YSU FOOTBALL Linebacker Sivik anchors 'intense' Penguin defense

The senior has 16 tackles in his first six games.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The state of Youngstown State University football is fine and in good hands.
At least that's the feeling of YSU senior linebacker and co-captain Bob Sivik.
Sivik, the second-year starter at outside linebacker from Mentor, said the Penguins are no different this season under new head coach Jon Heacock than they were under former head coach Jim Tressel.
"If anything, this team might be a little more intense, because Coach Heacock is a more intense head coach," Sivik said.
The 6-foot-3, 243-pound Sivik is enjoying his senior season with the Penguins. In the first six games, he has recorded 16 tackles, 10 unassisted, and four of them in the opponent's backfield.
He also two fumble recoveries and a pass deflection. Last week, he was named the Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Game in the 41-20 win over Southwest Missouri State.
"Structure-wise this team is the same as it's always been," Sivik said. "It is still the same old Youngstown State football, and we are just going to continue to play as hard as we can every Saturday."
With this being his final season at YSU, Sivik said that he thinks about a lot of things as the season progresses.
"I get scared sometimes," he said. "I've been playing football for 16 years and it has been part of my life. When it's over, I'm going to have to figure out something to do. I'm going to miss it, but I plan on making the best of it until it is over."
Sivik came to YSU mainly because of his high school coaches, he said.
"I was having a hard time with recruiting," he said. "I had a lot of [Mid-American Conference] coaches telling me they wanted me, but nothing was happening.
"My football coach was from Canfield and my basketball coach from Girard, and they kind of steered me to Youngstown State," Sivik said. "After seeing what has been happening at Akron and Kent State, it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I love it here."
Although the Penguins have been tough against the run this year, the defense is concerned that teams like Southwest Missouri are able to pass for so much yardage against it, Sivik said.
"Sure it's a big concern," he added. "When we do such a good job against the run, teams are going to have to pass against us and we just have to do a better job or it just isn't going to work."
Saturday, YSU hosts Illinois State University in the school's Homecoming game at 4 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Redbirds come into the game winless in six games, including an 0-3 record in the Gateway Conference.
"Our defense was totally disappointed a couple of weeks ago at Northern Iowa, but thankfully we went back to the basics and worked hard and have bounced back from that loss. Now we just have to continue to progress and become better football players," Sivik said.
"Illinois State is a good football team, they have a big strong offensive front and we have to be prepared and be ready for them."
The Penguins have a 5-1 record, 3-1 in the Gateway, and are ranked No. 5 in the latest SportsNetwork I-AA poll.
The YSU Athletic Hall of Fame will induct eight new members at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Kilcawley Center. The ceremony is open to the public, and tickets are available by calling the YSU ticket office at (330) 742-1YSU.