YSU’s football opener Sept. 2

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State football team will open the 2011 season on Friday, Sept. 2 at Michigan State. Kickoff for the contest will be 7:30 p.m. at Spartan Stadium in a game that will be televised by the Big Ten Network.

The first meeting between the Spartans and Penguins was originally set for Sept. 3. The game has been moved up a day for to be televised live on the BTN. As of today, it will be one of two contests that evening throughout the country. The other will be TCU against Baylor.

“We are excited to play on national television against the defending Big Ten Champions,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said. “It’s great exposure for our program and playing on a Friday night will be a lot like when our players were back in high school. Michigan State is a very good football team and it sounds like this year’s team is better than last year’s which won 11 games.”

For the Penguins, it will be their first Friday game since Nov. 25, 1994, when they played host to Alcorn State in the first round of the playoffs at Stambaugh Stadium.

The last time the Penguins played a season-opening game on the road at night was at Western Michigan in 1993. It marks just the 10th night game in the 88-year history of Spartan Stadium.

Tickets are $55 and are available for Gridiron Club members of the Penguin Club and for season-ticket holders, based upon availability.

The YSU ticket office will hold a one-day sale of tickets for the game for students in August.

The Spartans, who were Big Ten co-champions with Ohio State and Wisconsin in 2010, are coached by former Penguins assistant coach Mark Dantonio.