By Joe Scalzo
scalzo@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Outgoing Youngstown State football radio analyst Ed Muransky doesn’t see Chris Sammarone as his replacement.
He sees him as an upgrade.
“He’s better-looking, he played at YSU and he’s a lineman,” Muransky said, laughing. “How can you get any better than that?”
Muransky, the team’s analyst for the past three seasons, called his last game on Friday, sharing the booth with play-by-play man Bob Hannon and Sammarone for the Penguins’ annual Red-White spring game.
Muransky wants to spend more weekends with his daughters (who live in New York) and get more involved with Michigan football (where he played collegiately), although he still plans to attend a handful of YSU games in the fall.
“It’s tough to be 10 places at once, plus all my friends at Michigan are wondering what happened to me,” said Muransky. “I’m going to miss everybody and I’ll still be hugely behind the team.
“I’m very proud to have been part of the [program’s] resurgence and I’ve even seen growth in the offseason this year.”
Sammarone, an All-American on YSU’s 1994 national championship team, said he’s happy to get more involved with the program.
“I know I have big shoes to fill,” Sammarone said. “I enjoyed listening to Ed over the last three years and I think he did a great job. I hope I can bring that type of insight to our listeners.”
Sammarone will be the seventh analyst to work with Hannon, joining Steve Sefner, Mike McGlone, Paul McFadden, John Batcho, Dick Hartzell and Muransky.
“I’m gonna miss Ed,” Hannon said. “I have worked with six color analysts. He was the most prepared and I really enjoyed working with him.”
Muransky repaid the compliment.
“I truly have been with a master,” Muransky said of Hannon. “So many of us believe what goes on in radio is so easy, but Bob is as good as it gets from a play-by-play standpoint.
“He’s been a gem and he’s made these last three years awesome.”
