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BEAVER TOWNSHIP – For the past 33 years, Bob Hannon has been placed at the top of the Stambaugh Stadium press box, calling all but one of the last 385 Youngstown State University football games.
From his familiar catbird seat, he has been the gaze of his audience during the Penguins’ 36 playoff games, also calling seven I-AA or FCS division championship games four of which resulted in championship banners for the program.
After calling last Saturday’s game in Northern Iowa a 34-7 victory for the Panthers, he stopped by Monday’s Curbstone coaching meeting to share his thoughts on Penguins version 21 of football.
“Head coach Doug Phillips has a plan, he’s sticking to it, so we have to be patient because it’s going to take time,” Hannon told the audience at the Avion Banquet Center. “He believes in building his program through high school recruiting, so we have to trust him.
“Look at the University of Cincinnati, its previous stop, and you see what Luke Fickell did with the same formula. The Bearcats struggled and won just four games in his first year at the helm, then turned the tide. Last weekend UC beat Notre Dame at South Bend, so it’s a formula that can work.
The Penguins are currently 1-3 overall after posting a 1-6 record in the spring and after a 44-41 win over Incarnate Word in overtime, will look to end a three-game losing streak this week. -end in their annual return game. against the State of Missouri.
“The defense carried us in the spring, but we seem to have regressed,” Hannon added. “We gave up 44, 42, 38 and 34 points in our first four games, and that’s my biggest worry. We didn’t have a lot of rushing so we need to improve in this area.
Another area of concern for Hannon is the quarterback.
“I am not critical but we are dominated under the center,” he said. “It’s hard to win when you’re outmanized there. Demeatric Crenshaw is a freshman in a red shirt and I hope he’s the answer. If not, we have to take a close look at the transfer portal and that. is strictly my opinion. This is an area that has benefited other teams, particularly the State of Missouri and other schools in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. “
Hannon said the MVFC is head and shoulders above any other FCS conference, while YSU’s facilities are state-of-the-art across the board.
“We have a history of success and the fans are impatient, I get it,” Hannon noted. “Right now there are 27 players in the NFL who represent MVFC schools, but none are from YSU. Ohio is a great soccer state, our facilities are among the best of any FCS, and our conference is head and shoulders above any other FCS conference. This makes us very attractive to recruits.
“Teams in the past that were doormats at the conference like Missouri State, Western Illinois, Indiana State, and Southern Illinois are now competitive and that has been a challenge, in part because they have invested dollars in their programs. football and used the transfer portal. It’s not just the state of North Dakota, North Iowa or South Dakota that dominates our conference anymore. “
This year’s roster is still a young roster, according to Hanno.
“We’re still very young with over 60% of our roster made up of first year and second year students. When they become juniors and seniors we should be at the heart of the conference race, but we have to get competitive again, ”he said. “Before we scored the final touchdown last Saturday in northern Iowa, we had been beaten 65-0 in the previous six quarters. We weren’t as competitive as we had hoped and we have to come back.
Hannon added that Phillips continues to tirelessly sell the Penguins’ football program.
“Doug is trying to sell the program and he can win,” Hannon concluded.
“He’s in the community and very engaging, speaking to everyone from donors to fans and anyone who wants to talk about YSU football.”
Next Monday, Brian Shrum, Head Coach of YSU Women’s Football, will be the guest speaker.
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