YSU FOOTBALL Penguins to begin spring drills

Youngstown State's first workout will be Friday at 3:30 p.m.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The last time Youngstown State had a losing season in football, the Penguins won the national championship two years later.
The Penguins, who begin spring practice Friday at Stambaugh Stadium, feel they again are capable of turning things around quickly.
YSU suffered a 5-7 finish last year, including a 2-5 record in the Gateway Conference, its first losing season since joining in 1997.
It was the program's first losing season since 1995, when the Penguins finished 3-8 under coach Jim Tressel. After an 8-3 finish in 1996, the Penguins won the NCAA Division I-AA national championship in 1997 with a 13-2 record.
Coaches remember
Jon Heacock, beginning his fourth season as coach of the Penguins, was defensive coordinator during the 1997 season, as was offensive coordinator John Klacik.
"It's been done here before," Klacik said. "I've seen it done here, but it will take a complete effort on our part. That 1997 team was solid on offense, defense and special teams. This group still has a long way to go."
The Penguins made another big turnaround after the 1998 team finished 6-5 and lost four of its last six games. The next season, the Penguins were back in the national championship game, losing to Georgia Southern.
YSU hasn't been invited to the I-AA playoffs since 2000.
Returning veterans
The Penguins return 16 starters and about 10 others who started at least one game. YSU was hard hit by injuries last season and some of those players earned starting jobs by default.
Offensively, there are seven returning starters, not including junior tailback Josh Cayson, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound speedster who led the Penguins in rushing (135 carries, 707 yards) and scored four touchdowns.
The starters include junior quarterback Aaron Marshall, who has started most of the games the past two seasons. Last year, the 6-3, 223-pounder passed for 1,316 yards and 12 touchdowns.
QB battle expected
Marshall will be challenged by freshman redshirt Tom Zetts, who missed all but one game a year ago with injuries, and freshman redshirt transfer Vince Gliatta, who comes to YSU from Penn State where he was a defensive back. Last year's backup, Matt Rycraft, will begin spring drills at quarterback, but probably will be moved to wide receiver.
The Penguins also return their top receiver -- 6-0, 165-pound junior Kyle Smith who had 29 catches, averaged 18.3 yards per reception and scored three touchdowns.
Senior tight end Mike Roberts, who also had 29 receptions last year, joins three returning interior linemen: junior tackle John Bartos (6-3, 295), senior guard Norris Kennedy (6-2, 305) and sophomore center Ryan Jewell (6-4, 276). Each missed some time because of injuries.
Sophomore Pat Walker (6-5, 288) and junior Tony Limongi (6-0, 265) saw action last season on the line.
Six defensive starters return, but All-American candidate Mike Bracken (6-0, 215, senior) is the only experienced player in the secondary.
Strength at linebacker
Yancey Marcum (6-1, 235, Sr.); Brandon Brown (6-1, 250, Jr.), and Mike Andrews (6-1, 220, Jr.) give the Penguins strength at linebacker, while Matt Briggs (6-4, 255, Sr.) and Nate Baston (6-1, 257, Sr.) are the only returning starters on the defensive line.
There are also two new assistant coaches -- co-defensive coordinators Dana Chambers and Mike Kolakowski.
The kicking game should be solid again with senior placekicker Nick Terracina and sophomore punter Joe Bishop.
Terracina converted 13-of-17 field goals last year, including a school-record tying 56-yarder against Liberty. He was 29-of-30 on extra points.
Bishop averaged 40 yards per punt and had 19 inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
mollica@vindy.com