YSU

YSU
Haese familyenjoyed Penguins
DEAR FANFARE:
We have traveled to five countries and 20 states from our home in De Pere, Wisconsin, backing our son Craig and the YSU men's basketball team these past four years.
We encountered many folks throughout the land who were from the Youngstown area or wanted to know about the area. However, our fondest memories will always be our trips to Youngstown.
At the games, the fans in Sections 13-14-15 were so supportive. We were always greeted with a smile from the Beeghly staff. Be proud Youngstown, you have one of the best college basketball forums in the country, especially the scoreboard.
The relationships we developed with the other families, players, coaches, staff, media and close boosters will last a lifetime. Thanks for allowing us to share this special time with you.
You can't image the number of Wisconsinites who listened to YSU basketball and followed the stories and statisitics over the Internet. Thanks for giving our friends and families the opportunity to share this information.
We encountered so many great people while dining, lodging or simply stopping for a refreshment after the game. Special thanks to our favorites at Fairfield Inn, BW3's and the South Avenue Roadhouse.
Finally, thanks to the Administration at YSU for making this possible and the media for positive reporting and support of YSU basketball, and especially to the sponsors, fans, and boosters for financially providing the means to make this possible.
Thanks also to the academic staff for having the patience to work with the athletes when missing class time.
Thanks to Coach Robic, his staff and their predecessors for enduring the ups and downs of Division I basketball with class and dignity.
A special thanks to the athletic training staff (JD, you are the greatest) for treating injuries (both physical & amp; mental) and for filling the void for guidance and counseling to these young athletes who are away from home.
As we close this chapter in our lives, you can count on the YSU flag flying proudly in Wisconsin on future game day. There will always be a special place for YSU in our hearts!
Carl and Carol Haese
De Pere, Wis.
Writer believesYSU should stay put
DEAR FANFARE:
I am writing in response to the gentleman who wrote about YSU getting into the MAC conference.
I would have to agree with Coach Tressel's analogy of it's better to be a big fish in a small pond then to be a small fish in a big pond.
Just take a look at the MAC teams: Marshall with an 11-0 record and ranked 25th in the nation and Toledo 10-1 last season and not getting a bowl bid. So, what kind of recognition does the MAC get?
I believe that probably 90 percent of the YSU fans are happy with the team right where they are. So, I think that the people complaining about YSU remaining in the I-AA should just stop complaining because the schedule, for the most part, is quite competitive.
Also, but not to be thought of as an afterthought, I wish to extend a thank you to Coach Tressel for everything he did here for us and to wish him luck at Ohio State.
And to Coach Heacock, we are all behind you and are confident that you will keep up the winning tradition at YSU.
Rick Nittoli
Youngstown