight as to schemes, personnel, and even tendencies — more stuff than the Penguins could ever see on game films.

Coach Wolford said that this game has to be played as a normal conference game, nothing more.  “Every conference game is a big game for us.  However we don’t make this particular game out to be the Super Bowl or anything.  If we approached it like that and made it too big, I think maybe guys would get too tight.  There is a certain degree of looseness you want and a right time to tighten down the screws and go. With young people, you have got to squeeze ’em.  When we squeeze them, we are pushing them to get better. At the same time, you better hug them and love them, squeeze them that way too.  These kids know that we love them even though we coach them hard.”

Wolford has done something really impressive.  Before each home game, the coaches and players, in suits and ties, walk through the main tailgate lot to share in the joy of a Saturday in Youngstown with the great Penguins fans.  Wolford has seem to have done everything right so far.  Attendance is up, there is no media scrutiny, his relationships with executives at YSU remain increasingly positive, and he has really liked coming home.

Beware this week, Southern Illinois, these are not the same Penguins you have beaten up on since 2007.

Andre Elliott is not your average Penguin.  He has responsibilities and pressures that many student athletes do ot have to deal with as a parent.  “At the end of the day I don’t have time for TV and video games, I would rather go and spend time with my kids.  I have a daughter, a son, and a stepson.  I prefer to just go home and spend time with my girl and the kids, that is a good night to me”, said Elliott.  He does manage to sneak a Tweet in now and then, but for the most part, he is one of my favorite Penguins over the past few years and has earned the respect of many with his great on-field skill set.

Paneech: Let’s start with the obvious.  You were a carryover from last year under Coach Heacock, now you are playing for Coach Wolford.  What is the difference between this year and last?

Elliott: They were actually pretty similar.  They had the same goals in mind and have a common goal which is to get back to the playoffs where we used to be.  The difference now is the enthusiasm. Coach Wolford brings a lot of enthusiasm and that rolls over to the players to bring to the field.  When everyone is enthusiastic about the game, we just fly around and have fun.

Paneech: What about position coaches, is there a bigger difference this year than last?

Elliott: They are pretty much different even though they both worked really hard with us.  Last year, Coach K (Kanatzer) did a lot in the film room with us.  This year, Coach Stoops seems like he works harder on the field with us.  They are both pretty tough coaches.

Paneech: You and a few of your fellow Penguins follow paneech.com on Twitter. What is your Twitter ID so we can build you some followers and talk about social media networking and sports.  Who follows you that is big?

Elliott: My Twitter ID is Dre_Elliott2 and  I tend to follow back anyone who follows me.  Donald Jones follows me, the biggest response I ever had was from Kevin Hart, that was about it.  I was active on Twitter early on and it just got old to me, so I fell back, now I am active with it again.  I can easily see it shifting to something else because now my little sister is on it (laughing).

Paneech: You are majoring in Psychology.  If I were an incoming freshman, what teacher should I take and what teacher should I maybe sidestep?

Elliott: I’m looking to finish up in December.  The teacher to take would be Dr. Clayton, I love Dr. Clayton.  I really don’t know who to avoid, I have had classes with mostly all of them and they all came off pretty good.  There are some funny teachers like Dr. Flora that I would also recommend.  The best class I ever took here at YSU though, is fencing.  It’s pretty interesting getting to stab people for no reason (cracking up).  The worst class I ever took was biology, I just couldn’t get into it.

Paneech: It has been said by the players, the coaches, and some of the media that if you guys play the way you did in the first half of the Penn State game that no one else left on the schedule can beat you.  Do you agree?

Elliott: I agree with that.  The rankings really don’t mean much in this conference because every team is a pretty good team and at anytime, anyone in the conference can beat anyone else.  We have to play everyone in the conference as though we are playing for a National Championship.  Being picked to finish seventh burned us, but it is a position we have to earn, and we failed to do that last year, so we have to fight for respect now.

Paneech: Who are you closest with on the team?

Elliott: Probably Brandian Ross, we take pretty much the same classes with the same major.  My brother is actually his roommate so we do hang out a lot.  I am still close with my family and they visit frequently.  My mom just left today to go back to Cleveland and my dad gets down here when he can.

Paneech: If I were a high school senior in Youngstown, what would you say to make me want to go to YSU?

Elliott: There are a lot of things– the coaching staff, the fans, the intensity of the conference, the chance to play for a National Championship.  The school is great and the enrollment has been growing, there is a great support system here.

One Word Answers

Musician That People Wouldn’t Believe You Listened To: Lady Gaga.

Favorite Restaurant: Cheesecake Factory. (Big ups to Dre_Elliott2@twitter.com on that).

Favorite TV Show: Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Favorite Pro Wrestler: Hulk Hogan?

Favorite NFL Player: Ed Reed.

Favorite NBA Team: (pauses) Uh.. Cavaliers, even though LeBron is gone.

Order At Taco Bell: #6  Two chalupas and a soft taco with a strawberry fruitista freeze.

Best Football Move: My spin move coming on a blitz against Western Illinois last year.

Biggest Moment On The Field: 30-yard interception to the house against Northeastern last season.

If You Could Pick Anywhere To Live, Where Would You Go? France.

Adaris Bellamy has emerged in Youngstown.  Anyone who watched Youngstown State’s 31-7 victory over Butler caught a glimpse of a bright future for the running game.  Bellamy, a freshman, was a part of that excitement and showed a small portion of his capabilities on a 25-yard touchdown scamper that put an exclamation point on the win for the Penguins.  Bellamy is fun to talk with, a good interview, and if he plays his cards right, the future of Youngstown State Football.  The Heisman pose (above) may be a bit premature, but the upside of this kid is through the roof.  He shows a killer spin move, but says that comes from instinct, not practice, it looks unrehearsed and more a reflection of his natural ability.

Paneech: You had a deal worked out to play in Florida.  How do you end up in Youngstown, Ohio?

Bellamy: I had an agreement with South Florida that if I went to a prep school and became eligible, I would play there.  Coach Leavitt got fired and they brought in Skip Holtz.  Coach Holtz did not honor my scholarship agreement.  I came here [Youngstown State] on a visit that my little cousin, who was already committed, set up with Coach Wolford. I liked it and ended up signing.  My teammates are like brothers to me and I love the family environment.  I know there are bigger programs I could go to out there, but I couldn’t ask for more.

Paneech: Are you looking forward to November when you could get used to some snow?

Bellamy: (laughing)  No!  Not at all! I wish we could stay in August and September forever.  Not looking forward to the white stuff at all.

Paneech: What was it like to play against a team like Penn State in Happy Valley?

Bellamy: It was major.  For that to be my first college game and to get to play in front of 100,000 plus was an amazing feeling.  I still can’t believe it to this day.  To play as well as we did in the first half, we basically set a target on our back.  As long as we play like that all through the season, we are going to be something very special.

Paneech: Coach Wolford is very intense.  How will he manage keeping you guys calm when there is a bullseye on your backs?

Bellamy: As long as we play more like we did in the first half and not the second half, there isn’t a team in our conference that we should not beat. We have to keep it in our mind to come out and play at our intensity level and not the level of the other team.

Paneech: What NFL running back would you say you resemble on the field?

Bellamy: Either Clinton Portis or Frank Gore. Portis is a power back that can be shifty, which are a couple of the qualities that I have.  Gore can be a power back and can also break tackles, but he can do whatever the coach asks of him.

Paneech: Walk me through the typical day, start to finish.

Bellamy: I wake up off of instinct, I have never owned an alarm.  I get up and brush my teeth and head down for the morning workout.  After that, I take a shower and head off to breakfast check.  I then go to my nine and ten o’clock classes.  My third class is from 11:00 to 11:50 and when it ends I have an hour break to go eat some lunch.  After lunch I head back to the stadium for study table from 1:00 to 1:50.  Our team meetings start at 2:15 and we are usually in there for about 50 minutes then we have to be on the field for practice at 3:10.  Practice runs until like 5:00, 5:05.  We get dismissed, head to shower it up then go to the training table to eat.  After that, I go home to finish whatever homework I didn’t finish at study table, and after that I’m in the bed for the rest of the night.

Paneech: With Southern Illinois looming in the distance, do you guys watch them as the conference favorite or do you only worry about them come game week?

Bellamy: It is something we will worry about when the time comes.  We need to worry about who we have each week and concentrate on winning that game.  We can’t play this week if we worry about Southern Illinois.

One Word Answers

Song People Would Be Shocked To Know You Like: Party In The USA, Miley Cyrus.

Next Favorite Sport: There isn’t one.

Cartoon Character You Would Be: Bugs Bunny.

Best Fast Food: Taco Bell.

What Would You Order In An Omelet: Ham and Cheese.

Biggest Phobia: (long pause) ugh… I don’t even know.

Favorite Drink: Sunkist Orange.

Favorite Animal At The Zoo: Lion.

Worst Habit: I twitch a lot.

Youngstown State University opened the home portion of their 2010 football schedule Saturday.  The opponent for the home opener was the Butler Bulldogs, defending co-champs of the Pioneer Football Conference. Youngstown State rode a very consistent offensive effort to rack up 286 rushing yards on their way to a 31-7 victory over Butler giving Eric Wolford his very first head coaching victory.

The Penguins got on the scoreboard first with 3:35 left in the first quarter.  Jordan Thompson hit pay dirt from eight yards out. Thompson had the last three carries of the drive, covering 25 yards on runs of six and eleven yards before his scoring jaunt of eight yards.  Kurt Hess hooked up with Kevin Watts for 14 yards to start the scoring drive.  Stephen Blose knocked the extra point through to put YSU ahead, 7-0.

YSU added to their lead with 11:22 left in the first half when Adaris Bellamy tallied from five yards out.  The Blose extra point made it 14-0 in favor of the Penguins.  Bellamy had only four carries in the first half, good for 28 yards.

Butler got on the board with a touchdown when Andrew Huck found Jeff Larsen on an out pattern.  The drive was set up on a gadget play when Butler covered 41 yards on a double pass.  Huck took the snap, threw a lateral to Matt Kobli, who found Huck 10 yards downfield, and by himself.  Huck ran the other 31 yards after the catch.

YSU marched almost the length of the field before halftime, but had to settle for a 29-yard Stephen Blose field goal to make the score 17-7 at intermission.

As the second half started, so did the rain. The elements were not enough to contain Mr. Electricity, Dominique Barnes.  Barnes fielded a punt and seemed contained but erupted through a small seam in the middle before getting downhill and racing past the Bulldog coverage for an 86-yard score.  The punt return was the second longest in school history.  Blose knocked the extra point through to put the Penguins comfortably in front, 24-7.

In the fourth quarter the Penguins tacked on 7 more points.  Bellamy, who averaged 10 yards per carry, capped off an 8 play 80 yard drive with a 25-yard run off of the left interior.  With Bellamy, Jamaine Cook, and Thompson, the Penguins showed a versatile selection of backfield weaponry.

The defense played strong too.  Andre Elliott and Brandian Ross were all over the field making tackles.  Butler went to a short passing game in the second half.  Once Huck found a receiver and threw the ball Ross was immediately in the face of the receiver. John Sasson had 10 tackles (six solo) and true freshman Donald D’Alesio had seven tackles with five solo.

For Eric Wolford, it was win #1 as a head coach.  Wolford commented on how he felt notching his first victory.  “It really is different as a head coach.  You win a game 31-7 but you want to win 50-0.  It is special, but as a head coach it is also more stressful.”

Dominique Barnes spoke about the big punt return that took the wind out of Butler’s sails.  “Coach told us we needed to make a big play and we got one.  I have to praise the punt return unit for the great blocking on the touchdown.”  Barnes also commented on the run heavy play calling.  “We showed we can pass last week, this week we showed we can run, it is the best of both worlds.”

Youngstown State (1-1) gained a balanced 286 rushing yards in the game.  Jamaine Cook had 98 yards on 18 carries, Jordan Thompson had ten carries for 65 yards.  Adaris Bellamy had six touches for 60 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Torrian Pace had 9 carries for 39 yards.  Wolford commented on the youth factor at the running back position.  “We have three freshmen and a sophomore that can all get the job done.  The person with the hot hand will get a majority of the touches.”

Butler (1-1) was paced by Matt Kobli who had 46 yards on the ground.  Andrew Huck finished the game 20-32 for 148 yards through the air.