April 22, 2009

Football: Guins to Hold Jersey Scrimmage as Annual Spring Game
    Youngstown – Youngstown State Head Coach Jon Heacock announced on Tuesday that Friday’s Red-White Spring Game will be a jersey scrimmage pitting the offense against the defense.
    The offense currently owns the Red Jerseys, signifying the unit which won the most recent scrimmage. The offense is 2-0 this spring in scrimmages after the defense held the Red shirts entering Spring ball. Kickoff at Stambaugh Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m.
    In the 37-year history of the game, this will be the third known jersey scrimmage-type Spring Game. The most recent was in 2001 when Coach Heacock took over the program in January for Jim Tressel. That year, the offense won scoring a touchdown in overtime to claim a 45-38 victory. The only other scrimmage was in 1995 as the defense earned the victory.
    The last six Red-White Spring Games have been contests where the seniors drafted the teams and then played the contest. Since a 3-0 White victory in 2002, the Reds have dominated the series winning six straight games, including a 15-0 decision last spring.
    “I would never call a jersey scrimmage a regular scrimmage,” Heacock said. “We still have some guys sitting out with the injuries that we’ve had. I don’t think it’s fair sometimes to start dividing up teams and then I wonder sometimes how much real work we get out of it and we still need real work. Defensively, again selfishly speaking, we need some work and we need some work as a staff. It’s as much for us on our side of the ball as it is for anything.”
    “I’m a little disappointed for the players because I know they like the draft and the game and all of that. I also think I have to do what’s best for this group because I think they want to have success so I have to make that decision. The best thing for us right now is to compete our best against our best all the time. It will be exciting. They’ll be competing.”
    All-time the team wearing White owns a 20-16 series advantage. However, the team wearing Red has won six straight games and seven of the past eight. Red’s won 15-0 last year. Kickoffs will be utilized to setup the offense vs. defense situations.

    Tickets are $5 for the game and can be purchased the night of the game or through the YSU Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 941-1YSU. The forecast is calling for a perfect night for football with temperatures forecast in the lower 70’s at kickoff. The contest will be aired live on WKBN 570 AM beginning at 7:15 p.m.
    “Our team wants to be good,” Heacock said. “That sounds silly, but when you go out and watch practice you can tell whether guys want to be good or not and I think you can tell our team does. That starts with our older guys. They want to be better and they want to improve. As long as you have that you have a chance. Wanting to be good and working to want to be good are two different things and our guys have worked to want to be good."

NOTE: Because of on-going construction just outside the South end of Stambaugh Stadium, fans are asked to cross at the North crosswalk at the Fifth Avenue and Grant Street (between the M-24 parking lot and McDonald’s). They can proceed up the sidewalk on Fifth Avenue to the steps between the towers to enter the Stadium’s North or South Ends. Seating for the game will be in the West side stands only.