Archive for the ‘YSU Football’ Category

Ron Strollo has known Jon Heacock for almost half of his life.  According to Strollo, YSU’s Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, they spent more time with each other than they did with their own families over those years.  Strollo addressed the media at a special press conference on Monday and spoke about a host of issues including why Heacock chose to step down, who will be considered for the vacancy, and what factors will finalize the decision.

Heacock surprised many on Sunday when he announced that he would be resigning.  Being only the fifth head coach in Youngstown State University’s history, the decision was surely a tough one because of his obvious passion for both the football program and the university.  Strollo claimed that had Heacock not voluntarily stepped down, that he would have been heavily evaluated.  Strollo also commented on the recent turn of events saying, “We talked last week.  I knew it was something he was considering.  I spoke with him yesterday about an hour before he spoke to his team and staff.”

Strollo commented that the assistant coaches are under contract until February.  When asked if the staff will be somewhat retained, Strollo remarked, “They will have opportunities to speak with the new head coach.  However, it would be hard to hold a head coach accountable if you tell him who his soldiers are.”

This search will be like no other because there is little time to work with.  Strollo noted that the candidate they will be looking for should have Division-I coaching experience, have alot of energy, and be devoted to a busy recruiting process.  He also said that many schools, unlike the Big-10, are still playing their regular season out and it would not make sense to bother anyone while they are doing their job elsewhere.  Once the time is right, the field would be narrowed.  Strollo admitted talking to an old friend, Jim Tressel, about the sudden turn of events.  “I talked with Coach Tressel yesterday.  I asked him if I could bounce something off of him.  He told me when we get to a final group that he would be happy to give his input.  The advantage that we have is what Tressel gave.  Because he made a successful transition to Ohio State, it makes this job more attractive.”

Many coaches at the higher level have agents, some who have already called to inquire about the vacancy.  Names will not be released because it is not the intent of YSU to damage the reputation or pride of any candidate.  Heacock was the lowest paid coach in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and Strollo said that the pay for the new YSU Coach will be contingent on the qualified candidate’s experience.

The reality of it is there will be mad speculation over the next few weeks.  The Youngstown rumor mill will be busier than GM in saying why or why not on every single name brought up.  I asked Strollo after the press conference if Charlie Weiss was on his list.  He semi-chuckled and said affordability would be an issue.

Some of the more realistic choices on my unofficial list are Mark Snyder, who is probably going to get canned at Marshall by Christmas.  Rick Shepas, a former YSU player who is coaching football at Waynesburg.  Anyone named Stoops who is not a head college coach, or anyone named Pellini or Mangino (I am playing the hometown name association card here).

The whole press conference was sad.  Strollo and Heacock are both quality people.  They are cut from the same mold in so many ways and neither guy was a “win at any cost” type.  They both valued a student’s education and emphasized that what a student-athlete does after the games are over with their lives is what matters most.  Strollo is a class act, he said Heacock will have no problems at all finding employment based on his reputation.  Heacock knows that there are expectations that he was not meeting.  It is an amicable split where hopefully both parties benefit in the long run.

Youngstown State Football Coach Jon Heacock formally resigned his head coaching position on Sunday, just 24 hours after a terrific road win that sealed a winning season.  To say that Heacock just did not care would be the furthest thing from the truth. 

Heacock came on board in 1992 as the defensive coordinator for Jim Tressel.  When Tressel left Youngstown State to accept the Ohio State University job in 2000, Heacock was selected to be the new head coach of the Penguins.  The switch would ultimately draw constant comparison to the Tressel days, a record nobody would have an easy time duplicating.

Tressel made the Division I-AA playoffs 10 times in 15 seasons while at Youngstown State.  He also won the big prize, a national championship, four times in those 10 appearances.  Heacock only got into the playoffs in 2006, and leaves YSU with a 60-44 record.

“I’ve known Jon since my senior year on the football team in 1991, and he has always been a genuine, caring person for the Youngstown State program and the community,” said Ron Strollo, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.  “I would want Jon, as well as our fans and supporters, to know that we appreciate the tremendous challenges and expectation of being the Head Football Coach at Youngstown State.  He fulfilled those duties in a manner that would make every Penguin fan proud.  Our best wishes and gratitude are extended to Jon and his family for their many sacrifices on behalf of this institution.”

Heacock, the conference coach of the year in 2005 and 2006, will have success somewhere else.  Look for him to accept a defensive coordinator position at a different school for next season, perhaps a major Division I program in the Midwest.

The thing that made Heacock genuine to so many was his very strong moral and faith based attitude.  His players are proof that ‘buying in’ to what Heacock was teaching was never hard or abrasive.  Senior Brian Mellott even commented in a recent interview, “To see some of the people who came here until the time they left was quite a transition.  I am not badmouthing anyone, but you should have seen some of these guys when they first got here.  Their behavior and attitude were transformed into respectability, and that is a testament to him [Heacock].”

Sometimes a move like this benefits both parties.  It marks a fresh start for the institution as well as the people seperated from it.  Hopefully, Heacock can prosper from this seemingly mutual divorce and succeed at some capacity wherever it is that he lands.  Also, Youngstown State, suddenly a school in transition, can select the best replacement as the last bolts of the Jim Tressel era come off of the machine, or are they?

In a season where the expectations were high so high at the start, the ending somewhat lived up to its advertised billing.  Youngstown State rallied from an 11 point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat North Dakota State, 39-35, at the Fargodome.

Youngstown State scored first as Marc Kanetsky, who started the game at quarterback for Brandon Summers due to shoulder soreness, connected with Donald Jones from five yards away staking the Penguins to a 7-0 lead at the 10:59 mark of the opening quarter. 

Pat Paschall, the leading rusher in the Missouri Valley Football Conference coming into the game, tied things up when he went over from one yard out.  Paschall will be an NFL back next year and finished the day with 140 yards on 27 carries.  Hard to believe, but the 140 was below his season average of 150+ per game.  The touchdown came at the 12:33 mark of the second quarter and John Obarski’s extra-point attempt was good for the Bison, 7-7 at the dome.

On their next drive, Youngstown State reclaimed the lead when Summers found Dominique Barnes for a 6-yard touchdown.  Stephen Blose split the uprights for the extra-point with 7:14 left in the first half to give the Penguins a 14-7 lead.

Paschall scored from a yard out for the second time in the game with just under five minutes remaining in the opening half to again knot the contest at 14. 

Youngstown State finally got a big play on special teams as Lenny Wicks returned a blocked field goal attempt 79 yards for a touchdown with just over a minute left in the half.  The Penguins, however, would yield a game-tying touchdown when Bison QB Jose Mohler found Warren Holloway for a 21-yard scoring connection.  At the half, this one was all tied up at 21 apiece.

The Bison struck first in the second half at the 6:08 mark of the third quarter.  Matt Veldman hauled in a 27-yard toss from Mohler.  With the PAT successful, the Penguins were on the wrong end of a 28-21 score.

The Penguins managed to get three points in the opening minute of the fourth quarter as a red-hot Stephen Blose nailed a 28-yard field goal to cut the lead to 28-24.

Paschall would give the Bison a seemingly comfortable cushion as he scored his third touchdown on the afternoon, this one a three yarder.  With just under eight minutes, Youngstown State began their unforgettable march to vicory.

The three amigos, Aaron Pitts (#83, left), Dominique Barnes (#29, middle), and Donald Jones (#81, right) have been awesome all year.  Summers has found these three receivers and the offense seemed to be at its best when the ball was headed their way. 

On this particular Saturday, the trio would show their value as they (along with Summers) spearheaded an amazing comeback.  With 5:13 left in the game, Pitts would be the first to step up as he caught a fourth down, four-yard touchdown pass from Summers.  The touchdown made the score 35-30 in favor of North Dakota State.  YSU lined up for the two-point conversion, which was a success when Summers hit another essential cog in the machine, Kevin Smith, for a two-point completion making the score 35-32.

The YSU defense was on fire as they forced the Bison to run three plays and punt.  YSU then started a fantastic drive to really exclamate what could have been.  Summers had several tosses to Jones to move the ball at a rapid rate on both of the last two scoring drives.  Barnes then got to relish in the glory when Summers found him for the go-ahead points with just 22 seconds left in a wild finish.  Blose kicked the extra point to give YSU a four point lead.

North Dakota State had a shot at the end zone on the last play of the game , but YSU’s Scott Sentner picked off the Bison scoring effort to end the game.

Youngstown State was paced by Kevin Smith who had 101 yards on the ground.  Summers finished the game with 259 yards and three touchdowns.  Jones caught 10 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.

North Dakota State got 238 passing yards out of Mohler along with a couple of touchdowns, as well as a pair of interceptions.  Paschall finished with 140 rushing yards and a 5.2 average on 27 carries.  Holloway caught three Mohler passes for 88 yards and a TD.

Youngstown State (6-5, 4-4) completed the season in unbelievable fashion.  North Dakota State (3-8, 2-6) Coach Craig Bohl will surely want to put this season behind him.  It must be noted that Youngstown State took several more chances and opened up the playbook in the last couple of weeks.  The result of those two games were 63 offensive points (the six by Lenny Wicks on the blocked FG don’t count).  

Congratulations Senior Penguins!  I salute you for not throwing in the towel and exhibiting class under the worst of times.  No fingerpointing, no excuses, and no bickering really made this bunch special to cover all season.  The positions you are leaving will be tough to fill in the future.  All twelve of you are competitive winners, you had the respect of the players under you, the coaching staff, and at least one sports journalist.  Good luck with your futures and thanks for the good memories this season!

Jerry Olsavsky has been at Youngstown State University since 2003.  Over that span, he has worked with many young men teaching them his craft, being a good linebacker.  Olsavsky was a standout at Youngstown Chaney and later had success at Pitt.  Olsavsky spent nine years in the NFL as a Pittsburgh Steeler after being selected in the 10th round by the Rooney family.  He retired in 1998 while with the Baltimore Ravens.  To talk with Olsavsky is like talking to your neighbor about anything.  He is still a very humble and quiet guy yet has the respect of those he coaches.  I recently caught up with Olsavsky and enjoyed hearing his take on everything from linebacker terminology to aspirations of being a head coach someday.

Paneech:  Growing up on Youngstown’s West Side, you did well at Chaney.  Why can’t that school field a competitive team anymore?

Olsavsky:  I think it is because alot of people have left the city.  The population just isn’t what it was and when you have fewer families, you have fewer good athletes.  I was on the tail end coming up, when you have names like Cavanaugh and Calcagni, you had four kids in a family who could play.  I don’t know how important athletics in the city are anymore.

Paneech:  It seems real important at Mooney and Ursuline.  Do you think these Catholic Schools should have their own division come playoff time?

Olsavsky:  I think that those schools have a great tradition.  One of the reasons why we were successful at Chaney was because we had Mooney first on our schedule and that drove me.  I believe that if they are good that they are doing something right over there.  I commend everything that they accomplish and as far as some of the rumors about what goes on in the Catholic Schools go, I don’t have anything to do with it.  I know in bigger cities like Philadelphia, they have a Catholic League, but you have got alot more people.  Ursuline is Division Five, so that is really a smaller school.

Paneech:  Talk to me about the transition from Chaney to Pitt.

Olsavsky:  Chaney to Pitt was about a two day transition.  My second day at Pitt, I got blocked by a guy who would later go on to play in the NFL for 12 years.  So at that point you either had to improve and get better or go home. 

Paneech:  How different was it playing for the Steelers than the Pitt Panthers ?

Olsavsky:  That was more of a quicker thing.  It was not as big of an adjustment of going from high school to college.  The speed factor was the difference in going from college to the NFL where you are going against nine guys who were all really good college players.  That’s a big difference, you start to think, man, all of these guys are fast.  In college we would play Notre Dame, and they would have six really good players, on a lesser team, you would have two or one, then when you get to the NFL, its like, wow, there are nine guys that are really good. 

Paneech:  Do you stay in contact with any of the guys you played with at any of the three levels?

Olsavsky:  I see some of the guys from Chaney once in the while.  I’m coaching and I have three kids, so it is tough.  I have a couple of friends from Pitt that I try to keep in touch with also.  It is a little easier with the Steelers because I will go to camp and see a couple of guys there.  I was there for nine years, and that is longer than both of the other places combined.  I try to keep in touch with Coach Berdis and Mr. Matte once in the while, as they were both great role models and teachers for me.

Paneech:  How have you enjoyed coaching at Youngstown State and who was the best linebacker here that you got to work with?

Olsavsky:  I enjoy coaching here.  My players listen to everything that I say, so I have their respect and we try to have fun.  I think football is fun regardless, whether it be doubles, running sprints, in the weight room, or in the classroom, it is just fun to compete.  I think my guys do that for me.  Sometimes they slip up, sometimes I slip up and make mistakes, but it is a great learning process that has helped to become a better father and husband and I love it.  I love being here in Youngstown because it is a mecca of football.  People come to the games and may not know what defense is called, but they do know if it is good or bad.  It is a high standard, but when you have 20,000 people holding you to it, you feel the presure and also the desire to be a great team.  My best linebacker was probably James Terry.  Na’eem Outler can be a great one.  Another one, a local kid, was Marty Hutchinson from Newton Falls.  That’s two kids from Virginia and one just up the street from Newton Falls.  You are a local guy and you get around these people from other areas and you learn that you can still compete, that’s why Youngstown is such a special area.

Paneech:  Try to explain why linebacker terminology has changed from simplistic as Middle LB and Outside LB to the more confusing Mike, Will and Sam.

Olsavsky:  It all comes down to players.  What can the players do?  If you have three guys, a Mike, Will and Sam, and run a 4-3 and they play well off of the line, then you call them Mike, Will, and Sam or Middle, Weak, and Strong.  When you have a fourth linebacker like we did in Pittsburgh, what do you call that other guy?  Are you going to call him Willis?  It’s just football always evolving but it still all comes down to who blocks and who tackles the best.

Paneech:  Explain what this year has been like with Coach Heacock running the defense.

Olsavsky:  The best thing about coach [Heacock] is that he keeps it simple for the kids.  The kids, in turn, can focus on execution because they don’t have so many jobs to do.  Last year, as guys got hurt, you had to keep put younger guys in.  It really got to be difficult for the kids to handle all of that.  So this year, we sat down and shot at keeping it simple.  We would sit down on Tuesday and it was like, okay, what don’t you like, what do you like.  That is what it is about, keeping it simple and letting your players play.

Paneech:  Do you ever see YSU on a larger, grander scale someday, perhaps Division-I?

Olsavsky:  I really don’t get caught up in those levels.  I felt like when we went on the field with Pitt, that we could compete against them.  We have 22 less scholarships, and that is their [Pitt’s] whole first team.  As far as facilities, administration, and fan base, we are right up there.  I haven’t seen a game at Kent or a MAC School, but we feel we are comparable to them.  They play in bowl games and are on TV week in and week out.  Here, you will always have fans who appreciate what they have here, we will always have a good fan base.

Paneech:  Do you have plans to someday branch out and try your hand at being a head coach?

Olsavsky:  Right now I want to be a head coach at the family level.  That’s the most important thing to me right now – my wife and kids.  To be a head coach and have 63 kids in addition to what you have at home is something that I can’t envision right now.  Down the road, I would love to.  In any good organization, it always comes down to the leadership.  When I was with the Steelers, there was great leadership and they still have it, and that is where you get to be a great organization.

Paneech:  Do you regret not accomplishing anything as a player or coach?

Olsavsky:  I regret not winning a Super Bowl, and maybe I could have been a better player in the NFL.  I think I was satisfied with my accomplishments in high school.  In college, I did what alot of people didn’t think I could do.  In the NFL, it’s a little different, it’s a business, and I thought I could have been a better NFL player.

One Word Answers

Favorite Flavor Of Handel’s Ice Cream:  Chocoholic Chunk. 

Biggest Phobia:  Snakes.

Worst Habit:  Too bossy sometimes.

Favorite Flavor of Chicken Wings:  Belleria Ranch.

Nicest Thing About Youngstown:  The people.

Favorite TV Show:  NFL Football.

The One Toy You Cherished As A Child:  My train.

Favorite Color:  Blue.

Favorite Holiday:  Christmas.

Who Is Weirder ~ Punters or Kickers?  (long pause)  Kickers.

Favorite Current NFL Player:  Adrian Peterson.

Sport To Watch When Football Isn’t On:  Basketball.

Even though this game can not aid either team to win a conference championship or vault into the playoffs, it somehow holds meaning.  Youngstown State University (5-5, 3-4) heads to Fargo, North Dakota in hopes of ending the season with a winning record.  The Penguins will have no easy task facing the North Dakota State Bison (3-7, 2-5).

This only marks the fourth time these two teams will square off.  The last time YSU played at NDSU was in 1972 when Ron Jaworski was the Penguins QB.  Last season Youngstown State took a 32-24 victory over the Bison.  North Dakota State was ranked #2 before dropping last year’s contest at Stambaugh Stadium.

The game is also significant because it marks the final chance for twelve special players wearing a Penguin uniform to leave one last impression.  The seniors want to win badly to recoup some sense of salvation to a season which started with so much promise and hope and finish with a winning record.

Coach Heacock stressed that this game will be prepared for just like any other.  “We rebounded in this last one.  We are 5-5 and have an opportunity to get our sixth win.  We will just keep grinding.”

On North Dakota State, Heacock stated stopping the run, in particular Pat Paschall, is paramount to this weeks success.  “They have a running back [Paschall] who is real good and they like to line up and run the football.  They do a nice job setting up play-action off of their runs.  Their tailback is something, he can take it the distance at any time.  I would guess that he is a pro prospect.  We have to match-up and try to stop them.” Paschall has 1,257 yards in 9 games and is averaging 7 yards per carry.  His 139.7 yards per game average is the best in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Penguin kicker Stephen Blose is coming off of his best week of the season with three field goals in the 30-18 win over Illinois State last week.  Blose commented on the mood of the team.  “The team is positive and it feels great coming off of a win.  We get down on ourselves after a loss, but we always had to prepare.  After a win, this week is no different.  We need to take advantage of opportunities when we get them.”

The Penguins and Bison kickoff at 2 p.m.  Tune in to AM-570 with Bob Hannon and Dick Hartzell at 1:30 as they preview the game and provide the call on all of the action.  The weather does not matter this week as the game will be played indoors at the Fargodome.

Penguin Facts

• WR Dominique Barnes has caught a pass in 22 straight games.  Donald Jones has a reception in 20 consecutive games.
• LB Draye Ersery made 11 tackles against Illinois State.  In the 17 games prior to that one, he had a total of 10.
• The last time YSU had two players rush for 100 yards in a game was aginst North Dakota State last season.  Kamryn Keys had 146 yards, and Jabari Scott added 120.
• North Dakota State MLB Preston Evans leads the Bison in tackles with 88, 43 of which are unassisted.

On Senior Day, the weather and general atmosphere on the sidelines was warm. It was nice to see the Senior Penguins with their parents before kickoff as they were recognized for their outstanding efforts as Youngstown State athletes.  Coach Heacock stressed all week that it was about this Senior class to succeed in this game, to find ways to involve them into the gameplan in a positive fashion.  They all seemed to contribute.  Pictured are two of the Seniors, Aaron Pitts (left) and Mychal Savage (right).

In what looked to be an even match on paper, Youngstown State and Illinois State were not playing for a championship or a postseason berth, but rather for pride.  The Penguins dug into the cupboard of forgotten plays and tried some new wrinkles on offense. Some of the results were good, others needed to stay in the cupboard. The result was a 30-18 Youngstown State victory.

Youngstown State took their opening possession on their own 14-yard line. The Penguins marched 45 yards in 12 plays to allow Stephen Blose a 45-yard FG attempt. Blose was successful on the attempt, and at the 4:37 mark, YSU held a 3-0 lead.

Coach Heacock rolled the dice and tried an onside kick that the Penguins recovered and the Penguin offense went back to work. Brandon Summers hooked up with Donald Jones for a 30-yard completion, but the Penguin drive stalled and Senior Ben Nowicki buried the Redbirds on their own 5.

The first quarter would come to an end with Youngstown State ahead 3-0 and driving. The Penguins stalled around the Illinois State 19 and were forced to take another Blose field goal to increase their lead to 6-0.

YSU tried a second consecutive onside kick that the Redbirds recovered. The Illinois State offense cashed in on the good field position as Zach Kutch connected from 41 yards out to cut the Penguin lead to 6-3 with 11:11 remaining in the first half.

A scenario the Penguins have become accustomed to this year came back to haunt them. The Redbirds Bert Whigham came up the middle almost untouched and blocked Nowicki’s punt. The ball rolled right into the end zone but the converging Redbirds were unable to come up with the recovery for a touchdown and YSU was lucky to give up a two-point safety. Weird score as YSU still lead 6-5.

The free kick following the safety further exposed the kryptonic special teams play of Youngstown State as Illinois State’s Ben Erickson returned the kick all the way to the YSU 40. Four plays later, with 8:03 left in the half, Cliffton Gordon scampered four yards to paydirt and just like that YSU was behind 12-6.

Southern Illinois caught the onside kick fever and tried their own, unsuccessfully. When the YSU drive appeared to stall and Blose kicked a field goal of 22 yards, a penalty of roughing the snapper set the Penguins up on the three. On the next play Kevin Smith got into the end zone for a 3-yard score and Blose knocked in the extra point to give YSU the lead back at 13-12.

Zach Kutch connected on a career-long 49-yard field goal to give the Redbirds a 15-13 lead with just over a minute left in the first half.

Blose tried to give YSU the lead back on a 42-yard attempt to end the opening half. The kick was blocked and the special teams hamster race continued. Halftime at the Ice Castle, Redbirds 15, Penguins 13.

Youngstown State finally got a big play. Dominique Barnes hauled in a 55-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Summers. Youngstown State held a 20-15 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Redbirds effective kicker, Zach Kutch was again clutch, this time from 42 yards. The field goal shaved the Youngstown State lead to two points as they clung to a 20-18 lead.

Not to be outdone, Stephen Blose connected from 37 yards away to vault YSU to a 23-18 lead. For Blose, his third field goal capped his most productive day on the season.

At the 9:32 mark of the fourth quarter, Donald Jones caught a Brandon Summers pass from 8 yards away. YSU moved the ball 56 yards in 2:35 in increasing their lead to 30-18. Summers was 2-2 on the drive for 25 yards and a 3-yard run.

The Redbirds had a little left in the tank, but YSU was able to keep them out of scoring range and kept the score where it was to seal the victory.  Final score, YSU 30, Illinois State 18.  With the win, the Penguins improved to 5-5 and 3-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.  Illinois State fell to 5-5 and 4-3 in the conference.

YSU was paced by Brandon Summers who finished the game one yard short of a career-high with 346 passing yards on 25-38 passing.  Kevin Smith (pictured) had his third one hundred yard game of the season and finished with 136 all-purpose yards.  The deadly duo on the sides clicked again as Donald Jones caught 7 balls for 105 yards and Dominique Barnes hauled in 8 for 122 with each scoring a touchdown.  Aaron Pitts chipped in with 68 receiving yards on three catches.

The Redbirds Freshman Quarterback, Matt Brown, finished the game 32-49 for 328 yards.  Cliffton Gordon carried 18 times for 58 yards, and TE Cody White had a career-high day with 6 receptions and 76 yards.

After the game, Coach Heacock again praised this Senior class.  “It was a special day for them.  We had a nice breakfast with the parents and loved ones this morning.  They came out and played hard and it was great to see so many of them play their hearts out.  Of all the Senior plays today, none was bigger then Ben Nowicki preventing Illinois State from scoring a touchdown on the blocked punt.”

One of the brightest spots in covering YSU football this season was the chance to speak with Brian Mellott.  Mellott is very intelligent, in fact, he graduated in August.  He is loyal to Coach Heacock and the YSU system and feels he has come out a better person.  Brian is one of just twelve Seniors who will be playing one last time in front of the Youngstown State faithful.

Paneech: Coming out of Austintown Fitch, you went to Ohio University.  You redshirted in 2005 and transferred to YSU.  Why the transfer?

Mellott: It just wasn’t for me down there.  I never really felt comfortable and got hurt on the very first day of camp.  I had surgery and was out of the loop.  I never felt like I was really part of anything there [Ohio University].  These guys [YSU] were winning back home.  There are friends and family here and that is how it all kind of worked out.

Paneech: When you got to YSU, you were a defensive lineman and now you are an offensive guard.  How did that happen?

Mellott: We lost an All-American Center, Ryan Jewell, during my Redshirt Freshman year.  They [coaching staff] were looking for a guy to try it.  They approached me about playing center, which I was at first, unsure about.  It ultimately came down to playing and I got that chance, took it, and never turned back.

Paneech: You have flirted with an overall GPA of 4.0.  What do you attribute your academic success to?

Mellott: Just showing up in class every day and paying attention.  My parents stressed to me when I was young to take advantage of all of the opportunities you will get.  I have got to be here anyways, so I may as well take advantage of it.  I realized that I was ahead of schedule and realized I might be able to get more use out of my scholarship by continuing.

Paneech: When did you graduate and what are you doing with your days now?

Mellott: I graduated right around the time of the second jersey scrimmage, sometime in August.  I have about 11 hours of the 32 that I need in for my MBA.  I will finish it up in July.  These days I am able to get some rest, I sleep a little bit longer.  I prepare for the week, watch films, and receive treatments if I need them.  After football practice, I go straight to class four nights a week.

Paneech: How much salvation can this team get out of winning these last two games?

Mellott: Well, that’s all that is left now.  It’s all about pride and how you want to go out.

Paneech: This group of Seniors is really unified.  I don’t see any fingerpointing, bickering, or hear any excuses for the somewhat average record.  How frustrated are you to know that this team has still not played a complete game?

Mellott: I couldn’t sit here and try to put it into words.  When you sit back and look at some of those games, you just wonder what could have been.  It will not help us beat Illinois State.  We will have time in two weeks to reflect and do that.  Our goal now is to play four solid quarters so we can look back and say, hey, we went out with a bang.

Paneech: Looking back at four years here as a player, which team was the most fun to be a part of?

Mellott: It was definitely 2006, just because of the winning.  I kind of got spoiled by that situation.  They had 27 Seniors that season.  We worked hard every year I was here.  That team [2006] had alot of guys who were making plays.  I was lucky to be along for the ride.  I wasn’t expected to play in any of those games, but I traveled with the team, it was almost like a vacation every week.  I got to watch and see alot of things and I got in here and there, but the whole playoff thing was an amazing experience.

Paneech: There is alot of references at the press conferences about the 2008 team and the internal problems that existed.  How bad did it get last season?

Mellott: I wouldn’t even say you could pinpoint one thing.  We lost Mychal Savage real quick and people don’t realize, maybe next year they will, that his presence carries alot of weight around here.  His presence on the field makes guys more accountable.  I think losing a guy like that hurt alot.  Then you have guys quitting, and that divides the team somewhat.  As young as the team is this year, we were even younger last year.  When you have alot of young guys, the focus shifts, the losses snowball, and it just is not a good situation.

Paneech: When does a press conference, where so many negative questions get asked, become an annoyance?

Mellott: It was annoying at the first one I did, where the negative questions started popping out.  The other two were not as bad.  When I walked into the press conferences, I told myself that I would not sidestep any questions.  I don’t think it is annoying, and I understand that it is the jobs that you guys have to ask the hard questions sometimes.  As a Senior, it is my job and provide a solid answer that not only the reporters can understand, but also the fans.

Paneech: Being a local guy, how would you convince athletes to attend YSU instead of going somewhere bigger?

Mellott:  I made that mistake when I went to OU.  If you are being recruited by a big school, 9 times out of 10, you are going to go.  The things that are making schools popular these days are: Do you have a sponsor, how many games are on TV, is there an indoor practice facility, and the material things drive the signings.  I wasn’t at OU long, and I am not bashing them by any means, but I just never felt right being there.  It’s a genuine family-type atmosphere here, and that is hard for a guy coming out of high school to appreciate or understand.

Paneech: Much has been said lately about Coach Heacock and maybe it being time to go.  Do you think he will be asked to come back?

Mellott: I pray he will be asked to come back.  I don’t see how you can take a guy like that and not be able to show him off as an asset to your team.  People around here don’t realize how lucky we are to have a guy like that.  He puts time and effort in that you couldn’t ask for.  He has two kids and a wife who miss him at home.  The winning has not been around the last couple of years.  This season he took a more hands-on approach by taking over the defense, and from last year to this year, you would be crazy to not give him the credit.  I don’t think that it is fair and that they would be cutting themselves short to get rid of him.  I dont think it is called for and there are always going to be peaks and valleys, but that is your guy, so you have to stick with him.  It bothers me that I am a part of the reason that he is in this situation.

One Word Answers

Favorite Board Game: Monopoly.

Favorite Flavor of Handel’s Ice Cream: Cookie dough.

Best Show On Television: (long pause and a laugh)  SportsCenter.

Favorite Holiday: New Years Eve.

Best Musician Out There: Tim McGraw.

Worst Habit: Saying “Uh and Um” too much in interviews.

Favorite NFL Team: Dallas Cowboys.

Favorite NFL Player: Jason Witten , Jay Ratliff.

Best Area Pizza: Wedgewood.

One Word To Describe The Season: Frustrating.

One Word To Describe Tax Season: (hardest question I asked) Exciting.

Dream Car: Escalade truck.

This week is a special week for 12 individuals who will be playing in their final home game ever at YSU.  Saturday’s game pits Youngstown State University (4-5, 2-4) against Illinois State University (5-4, 4-2) in the home finale for the Penguins.  It also marks Senior Day, a celebration of the hard work put in by the leaders.  Parents and friends will come out to see YSU Seniors give it one last go at The Ice Castle.

The twelve YSU Seniors are a pretty unique group.  Not once this entire season have I heard a Senior on this team make excuses or point fingers of blame toward underclassmen, coaches, or each other.   They have won and lost as they should, a unified team.   I can see why these twelve are so special and respected by those learning from them.  Paneech.com congratulates this very unique and tight-knit group of young men for striving to be leaders on and off the field.

The 12 Seniors:

• Kevin Smith, Brandon Summers, Draye Ersery, Dana Brown, Lenny Wicks, Jabari Scott, Ben Nowicki, Brian Mellott, Donald Jones, Aaron Pitts, Crispin Fernandez, and Mychal Savage. Congratulations Seniors! Not for the wins and losses, but for never quitting, playing hard, and most importantly setting an example for the future.

So Saturday marks the end for some.  Illinois State is no free lunch either.  The Redbirds have continued to improve all year and run a wide open offense that YSU has not been used to seeing much of this season.  Coach Heacock was complimentary of the Redbirds saying, “They have alot of things in the arsenal.  They play with alot of emotion and seem to just get better every week.  We have to play a great game to win this week.”

Heacock seems to genuinely like this group of Seniors.  “There is no more important of a week than Senior Week.  It’s all about these 12 seniors this week.  There is nothing like it, and it is a game they will never forget being a part of, their last game at home.  We, as coaches, want to find ways to get them all on the field.  We used to start all of the Seniors, some out of position, but we had more than 24 a few years back, so that tradition doesn’t exist anymore.”

To hear Senior Brian Mellott talk about Heacock proved that the respect is mutual.  “Coach Heacock is here 18 hours a day battling for his life right now.  He handles things with class and dignity.  I’m not badmouthing anyone, but when some guys got here, the transformation they underwent as people under Coach Heacock was very obvious.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the early forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a high of 58 degrees.  The game will also be televised on tape-delay on MyYTV with Chad Krispinsky and Chris Burch.

Penguin Notes

• Last year, Illinois State won a wild one, 54-44, at Hancock Stadium.
• The series is tied 9-9 and is seperated only by one point (446-445) in favor of the Redbirds.
• Illinois State Coach Brock Spack makes his initial appearance against Youngstown State.
• The last time YSU had a 60+ yards passing touchdown was last season against Illinois State when Brandon Summers hit Donald Jones for a score.  It was also the last time YSU went over the 500-yard mark for a game.

Eric Rodemoyer has been the best offensive lineman that YSU has had in awhile.  He has played in seven of YSU’s eight games this season.  In those seven games, he has been named the Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of The Week six times.  The only time he did not win that award was last week when he was named the offensive player of the game, and you can’t win both.  Rodemoyer is dominant, and he credits his success to hard work and dedication.  The 6’2, 280 lb.,  Junior wants the 12 Seniors to go out on a good note. 

 Here are the highlights of my conversation with Eric Rodemoyer:

Paneech:  Talk about the transition of playing for small Kennedy (PA) to signing with West Virginia.

Rodemoyer:  Kennedy Catholic is a small school, Single-A, which is the smallest there is in Pennsylvania.  The biggest difference was going from playing smaller Single-A kids at Kennedy to facing Division-I athletes at West Virginia.

Paneech:  What did and didn’t work for you as a Mountaineer and how did you like playing for Rich Rodriguez?

Rodemoyer:  I loved playing for Coach Rodriguez at West Virginia.  I’m a Rodriguez guy and the thing that worked for me was that I went in there [WVU] working really hard and I was coachable, which was what worked best for me.  The hardest thing was just adjusting to Division-I football.  You had to up your game and have perfect technique at that level.  In high school, I was bigger and would just dominate guys.  Now you go against guys that are just as big and just as athletic. 

Paneech:  Do you like playing much closer to hom?

Rodemoyer:  I love being closer to home.  Me and my mom are real close and that’s one of the biggest reasons I chose Youngstown State. 

Paneech:  Explain how you can win offensive lineman of the week for six consecutive weeks and offensive player of the game last week.  Is the rest of the offensive line struggling or are you just playing that good right now?

Rodemoyer:  I think everyone is working really hard.  I just come in every day and work hard and watch films.  I come in with the attitude that I want to play my best football and whether I win lineman of the week or offensive player of the week doesn’t matter.  I am just worried about coming in, working hard, and winning football games.

Paneech:  How hard is it to stay motivated when you can’t go to the playoffs or win the Missouri Valley Football Conference championship?

Rodemoyer:  Now we are just playing for these Seniors and playing for pride.  I think if that isn’t enough to play for, then you shouldn’t be playing football.

Paneech:  Have you declared a major yet or are you still trying to figure out what you want to end up majoring in at YSU?

Rodemoyer:  I’m in the School of Business and I am going to get my degree in Management with a minor in Marketing.

Paneech:  How disappointed are you with the results on the field this year?

Rodemoyer:  I think you just have to keep working hard.  As long as everyone is working as hard as they can and studying as much film as they can, you can’t be mad, you just have to keep playing your hardest and victories will come.

Paneech:  Next season, will you be ready to take on a Senior leadership role?

Rodemoyer:  Without a doubt.  I think that is one of the things I am looking forward to in this coming off season.  There are six Junior linemen and I think we all have to step it up and be Senior leaders, but I am going to try to stand up and be the number one leader if I can.

Paneech:  Walk me through a day in the life of Eric Rodemoyer from start to finish.

Rodemoyer:  I get up around 8 and eat breakfast, walk to Kilcawley for breakfast check then I go to class at 9:30.  I come back from class at 10:45, eat a little bit, come over here to the stadium and watch about an hour-and-a-half of films.  I then go to my next class at 12:30 until 1:45, then I walk up to the stadium for practice and get out of here at about 6.  Then I go home and eat dinner and start on my homework.

Paneech:  At Monday’s press conference, Dana Balash of WFMJ was asking everyone who spoke what kind of grade they would give this team on the season.  To steal Dana’s question, what grade would you give this team?

Rodemoyer:  We’re 4 and 4, that’s about five hundred, so I think in a classroom that’s a C.

One Word Answers

Favorite Flavor Of Chicken Wings:  I don’t eat chicken wings.

Favorite Holiday:  Christmas.

Best Show on TV:  SportsCenter.

Yearly, How Many Times Do You Go See A Doctor:  Never.

Biggets Phobia:  Spiders.

Favorite Kind of Music:  Rap.

Favorite NFL Team:  Steelers.

Favorite NFL Player:  Hines Ward.

Kim Kardashian or Pamela Anderson:  Pamela Anderson.

American Idol or Survivor:  Survivor.

Worst Habit:  Biting my nails, but I quit recently.

Best Friend:  Rob Fernback.

“Everyone wants ‘THE’ answer, if it was that simple, teams would never lose.  I have been in this business a long time and I don’t believe that there is ever an answer to ‘THE’ problem”, was what Coach Jon Heacock had to say when asked why the seemingly talented team he coaches can’t register wins or finish games in a favorable manner.  Last week, Youngstown State (4-4, 2-3) dropped a hard-fought contest which was again decided by a couple of mistakes.  The loss came at the hands of #9-ranked South Dakota State.  This week, the train of hard stops continues as YSU travels to Cedar Falls to face a very good Northern Iowa (5-3, 3-2) team.

If Northern Iowa sounds familiar to the casual fan, it is because they almost beat Iowa University in the opener for both schools this season, but ultimately lost by one point to the still-perfect Hawkeyes.  The Panthers then rattled off 5 straight wins before consecutive losses to Southern Illinois and South Dakota State.  Northern Iowa is now fighting for its own postseason privelages and YSU is in the unfamiliar role of spoiler.

Northern Iowa is paced by the play of Pat Grace at QB.  Grace is a 6-2, 240 pound Senior with plenty of big game experience.  Grace completes about 63% of his passes and has 17 TD’s through the air this season.  The Panthers also feature a pair of speedy receivers, D.P. Eyman and D.J. Hord, who have combined for 1,000 receiving yards on the season.  Coach Heacock was complimentary of the Panther attack saying, “They throw it down the field.  We will have to defend the run and keep the deep ball to a minimum because they [Northern Iowa] don’t need any help.”

YSU QB Brandon Summers expressed how Youngstown State feels about not going to the playoffs by saying, “We’re disappointed and we’re heartbroken.  We want to win the last three games because it’s not how you start but how you finish that is important.”

When asked what kind of grade he would give his team for the year, Heacock responded, “You didn’t get an ‘A’ so you didn’t pass the test.  The playoffs were the goal this season, and we are not going to be in the playoffs and that is unacceptable.”

Senior WR Aaron Pitts (pictured, #83, left) said says YSU owes the Panthers a little.  “We don’t give up.  We have got to be ready for Northern Iowa.  We lost to them by one point in each of the last two years.  We want to go in there and get it done.”  Pitts was making a reference to last year’s 21-20 loss and 2007’s 14-13  loss at Nothern Iowa. 

Penguins Notes

• Northern Iowa has won 15 of the last 18 games against YSU.
• The last time Youngstown State won at Northern Iowa was 1999 and they are 3-11 all-time at Cedar Falls.
• YSU Freshman Taylor Hill posted a career-high 12 tackles in the loss to South Dakota State.
• UNI Coach Mark Farley is 80-31 and has never lost to Youngstown State (8-0).

The game kicks off at 5:05 and will be aired on AM-570 with Bob Hannon, Dick Hartzell, and Robb Schmidt on the sidelines.  The air team hits the dial at 4:30, so be sure to tune in.  The weather has no bearing this week because the game will be played at the infamous UNI Dome.