YSU players clear the air

October 21, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

By STEVE WILAJ

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State’s players-only meeting on Sunday went something like this:

First, defensive captain Derek Rivers — as well as a couple other team-leaders — gave their message (which was, presumably, centered around YSU’s poor effort/performance in Saturday’s 38-8 loss). Then, the room opened up for discussion.

“We let anybody [talk] that needed to say anything or get anything off their chest if they didn’t like what we said,” Rivers, a junior defensive end, said on Tuesday.

What was the outcome?

“It went real well,” senior defensive tackle Emmanuel Kromah said. “We discussed a lot of things — got it all out on the table. We all came together as one and realized that we only have so many opportunities left and we have to take advantage of them.”

Added wide receiver I’tavious Harvin: “We feel more confident in each other. We just had a talk of doing the right things — the little things and the big things — to get the team back together.”

And the final word from the meeting’s leader.

“I feel like me and a couple other guys got our points across,” Rivers said. “I feel like it’s gonna make us move forward.”

In an additional effort for YSU (3-3, 1-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference) to put its recent 0-2 homestand in the past as it prepares to travel to Southern Illinois (2-4, 1-2) for Saturday’s game, head coach Bo Pelini altered the practice schedule and gave the team a strong message of his own.

While Pelini knows the Penguins aren’t where he wants them, the first-year coach said the players-meeting was a good sign as he continues to instill his desired culture into the program.

“That’s part of what we talk about,” Pelini said. “It can’t always come from the coaches. It has to come from the players too. They understand that and it’s a good group of kids.

“We have to keep working to do the things that are necessary — on and off the field — that are gonna allow us to have success. I’m big on setting a culture of an understanding of the type of commitment, work ethic and day-to-day focus it takes to be good. ...They want it to happen.”

Sparked by an eventful past few days, Rivers thinks the Penguins are finally ready to make it happen over the last five weeks.

“I feel like everybody understands it now, especially after hearing what we said and then what Bo said,” Rivers said. “I wish we could have understood it a little earlier, but it’s playing in everybody’s head what needs to be done at practice and off the field. Everybody’s hungry and ready to get this five-week [stretch] going.”

Quarterback situation and dismissals

Despite altered attitudes and changes to the practice schedule, one constant is that sophomore Hunter Wells — who was benched in the fourth quarter against South Dakota State — remains YSU’s starting quarterback.

Following the loss in which Wells went 18-for-39 for 153 yards and an interception, Pelini said the position would be re-evaluated. However, Wells received reassurance from his coach on Tuesday.

“Did he play his best game? No, I think he’d be the first one to say,” Pelini said. “But I know one thing, we didn’t play real well around him to help the quarterback. One guy can’t do it by himself. Hunter’s a good player — he’s a young player and he’s still learning. We have a lot of confidence in him.”

For the season, Wells is 91-for-173 (52.6 percent) with 1,080 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Sophomore Ricky Davis replaced him against SDSU, going 0-for-2 with 38 rushing yards on six attempts. However, he exited late in the game after dislocating a finger on his left (non-throwing) hand. Pelini said Davis is fully available for Saturday.

Tanner Garry and Trevor Strickland aren’t, though. Strickland, a senior left tackle who started the first three games of the season, has been dismissed from the team. He had been inactive for the past three games while battling “personal issues.”

Meanwhile, junior third-string QB Garry — who also served as YSU’s place-kick holder for the past couple years — is not with the team “for the time being,” Pelini said. After appearing in the first four games, Garry hasn’t played in the past two contests.