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Hannon expects better seasons for Penguins
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
Having recently completed his 27th season of calling the play-by-play for Youngstown State football games, Bob Hannon is more than qualified to speak of the program’s highs and lows over the past three decades.
He’s witnessed teams that have raised the Division I-AA bar in the ‘90s, to those that have struggled to reclaim that glory in the division now known as FCS (NCAA, Division I Football Championship Subdivision).
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches Monday at Lucianno’s Restaurant, Hannon said fans shouldn’t let the Penguins’ 5-6 mark this season dampen their spirits, adding that first-year head coach Bo Pelini has the team right on the cusp. The Penguins missed the playoffs for the 14th time in 15 seasons.
“Our league, the Missouri Valley Football Conference, is far superior to any other league at our level so once you get into the playoffs, you have a chance of winning a game or two coming out the chute,” Hannon said. “Five teams from our league made the postseason this year with four of those winning first-round games.
“Illinois State and North Dakota State, two conference teams who played for the title last season, are still alive but find themselves in the same bracket,” Hannon said. “That speaks volumes about our league.”
Hannon’s reasoning that YSU can be a playoff team is tied directly to its competitiveness against teams in this year’s playoff field.
“We lost by two points to Illinois State and led by two touchdowns over North Dakota State before losing late,” Hannon said. “It’s even more disappointing in that we have failed to make the playoffs since the field was expanded to 24 teams.
“I really felt this was a playoff team,” Hannon said. “Bo is committed, determined and all in because he believes that YSU can win. That’s great when it is coming from your head coach.”
Missouri Valley Football Conference teams have gone 9-1 in the opening round over the past two seasons, which gives those teams an edge as they hit the recruiting trail.
For YSU, going up against Mid-American Conference teams in order to bolster their roster has also been a challenge.
“There were seven Division I players in the state of North Dakota last year and with the Bison the big draw in the state, they become an attractive fit for those high school players,” Hannon said. “In Ohio, there were over 100 Division I prospects in the state and YSU has to go up against the likes of Ohio State, the University of Cincinnati and the entire MAC for their services.
“When the MAC has a Tuesday and Wednesday night [ESPN] package, their schools then become attractive and more appealing to a recruit,” Hannon said. “Not to mention the fact that this is a new generation of kids, many of whom weren’t yet born when YSU was leaving their mark as a program in the ‘90s.
“They really don’t know what our program is about.”
Hannon said he believes that there are a variety of factors for the drop in attendance at home games, stating that if the team can get into the playoffs and return to its winning form then the “Ice Castle” once again will rock.
“The days of 18,000-20,000 fans [are] gone, at least for the moment,” Hannon said. “You have an aging fan base with too many other options on Saturday from which to choose.
“The benchmark right now should be 12,000-14,000 fans,” Hannon said. “Plus, you cannot go 1-3 at home and expect fans to keep returning.”
One personnel decision Hannon feels Pelini must address this offseason is the quarterback situation.
“Hunter Wells is a passer and Ricky Davis is a runner, so Bo will have to determine what he needs over the next two seasons and then move forward accordingly,” Hannon said. “If you were able to combine both Wells and Davis and put them in one body, then in my eyes you would have Bo’s ideal signal-caller.”