COLLEGE FOOTBALL Heacock has good feeling about YSU team

The coach said the Penguins are not going to take Clarion lightly in tonight's opener.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State coach Jon Heacock is excited about the 2002 football team.
Tonight, Heacock and the Penguins make their season debut when they take on Clarion University at 7:30 at Stambaugh Stadium.
Heacock, in his second season, lost 21 seniors from an 8-3 team, including four-year starting quarterback Jeff Ryan, but still feels good about this squad.
Clarion, a Division II team, never has beaten the Penguins in five tries, but Heacock isn't taking his opponent lightly.
"The first game of the season is critical," he said. "It doesn't matter who you play, it's critical. Football is a game of results and numbers, either you go out and do it or you don't."
Senior leadership
Once again Heacock feels that he is blessed with great senior leadership.
"I think these guys are something very special," he added.
With Ryan gone, Heacock will turn to senior Colby Street to guide the offense at quarterback. Street has only started one game in his YSU career, but the Penguins won that contest.
He has a talented group of running backs behind him, led by All-American and Walter Payton Award candidate P.J. Mays at tailback.
Mays, who rushed for 1,446 yards and scored 22 touchdowns last season, is expected to carry the load again this year.
"We've got some guys back there who can carry the football and they all will take care of the football," Heacock said. "P.J. is a very talented player.
Offensive line improves
The offensive line has made great improvement, and the receivers, who will be missing their top threat in senior Jerald Burley, is young but talented.
Burley probably will sit out the opener with an ankle injury, but hopes to be back for next Saturday's contest against No. 11-ranked McNeese State, also at Stambaugh Stadium.
Defensively, the No. 8-ranked Penguins appear loaded for bear, especially on the front line and at linebacker where they have all veteran players returning.
The secondary, which returns only senior Anthony Barone, is young, but again loaded with talented players.
"These kids have worked so hard this past summer and in pre-season camp," Heacock said. "They've done everything that has been asked of them, and as coaches we can ask for nothing else.
Clarion experienced
"Clarion is a good football team, they return 18 of 22 starters and have a lot of seniors coming back who were not very happy about last season," Heacock said.
Clarion finished 4-7 in 2001 after qualifying for the Div. II playoffs the year before.
"They run the wishbone type offense, something that we see very little of and they have a very quick defense," he said. "I also have great respect for Coach Malen Luke and his staff."
mollica@vindy.com