NCAA rule changes schedule

When the Youngstown State University football players report for the start of the 2003 season on Aug. 3, they will be introduced to an entirely new practice schedule, thanks to the NCAA's newest rules revision.
This year the NCAA will require its football members to begin drills with five one-a-day sessions, including the first four without full pads.
Then, after those five single practices, teams can begin two-a-day workouts, but must alternate daily between two-a-days and one-a-days for the entire practice session.
YSU coach Jon Heacock isn't overly excited about the new rules, but he hopes to make the best of the situation.
Report Aug. 3
The Penguins report for drills on Aug. 3, and their first session the following day will be for fitness tests. The night of Aug. 4 will be media day, in which fans also are invited.
"We will than practice Tuesday through Thursday in the afternoon in just shells [helmets and shoulder pads], and our first full pad practice will be on that Friday [Aug. 8] in the afternoon," Heacock said.
The Penguins will begin their two-a-day workouts Aug. 9 with a 9 a.m. session, and then return at 7 p.m. for the second set.
"All of our two-a-day sessions will be morning and night," Heacock said. "We play our first five games at night, so we might as well take advantage of that and work out at night.
Heacock said that each two-a-day workout will be followed by a one-a-day session the next afternoon.
The night sessions should be especially pleasing to area fans who are not able to make the morning or afternoon practices.
Pleased so far
Heacock said that he's been pleased with the workouts this summer.
"We've had 45 guys here almost every day and we expect that number to increase over the next month as we get closer to reporting day," he added.
Heacock said sophomore quarterback hopeful Aaron Marshall has responded well from his ankle fracture suffered in spring practice, and is working out daily.
He also reported that senior offensive center Nick Roberts, who missed all of spring practice to concentrate on academics, is in summer school and doing well.
"He had a slight injury that he received moving some furniture and we don't know the extent of it, but we expect him to be ready to go come August," Heacock said.
Heacock also said that he wasn't surprised that the Penguins have been ranked as low as fifth in pre-season Gateway Conference rankings.
Young team
"I don't know that it surprised me," he added. "We're so young and most of the other schools all have loads of kids returning. It's about what I expected."
In the six previous seasons, the Penguins never have been picked lower than third place in the Gateway Conference coaches poll, which will be announced later this month.
Western Illinois is expected to be picked No. 1 as they return almost everyone from last year's conference championship team which lost to Western Kentucky in the I-AA playoff semifinals.
"They've got almost everybody back and had six or seven pre-season All-Americans," Heacock said.
12 from league picked
In recent selections to the Sports Network I-AA pre-season team, the Gateway Conference did well, landing 12 players on either the first or second team and as honorable mentions. The Big Sky Conference led the way with 14 players.
Western Illinois had two first team selections and three on the second team. Quarterback Russ Michna was named honorable mention.
"It's going to be an interesting year in the Gateway," Heacock said.
XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.