Penguins winning like 1999

Watching this year's Youngstown State football team in action somehow brings back memories of the Penguins' 1999 season.
The Penguins have come from behind twice in the last three games to pull out victories, and maybe they weren't quite as exciting as some of those wins in 1999, but the scenario could become the same.
That 1999 team started the year slowly and just kept getting better, but still struggled to pull out key wins. They fed off each victory, just like this year's team has.
Each victory bringsmore confidence
YSU coach Jon Heacock said Saturday the win over Western Illinois was the impact from the victory over Illinois State two weeks earlier.
"They are building confidence every week and they believe that no matter what they can get the job done," he said.
Someone asked Heacock if he feels that this team now has the confidence to go all the way in the Gateway and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2000.
"I really don't know," he said. "Right now it is enough to just concentrate on one game at a time, especially in the Gateway Conference where every game is a battle.
"I know this; that the only team that we are really concerned about is us," he said. "The kids believe in themselves and that puts us in the right direction."
Performance lacking,but end result the same
The Penguins weren't as sharp as they've been the last two weeks, but they still got the job done and found a way to win, just like that team back in 1999.
Both the offense and defense struggled at times against the Leathernecks, but even though the defense gave up over 400 yards they played impressively.
The offense struggled, but when they needed the big play they got it and the results showed on the scoreboard.
Everybody, including the Penguins, knows that their toughest games are still ahead of them, starting Saturday with Missouri State.
Two straight road games against Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois will be no picnic, as well as the regular-season finale at home against Western Kentucky.
That team back in 1999 had 10 victories by a touchdown or less, including two in the NCAA Div. I-AA playoffs that got them to the national championship game.
The Penguins are still a long way from Chattanooga and the national championship game. In fact they are still a long way from the end of this season, but with the confidence building each week we can just feel that the Penguins are ready to make a run for the roses.
Maybe there might even be a first-ever Gateway title, but Heacock and the Penguins aren't even thinking past Missouri State this week.
The game with the Bears is also the homecoming game and the Penguins are 47-16-1 in homecoming games in the past.
Maine only newopponent in '06
Although this season is far from over athletic director Ron Strollo has been working hard toward filling up next season's schedule.
There will not be a big money game against a Division I-A school on next year's schedule.
In fact, the only new face on next year's slate will be the University of Maine, a I-AA team from the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Black Bears will be coming to Youngstown next season.
The Penguins again will open the season with Div. II Slippery Rock and will have a return engagement against Northeastern of the Atlantic 10 at Boston.
Liberty University will be back in Stambaugh Stadium to round out the non-conference schedule.
Strollo said that he's still not certain just where each team fits into the schedule and he also indicated that there will be some changes in the Gateway schedule next year also.
XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.