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Mancini, Pelini, Tressel embrace homecoming
POLAND
Ray “Boom Boom” Man cini has traveled the world, fought in the world’s most famous arena (Madison Square Garden in New York City) and will soon be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Yet what has the Youngstown native the most excited at the moment?
Seeing Youngstown State football coach Bo Pelini’s first press conference after a loss.
“They should sell that pay-per-view,” Mancini joked Thursday at The Lake Club. “Boy, I’d pay a lot of money to be in the room for that, because watching his press conferences is worth the price of admission.”
While the former World Boxing Association lightweight champion was mostly having fun at the expense of the Penguins new coach, Mancini knows a good marketing opportunity when he sees one.
Which is why he, along with Pelini and YSU president Jim Tressel, expressed a great deal of excitement about the future of Youngstown while speaking at a benefit event for the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.
All three have important ties to the city, whether it be growing up here (Mancini and Pelini) or spending time at the university (Tressel). All three left the city after finding success. But, more importantly, all three have returned to help resurrect a place they consider home.
“I love where the town’s going,” Mancini said. “I love everything that’s going on downtown, I love that there are so many kids here with so many great ideas.
“All the things we have, that we’ve talked about for years, I think people are finally finding out about.”
The homecoming reunion began when Tressel was named president of the university in May 2014. He was followed by Mancini, who moved from his Los Angeles home to his true home, Youngstown, in November. Then, Pelini was hired as football coach in December.
Even after Mancini left more than 30 years ago to help enhance his professional boxing career, he always believed he’d one day return home. He never expected how good it would feel to be back.
“I think it shows how much the town means to us,” Mancini said. “I never called L.A. home once. People ask where’s home? I say Youngstown.
“Here, I go somewhere, and I know everyone in the joint and that’s a wonderful feeling. It’s like ‘Cheers,’ right? Everybody knows your name.”
The same could be said for Pelini and Tressel, who’s trust in each other ultimately led to their relationship of coach and president. Pelini, a graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School, said his kids going to school and graduating where he did played was a big factor in his return.
“People can say what they want about Youngstown, but it’s a family type atmosphere with the type of people you have,” Pelini said. “When you spend time away like I have, like Ray has and like Coach Tressel has, you appreciate it even more.”
What all three have quickly learned to enjoy is the resurgence of the downtown area. Whether it be new apartment complexes, bars and restaurants, or the university itself, they believe continued improvement is the key to the city.
And what’s unique about the position each one of them is in, is they can have a real impact on its success.
“They’re continuing to do some great things around the university and the downtown area, and I know they’re talking about a whole other area they have plans for as far as development,” Pelini said. “All those things are important for the university and hopefully we as a football program can do a little part.
“It’s been a team effort, but you can see a lot of great things going on.”
The hope is there’s a snowball effect from the downtown improvement’s to the university to the football team, and they can all facilitate each other to create a desirable destination once again. At least that’s why Mancini, Pelini and Tressel chose to come back to Youngstown.
“I’d like to think it’ll turn into this wonderful university town,” Tressel said. “You won’t know the difference when you go from the north side on Madison Avenue Expressway down to the Covelli Centre on the south end. It’ll be one beautiful looking place.”
“It’s amazing what’s gone on the last 15 years and we want to keep building on that and make it an exciting place.”