YSU FOOTBALL Penguins set 2006 schedule

Division II Slippery Rock will again be the season opener on Aug. 31.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State director of athletics Ron Strollo announced the 2006 football schedule Tuesday and it probably isn't going to make many fans happy.
The Penguins will again open the season against Division II Slippery Rock on Aug. 31, but Strollo said he had little choice.
The Penguins four-game non-conference schedule will include Slippery Rock, Maine at home on Sept. 9, at Penn State on Sept. 16 and at home against California-Davis on Sept. 23.
Non-scholarship team out
Strollo had been talking with a I-AA non-scholarship school (which he declined to identify), but the school was unable to get out of a current contract and thus Slippery Rock was put back on the schedule.
The Penguins missed out on a berth in the I-AA playoffs last season despite having eight victories (seven against I-AA) and many people believe that it was because of playing a Division II team.
"It's not like we're not trying," said Strollo. "We called every Division I-AA non-scholarship team in the country and offered some very aggressive financial packages at them, but there were no takers."
Sets up future contacts
Strollo said his work on several I-AA NCAA committees have led to some good contacts which he feels will be beneficial down the road.
Strollo was excited about landing UC-Davis for next season and the Penguins will not have to make a West Coast trip in return.
"UC-Davis was co-champions in the Great West Conference last year, they knocked off Stanford and beat Cal-Poly, a I-AA playoff team, and almost beat New Hampshire, the top ranked I-AA team in the playoffs" said Strollo.
The Penguins will play a so-called "money" game against Penn State.
"It's a 'money' game on the road and it is great for our alumni and for our recruiting and even with this we will still have six home games," Strollo said.
Will return in 2008
Strollo said there was a lot of rumors going around about games against Northeastern and Liberty, who both dropped off the schedule next season.
"Northeastern has been very helpful to us as they let us out of a contract next year so we could play Penn State, while Liberty asked out of its contract so it could play a 'money' game against Wake Forest," Strollo said.
"Both teams will be back on our schedule in 2008, at Northeastern and Liberty here," he said.
Strollo said he had no reservations about putting Slippery Rock on the schedule again.
"We have a great relationship with Slippery Rock and they will bring more fans than any other visiting team to the game and they are a very good Division II football team," he said. "The I-AA non-scholarship teams won't schedule them, they would rather play Division III teams."
Rugged Gateway finish
In the Gateway Conference, the Penguins will play the four best teams the final four games of the season, beginning Oct. 21 at home with Northern Iowa, at Illinois State Oct. 28, Southern Illinois at home Nov. 4 and at Western Kentucky Nov. 11.
mollica@vindy.com