BEAVER TOWNSHIP — As the Tribune Chronicle beat writer for Youngstown State football, sportswriter Joe Simon has witnessed the highs and lows of the YSU program while maintaining the neutrality, albeit tough at times, expected of a staff member.

“One of the the toughest parts of my job is having to criticize a coach or player,” Simon told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center. “You build relationships with these people, and it’s not easy when you have to critique them for such a large audience, but it’s part of the job.”

A 2000 graduate of Liberty High School, Simon earned his undergraduate degree in journalism-mass communications from Kent State University.

He has covered the Penguins’ grid team on and off since ’01 when he was a member of the school newspaper’s sports staff, The Jambar.

Simon started at the Tribune Chronicle in 2004, took a two-year hiatus from 2010-12 to work for another newspaper and since 2012 has been the Tribune Chronicle’s expert on YSU football.

He has covered the last three head coaches since current President Jim Tressel left for Ohio State after the 2000 season, noting that Jon Heacock, who succeeded Tressel, Eric Wolford and now Bo Pelini were all good coaches in their own way.

“I started at The Jambar when Jon Heacock took over for Jim Tressel, and he was excellent to work with,” Simon said. “Ask anyone who worked with Jon Heacock, and they’ll have nothing but glowing remarks, and he was a very good coach. He took the Penguins to the FCS playoffs in 2006 before losing to eventual national champion Appalachian State.

“Coach Wolford came next and he, too, was a good coach who could really recruit. When Bo Pelini came in, the expectations went up. People expected YSU to compete for national titles right away. That’s not easy to do. He’s an excellent X’s and O’s coach who truly cares about his team and players.”

Simon said he receives e-mails asking whether Pelini is the right man for the job after another disappointing season.

“YSU football has been a tough topic of late because of how things have been going around the program,” he said. “Pelini went 12-4 in 2016 and made it to the FCS national championship, but since then they’ve been inconsistent. They lost badly to some average teams this year and then dominated the No.6 ranked team in the country, Illinois State, on Saturday.

“If it was a different coach then that coach might be gone because of the expectations, but Bo’s contract was extended in March, so he’ll probably be here for the next three years.”

Simon called Pelini a players’ coach.

“Bo is a fiery and intense coach, and that’s all some people see,” Simon said. “I think he realizes some changes have to be made in how he coaches. It might seem like there’s a disconnect at times because when players play loose, like they did on Saturday, you saw the result as they dominated Illinois State.

“When they play tight, it’s been tough and you see the inconsistency. I think he realizes that a new approach is needed when dealing with the new generation of players. He’s hinted at some coaching staff changes and will be the first to tell you the defense, which has been inconsistent, is on him.”

Simon added Pelini works extremely hard and really appreciates his blue-collar work ethic.

“Senior defensive back Kyle Hegedus said it best when I asked him about coach Pelini,” Simon said. “He said coach Pelini is going to get on you and be tough on you, especially the way we’ve been playing. The best thing is to listen to what he says and not how he’s saying it.”

Simon said YSU’s last two recruiting classes have been better, and this year’s freshman class has considerable talent.

“I’m a big fan of quarterback Nate Mays and they’ll have a hard time replacing his leadership,” he said. “He’s one of the toughest players and competitors I have ever covered. As for freshman Mark Waid of Girard, Bo said there’s no play that they are afraid to call with him under center, so expect a competition between him and Joe Craycraft to see who will be starting quarterback next season.”

Next Monday, Eric Ryan, director of the Covelli Centre will serve as guest speaker.