2009 season dawns for YSU

By Pete Mollica

The Penguins have a formidable task against Big East opponent Pittsburgh.

YOUNGSTOWN — Today marks the beginning of the 69th season of football for Youngstown State, and the Penguins will take a 39-27-2 record on opening day into their matchup against Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. at Heinz Field.

The Penguins have lost their last two season openers, although they both came against Ohio State in Columbus. They haven’t fared that well overall in season openers on the road, holding just a 10-19 record. Their last season-opening win on the road came in 1993 against Western Michigan.

Today’s meeting with the Panthers will be the second between the schools. The first meeting, in 2005, ended with the Panthers holding a 41-0 advantage.

The Panthers were 9-4 a year ago, finishing second in the Big East before losing to Oregon State in the Sun Bowl 3-0. They also lost their season opener a year ago, falling to Bowling Green 27-13. The Panthers are a perfect 7-0 against Football Championship Subdivision opponents.

The Penguins struggled to a 4-8 season a year ago, and were just 3-5 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, although they won their final two games of the season. Injuries played a major role in the Penguins’ struggles with a total of 28 players missing at least one game and 21 of those missing multiple games. Six had season-ending injuries.

Coach Jon Heacock, now in his ninth season, is 6-2 in season openers. His overall record now stands at 54-39. Pitt’s coach Dave Wannstedt, now in his fifth season, is 25-23 overall.

Today’s game marks the 43rd meeting against a Football Bowl Subdivision team and the Penguins are 19-22-1 overall. It also marks the latest date the Penguins have opened the season since 1992, a year when they went on to post an 11-3-1 record and reached the Division I-AA championship game.

The Penguins have not scored a touchdown against a FBS opponent since the 2003 season when Mike Burns scored against Kent State in a 16-13 loss to the Golden Flashes.

Today will also see four other Missouri Valley Football Conference teams in action.

Indiana State, which lost its season opener last week to Quincy 26-20 at home, will be on the road today at Louisville.

Missouri State, Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa will all open their seasons today and all against FBS opponents.

The Bears are at Arkansas, while the Salukis travel to Marshall. The Panthers will be at Iowa State.

mollica@vindy.com