Youngstown State Penguins football
Encyclopedia
The Youngstown State Penguins football team represents Youngstown State University
in college football
. Youngstown State currently plays as a member of the NCAA
at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) and are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The Penguins have played their home games in Stambaugh Stadium, more commonly called "The Ice Castle," since 1982.
YSU football has been one of the leading programs in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, winning four national championships under former head coach Jim Tressel
, second only to Georgia Southern (5). Overall, YSU has made 11 playoff appearances since Division I FCS (then Division I-AA) was formed in 1978.
and won the first game in program history. About a month later, on October 22, 1938, Youngstown State won its first game with a 20-0 shutout at Westminster College (PA). The Penguins won their first home game on November 3, 1938 with a 20-14 win against Davis & Elkins College.
Longtime head coach Dwight "Dike" Beede made a historical impact on the game of American football
after noticing on-field confusion due to officials using whistles to signal a penalty
. Beede invented the penalty flag
and it was used for the first time during a game on October 17, 1941 against Oklahoma City University
at the Youngstown's Rayen Stadium. The flag is now standard at all football games.
Dwight Beede retired from the program after the 1972 season and was replaced by Rey Dempsey starting in the 1973 season. After 35 years as an independent program the football team joined NCAA Division II in 1973. In the 1974 season, the penguins qualified for the Division II playoffs after going 8-1 in the regular season. YSU fell 14-35 against Delaware in the program's first playoff game. Following the 1974 season, Dempsey he left Youngstown State to become a special-teams coach for the Detroit Lions
1975, he was In the three seasons at YSU he compiled a 12-8 record.
Bill Narduzzi became the third coach in program history in 1975. The team joined the Mid-Continent Conference
in the in 1978 and recorded a 9 win regular season under Narduzzi and claimed the Mid-Continent Conference Championship. Narduzzi led Youngstown State to it's first playoff win on November 25, 1978 against Nebraska-Omaha. The 21-14 win advanced the team into the Division II Semifinal Playoff Game where the Penguins lost to Eastern Illinois 22-26. The team finished the season with a record of 10-2, the first 10-win season for the program. The 1979 season saw Youngstown State claim their second Mid-Continent Conference Champions going undefeated in conference games and losing only a single game to Delaware. The Penguins defeated South Dakota State
50-7 in the Division II Quarterfinal Playoff Game and shutout Alabama A&M
52-0 in the Division II Semifinal Playoff Game. The win in the semifinal round gave Youngstown state its first appearance in an NCAA Football Championship. The Penguins faced the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens in the Zia Bowl
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
for the NCAA Division II Championship. In the championship YSU was defeated by Delaware 21-38 and finished the season with a record of 11-2. In 1981, Youngstown State joined the Ohio Valley Conference
(OVC). After going 2-8-1 in the 1980 season, playing a majority of Division I opponents, the Penguins finished their first season in Division I and the OVC with a record of 7-4, including an upset of Cincinnati
who was playing as a Division I FBS Independent.
. Tressel lead the penguins to four NCAA Division I-AA National Championships. In 1991, YSU won its first national championship, defeating Marshall
; and won two more national championships in the following three seasons: against Marshall in 1993 and Boise State
in 1994. The Penguins won a fourth title in 1997 with a 10–9 victory against McNeese State
. The Tressel Era of YSU football also included two stints as national runner-up in 1992 and 1999. YSU's four national championships is second in DI FCS only to Georgia Southern's five national titles. Tressel was also named Division I-AA Coach of the Year in ’91, ’93, ’94 and ’97.
Tressel left Youngstown State following the 2000 season to coach Ohio State
, where he coached from 2000-2010. Tressel resigned from Ohio State in 2011 after an NCAA investigation of rules violations during the 2010 season and Ohio State self-vacating their wins for 2010 season. Tressel first incident with the NCAA came during his tenure as YSU head coach when it emerged in 1994 that Ray Issac, the quarterback on the Penguins' 1991 national championship team, had received substantial benefits from Mickey Monus, who was a major benefactor to Youngstown State University. Over Issac's college career Monus gifted $10,000 in cash and the use of several cars. The NCAA made an inquiry after being tipped off to Monus' actions, but dropped it after a cursory internal investigation by Youngstown State. The true scope of the violations was only revealed in 1998, when Isaac admitted tampering with a juror in Monus' fraud trial. Youngstown State admitted to a lack of institutional control and docked itself some scholarships, but was allowed to keep its 1991 title since the statute of limitations had run out.
His successor, Jon Heacock
, did not win a national championship, but still delivered consistent seasons and took them to a national semifinal appearance in 2006 (losing to eventual national champion Appalachian State
) prior to resigning following the 2009 season. Eric Wolford
, a Youngstown native who has been labeled a top recruiter at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level, was named the sixth head coach in school history on Dec. 15, 2009. Wolford recorded a 3-8 record in his first season in 2010. Despite the record, Youngstown State led at some point in all but one game they played. The streak was ended in the first game of the 2011 season when YSU lost to Michigan State
6-28 and never held a lead in the game.
, nicknamed "The Ice Castle", which has an official capacity of 20,630, one of the largest in Division I FCS. If the team were to be moved to Division I FBS, they would likely play in the Mid-American Conference
, due to their geographic location and former rivalry with the University of Akron Zips
. The Zips, who are currently a member of the MAC
, held contests against the Penguins for the Steel Tire
from 1940 to 1995. Youngstown State leads the overall series 19-14-2.
and Donald Jones
) are currently playing. Some of their most well-known football alumni include current ESPN Analyst Ron Jaworski
, Jeff Wilkins
, Paul McFadden
and Cliff Stoudt
. In addition, many college football coaches have been associated with Youngstown State. Alongside Tressel, former University of Kansas
head coach Mark Mangino
and current Michigan State
head coach Mark Dantonio
began their coaching careers at YSU, and former Notre Dame
head coach Bob Davie played for the Penguins.
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. Youngstown State currently plays as a member of the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) and are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The Penguins have played their home games in Stambaugh Stadium, more commonly called "The Ice Castle," since 1982.
YSU football has been one of the leading programs in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, winning four national championships under former head coach Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel
James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
, second only to Georgia Southern (5). Overall, YSU has made 11 playoff appearances since Division I FCS (then Division I-AA) was formed in 1978.
Conference affiliations
- 1938-72: Independent
- 1973-77: NCAA Division II Independent
- 1978-80: Mid-Continent ConferenceMid-Continent ConferenceThe Summit League is an NCAA Division I college athletic conference which operates in the Midwestern United States. On June 1, 2007, the conference changed its name from the Mid-Continent Conference.- Current membership :...
- 1981-87: Ohio Valley ConferenceOhio Valley ConferenceThe Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
- 1988-96 NCAA Division I-AA Independent
- 1997-present: Missouri Valley Football Conference
Early history
The YSU football program began in 1938 as an Independent NCAA team under head coach Dwight "Dike" Beede. The Penguins played their first game on September 15, 1938 in a 0-6-12 loss to Geneva CollegeGeneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
and won the first game in program history. About a month later, on October 22, 1938, Youngstown State won its first game with a 20-0 shutout at Westminster College (PA). The Penguins won their first home game on November 3, 1938 with a 20-14 win against Davis & Elkins College.
Longtime head coach Dwight "Dike" Beede made a historical impact on the game of American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
after noticing on-field confusion due to officials using whistles to signal a penalty
Penalty (American football)
In American football and Canadian football, a penalty is a sanction called against a team for a violation of the rules, called a foul. Officials initially signal penalties by tossing a bright yellow or orange colored "penalty flag" onto the field toward or at the spot of a foul...
. Beede invented the penalty flag
Penalty flag
The penalty flag is a yellow cloth used in several field sports including American football and lacrosse by game officials to identify and sometimes mark the location of penalties or infractions that occur during regular play. It is usually wrapped around a weight, such as sand or beans so it can...
and it was used for the first time during a game on October 17, 1941 against Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University, often referred to as OCU, is a coeducational, urban, private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
at the Youngstown's Rayen Stadium. The flag is now standard at all football games.
Dwight Beede retired from the program after the 1972 season and was replaced by Rey Dempsey starting in the 1973 season. After 35 years as an independent program the football team joined NCAA Division II in 1973. In the 1974 season, the penguins qualified for the Division II playoffs after going 8-1 in the regular season. YSU fell 14-35 against Delaware in the program's first playoff game. Following the 1974 season, Dempsey he left Youngstown State to become a special-teams coach for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
1975, he was In the three seasons at YSU he compiled a 12-8 record.
Bill Narduzzi became the third coach in program history in 1975. The team joined the Mid-Continent Conference
Association of Mid-Continent Universities football
The Association of Mid-Continent Universities football was a part of the college athletic conference which operated in the midwestern United States...
in the in 1978 and recorded a 9 win regular season under Narduzzi and claimed the Mid-Continent Conference Championship. Narduzzi led Youngstown State to it's first playoff win on November 25, 1978 against Nebraska-Omaha. The 21-14 win advanced the team into the Division II Semifinal Playoff Game where the Penguins lost to Eastern Illinois 22-26. The team finished the season with a record of 10-2, the first 10-win season for the program. The 1979 season saw Youngstown State claim their second Mid-Continent Conference Champions going undefeated in conference games and losing only a single game to Delaware. The Penguins defeated South Dakota State
South Dakota State Jackrabbits football
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team is a Football Championship Subdivision program that competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Jackrabbits were a Division II program in the North Central Conference until moving to Football Championship Subdivision in 2004...
50-7 in the Division II Quarterfinal Playoff Game and shutout Alabama A&M
Alabama A&M Bulldogs football
The Alabama A&M Bulldogs are the college football team representing the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. The Bulldogs play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-Alumni in the NFL:...
52-0 in the Division II Semifinal Playoff Game. The win in the semifinal round gave Youngstown state its first appearance in an NCAA Football Championship. The Penguins faced the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens in the Zia Bowl
NCAA Division II national football championship
The NCAA Division II National Football Championship began in 1973. Prior to 1973, four regional bowl games were played in order to provide postseason action for what was then called the NCAA College Division and a poll determined the final champion....
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
for the NCAA Division II Championship. In the championship YSU was defeated by Delaware 21-38 and finished the season with a record of 11-2. In 1981, Youngstown State joined the Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
(OVC). After going 2-8-1 in the 1980 season, playing a majority of Division I opponents, the Penguins finished their first season in Division I and the OVC with a record of 7-4, including an upset of Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
who was playing as a Division I FBS Independent.
Recent history
The program's most successful period came from 1986-2000 under Jim TresselJim Tressel
James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
. Tressel lead the penguins to four NCAA Division I-AA National Championships. In 1991, YSU won its first national championship, defeating Marshall
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
; and won two more national championships in the following three seasons: against Marshall in 1993 and Boise State
Boise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
in 1994. The Penguins won a fourth title in 1997 with a 10–9 victory against McNeese State
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
. The Tressel Era of YSU football also included two stints as national runner-up in 1992 and 1999. YSU's four national championships is second in DI FCS only to Georgia Southern's five national titles. Tressel was also named Division I-AA Coach of the Year in ’91, ’93, ’94 and ’97.
Tressel left Youngstown State following the 2000 season to coach Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
, where he coached from 2000-2010. Tressel resigned from Ohio State in 2011 after an NCAA investigation of rules violations during the 2010 season and Ohio State self-vacating their wins for 2010 season. Tressel first incident with the NCAA came during his tenure as YSU head coach when it emerged in 1994 that Ray Issac, the quarterback on the Penguins' 1991 national championship team, had received substantial benefits from Mickey Monus, who was a major benefactor to Youngstown State University. Over Issac's college career Monus gifted $10,000 in cash and the use of several cars. The NCAA made an inquiry after being tipped off to Monus' actions, but dropped it after a cursory internal investigation by Youngstown State. The true scope of the violations was only revealed in 1998, when Isaac admitted tampering with a juror in Monus' fraud trial. Youngstown State admitted to a lack of institutional control and docked itself some scholarships, but was allowed to keep its 1991 title since the statute of limitations had run out.
His successor, Jon Heacock
Jon Heacock
-External links:*...
, did not win a national championship, but still delivered consistent seasons and took them to a national semifinal appearance in 2006 (losing to eventual national champion Appalachian State
Appalachian State Mountaineers football
The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
) prior to resigning following the 2009 season. Eric Wolford
Eric Wolford
-External links:*...
, a Youngstown native who has been labeled a top recruiter at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level, was named the sixth head coach in school history on Dec. 15, 2009. Wolford recorded a 3-8 record in his first season in 2010. Despite the record, Youngstown State led at some point in all but one game they played. The streak was ended in the first game of the 2011 season when YSU lost to Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
6-28 and never held a lead in the game.
Bowl history
| Season | Bowl | Champion | Runner-Up | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Zia Bowl | Delaware | 38 | Youngstown State | 21 |
| 1989 | Boardwalk Bowl Boardwalk Bowl The Boardwalk Bowl is a post-season college football game held at the former Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The game featured an annual matchup between Pennsylvania Military College and the United States Merchant Marine Academy, known as the "Little Army–Navy Game"... |
Furman Furman University Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina... |
42 | Youngstown State | 23 |
| 1991 | Camellia Bowl Camellia Bowl - 1948, Lafayette, Louisiana :The Camellia Bowl was a post-season major college football bowl game played at McNaspy Stadium in Lafayette, Louisiana, on December 30, 1948 between Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Wichita .... |
Youngstown State | 30 | Nevada Nevada Wolf Pack football The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA... |
28 |
| 1991 | FCS Championship Bowl | Youngstown State | 25 | Marshall Marshall Thundering Herd football The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Conference USA Eastern division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision... |
17 |
| 1992 | Grantland Rice Bowl Grantland Rice Bowl The Grantland Rice Bowl was an annual college football bowl game, one of four regional NCAA college division championships from 1964 to 1972. It was the Mideast Regional championship, played in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1968... |
Youngstown State | 42 | Citidel The Citadel -Places:*The Citadel , a 201 m skyscraper in the United Arab Emirates*The Citadel , the old fortified city of Gozo, Malta*The Citadel , a shopping mall in Colorado*The Citadel , a diving spot in Martinique... |
17 |
| 1992 | FCS Championship Bowl | Marshall Marshall Thundering Herd football The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Conference USA Eastern division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision... |
31 | Youngstown State | 28 |
| 1993 | Grantland Rice Bowl Grantland Rice Bowl The Grantland Rice Bowl was an annual college football bowl game, one of four regional NCAA college division championships from 1964 to 1972. It was the Mideast Regional championship, played in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1968... |
Youngstown State | 34 | Georgia Southern Georgia Southern University Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive... |
14 |
| 1993 | FCS Championship Bowl | Youngstown State | 17 | Marshall Marshall Thundering Herd football The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Conference USA Eastern division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision... |
5 |
| 1994 | Grantland Rice Bowl Grantland Rice Bowl The Grantland Rice Bowl was an annual college football bowl game, one of four regional NCAA college division championships from 1964 to 1972. It was the Mideast Regional championship, played in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1968... |
Youngstown State | 18 | Eastern Kentucky Eastern Kentucky University Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools... |
15 |
| 1994 | FCS Championship Bowl | Youngstown State | 28 | Boise State Boise State Broncos football This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West... |
14 |
| 1997 | Boardwalk Bowl Boardwalk Bowl The Boardwalk Bowl is a post-season college football game held at the former Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The game featured an annual matchup between Pennsylvania Military College and the United States Merchant Marine Academy, known as the "Little Army–Navy Game"... |
Youngstown State | 37 | Villanova Villanova Wildcats football The Villanova Wildcats football program represents Villanova University in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision . The Wildcats play at Villanova Stadium with capacity of 12,500.-History:... |
34 |
| 1997 | FCS Championship Bowl | Youngstown State | 10 | McNeese State | 9 |
| 1999 | Camellia Bowl Camellia Bowl - 1948, Lafayette, Louisiana :The Camellia Bowl was a post-season major college football bowl game played at McNaspy Stadium in Lafayette, Louisiana, on December 30, 1948 between Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Wichita .... |
Youngstown State | 41 | North Carolina A&T | 3 |
| 1999 | FCS Championship Bowl | Georgia Southern Georgia Southern University Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive... |
59 | Youngstown State | 24 |
| 2006 | Pecan Bowl Pecan Bowl Pecan Bowl, a postseason college football bowl game, was first played at Shotwell Stadium located in Abilene, Texas. The first game took place in December 1964, and was played there each year until 1968, when the location was moved to Arlington, Texas. One of four regional playoff bowls of the NCAA... |
Youngstown State | 28 | Illinois State Illinois State Redbirds The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams that represent Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level . The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while most other teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference... |
21 |
- Note: Since 1981, the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Regional Championships were commonly referred to as the Boardwalk BowlBoardwalk BowlThe Boardwalk Bowl is a post-season college football game held at the former Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The game featured an annual matchup between Pennsylvania Military College and the United States Merchant Marine Academy, known as the "Little Army–Navy Game"...
(East Region Championship), Pecan BowlPecan BowlPecan Bowl, a postseason college football bowl game, was first played at Shotwell Stadium located in Abilene, Texas. The first game took place in December 1964, and was played there each year until 1968, when the location was moved to Arlington, Texas. One of four regional playoff bowls of the NCAA...
(Midwest Region Championship), Grantland Rice BowlGrantland Rice BowlThe Grantland Rice Bowl was an annual college football bowl game, one of four regional NCAA college division championships from 1964 to 1972. It was the Mideast Regional championship, played in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1968...
(South Region Championship), and Camellia BowlCamellia Bowl- 1948, Lafayette, Louisiana :The Camellia Bowl was a post-season major college football bowl game played at McNaspy Stadium in Lafayette, Louisiana, on December 30, 1948 between Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Wichita ....
(West Region Championship).
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Alma Mater | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Wolford Eric Wolford -External links:*... |
Head Coach | Kansas State Kansas State University Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States... , 1994 |
2nd |
| Tom Sims | Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line | Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of... , 1990 |
2nd |
| Rick Kravitz | Defensive Coordinator/Safeties | Troy Troy University Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689... , 1977 |
2nd |
| Shane Montgomery | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks | North Carolina State North Carolina State University North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution... , 1990 |
2nd |
| Louie Matsakis | Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs Coach/Recruiting Coordinator | Emporia State Emporia State University Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :... , 2000 |
2nd |
| Frank J. Buffano | Linebackers Coach | Arizona University of Arizona The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885... , 2006 |
2nd |
| Ron Stoops, Jr. | Linebackers Coach/Director of High School Relations | Youngstown State Youngstown State University Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League... , 1980 |
2nd |
| Carmen Bricillo | Offensive Line Coach | Duquesne Duquesne University Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of... , 1999 |
2nd |
| Mauro Monz | Tight Ends Coach | Duquesne, 1996 | 2nd |
| Andre Coleman Andre Coleman Andre Clintonian Coleman is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He attended Hickory High School in Hermitage, Pennsylvania playing on the AAA state championship team. He played collegiately at Kansas State University... |
Wide Receivers Coach | Kansas State | 2nd |
| Rollen Smith | Cornerbacks Coach | Arkansas University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in... , 1976 |
2nd |
Home venue
YSU plays its home games at Stambaugh StadiumStambaugh Stadium
Arnold D. Stambaugh Stadium, usually shortened to just Stambaugh Stadium, is the home of football and soccer teams at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. Built in 1982, Stambaugh has seen the Penguins football team rise to become a power in NCAA Division I Football Championship...
, nicknamed "The Ice Castle", which has an official capacity of 20,630, one of the largest in Division I FCS. If the team were to be moved to Division I FBS, they would likely play in the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
, due to their geographic location and former rivalry with the University of Akron Zips
Akron Zips football
The University of Akron Zips are a college football program representing the University of Akron that competes in NCAA Division I FBS Mid-American Conference football...
. The Zips, who are currently a member of the MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
, held contests against the Penguins for the Steel Tire
Steel Tire
The Steel Tire was awarded, from 1940 until 1995, to the winner of the annual college football game between the University of Akron and Youngstown State University. The trophy comes from the main products of the two cities; Akron for its rubber and Youngstown for its steel.The series was...
from 1940 to 1995. Youngstown State leads the overall series 19-14-2.
Notable alumni
The Penguins have sent 21 players to the NFL, three of which (Tim Johnson and Marcus MasonMarcus Mason
Marcus Mason is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
and Donald Jones
Donald Jones
Donald Jones was an actor and dancer; born in Harlem, he went to the Netherlands in his early twenties and became the first Dutch black star.-Biography:...
) are currently playing. Some of their most well-known football alumni include current ESPN Analyst Ron Jaworski
Ron Jaworski
Ronald Vincent "Ron" Jaworski is a former American football quarterback and currently an NFL analyst on ESPN. He is also CEO of Ron Jaworski Golf Management, Inc., based out of Blackwood, New Jersey, and manages golf courses in southern New Jersey, northeast Pennsylvania, and West Virginia...
, Jeff Wilkins
Jeff Wilkins
For the American basketball player, see Jeff Wilkins .Jeffrey Allen Wilkins nicknamed "Money" is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and St Louis Rams. He played college football at Youngstown State University...
, Paul McFadden
Paul McFadden
Paul McFadden is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He gained recognition at the collegiate level as a kicker at Youngstown State University...
and Cliff Stoudt
Cliff Stoudt
Clifford Lewis Stoudt is a former American football quarterback for Youngstown State University and the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers...
. In addition, many college football coaches have been associated with Youngstown State. Alongside Tressel, former University of Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
head coach Mark Mangino
Mark Mangino
Mark Thomas Mangino is an American football coach. He was most recently the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks college football team from 2002 to 2009. In 2007, Mangino received several National Coach of the Year honors after leading the Jayhawks to their first 12-win season in school history...
and current Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
head coach Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio is the current head football coach at Michigan State University. He was hired on November 27, 2006 and became the 24th head coach at Michigan State. He is credited for winning the 2010 Big Ten Championship and his 4 game win streak over arch-rival Michigan...
began their coaching careers at YSU, and former Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
head coach Bob Davie played for the Penguins.