YSU FOOTBALL Bracken is All-American hope

The senior strong safety is the only returning starter in the Penguins' secondary.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- In three seasons with the Youngstown State football team, Mike Bracken has played in every game.
This year, his senior season, the 6-foot, 215-pound strong safety is being touted as a preseason Division I-AA All-American.
Bracken, a native of Imperial, Pa., and a graduate of West Allegheny High School, is the only returning starter in the YSU secondary.
In 2003, he finished tied for second on the team in total tackles with 86 and solo tackles with 47. His 10 tackles for losses were tops on the team.
He also had one sack, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and four pass breakups.
Team went 5-7
But as good a year as he had, the Penguins still finished with a disappointing 5-7 record.
"From the day that last season ended, Coach Heacock has been telling us that if we want to get better we have to play with more enthusiasm," Bracken said.
"I think that it's been obvious the first two days we've been out this spring that we've been much more enthusiastic than in the past.
"We didn't play with enthusiasm last year, and the team feeds off enthusiasm," he said. "When you play with enthusiasm, you play well, you play hard and you play fast."
Only one back
Bracken isn't concerned that he's the only returning starter in the secondary, which also lost assistant coach and defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis, who left last winter to take a similar position at Kent State.
"That's not a concern," said Bracken. "We have so many really talented players back there this year. They may not have been starters, but they saw a lot of game time experience."
He mentioned players like Jason Perry, Herb Jones, Brandon Pavone, Bob Perez and Tony Lawrence.
He's also been impressed with new secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator, Mike Kolakowski, who joined the Penguins this season.
"They're good, they're enthusiastic and they are going to make us better," said Bracken.
Expects turnabout
Bracken said that the team expects to turn things around this season.
"The talent is here and we were embarrassed last season, so we're kind of looking forward to making a big improvement this year," he added.
He said that he felt the team had a good winter conditioning program.
"But I'm willing to bet that most of the top teams in the country all had good winter conditioning programs," he said. "Now it's what you do with what you gained over the winter that counts."
Bracken, who will be entering his third season as a starter and will be looking to earn his fourth varsity letter, said that talk about All-American honors is not important.
"Any awards that you receive are always nice," he said. "But the most important thing is to go out every day and do whatever it takes to make yourself and the team get better."
Practice
The Penguins called off practice on Sunday due to the weather, but were expected to resume practice today at 3 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Penguins are also scheduled for practice Wednesday at 3 p.m. and Friday at 3:30 p.m. before taking four days off for the Easter holiday. They are scheduled to resume drills April 14 at 3 p.m.
The first jersey scrimmage will be held April 16 at 3:30 p.m.