The television was one of those jobs with an 80-inch screen, so
that everyone gathered in Schwebel Auditorium on the campus of
Youngstown State could witness the glory. "Oh, man, were we
excited," recalls Penguins senior wide receiver Willis Marshall.
"It was everything we'd been working for."
That was in November 1996, when players and fans of Youngstown
State, which had finished the regular season 8-3, assembled to
eat hoagies, down Cokes and watch the selection show for the
Division I-AA football playoffs, which would undoubtedly include
one of the nation's most storied programs. Or would it? One
team, two teams...16 teams selected, and not one of them
nicknamed the Penguins. "Do you know what it's like when you get
a phone call about a death in the family?" says Frank Page, a
senior offensive lineman. "This was worse."
Worse than death?
"A lot of strong men had tears in their eyes," he says, "but it
served as motivation."
Last Saturday in Chattanooga, Page and his teammates could smile
again after Youngstown State won a record-tying fourth I-AA
national title, having come from behind to defeat bigger,
stronger, faster McNeese State 10-9. "Take all those old
feelings and throw 'em away," Marshall yelled after the game.
"All of that makes all of this so much sweeter. This was our
revenge."
Though they had won national championships in 1991, '93 and '94,
the Penguins had suffered disappointments of late, going 3-8 two
years ago before last season's snub. But Youngstown State is
steeped in tradition. It's the sort of place where old champions
come back to cheer on their alma mater. Coach Jim Tressel, who
has led the Penguins to all four of their titles, doesn't mind
reminding his players of that history. "Poise and patience," he
said after last Saturday's victory. "I like to think our program
has been built on those foundations. That's exactly what we told
our players this morning: The winner would be the one with more
of both."
Translation: The winner would be the one that didn't screw up.
Tressel was right. After trailing for most of the
defense-dominated game—but making few mistakes—Youngstown
State caught a break early in the fourth quarter when, with the
Cowboys leading 9-3, McNeese State quarterback Blake Prejean
lofted a floater into the hands of linebacker Jeff Fackrell. The
Penguins, starting from their 34, pushed the ball up the field,
helped by a Cowboys face-mask penalty and shabby tackling.
Then, with eight minutes remaining, McNeese State committed the
decisive blunder. On third-and-goal from the Cowboys' nine-yard
line, Youngstown wideout Renauld Ray went in motion. When
quarterback Demond Tidwell took the snap, both of McNeese
State's cornerbacks followed Penguins receiver Randy Coates to
the right. Ray glided alone along the left sideline, snared a
perfect toss from Tidwell and jogged in for the game-clinching
score.
Poise. Patience.
"Demond was calm as could be," said Ray, a sophomore. "He just
kept telling us to relax and take our time, that good things
would happen. We're not your average team—we can handle things
very well."
The two teams finished the game virtually even in total offense
(201 yards for the Cowboys and 200 yards for the Penguins) and
time of possession (28:27 to 31:33). But feeding off last
season's bitter disappointment and with a coach who knows more
than most others about winning, Youngstown State again showed
how dynasties stay dynasties.
Issue date: December 29, 1997
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