Penguin Club Scholarship Ring Banquet Shows Great Pride In YSU
3/1/2024 11:17:00 AM | General, Penguin Club
The 33rd annual YSU Penguin Club Scholarship/Ring Banquet was another fantastic event as Ellen and Jim Tressel were honored as Penguins of the Year at Mr. Anthony's Banquet Center in Boardman last evening.
New University President Bill Johnson, YSU Football Alumni Group president Matt Hogg, YSU Head Football Coach Doug Phillips, Penguin student-athletes Jordan Evans and Hunter Christopher and the honorees, Ellen and Jim Tressel all spoke about their love for Youngstown State University and how inspired they are by the growth and success of the school.
Johnson expressed his intentions to make Youngstown State an anchor University for the Northeast Ohio, the state of Ohio and the world. He spoke of the love and respect he had for Ellen and Jim Tressel and was very thankful for what they have both done to help so many. He said that Tressel embodied "Excellence" that Vince Lombardi spoke of during his successful career with the Green Bay Packers. Another reference was made to consistency - do it right the first time and do it right every time and that's what Tressel did every time, Johnson stated.
Hogg, a former football player who won two National Championships playing for Coach Tressel, got emotion during his speech when discussing how he became a Penguin. Hogg's first Ring Banquet that he attended was as a 19-year-old freshman in 1994 so it was surreal to be speaking at it 30 years later and was thankful for the opportunity. He said when he was a high school senior, an offer to Kansas State didn't work out and that Youngstown State was a last-minute commitment decision for him. Before he was even a Penguin, Tressel commented that Hogg was going to be a great player and he was correct. Hogg wanted to do everything to prove Tressel right and he went on to become a first-team All-American during his career.
Coach Phillips, who was celebrating his birthday on Leap Day, brought his energy to the evening. He spoke about turning "14" and that he was thrilled to speak about what the Tressel's have meant to him. He welcomed the new President and thanked everyone in the room who contributes to the football program and Athletic Department. The support that we get in Youngstown is better than anywhere else, Phillips said. He talked about the improvement of the program and how stick-to-itiveness helped the Guins return to the playoffs in 2023. He called Jim Tressel the greatest mentor anyone could have had. Phillips was a graduate assistant for the football team in 1990 and 1991.
Evans spent six years as a member of the Penguins women's soccer program. She thanked everyone in attendance for the support they give to the University, Athletics and the Penguin Club and that they are grateful as student-athletes to have that support. Being from nearby Austintown, she has always been familiar with YSU, but said she had not seen as much positive change as when Jim and Ellen were a part of this University. YSU is better because of them, she said, and that you know Tressel is an important person when the MVR names a dish after you. She commented that Ellen has been a great role model for her work in and around the community.
Christopher, a standout member of the 2023 Horizon League Men's Cross Country Champion and the 2024 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Champions, is from nearby Salem. He thanked the Tressel's for their contributions to YSU and the city of Youngstown. Christopher said he loves talking with alumni about how this city and university has improved. He said he fell in love with the attitude and values that are a part of you when you choose to live in the Mahoning Valley. He mentioned loyalty and how that has played a key in his success thanks to the help of Coach Brian Gorby and Coach Eric Rupe.
Paul McFadden, President of the YSU Foundation, introduced the Tressel's. He said that the event was a celebration of the Watson and Tressel families. He spoke about the long history the Watson's and Tressel's have with Youngstown State. Ellen's father, Frank, attended the school from 1945-49. In October 1962, a young Jim Tressel was a ball boy for the Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets and they made the trip to Youngstown play at Rayen Stadium. Ellen enrolled at YSU in 1972 and graduated four years later. Jim became the Penguins' football coach in 1986. In 1997, Ellen and Jim, had a random meeting for the first time thanks in part to Watson's during some stadium reservations. Then in 2014, the Tressel's could have gone anywhere, but they felt a duty to come back to Youngstown because they knew they could make a difference that no one else could for our university and for our town.
Ellen Tressel started by mentioning as Dorothy says in the Wizard of Oz "There's no place like home" and this is certainly home for us. If I've learned anything in the last 25 years, it was never to follow my husband at the podium, so that's why I'm here first, she said. She spoke about the pride her parents had in YSU and its students. Her father owned an engineering firm and worked with many students. The newly-constructed Watson Team Center honors the nationally-ranked Engineering teams. Her family has amassed 11 YSU graduates over the years with hopefully more to come. Her parents were visionaries and their accomplishments have been many. The nine years she and Jim served YSU were very exciting, very special and certainly rewarding, she said. None of what was accomplished would have been possible without all of you she commented. It takes a team to do anything of lasting value.
Jim Tressel opened by speaking of Joe Malmisur because he was the one who set the tone long ago. He loved Youngstown and he believed in the impact of intercollegiate athletics and what it could mean to a University, a city and a region. In the late 1970's YSU was fundraising for Stambaugh Stadium during a tough economic time for the area. That group of leaders, which included Frank Watson, was going to bet on Youngstown State for our sustainability. The Stadium opened in 1982 and the city has never looked back.
When I came in 1986, he said, Malmisur told him to let everyone know how fortunate you feel to be a part of this great community and how grateful you are to be the head coach at Youngstown State. You need to make this city proud. This is an important moment. Of course, on the field, but in the classroom, out in the community, every single thing you do you better make this city proud. If you pay attention to the fundamentals, and you have some success, wait until you see what this community does. This community has supported us year-after-year-after-year. I know Mr. Malmisur is smiling. Youngstown State has been that shining star that has helped this region continue to grow and sustain and be proud.
People knew that the University was critical for the future of this region. Ellen and I being recognized tonight we appreciate, he said, but we were just the soldiers like you were. Soldiers that bought into the dream that a guy like Joe Malmisur had. Fall in love with this place. Treat it with the greatest respect. Do all you can do to serve it. And you will have lived a charmed life. Boy, was he right.
