Seven Penguins were put on the pre-season All-Conference team.

Seven Penguins were put on the pre-season All-Conference team.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ST. LOUIS -- It's amazing what a little success will do for a football team.
Youngstown State surprised some people a year ago when it won a share of the Gateway Conference football championship, posting a 5-2 record in the conference and an 8-3 overall mark.
At the annual Gateway Conference media day Tuesday, YSU was picked as the second-best team in the conference this season and seven Penguins were named to the Gateway Preseason all-star team.
Senior offensive center Ryan Jewell of Warren and senior defensive back Jason Perry of Warrensville Heights, who represented the Penguins at the media day, were two of the seven all-conference selections.
Five Penguins were selected on the defensive side of the ball.
"We had a pretty good year and with everybody we have coming back, it doesn't surprise me that we had five players picked," Perry said.
Joining Perry on the team were sophomore defensive lineman Mychal Savage, junior linebacker James Terry, senior defensive back Codera Jackson and senior punter Joe Bishop.
Jewell and senior tailback Marcus Mason were the offensive selections.
"We really haven't gotten much respect from the league lately, so I guess two guys on the offense isn't too bad," said Jewell.
Special selection
Jewell said the selection was special because it came from coaches he's played against.
"It's a real honor that they feel that I played well enough for them to put me on the preseason team," he said.
"We still have to go out and play the games and if we don't do it well it won't mean a whole lot what kind of honors we got in preseason," Jewell said.
Both players can't wait until the season begins, which will be in just over a week as the team reports Aug. 3 and practice begins Aug. 4.
"We've had a great summer," said Perry, "and our senior participation has been very close to 100 percent. Everybody is excited and can't wait to get going."
Rankings
The Penguins were selected No. 2 in the preseason poll behind Northern Iowa, which finished runner-up in last season's NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.
UNI drew 22 first place votes out of a possible 32 and 239 total points, compared to the Penguins' seven first place votes and 208 points.
The rest of the voting showed Illinois State (2 first place votes) 190, Southern Illinois 160, Western Kentucky (1) 141, Western Illinois 103, Missouri State 79 and Indiana State 32.
YSU coach Jon Heacock, who begins his sixth season, was pleased with his team's ranking.
"It's a lot more fun being there then where we've been the past few years," he said.
"But, it is still a pre-season poll and looking back through the years in this poll only two teams who were picked to finish second have ever gone on to win the title," Heacock added.
"At Youngstown State the expectations don't change no matter where you are picked," he continued. "You're expected to win the Gateway every year and make the playoffs. We haven't done that since I've been head coach.
"Although we've had some lows in recent years, it's certainly is nice to be ranked No. 2 this year," Heacock added.
Heacock praised his 27 seniors, 15 of whom are in their fifth year.
"These seniors are going to have to become different people once the season begins and we feel that we have the group to do that," he said. "Senior leadership is priceless."
The Penguins will open the season Aug. 31 against Slippery Rock at 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
mollica@vindy.com