Another Ohio St. opener for YSU

For the first time, the
Penguins will play eight Gateway games.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — For the second consecutive season, Youngstown State will open the 2008 football season at Ohio State.

The Buckeyes-Penguins rematch is part of the 12-game schedule released Tuesday by YSU.

The Penguins, 7-4 in 2007 including the season-opening loss to Ohio State, will play six home games at Stambaugh Stadium and, for the first time, eight Gateway Conference games.

North Dakota State and South Dakota State become eligible for the Gateway championship this season; in fact, the Penguins visit South Dakota State on Sept. 11 in their second game of the season.

YSU has home conference games against North Dakota State on Sept. 20, Southern Illinois on Oct. 18, Northern Iowa on Oct. 25 (homecoming) and Indiana State on Nov. 8.

The Penguins also visit Missouri State on Oct. 11, Illinois State on Nov. 1 and Western Illinois on Nov. 22 (season finale) in Gateway road games.

Youngstown State also plays home non-conference games against Central State on Sept. 13 and Liberty on Sept. 27. They will travel to Southern Utah on Oct. 4.

The Penguins last played Central State in 1979.

Coach Jon Heacock said the 2008 mix represents a challenge for his seniors.

“Those guys have to understand what’s ahead of them. It’ll be a different style of leadership for them — a huge challenge. To start [again] with Ohio State, then to play a Gateway opener on the road at South Dakota means a tremendous challenge ahead.”

At the same time, the enhanced competition has a positive side.

“It’s good,” Heacock said. “It forces you to prepare harder.” YSU opens a season with two road games for only the fourth time in school history; the others were 1987, 1989 and 1993. And it’s only the second time the Penguins play their season and conference openers on the road (1987).

Because the Penguins have been “eased” into playing the Div. I “biggies,” the shock factor has been lessened.

“It’s just what you do,” the coach said. “Our guys have done it the last couple years — playing Pitt and Penn State, so maybe the guys are accustomed to the task at hand. It’s important not to over-emphasize or under-emphasize. A game like Ohio State is a huge venue, but, at the same time, it’s only one of 12 games.”

Central State is this year’s NCAA Div. II opponent.

With a demanding and diverse schedule thrown at him, Heacock now has the usual task of evaluating his personnel to prepare for the fall battles.

He emphasized that it’s wise to keep the two separate.

“They’re two different things,” he said of the teams he’ll face versus the team he faces every day.

“The schedule will take work because there are new teams [Central State and new coaching staffs at Liberty and Southern Utah] and the two Dakota schools that create a lot of work and issues of uncertainty. On top of that, you’ve got to put together your own team — that’s what we’ve got to focus on at this point in time.”

Season tickets are available now as are 2008-09 Penguin Club memberships, which help ensure tickets to the Ohio State game.

Youngstown also played 12 regular-season games in 2003 when the calendar included an extra Saturday. The Penguins were 5-7 during that regular season that included two Division II opponents.

With a 12-game schedule, if YSU gets into the playoffs and go the distance, the Penguins could play 16 games.

Can you say Merry Christmas?