NOTEBOOOK | YSU vs. Western Kentucky

No. 1 Penguin: Youngstown State University president Dr. David Sweet and his wife Pat were part of the Penguins' traveling party this weekend in Bowling Green, Ky. Saturday morning Dr. Sweet was seen picking up newspapers in the hotel lobby. "They've got us as the favorites and I don't want the kids to be reading that," he said.Going big time: Western Kentucky will move to Division I-A next season, going into the Sun Belt Conference, but won't be eligible for league honors or bowl games until 2009. The move hasn't been totally accepted by the WKU student body, which voted against moving up. Probably one of the big reasons is that the students are going to be charged an addition 60 per semester to help pay for the 37 million stadium renovation and the additional 25 scholarships.Second best: Monquantae Gibson's 43 carries against the Hilltoppers was the second-most carries in YSU history. Only the 46 carries by Tamron Smith in a YSU playoff game in 1991 against Samford was higher than Gibson's effort.Out of action: Three YSU starters did not play, including senior tailback Marcus Mason because of injuries sustained in last week's game with Southern Illinois. Mason, senior fullback Demetrius Ison and junior linebacker James Terry, all made the trip and were dressed, but did not play.Still going: Senior wide receiver T.J. Peterson extended his consecutive game streak of catching at least one pass to 22 with his three receptions against the Hilltoppers. Peterson and junior tight end Louis Irizarry have both caught a pass in all 11 games this season.Defense: Senior linebacker Marty Hutchinson again led the YSU tacklers on defense with 11 stops including eight solos and also had two pass breakups. Senior Jason Perry added seven and an interception and junior linebacker Rashod Cotton had four stops and two of the team's three tackles for losses.Up next: The Penguins have finished regular season play and must now sit back and wait for the NCAA Division I-AA selection show on ESPN2 Nov. 19 to find out who they will play in the first round of the playoffs. The Penguins have not been in the playoffs since 2000.
No. 1 Penguin: Youngstown State University president Dr. David Sweet and his wife Pat were part of the Penguins' traveling party this weekend in Bowling Green, Ky. Saturday morning Dr. Sweet was seen picking up newspapers in the hotel lobby. "They've got us as the favorites and I don't want the kids to be reading that," he said.Going big time: Western Kentucky will move to Division I-A next season, going into the Sun Belt Conference, but won't be eligible for league honors or bowl games until 2009. The move hasn't been totally accepted by the WKU student body, which voted against moving up. Probably one of the big reasons is that the students are going to be charged an addition 60 per semester to help pay for the 37 million stadium renovation and the additional 25 scholarships.Second best: Monquantae Gibson's 43 carries against the Hilltoppers was the second-most carries in YSU history. Only the 46 carries by Tamron Smith in a YSU playoff game in 1991 against Samford was higher than Gibson's effort.Out of action: Three YSU starters did not play, including senior tailback Marcus Mason because of injuries sustained in last week's game with Southern Illinois. Mason, senior fullback Demetrius Ison and junior linebacker James Terry, all made the trip and were dressed, but did not play.Still going: Senior wide receiver T.J. Peterson extended his consecutive game streak of catching at least one pass to 22 with his three receptions against the Hilltoppers. Peterson and junior tight end Louis Irizarry have both caught a pass in all 11 games this season.Defense: Senior linebacker Marty Hutchinson again led the YSU tacklers on defense with 11 stops including eight solos and also had two pass breakups. Senior Jason Perry added seven and an interception and junior linebacker Rashod Cotton had four stops and two of the team's three tackles for losses.Up next: The Penguins have finished regular season play and must now sit back and wait for the NCAA Division I-AA selection show on ESPN2 Nov. 19 to find out who they will play in the first round of the playoffs. The Penguins have not been in the playoffs since 2000.