YSU FOOTBALL Terracina eyes big season

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- When Nick Terracina transferred to Youngstown State a year ago, he did so because of the Penguins' football tradition and a chance to play in a national championship game.
The fact that the Penguins also needed a kicker was just icing on the cake.
Things didn't work out the way Terracina would have liked last year, as the Penguins suffered through a 5-7 record and didn't get close to making the playoffs.
Terracina, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior from Lake Charles, La., who transferred here from Jones Junior College, feels the Penguins are on the right track to turning things around.
"I think we did that during this past off-season," he said. "We all got a little bigger and a little faster, and we're right where we are supposed to be right now."
Tied school record
In the 2003 season, his first with the Penguins, Terracina connected on 13-of-17 field goals and tied the school record with a 56-yard field goal at Liberty. He was also 29-of-30 in extra-point kicks.
But Terracina feels that he has a lot of room for improvement.
"I learned a few more tricks watching the NFL kickers this winter," he said. "I noticed that they were leaning the ball more forward on their kicks, which allows them to get a better shot at the sweet spot of the ball."
Terracina said that he and punter Joe Bishop, who also had an outstanding 2003 season, have worked hard in the off-season.
"We got to go down to the dome in Girard at least once a week and kick there," Terracina said.
Support
"Our kicking game is pretty solid right now, and we get so much support and help from kickers Ryan Martino and David Mills and long snapper Tanner Dunlap," he added.
Terracina said that he's been working with holders Aaron Marshall and Tom Zetts on getting the ball tilted a little more forward on his kicks.
"He's such a competitor," YSU head coach Jon Heacock said of Terracina. "You just want him around and hope that some of his fire rubs off on some of the other players.
"He's a good kicker, and he wants to be put into that situation where he has to come in to kick and maybe win the game," Heacock added. "You have no doubts with Nick when that situation arises."
On Sept. 18, the Penguins will travel to Lake Charles, La., to play perennial playoff contender McNeese State.
"That's definitely one of the games that I'm really looking forward to playing this fall," Terracina said. "That one and the playoff games I hope we'll be playing.
"When we go to Lake Charles, it will be an away game for the rest of the team, but it will be a home game for me," he added.
Practice sessions
Saturday, the Penguins held their second practice session, again without pads, which is required by the NCAA.
Today they are scheduled to put the pads on for the first time in a practice for 3 p.m., weather permitting.
"We needed to get those two helmet day practices out of the way quickly," Heacock said. "Now, if the weather gets ugly like it's supposed to Sunday, we won't hesitate to cancel practice and reschedule it for another day."
The Penguins have 29 days to get in 15 practices, including the spring game on April 30.
YSU will hold its first contact practice on Monday at 3:30 p.m., but according to Heacock it won't include the annual "hoot 'n holler" drill.
"We might not hold that until the third week of spring practice," Heacock said.
mollica@vindy.com