Penguins look to continue string of success against Indiana St.

Coaches will wear wrist bands that bring awareness to sports wagering.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State is hoping that the final home game of the season and the final home game for 13 seniors will be enough to help the Penguins end a four-game losing streak this afternoon.
The Penguins will entertain Indiana State University in a 4 p.m. kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium.
YSU (2-6, 0-4 Gateway Conference) does have a seven-game winning streak against the Sycamores (4-4, 1-3 Gateway).
In 13 previous meetings with the Sycamores, YSU has won 12 times, but seven of those wins have been decided by seven points or less, while Indiana State's only victory, which came in 1995, was 13-6 in Youngstown.
Sending a message
Fans will notice that both YSU coach Jon Heacock and ISU coach Tim McGuire will be wearing blue "Don't Bet on It" wrist bands this afternoon while on the sidelines.
The American Football Coaches Association has distributed the wrist bands to all coaches at the Division I-AA level and are to be worn in an effort to bring the sports wagering issue to the forefront of NCAA institutions, the public and media.
The results of a 2003 national study on collegiate sports wagering and associated health risks revealed a disturbing frequency of sports wagering among student-athletes.
The results showed that football players reported taking part in significant infractions of NCAA gambling bylaws at rates slightly higher than other student-athletes.
Gateway roundup
In other action around the Gateway Conference today, top-ranked Southern Illinois (7-1, 4-0) will put its top spot on the line at home against Western Illinois (4-4, 2-2) in Carbondale, Ill.
The Salukis have won two straight from the Leathernecks, who had won 18 straight previously. Last year SIU posted a 37-32 win. Western leads the series 33-12-4.
Western Kentucky, (5-2, 3-1) the No. 2 team in the conference standings, will be at home against Illinois State (4-3, 2-2) in an 8 p.m. kickoff at L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky.
The Hilltoppers have won three straight from the Redbirds and are 4-0 against them at home. WKU leads the series 8-2.
Southwest Missouri State (5-3, 2-2) will be trying to snap a five-game losing streak against Northern Iowa (3-4, 2-2) today at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The Panthers posted a 26-20 win last year in Springfield, Mo., and hold a commanding 20-4 lead in the overall series.
mollica@vindy.com