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Penguins plan to entertain, learn in spring game
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Nebraska drew more than 60,000 fans for last year’s spring football game. Youngstown State’s numbers will be much lower, both on the field and in the stands.
Consequently, Penguins coach Bo Pelini plans to treat his first YSU spring game more like a pumped-up practice.
“We just don’t have enough numbers [players] in certain areas to go out and have full-fledged games,” Pelini said. “But I think people are going to enjoy what we do. They’re gonna see a version of a glorified practice and I think it’ll be good for people to see what we’re working on.
“Hopefully everyone will get a chance to get reps out there in front of the crowd and we’ll see how they react.”
Friday’s scrimmage, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium, will pit the starting defense against the starting offense and the backups against the backups.
“Maybe we’ll come up with a points system, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to get our work done and not be out there too long,” he said. “Basically, we’ll treat it like a show for the fans. Hopefully we can keep guys healthy and get out of there.”
Making an impression
Today, YSU will hold its second scrimmage of the spring, as well as its 12th practice. The spring game will be the 15th and final spring practice.
When asked who has impressed him so far, Pelini started with the secondary.
“The secondary as a whole got a lot better,” he said. “I’m not just talking about the ones [starters]. I think [sophomore] Lee Wright has stepped up and done some really good things. We’re excited about him.”
Wright spent the 2013 season at Appalachian State, then transferred to YSU last fall but was not eligible to play.
“On the offensive side, I think [WR Andre] Stubbs is a really good player,” Pelini said. “I like our top group of receivers and our top group of backs. And I’ve seen a lot of guys that I didn’t know much about who have used this spring as an opportunity to put their best foot forward and show what they can do.
“I’ve learned a lot about our football team on both sides of the ball, the guys who are gonna be on special teams and the guys who have shown they’re going to be the foundation of things. And, really, some guys that haven’t.”
Quarterback chemistry
Sophomore quarterbacks Hunter Wells and Ricky Davis and junior Tanner Garry are all growing out their hair this spring. Wells and Garry are also growing out their facial hair, while Davis is trying and failing.
“I can’t grow any facial hair,” Davis said, laughing. “But you wait — the hair’s coming. I’m gonna get better hair than these guys.”
Wells and Garry have a continuous paper football game going in the quarterback room, with Wells claiming a 150-97 lead. (Garry disputes this.)
“You can go look in the quarterback room,” Wells said.
Said Davis, “That’s between them. I’m more the referee. It gets heated. There’s a lot of trash talk. Hunter is the rookie and he thinks he’s winning, but I think the veteran’s winning right now.”
While some quarterback rooms are tense — unlike other positions, only one can play at a time — YSU’s quarterback chemistry has been good dating back to when Kurt Hess took over in 2010.
“Regardless of what happens, we’re all friends on and off the field,” said Wells, who took over for the since-departed Dante Nania as a true freshman midway through last season. “Regardless of who started last year, I rooted for whoever gave us the best chance to win.”
Davis agreed.
“We know Hunter’s the man,” he said. “But if anything happens, I can step on the field and play my role.”