YSU eyes 12-game schedule

YOUNGSTOWN -- This must be the month for big rumors to be flying all around the Youngstown State University campus, or at least near the campus and the surrounding area.
The first one swirling is that the Penguins will be playing a 12-game football schedule in the 2007 season.
This rumor could be true, but it still has a lot of roadblocks to clear before anything concrete happens.
Two years ago when Division I-A football voted to expand its season to 12 regular season games for the 2006 season, the Division I-AA schools voted down the measure.
One of the big reasons that this measure was defeated for I-AA is because there were too many schools, such as the Patriot League (especially Lehigh and Lafayette) who do not need the extra money that a 12th football game would bring in.
Well, the measure is back on the board this year and is expected to be voted on again in the fall. YSU is heavily in favor of the 12th game and if enough schools feel the same way, then the division would be able to pass the measure for the 2007 season.
The Penguins should be in pretty good shape financially this coming season with a big money game at Penn State that will generate $350,000 for the athletic department.
They also have a promised date to play Ohio State University within the next two years.
That game could possibly develop into a multi-year deal with the Buckeyes, especially now since OSU head coach Jim Tressel, the former Penguin head coach, has received a new contract extension which will keep him at the university through 2012.
It is very possible that the Penguins and Buckeyes could meet in 2007 and again in either 2008 or 2009. But everything is on hold until the Buckeyes make the final contract available.
No big newsat league meetings
YSU officials spent last Thursday in Indianapolis at the annual Horizon League meetings.
Although there was no earth-shaking news out of the meetings, there was a lot of talk about the league's newest entry, Valparaiso University.
Valpo was one of the original members of the Midwestern Athletic Conference, but has decided to make the move up to the Horizon League and will be a full-time member for the 2007 season.
The Crusaders could have gotten out immediately, like YSU did in 2000, but they were not ready to pay the $50,000 fee for an early exit like the Penguins did.
The addition of Valpo gives the Horizon League another basketball program that has reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, joining current members Butler, UW-Milwaukee, Cleveland State and Loyola.
Slocum busysigning prospects
YSU head men's basketball coach Jerry Slocum has been very busy this offseason as he's already signed four prospects.
Three of them will be eligible for the coming season. They include: Devron Bostick, a 6-6, 210 pound forward from St. Catherine's High School in Racine, Wis.; Vance Cooksey, a 5-11 guard from Marian Catholic High in Chicago; and junior college transfer Chris Booth, a 6-8, 238-pound center from Lincoln Land Community College.
The fourth signee is Sean Morris, a junior transfer from Colorado State. The 6-0 guard will have to sit out the 2006-07 season, but will have two years of eligibility remaining.
There is also heavy rumors that Slocum is very near signing a 6-11, 300-pound center.
Krzystof Janiszewski, a native of Dzierzoniow, Poland, played last season at Birmington Southern University. The school has since dropped Division I basketball and has released all its players to sign with other schools.
Janiszewski averaged 16 points a game and 12 rebounds for the Knights last year, his freshman season.
Ever since Slocum arrived at YSU and for years before under John Robic, the Penguins have lacked a good strong big man underneath the basket.
While there has been no official word from the university about him, Janiszewski could be the player the Penguins have been lacking and has been keeping them from being a serious contender in the Horizon League.
With the likes of All-Conference standout Quin Humphrey and Keston Roberts returning and junior transfer guard Byron Davis becoming eligible this year the Penguins may have the makings for a run at the league title.
Pete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write him at mollica@vindy.com.