COLLEGE FOOTBALL

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Huntington restaurantlauds YSU, fansFanfare:
My name is Randy Short and I am the store manager of the McDonald's located beside of the Marshall football stadium. I attended the YSU vs. MU game and was extremely impressed with the play of the Penguins. Your fans that visited my store before the game were very nice to have, as it reminded me of the times that you shopped during our earlier matchups. Your fans and football team is a class act and are to be recognized for displaying a wonderful attitude while visiting our town. However, I am very upset that Division I-AA could not find a place for YSU in the playoff system. I hope that someone raises their concerns also. The way that YSU played against the Herd only showed me as a football fan that YSU should represent the country as the premiere I-AA Team. Thanks again for your wonderful fans and GO YSU!
Randy Short
Huntington, W.Va.
Lack of judgment, yes,but not warped values
Fanfare:
I am responding to sport's writer Tom Williams editorial last Sunday where he accused Steve Bellisari of having warped values for being charged with a DUI before the OSU-Illinois game.
Although I agree that the events of Sept. 11 have truly affected our nation, and that we should be thankful to live in the USA where we are free to participate and attend sporting events, I disagree with his assessment that both Steve Bellisari and Jim Tressel did not appreciate the seriousness of the offense, and thus shamed their positions of quarterback and coach.
He made a mistake and was charged with a misdemeanor and not allowed to participate in Senior Day and the two biggest games of his career. Coach Tressel's punishments were reasonable and the kid paid the price. It wasn't a lack of values, it was a lack of good judgment.
Louis Schiavoni
Joseph Schiavoni
Youngstown
QB Jeff Ryan of YSUis praised for efforts
Fanfare:
One of the current NASCAR drivers has been dubbed "Mr. Excitement" for his aggressive driving style.
After watching YSU's Mr. Excitement, Jeff Ryan, play his final game Saturday night against Marshall University, I would like to thank this young man for his efforts the past four years.
I am sure my sentiments are echoed by countless thousands of Penguin fans. If Heisman Trophies were awarded for "the old college try," Jeff Ryan would get my vote. While I single out No. 17, I know that YSU's success this or any year depends on a total team effort.
Don Balser
Youngstown
Harvard football fansays coverage lacking
Fanfare:
I was stunned by the insubstantial reporting in Sunday's Vindicator of the score of the Harvard-Yale Game where merely the score "Harvard 35, Yale 23" appeared in the listing of Eastern Colleges on page C-7.
I compared the Vindicator's coverage with that of another Ohio newspaper that headlined "Harvard completes rare perfect season," and went on to set out that Harvard completed its first perfect season since 1913, and is the Ivy League champ in the 118th playing of the game.
I would hope that Harvard gets better treatment from the Vindicator next year.
Vincent E. Gilmartin
Youngstown
PREPS
Several Girard seniorsdidn't get into the game
Fanfare:
While I was home for several weeks this fall, I attended several Girard High football games. Girard is my Alma Mater and I was appalled at the fact that three or four seniors never got on the field. Not even on special teams! There is absolutely no excuse for this. The talent on the field was not so outstanding that these boys would have ruined the game. I even heard that some of them might have contributed to a win in several instances.
Aside from that, given the choice, I think any player and his parents would rather get to play and perhaps not win rather than win and not play.
If these coaches had any heart or brains they would have found a way to play their seniors. Girard needs better coaches!!
Rozanne Horner
Campbell
Ursuline will reboundfrom 'tattletale' attack
Fanfare:
Ursuline (football team) forfeited four games. Why? Because of a clerical error? Inflexible rules? Cheating?
No, I submit it was a "tattletale attack," one of the lowest forms of attack. Once initiated the attack is irreversible. In its wake, it leaves bitterness, anger, revengeful feelings and the total effects are unknown for years.
What type of individual conducts "tattletale attacks?" FBI profiles show that generally these individuals have: tight shorts or collars that restrict proper blood flow causing them to make poor decisions; they have poor vision that causes them to only look into the past, and finally they have been bitten by an Australian bee and contracted the sorry "wanna bee noticed" disease. These are unfortunate individuals indeed.
From this "attack," Ursuline's young men and coaches will grow. And as they rebuild, they will be stronger for it.
Raymond J. Petras