COLLEGE FOOTBALL

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Chaney's Brad Smithexcels at MissouriFanfare:
I am writing to ask where are Brad Smith's headlines?
How can Maurice Clarett, a troubled athlete, qualify for so many columns of print and an exemplary student-athlete like Brad Smith gets so little?
I realize Missouri is not Ohio Stare, but Brad is Missouri's quarterback, a Youngstown Chaney grad and currently this town's finest contribution to college football.
All he gets is a few inches in print, lost among a recap of "other games." He tied the game for Missouri, last Saturday against Middle Tennessee and scored the winning TD in overtime, to make Missouri 4-0 and all he gets is a mention on page 10.
I may be prejudiced in favor of Brad, having had him as a student at Chaney High School, but a more deserving and genuinely fine young man you'll not find anywhere.
I hope you get many more letters exalting Brad, because he has earned it.
Inge Farragher
Youngstown
YSU
Heacock is certainlynot a TresselFanfare:
The good old days doesn't pertain to YSU football.
When the Penguins were known as Youngstown College and Youngstown University, the early years, going to a Penguins' football game was an after thought. If there wasn't anything else going on, you went to the game.
Winning one more game than you lost was considered a good season.
Enter Jim Tressel. Using what was available for years, a wealth of talent from northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania, he turned YSU into a perennial I-AA football power.
He brought pride to the university and the city of Youngstown,
Now when I travel, people refer to Youngstown as that city with a great football program, not Crime City U.S.A.
Unfortunately for YSU, Tressel took it to the next level and moved on to Ohio State University.
Enter Jon Heacock. The Peter Principle personified (Everyone will eventually reach their level of incompetence).
Heacock may have been a very competent assistant coach, but he's not a head coach.
A big deal was made of Heacock having the highest winning percentage his first two year than any other Penguin coach.
Tressel built YSU into a football power and left a solid program for Heacock.
He is quickly tearing down the program, Heacock is indecisive. From game to game you never know who's playing what position.
Play calling is a joke, but the most ludicrous part of Heacock's tenure is his statements concerning the YSU program.
When asked why the Penguins don't dominate anymore, "I-AA programs across the country have caught up to ours."
YSU's program is going in the wrong direction. After the loss to Florida Atlantic (goodbye playoffs again). Heacock came up with this gem, "I didn't know just what they were doing on defense and I probably won't until we see the films."
This from a guy who has been around football all his life and was on the sidelines the whole game. Unbelievable.
YSU, I know finding a Tressel caliber coach is virtually impossible, but at least find us a coach who's decisive and knows the game.
Retro is nice in some things, but let's not let Heacock take us back to the good old days when attending a Penguins' game was an after thought.
Breeze Barrett
McDonald
HIGH SCHOOL
Hubbard football teamis more than Shaun LaneFanfare:
This letter is in regard to the Hubbard High School football team.
Are there not ten other players on the field beside Shaun Lane? Do they not work as hard to contribute to the game? Some are very good too.
But according to the media and press there is only one player out there.
Several players (Hubbard and Liberty game) were injured. Any mention of them in the paper? We did hear and read about Shaun's shoulder injury.
This letter is not written to take anything away from Shaun Lane, I understand that he is a great kid and a team player and he does deserve the publicity and fame.
But let's not forget to give some credit to the other players who work as hard to go out on the field to pave the way for those who get the glory.
Hats off to the entire Hubbard team. Good luck Eagles.
Pat Arguilla
Youngstown