Another Youngstown State U. football season draws near, and the buzz around Penguin nation points to the new sheriff in town, the big, bad wolf: Eric Wolford.
Many questions have been raised about Wolford since he’s been in charge after Jon Heacock stepped down as head coach. Is this guy as good as he seems? Would his charisma and energy translate into wins for the Penguins?
Wolford certainly looks the part as coach of a blue-collar team like YSU, but will it bring fans, who were non-existent toward the end of the Heacock era, back to the Ice Castle? Can he put fans back into Stambaugh Stadium?
Some fans who showed up for the scrimmage Saturday certainly hope to get their money’s worth come the regular season.
Allen Jones Sr. of Youngstown watched the Penguins’ scrimmage; he sensed a completely different team than the one who played a season ago.
“[It] seems like a lot of fire with guys they’ve stirred up,” Jones said.
Bob Radakovich, father of sophomore offensive tackle Andrew Radakovich, also attended the scrimmage, and he said the Penguins are doing the right things.
“We’re excited and hoping things work out better than last year,” the elder Radakovich said.
Even YSU President Cynthia Anderson was impressed with how the Penguins looked.
“I think Coach Wolford has done a very good job recruiting. He’s very enthusiastic. I think that his values are very good,” Anderson said.
The Penguins are coming off a winning season of 6-5 but now have a new coach, Wolford; a new quarterback, redshirt freshman Kurt Hess; and a new starting running back, one by committee similar to a season ago with Kevin Smith and Dana Brown.
But YSU lost an all-star receiver to the NFL.
The Penguins are starting from scratch on offense. None of this seems to faze Wolford.
“I feel confident and obviously in what our football team has as far as guys that want to work hard and to do things right. We’ve changed the attitude, we’ve changed the culture here,” Wolford said.
Hess said he doesn’t seem too nervous at the notion of starting the season on the road at Pennsylvania State University.
“I won’t be too nervous,” Hess said about the season opener in Happy Valley. “I want to go out and take full advantage and go out and get a win.”
On the defensive end, the Penguins lost three of the top four leaders in tackles from a season ago. The only one who has returned from last season is senior free safety Andre Elliot.
Another key contributor to last season’s defense was junior Deonta Tate. Tate had a solid season with 35 tackles in eight games played. Only a couple of Penguins had more tackles from a season ago.
“As we grow as a defense, it’s about what we are willing to give up for that person next to us,” Tate said about the upcoming season.