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Feb. 26, 2003
Football: Penguins Finalize 2003 Schedule
Youngstown -- For the
first time in school history, the
Youngstown State football team will
play 12 regular-season games
highlighted by seven home contests,
always tough Gateway Football
Conference competition and the
renewal of the Schwebel's Challenge
Series against Kent State.
The seven home regular-season games are the most since 2001
and marks the eighth time in school
history YSU has played seven
regular-season home contests. The
Penguins play host to Edinboro,
Slippery Rock, Florida Atlantic,
SMS, Western Illinois, Illinois
State and defending National
Champion Western Kentucky. Road
contests are at Kent State, Liberty,
Indiana State, Northern Iowa and
Southern Illinois. YSU will play 12
straight weeks before having its
only open date the week prior to the
NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs.
Head Coach Jon Heacock said the schedule is solid from top to
bottom with interesting matchups
each week.
"Our schedule is interesting since we play 12 regular-season
games for the first time in school
history," Heacock said. "We looked
into playing 12 games last season,
which was allowed by the NCAA for
the first time, but a good
scheduling situation did not present
itself.
"This year, things just fell into place and that is awesome.
I am excited that once again our
fans can see us play at Stambaugh
Stadium seven times and can make the
short trip to Kent State for another
installment of the Schwebel's
Challenge Series."
The Penguins open the season on Thursday, August 28, playing
host to Division II Edinboro and
follow that with a contest against
Division II Slippery Rock on Sept.
6. YSU is a combined 11-0 against
those two schools.
"Playing both Edinboro and Slippery Rock early in the year
gives us a chance to face challenges
from two Western Pennsylvania
teams," Heacock said. "Then we have
an exciting opportunity to play a
very good Kent State team at their
place."
Youngstown State renews the Schwebel's Challenge Series
against Kent State on Sept. 13 at
Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio. YSU
currently possesses the Schwebel's
Trophy after beating the Golden
Flashes 26-20 in 2000 at Kent. YSU
owns a 6-3 series lead.
Florida Atlantic makes its first trip to Stambaugh Stadium on
Sept. 20. YSU beat the Owls 24-17
last year in Miami. The Penguins
play their final non-conference game
of the year at Liberty on Sept. 27.
The last contest between the Flames
and YSU was in 1993.
Youngstown State begins Gateway Football Conference play at
Stambaugh Stadium against SMS on
Oct. 4. YSU has won all seven
previous meetings with the Bears.
YSU plays 2002 Gateway Champion
Western Illinois on Oct. 11.
The Penguins then play three of four Gateway clashes on the
road beginning with an Oct. 18 game
at Indiana State. YSU is 11-1
all-time against the Sycamores.
The annual Homecoming game is set against Illinois State on
Oct. 25. The Penguins beat the
Redbirds 24-17 last year in Normal
and have won the last three
meetings. YSU has won its last 11
Homecoming games.
The only consecutive road games of the year are played at
Northern Iowa on Nov. 1 and then at
Southern Illinois on Nov. 8. YSU has
split the last four meetings with
the Panthers and has won six of its
last seven against the Salukis.
Youngstown State concludes the regular season at home against
defending National Champion Western
Kentucky. WKU beat YSU 13-7 last
year and finished the year by
winning 10 consecutive games on its
way to winning its first-ever
national title.
YSU does not play on Nov. 22 and the first-round of the NCAA
Division I-AA Playoffs is set for
Nov. 29. The quarterfinals will be
played Dec. 6 with the semifinals
played on Dec. 13. The title game
will be held in Chattanooga, Tenn.,
for the seventh consecutive season
on Friday, Dec. 19.
Spring Practice:
The Penguins will begin Spring
Drills on Friday, March 21.
Scrimmages are tentatively scheduled
for April 4 and April 12 with the
Annual Spring Game on Wednesday,
April 16. |
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