Football practice is Aug. 7
YOUNGSTOWN -- In less than two weeks, Youngstown State University's first-year football players will be reporting to Stambaugh Stadium for fall drills.
All freshman candidates and most of the team's transfer players will report on Aug. 6 and will hold their initial workout on Aug. 7 at Stambaugh.
The remainder of this year's team will report on Aug. 8 and the full team will hit the practice field for the first time on Aug. 9.
Jon Heacock begins his fourth season as the YSU head man and he's looking for major improvements over last year when the Penguins suffered their first losing season since 1998 when they dipped to 5-7. The Penguins also endured their first losing campaign in the Gateway Conference, where they finished 3-4 and fifth place in the standings.
Tuesday, Heacock will fly to St. Louis with senior defensive back Mike Bracken and Sports Information Director Trevor Parks to take part in the Gateway's annual preseason media day.
Bracken and possibly senior place-kicker Nick Terracina, may be the only two Penguins to receive pre-season recognition when the conference announces its picks on Tuesday.
Back in the pack
And don't look for the Penguins to be picked much higher in the preseason poll of coaches and media contacts than they finished last year.
Defending champion Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa are expected to be the top choices, followed by Western Kentucky and Western Illinois.
Depending upon the vote, the Penguins could be picked ahead of Illinois State in fifth place, or behind them in sixth place.
The only teams they're assured of being ahead of are Southwest Missouri State and league doormat Indiana State.
There have even been rumors that the Sycamores are thinking about pulling out of the Gateway and going to Division I-AA non-scholarship football.
The Penguins should be a better football team than they were a year ago, but that will depend on how healthy they remain during the year.
The keys to the Penguins success this year will lie with the offensive line and quarterback on offense, and the defensive front and secondary on defense.
The offensive front was battered and bruised a year ago, but that enabled several young players to get some playing time. The front line was impressive in the spring.
In all of YSU's past runs at the NCAA I-AA national title, the offensive line was a major factor.
Since Jeff Ryan graduated after the 2001 season, the Penguins have had uncertainty at quarterback.
Junior Aaron Marshall has spent most of the past two seasons as the No. 1 signal caller, but the offense has shown no consistency with him. True, Marshall has not had much help from a injury-riddled offensive line, but the Detroit native has not made a lot of good decisions back there.
Quarterback battle
Marshall is expected to get a serious challenge from freshman redshirt Tom Zetts of Boardman, who missed all but two quarters of last season with a broken collarbone.
It was the second straight season Zetts had suffered the same injury in the same place. Zetts is expected to take over the starting job providing he stays healthy.
Defensively, there are question marks up front and in the secondary. The defensive line could be much improved as long as it stays healthy, but two starters missed all of the spring practice.
Bracken is the only legitimate returning starter in the secondary, which appears to lack size and speed and was burned too many times against its own offense this spring.
The Penguins open the season Sept. 2 against Division II Slippery Rock at 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
Tickets on sale
Next Monday, individual game tickets go on sale at the YSU ticket office. There are six home dates and ticket prices remain $8 for general admission and $12 for reserved seats.
Season tickets remain on sale through the ticket office located in Stambaugh Stadium.
The YSU Athletic Marketing officials are currently renting hospitality tents for the home season. To rent a tent or get tickets, call the YSU athletic department at (330) 941-1YSU.
Fans don't want to forget the annual YSU football picture day is Aug. 11 at 4:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.