YSU

YSU

Writer thinks
criticism unfair
Fanfare:

Enough! One always wonders whether to be silent or to respond to editorials. But I think the criticisms of the YSU football program, particularly the coaching staff, is nothing but counter productive.

If anything the coaching staff should be praised for their efforts this year. With the number of injuries suffered by the Penguins this year, the fact that we were still extremely competitive is a credit to the talent and courage of our players (many playing multiple positions), and the skill and ingenuity of the coaching staff to identify the best person for each position.

Not excuses, just the reality of the situation. The YSU football program is one of the best FCS programs in the country. However, 2007 is behind us and the question for 2008 is: What is each of us willing to do to make the next version of the football Penguins the best it can be?

Daryl Mincey

Youngstown

URSULINE

Recruiting helps
parochial schools
Fanfare:

After reading the November 25th letter to Fanfare, where the writer used an Ursuline freshman football game against Massillon, as an example to justify why public schools should be “honored” by the challenge of playing against parochial schools … I think I now know what happened to one the striking television comedy writers. He wrote that letter to stay in practice, while on strike.

There is a difference between “parity” … as referenced in the aforementioned letter … and a “level playing field.” I am not from South Range, and, as a matter of fact, I am Catholic … but any objective person knows there is a substantial advantage to quality, over quantity, which is what you get when you have schools that recruit, competing with schools that do not.

I am taking nothing away from Ursuline, which is operating within the parameters currently in place. However, for individuals to use disingenuous arguments, as was the case in last Sunday’s letter, to belittle those who would like to see the system changed … you would be better served by silence. All you do is stir up people like me, who otherwise WOULD have been silent on the matter.

Rick Firestone

Columbiana