YSU play-by-play man Hannon expects Pelini to return for 2019

October 9, 2018 at 12:05a.m.

Veteran play-by-man

says YSU’s playoff

hopes are still alive

BEAVER TOWNSHIP

It has been 30 years since Bob Hannon first took his seat in the press box to offer up the play-by-play for Youngstown State University football.

He has shared many memories and more than a few disappointments with fans since that very first very broadcast, when the Penguins traveled to Orono, Maine to meet the University of Maine. The Black Bears won 28-14 on Sept. 4, 1989.

Even Hannon admits that never for a moment did he ever think his run in the catbird seat would last some four decades later.

Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center, Hannon said winning last weekend’s Homecoming game against Southern Illinois will hopefully inject some life into a team desperate to improve.

“We certainly didn’t expect to be 2-3 after five games. Maybe 4-1, but it all started with our season-opening loss to Butler, a non-scholarship FCS program,” Hannon said. “It didn’t help that over the summer we lost for the season defensive end Justus Reed to an Achilles injury, and our top safety Kyle Hegedus with a torn ACL. The coaching staff felt that they had the talent to move forward, but those two injuries really hurt.

“We’ve always been in the top five in the nation in passing yardage allowed, but entering Saturday’s Homecoming game with Southern Illinois we ranked 112th. It was a game that we really needed, needing to score the last 11 points to do so.”

Hannon, who is currently in his 10th year as president of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley and has raised over $25 million dollars for local programs, says he expects Pelini to return next season.

“Bo is in the final year of his contract and I have gotten no indication whatsoever that he won’t be back, whether or not we qualify for the playoffs,” Hannon said. “We still have work to do this season and working week to week, especially in season, has always been Bo’s focus.”

With 24 teams now comprising the FCS playoff field, Hannon feels that if YSU can go 5-1 the rest of the way and get seven wins, the Penguins still have playoff hopes. He also feels that it will be a tough task since they compete in the Missouri Valley Football Conference — what many consider the premier FCS football league.

“There are several teams that have had great FCS runs, dating back to their Division I-AA days and YSU was one of them in the 1990s,” Hannon said. “If you gave me the field right now or North Dakota State, I’d take North Dakota State because they are that good. They are playing at another level. They’ve won six of the last seven FCS titles, were down 14-0 this past weekend to Northern Iowa and won 56-31.

“We travel to South Dakota State this Saturday, they won 54-51 in overtime against Indiana State and their only loss was two weeks ago at North Dakota State, 21-17. In the past, you could almost go down the schedule and count a couple of league wins. That isn’t the case anymore.”

Losing both coordinators off last year’s coaching staff might also have had an effect, Hannon said.

“This is no knock on our current staff, but when you lose two coaches like Shane Montgomery and Carl Pelini, who had a combined 60 years of coaching experience, that’s a big blow to any program,” Hannon said.

Hannon has worked with seven color analysts over the years — including Steve Sefner, Paul McFadden, John “Mr. Sports” Batcho, Mike McGlone, Dick Hartzell and Chris Sammarone — and is currently paired for the second time with former NFL and University of Michigan standout Ed Muransky.

“What I like about Ed is that he can be very candid on the air, but in a respectful manner because he played the game at such a high level and has that respect,” Hannon said. “He spends a lot of time at practice with Bo Pelini. Early in the season and while we were at a practice session, I was looking around for him only to find him on the field giving pointers to the linemen. He is that serious about the game and his broadcasting duties.”

Next week, YSU head women’s basketball coach John Barnes will serve as guest speaker.