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1970 (0-9)
Zero
- The only time ever that a Penguin
football squad failed to win at
least one game in any given season.
Most - Receiver Bob Ferranti breaks Dave DelSignore’s mark
for most catches in a single season
by hauling in 46…The disappointing
year produces the most losses in a
single season, 323 points yielded by
the opposition, a school record…In
all, the Penguins set eight school
records.
1971 (2-6)
Ferranti Again
- In the season opener against the
Central Michigan Chippewas, Bob
Ferranti surpasses DelSignore to
take the lead in career receiving
yards with 1,389.
The Quarterback - Senior Denny Klembara and junior Ron
Jaworski share the quarterback
duties, however Klembara completes
his sweep of the YSU passing records
before graduation.
1972 (4-4-1)
The Rifle-
Behind the aerial artistry of Ron
Jaworski, the Penguins come from
behind to win two and tie another
during their final three home games
of the year…Their biggest win is a
trouncing 47-7 win over Xavier
University…Completing 139 passes,
good for 18 touchdowns, Jaworski is
chosen to play in the Ohio Shrine
Bowl along with Bob Ferranti and is
a last minute addition to the Senior
Bowl (coached by Lou Saban)…He is
drafted in the second round (32
overall pick) by the Los Angeles
Rams…Head Coach Dwight “Dike” Beede,
having retired at the conclusion of
the season, drowns on his farm less
than a month after the season.
1973 (4-6)
Number Two-
After the retirement of Head Coach
Dwight “Dike” Beede, the only
Penguin football coach since it
opted for football in the 1938
season, Rey Dempsey is named head
football coach by a search
committee…The squad goes 4-5-0 on
the year, but wins its final three
games on the season, including a
12-10 upset of #8 ranked North
Dakota State…Ferris Scott and Denny
Latess are chosen to represent
Youngstown State in the Ohio Shrine
Bowl game.
1974 (8-2)
Almost Perfect
- A pass interference call at the
Ball State 20 mars the Penguins
unbeaten season as the Cardinals
records a 21-14 dogfight win…The
Penguins are, however, one of eight
Division II teams chosen for the
NCAA play-offs…After holding a 14-7
lead, the Penguins fall prey to the
University of Delaware 35-14, the
eventual runners-up in the tourney.
Records and Honors - Running back John Kinch sets the
single season rushing record as he
scampers for 1,158 yards…Don
Calloway is chosen to the Kodak
All-America (Small College) First
Teamm…Nazih Banna, Elliot Dunlap and
Chris Burba play in the Ohio Shrine
Bowl tilt.
1975 (5-4)
Number “3”-
Bill Narduzzi, defensive coordinator
at the University of Kentucky, is
named as only the third ever Penguin
head football coach…He guides the
Penguins to their second straight
winning season with their biggest
win coming against Division I
opponent Villanova, 25-6.
More Honors - Don Calloway repeats as Kodak
All-American First Team selection
while Dave Garden, a running back
from Fairport Harbor, Ohio (the
Penguins’ second leading rusher of
all-time), is named to the Academic
All-America Second Team.
1976 (4-6)
Growing Pains
- Faced with the most demanding
schedule ever, the Penguins win four
of their finals six games to salvage
a somewhat disappointing season.
Still More Honors - Cliff Stoudt breaks Ron Jaworski’s
career total offense record and is
named to the last Ohio Shrine game
along with Larry Dannals, Russ
Muisel and John Kinch…Kinch is the
top draft pick of the Hamilton Tiger
Cats of the Canadian Football League
while the Pittsburgh Steelers draft
Stoudt.
1977 (7-3)
Closer to the Play-offs, But No Selection
- Narduzzi has turned the Penguins
into a bona-fide Division II
contender as they post a 7-3 record,
but committee chairman overlook the
up and coming Penguins…The only
lopsided loss comes at the hands on
Massachusetts, 54-13, while they
dish out severe beatings to Western
Illinois (37-16), Wayne State
(31-10) Eastern Illinois (52-22) and
Central State (34-6).
1978 (10-2)
Finally!
- Having recorded the most wins ever
by the Penguin football team (10),
the Penguins are chosen for the
Division II play-offs where they win
their opening round game against
Nebraska/Omaha, 21-14, but fall
short of making it to the finals as
the Eastern Illinois Panthers top
the Penguins, 26-22, a team the
Penguins had defeated quite handily
during the regular season.
Keep Those Honors Coming - Jim Ferranti, the fleet wide
receiver for the Penguins known as
the “Flea,” is chosen to the
Associated Press’ All American First
Team…Head Coach Bill Narduzzi is
chosen as the Ohio “Coach of the
Year.”
1979 (11-2)
Just Short - Records were made to be broken and it
took the Penguins only one season to
break the record for the most wins
ever posted in a single season as
they were 9-1 in the regular season
and 2-1 in the playoffs for a total
of 11 victories. The only
regular-season loss comes at the
hands of Delaware, 51-45, despite
leading the Blue Hens 35-7 at
halftime. Delaware also defeated YSU
in the postseason, a 35-21 decision
in the Division II National
Championship Game at the Zia Bowl in
Albuquerque, N.M. The Guins finished
second in Division II following the
defeat.
Postseason Honors and Achievements - For his
leadership, Coach Bill Narduzzi is
named the Division II Coach of the
Year while Jim Ferranti repeats as a
first-team Associated Press
All-America selection. Jeff Lear is
named to the Kodak All-America
squad. |
