Olsavsky, Vogt face off on sidelines

YSU's spring football game kicks off tonight at 7:30 p.m.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The head coaches for tonight's Youngstown State annual Red-White Spring football game are two pretty enthusiastic individuals.
The head coach of the Red team is Penguins veteran linebacker coach Jerry Olsavsky, while the head coach of the White team is third-year tight ends coach Casey Vogt.
Tonight's contest will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium and the game will be broadcast live over the Penguins' new radio home, WKBN-AM 570.
Olsavsky, a Youngstown native and a 1985 graduate of Chaney High, was a standout at the University of Pittsburgh and spent 10 seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Now in his fifth season with the Penguins, Olsavsky has had some outstanding linebackers over the past four seasons, with another outstanding crop this year.
He's looking forward to the spring game.
Balance expected
"We're looking forward to going out and playing hard," Olsavsky said. "We've got some big tight ends and some good defensive linemen, who we should be balanced on both sides of the ball."
"This is a fun time for the kids," Olsavsky said. "Any time that you come to the end of a session, like spring football, you know the kids are ready to lay it all out on the line in the final game."
Vogt, who came to the Penguins from Gannon College, is a graduate of Slippery Rock University and Harbor Creek High School.
Tight ends
He probably has two of the best tight ends that the Penguins have ever had at the same time in senior Louis Irizarry and junior Derrick Bush.
"It's pretty exciting," said Vogt. "There are a lot of talented players on both the Red and the White teams and I know that these kids are going to go out and play as hard as they can."
"It's also a time for these kids to have a little fun out there and hopefully we as coaches can help them accomplish that," he added.
Olsavsky's Red team will wear red jerseys and black pants in the contest, while Vogt's White team will be in white jerseys and red pants.
Head coach Jon Heacock said that all special teams units will be utilized in the game and the 25-second clock will be in effect.
Tonight's contest is the 35th of the spring series and the White team has won 20 times to the Red's 14. The Red team, however has won the last four games and five of the last six. In 2005 the Red team posted a 31-13 victory.
Tickets cost 5 and will be sold at the gate. Seating will only be in the West Side stands.
mollica@vindy.com