Youngstown State University is in NCAA Division I. Nicknamed the Penguins, they play in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, and compete in the following sports: Baseball (men) Basketball (men/women) Cross Country (men/women) Football (men) Golf (men/women) Soccer (women) Softball (women) Swimming and Diving (women) Tennis (men/women) Track and Field (men/women) Volleyball (women)

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Football

YSU has been particularly successful in and is most recognized for football. One of the leading programs in NCAA Division I-AA, YSU has won four national championships, second only to Georgia Southern. The Penguins claimed the titles in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1997, and earned runner-up titles in 1992 and 1999. They were coached through this era by Jim Tressel, who left the university following the 2000 season to coach at Ohio State. His successor, current coach Jon Heacock, has not won a national championship, but has delivered consistent seasons and took them to a national semifinal appearance in 2006 (losing to eventual national champion Appalachian State). In all, YSU has made 11 playoff appearances since I-AA was initiated in 1978.

Historically, YSU is significant for longtime coach Dwight "Dike" Beede, who after noticing on-field confusion due to officials using whistles to signal a penalty, invented the penalty flag during a game in 1941. The flag is now standard at all football games.

YSU plays its home games at Stambaugh Stadium, nicknamed "The Ice Castle", which has a capacity of over 21,000, one of the largest in Division I FCS football (formerly known as Division I-AA). Some have argued the stadium's size as being the only reason YSU doesn't compete in Division I FBS, as the stadium--while one of the largest for Division I FCS--is too small for Division I FBS. The team would likely play in the Mid-American Conference if it were to make the move up to Division I FBS.

The Penguins have sent 20 players to the NFL, two of which (Tim Johnson and Marcus Mason) are currently playing. In addition, many college football coaches have been associated with Youngstown State. Alongside Tressel, University of Kansas head coach Mark Mangino and Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio began their coaching careers at YSU, and former Notre Dame head coach Bob Davie played for the Penguins.

Other Sports

The Track and Field and Cross Country teams are consistently strong contenders in the Horizon League. The women's team has won five of the last six Horizon League Track and Field Championships.

Also notable are the baseball and softball teams. In 2004, despite having a losing record, the baseball team won the Horizon League tournament and went to the College World Series regionals for the first time. The softball team followed this feat two years later by also winning the Horizon League tournament and qualifying for the NCAA Regional Softball Tournament.

There is no clear reason as to why they are nicknamed the Penguins, but one of the more widely accepted theories is that during the 1930s, when the basketball team was playing, it had been very cold outside, and one of the spectators said, "They look like penguins out there." YSU's mascots are Pete and Penny, two penguins dressed in scarfs and stocking caps.

The Penguins' primary athletic facilities are Stambaugh Stadium (football and soccer) and the Beeghly Center (basketball, swimming, and volleyball).

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