YSU - All Stambaugh Stadium Offensive Unit

This year marks the 25th year of Stambaugh Stadium on the campus of Youngstown State University.....many great teams, players, and coaches have passed through the Ice Castle.....my dad took me to the first game ever played there - a 20-19 loss to Akron in 1982 (9/4/82)....as a student, then sports editor of the school newspaper, and now as a full-time University employee - I love Youngstown State University....in honor of the 25th anniversary, I have compiled my All-YSU Stambaugh Stadium team.....today is a look at the offensive unit...the defensive unit will be released next week....

Head coach - there have been only three head coaches while the Penguins played at Stambaugh Stadium - Bill Narduzzi, Jim Tressel, Jon Heacock......and the winner is - Jim Tressel.....as long as he was on the sidelines, YSU was never out of the game...YSU made some miracle comebacks over the years.....ironically, Tressel lost the last game he ever coached as Stambaugh Stadium 21-20 against Southern Illinois (11/11/00)....SIU was down 20-7 in the fourth quarter only to comeback and win....at the time, no one thought that would be his last game ever at Stambaugh....

Quarterback - Trenton Lykes (1984-87) - there have been great quarterbacks at the helm, but my vote would go to the University’s all-time passing yardage leader - Trenton Lykes....people remember Isaac, Cochran, Burngard, Ryan, and others, but Lykes may have been the best pure quarterback....he played his first two years under the late Bill Narduzzi then finished his career under Jim Tressel....he was the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Player of the Year in 1987....there is no doubt that if he played full-time under Tressel, Lykes would have won a title too....instead he is the forgotten quarterback.....
Other notables: Jeff Ryan (1998-01); Mark Brungard (1992-95); Ray "The Colonel" Isaac (1988-91); Nick Cochran (1990-92); Tom Zetts (2004-07)

Running back - Tamron Smith (1990-93) - still holds the school record for 4,866 career rushing yards....people forget that he was a fullback his freshman year....he was dependable, solid, and a good person...
Fullback - Jake Andreadis (1995-98) - the Rumbling Greek played fullback and running back.....
Other notables: Marcus Mason (2005-06); P.J. Mays (200-02); Shawn Patton (1990, 94); Adrian Brown (1996-99); P.J. Mays (2000-02)

Let’s move to the beef of the team - the offensive line.....
Tackle - Jim Zdelar (1987-88) - he was the Penguins first true stud lineman....he was drafted in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins.....1988 Associated Press First Team All-American....he died in 1993 and the YSU Offensive Lineman of the Year Award was named in his honor....
Guard - Jim Sydlowski (1983-86) - one of only two players to be a two-time winner of the YSU Offensive Lineman of the Year....
Center - Chris Sammarone (1992-94) - 1994 Associated Press First Team All-American.....
Guard - Drew Gerber (1990-93) - started as a freshman and finished as a 1993 Associated Press First Team All-American.....
Tackle - Pat Crummey (1998-01) - the other two-time winner of the YSU Offensive Lineman of the Year...2001 Associated Press First Team All-American.....
Other notables: Matt Hogg (1994-97); Todd Kollar (1994-97); Ryan Jewell (2003-06)

Now for the flash players at wide receiver and tight end.....
Wide Receiver - Herb Williams (1988-92) - fifth all-time in receiving yards....had the knack for making big plays....had 72 receptions in 1992 which is second all-time in a season....
Wide Receiver - Rick Shepas (1983-86) - tied for second all-time in receptions and second overall in receiving yardage.....
Wide Receiver - Trent Boykin (1991-94) - tied for second all-time in receptions.....
Tight end - Ray Ellington (1988-90) - the Penguins rarely utilize a tight end in their offensive scheme, but Ellington was one of the few players who did stretch the defense on occassion....
Other notables: Renauld Ray (1996-99); Elliott Giles (1998-99); Don Zwisler (1992-94)

Field goals were a big part of big wins at YSU.....there were two studs at this position....
Kicker - Jeff Wilkens (1990-93) - he was Mr. Dependable during the Tressel years....he still is kicking for the St. Louis Rams....

YSU should name their annual special teams award to a special coach - Kenny Conatser (photo) ....he was the guru of special teams....somehow, YSU had a knack for blocking punts and field goals while Conatser was in charge of the unit....
Kick returner - Archie Herring (1987-90) - leads YSU in kick-off returns....
Punt returner - Trent Boykin (1991-94) - YSU’s all-time man in this field....