YSU FOOTBALL Barone embraces leadership role

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State senior defensive back Anthony "Toner" Barone isn't quite sure how to handle his final season of football.
Barone, the only returning defensive backfield starter from last season, can't believe how fast the first three years have gone.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound free safety from Mooney High has been a mainstay in the YSU defensive backfield the past two seasons.
He has started every game in those two seasons and last year, when the Penguins posted an 8-3 record, he was the team's third-leading tackler with 65 total hits, including 27 solo stops, an interception, a fumble recovery and six pass deflections.
"It's all been happening too fast and now I can just about count the number of days that I have left here for football," Barone said.
"In previous years it was always the thought that next year was still ahead, but now there is no next year. This is it."
Changing roles: Barone was the Penguins' leading punt returner his freshman and sophomore years, but returned only one kick last year.
His role on this year has changed considerably, especially among the young defensive backs he'll have surrounding him.
But there won't be any more pressure on him, he said.
"I definitely have to become more of a leader this season," Barone said. "These guys are working very had this year, but I'm there to help out in any way I can.
"I don't think I have any additional pressure put on me, because we have so many great seniors returning on defense," he continued. "I certainly don't feel that I'm all alone back there."
Barone said that the young players will be ready.
"We've got some great young players moving up and we've all had a great winter and we'll be ready for the task ahead," he said.
No excuses: Last season the Penguins were disappointed by not getting a berth in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs and Barone said that the team's motto for this year -- "No Excuses" -- says it all.
"We left our fate in somebody else's hands last year; this year we don't plan on taking any chances," he said. "We want to win the Gateway Conference. We've got all those championship titles and no Gateway title, that's our first priority."
Barone's position coach is defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis, now in his fourth season with the Penguins. Rekstis agrees that Barone's leadership in the secondary is a key.
"He's the only senior coming back in the secondary and that's going to be critical," Rekstis said. "It's important to have experience at every position, but back there it's even more critical.
"Anthony is not only going to have to be a great player, but he's also going to have to be a great leader."
Thursday the Penguins worked out in full pads, but it was a non-contact session, one of four they are required to have. Today they were to hold their first jersey scrimmage of the spring at 3 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
mollica@vindy.com