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BEAVER TOWNSHIP - For the past 35 years, Bob Hannon has taken his perch in the catbird seat high atop Stambaugh Stadium serving as the eyes for his radio audience as he brings to them the play-by-play of Youngstown State football.
Prior to the 2022 season he had missed just one game, that coming 10 years earlier in 2012 when he traveled to Columbus to watch his daughter, Melinda, compete in the state high school golf tournament.
Due to illness, however, he was forced to miss the final six games last season but after treatment and a longer than expected recovery process, he is back on the airwaves as strong as ever doing what he has loved to do each fall Saturday since the 1989 season.
"I missed those final six games last year, and it was a big void not being in the broadcast booth," Hannon told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday's weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center. "It took longer than expected to get healthy, but I feel great now and am truly blessed to be back doing what I love."
Hannon has been behind the microphone for all but one Division I-AA/FCS playoff game - the only one he did not broadcast was the Penguins' first ever appearance in 1987, a 31-28 loss at Northern Iowa under former head coach Jim Tressel - calling six championship tilts, four in which the Penguins were victorious.
With head coach Doug Phillips' team currently 6-3 overall - they have won three straight and are coming off a 19-7 victory over winless Indiana State this past weekend - Hannon feels YSU can make their first playoff appearance since 2016 if they win out.
"I would really like to see a big crowd at Stambaugh Stadium this Saturday when they host defending FCS national champion South Dakota State at noon," added Hannon, a recent inductee into the Trumbull County Sports Hall of Fame. "I think this team has earned your support and we can use any advantage to beat the Jackrabbits. Following their win over North Dakota State this past weekend, SDSU has now won 23 games in a row.
"They have arguably the best quarterback and running game in FCS, two elite receivers, an all-conference tight end and a veteran offensive line. Their defense is top five in the nation but other than that they are just an OK team. Mark Gronowski is their signal-caller and he has thrown 18 touchdown passes with only two interceptions. He is experienced, rarely makes mistakes and is also an excellent runner. We need to do something that no one this season has done against him and that is make him uncomfortable, get a pass rush and not allow him time in the pocket.
"If he gets time, he has two talented receivers in twins, Jadon and Jaxon Janke while Zach Heins is the best tight end in the conference. I see the key for us winning is our experienced defensive line having its best game of the season, causing chaos all afternoon for Gronowski."
Hannon said the Jackrabbits are the new North Dakota State, the latter having won nine of 11 FCS national championships from 2011-21.
Winning their final two games of the season is paramount.
"If we win out and finish 8-3, we are assured a playoff berth," Hannon noted. "If we lose one of the final two games then 7-4 puts us on the bubble. Last year, only three teams from our conference made the postseason but I see as many as six getting in this year, even seven teams.
"Since the playoffs expanded the field to 24, six is the most the conference has ever gotten to the postseason and that happened only once, in 2021. I believe YSU is among the best 24 teams in the country and we will have a chance to prove it Saturday afternoon."
As president, chief professional officer of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, Hannon also oversees their highly successful high school basketball classic, now in its 12th year.
"Our holiday classic returns Dec. 9 and will be held once again at Poland High School," Hannon said. "We begin at noon with the Girard boys taking on Hickory, followed by the Canfield and Ursuline boys game. The Poland girls will then battle Boardman with our last game of the day pitting the Poland and Boardman boys. It's a fun day that everyone looks forward to."
Next Monday, Dana Balash, sports director at WFMJ-TV, Channel 21 will serve as guest speaker.
sports@vindy.com