2006 “Penguin of the Year”
Football Alumni Group

    One of the most active behind-the-scenes groups that supports Youngstown State Athletics is the Football Alumni Organization. For their efforts, the ever-growing and enthusiastic group is being honored as the 2006 Penguins of the Year.
    Involved in its current fashion for over four years, the Football Alumni group, which is a part of the Youngstown State Penguin Club, has helped the football program and athletic department in numerous ways.
    Whether its video equipment, scholarships, computers or just donating services and time, the group has worked diligently to keep the heritage of Penguin football alive and well for both the current players and the past greats that number over 1,230.
    This organization’s philosophy is to help the university that helped them not only with an education, but allowed them to play the sport they all enjoyed. Most of all, to not forget how the great sport of football changed their lives through the networking of many people, developing those relationships into great friendships and harvesting many great memories that a lot of former players still cherish today.
    In recent years the Football Alumni has stepped up time and time again.
In 2003, the group created a scholarship endowment which is given annually to a football player who exhibits athletic ability and personal qualities that reflects community concern and involvement. To date, more than $40,000 has been contributed to their scholarship endowment.
    A reunion event started about five years ago and has steadily grown from about 50 participants to almost 120.
    The annual reunion gathering is held each April in conjunction with the Red-White Spring Football Game.
    The reunion weekend begins with its annual Spaghetti Dinner. The Spaghetti Dinner was part of YSU’s football heritage dating back to the early days of the program. The group has done its best to educate the current Penguins of how and why this event was held. It also allows a chance for the current players to get introduced to some of the past history of the program. The festivities for the group include a round of golf at Oak Tree Country Club in West Middlesex, Pa., followed with a dinner in the DeBartolo Stadium Club and the annual Red-White Spring Football Game at Stambaugh Stadium.
    In the fall, the Football Alumni hold a Tailgate Blast Party prior to a Penguin football game. This gives the former Penguins and their families a chance to get together before, during and after contests to discuss the current team.
    Beginning with the 2005 campaign, the group has established an award that will be presented following each Homecoming Contest. The Player Who Makes the Difference in the Homecoming Game receives a plaque from organization at the annual football banquet.
    Currently, there are more than 80 members who are part of the Football Alumni group.
    Founded in the mid-1980’s on their own to hold Homecoming dinners and various other get-togethers, the group has become extremely active within the past five years since becoming a part of the Penguin Club.
    The core founders of the organization are Frank Beck (1953-55), Ray Briya (1965-67), Tony Clemente (1951), John DeMas (1952-54), Pat Gmiter (1952-53), Ned Mervos (1950-53), Don McCloud (1951-53), Angelo Pezzuolo (1951-54) and Jim Verlotte (1951-53).
    The goal of the organization is to try and have all former 1,000-plus YSU football players become a member. For more information on the Football Alumni Club contact Tom Morella in the YSU Athletic Department at (330) 941-2351.