Messages

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: UNI week

« on: November 16, 2024, 07:58:02 PM »

I thought the coach made a great call to go for 2 in overtime.  Our defense was toast as far as I could see in overtime. If we had kicked the extra point and went into another overtime, they would have scored easily and we would have had to score to keep up. And I think in the overtimes after the first, you need to go for 2. I just don't think we could keep up with them with our D done at that point in the game. So good call by the coach in my opinion.

As for Brungard, I think he finally showed me he could throw the ball down field effectively. Some of his throws showed an arm strength I had not seen previously. He needs to work on proper mechanics since he throws off his back foot much of the time. But with his Dad and Tomczak to help him over winter, hopefully he can get good throwing mechanics to help him throw down field with the needed accuracy and velocity and stretch defenses which was missing most of the year. Not sure if it is receivers, O line, play calling, etc., but opposing defenses sure stacked the box against us much of the time. Hopefully with this years’ experience he will be a more effective all around qb.

As for over the winter changes that need to be made, who knows for sure. Are our coaches good enough? Which of our current players stay or leave?  Which of our returning players are good enough or can grow into players that are good enough? Will the coach have the strength to pull support from some that do not measure up? Can we keep those on our roster that are good enough to play effectively at our level? How much NIL money can we gain and have to spend on our roster? Can we evaluate transfers that are needed and get them here? 

This new world of college football is entirely different than the past. Using the methods of the past will not work. This off season will show if Coach Phillips is up to this new world of college football coaching at our level. I sure hope so since I feel he has many good qualities needed for our program at YSU
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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Valeo week

« on: September 08, 2024, 07:26:59 PM »

One thing I agree with is you need a strong passing qb before you need a strong running qb. As said before most of our good teams over the years had a strong passing qb, not a strong running qb. I recall Hunter Wells was a forgotten man and didn't even travel to some away games. When inserted as the starter things really went well and we made it to the national championship game. All coaches want the total package of the running qb that can throw well. Hard to find at least at our level.

In our current situation I think we have a qb that is a great runner and a true team player doing all that he can to lead our team. If he can make the deep throws or even shorter ones with zip on the ball is the question. So far it hasn't shown. I sure hope he can do it. If not we need to find a throwing qb even if he can't be a strong runner.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Villanova Game Week!!!

« on: September 05, 2024, 10:14:23 AM »

Disappointing game for me. It shows how our defense was gutted by NIL and the transfer rules. I think the end result is going to be the big schools with more money in NIL will mine players from those under them in NIL money and exposure for the NFL draft. Although as many have said, it is better exposure for the NFL to play at our level rather than be a backup at a higher level program. I hope the NCAA or some governing body slows down this crazy system or the gap between the haves and have nots will get much larger. Under the current system we will not be able to marginally compete even with the Pitt's of the world.

I think teams at our level need to find a method to recruit and retain reasonable talent since all the old rules are out. Our current system seems to be to not give full scholarships to high school recruits which will lower our talent level with this group. But in our defense, if we do get a good high school recruit, develop him, and then lose him in the portal doesn't work either. Unfortunately it seems we need to use the portal primarily to get a good on the field talent level much like basketball did in recent years. I think the portal players mostly get full scholarships and some NIL money. This entire process is evolving at our level and we have not mastered it as yet in football.

Think Alex Howard and some others that should be here.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Baseball

« on: May 27, 2024, 08:12:10 AM »

Akron dropped baseball a few year ago along with men's golf. They have since brought baseball back and even had a donner who financed ASTRO turf on their field.

All the local colleges are in trouble financially.  Not enough high school graduates to keep enrollment up to support many low enrollment majors and athletics. Cleveland State is setting aside millions for faculty by outs as they cut low enrollment programs. We have also cut some programs trying to avert financial problems. There are many issues and I feel we are fortunate to have the sports we have in the current financial reality.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Baseball

« on: May 25, 2024, 07:37:09 PM »

Cambell is the softball coach.  The baseball coach is Dan Bertolini. Since I do not know what resources YSU gives him compared to the other programs in the league, it is hard to decide on his fate. No doubt our tallent level is not up to the top teams. Also with NIL and transfer rules, if the coach does not adapt, it could be trouble. At this point the baseball program needs a change.  Need to depend on Ron Strollo since he knows the facts of the situation and I sure do not.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Baseball

« on: May 24, 2024, 11:07:40 PM »

Our catcher was thrown out of the first game for using tobacco products. He was forced to sit out game 2 due to being ejected in game 1! Anyone know what he did and how he was caught? Manager ejected from game 1, but managed game 2.

Perez was the star of the win yesterday and today pitched 2 1/3 innings to finish today's 2nd game. Great performance by our senior pitcher.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU to Name Ethan Faulkner MBB Coach!

« on: March 30, 2024, 07:04:16 PM »

I think Ethan will do a good job . Hopefully he can maintain our current players and recruits and finalize the roster with some quality transfers. He seems like a serious person who will work really hard to be successful. At times I thought we got out coached this past year, for example Oakland both games by a very experienced coach Kampe. Hopefully Ethan can do a great job with all parts of the head coaching responsibility. I think he can.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Baseball

« on: March 30, 2024, 06:54:12 PM »

Weekend update on 3 game weekend series against Northern Kentucky who leads the Horizon League. Lost all three games, but at least the scores were not terrible.

Game 1 on Thursday not using our top pitcher, Jacob Gehring, losing 4 - 2. Northern Kentucky has 6 hits, 8 walks, and no hit batters. We had the same 6 hits, with 1 walk and 1 hit batter.

Game 2 on Friday lose 8 - 7 in 10 innings.  Jacob Gehring starts and at one point we lead 6 - 3. After he is gone, pitching again fails us and they get 11 hits, 8 walks, and 3 hit batters.

Game 3 on Friday lose 8 - 4. They have 9 hits, 10 walks, no hit batters, to go along with 3 errors by us. We had 8 hits and 1 walk.

Pitching is really hurting us among other issues of defense and lack of hitting.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Baseball

« on: March 26, 2024, 09:04:12 PM »

Today at Toledo loss 19 - 6. Pitching a continuing problem.  Used 10 pitchers in 8 innings. Gave up 13 hits, 10 walks, 5 hit batters, and 2 errors.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Baseball

« on: March 25, 2024, 04:58:14 PM »

Weekend summary against Oakland.  Win on Friday 3 - 2. Jacob Gehring again had a strong outing with 7 innings and 2 relievers. Allow 5 hits, 4 walks, and 1 hit batter.

Double hitter on Sunday. Both blowout losses by 10 run rule, one 6 innings and a 2nd needed a few batters in the 7th to get to the 10 run rule. First game 14 - 1. They had only 7 hits but had 10 walks and 4 hit batters along with 5 of our errors. Second game 13 - 3. They had 13 hits, 8 walks and 3 hit batters along with 3 errors for us.

It looks like we only have a chance with our top pitcher, Jacob Gehring. Trouble beyond that and we don't score many runs and make more than a few errors.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 21, 2024, 11:05:51 PM »

I think we get a part of the money from Oakland's winnings. That was what happened during Butler's run.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Horizon League Coaches/Portal

« on: March 21, 2024, 09:45:23 PM »

80 - 76! Greg Campi is a great coach. Beat us in the last 5 seconds with a bit of a trick play. He out coaches a lot of coaches. Just show our league was pretty good this year as was YSU.  And 3 pointers are what can win big games.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Baseball

« on: March 18, 2024, 07:45:10 PM »

This weekend started good with a 4 - 2 win on Friday. Usually each team uses their top pitcher and we win.

Game on Saturday. Usually your 2nd best pitcher and we lose by 10 run rule after 7 innings 13 - 3! They got 19 hits and 1 walk to our 4 hits and 3 walks.

Sunday with the next pitcher and again we lose by a 10 run rule after 8 innings 18 - 5. They got 16 hits and 10 walks and we get 7 hits and 6 walks!

It sure looks like we are over matched. The pitching is especially weak, the hitting not that great, and the defense average at best. For sure we need better players if we are to compete. There is the portal, recruiting, the off campus facility, the budget, coaching, etc.  I sure don't know the inside of the program to know what is the issue, but this is embarrassing.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Baseball

« on: March 16, 2024, 02:04:20 PM »

Baseball won again 4 - 2, against Purdue Fort Wayne. Only 4 walks and the starting pitcher, Jacob Gehring, went 8 strong innings giving up 4 hits and 3 walks. That kind of pitching gives you a chance to win. That is 2 in a row after starting 0 - 15!

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU Baseball

« on: March 13, 2024, 10:38:05 PM »

Baseball won today at Pitt 7 - 6 in 10 innings! First win of the year after 14 or more losses. And not too many walks like in most other games. Maybe we have a few pitchers who can throw strikes and get some people out.  The defense is adequate although there are many stollen bases. But the walks and then the hits are really out of line for too many of our pitchers.