By Alex Sorrells / Jambar Contributor
The Missouri Valley Football Conference named five Youngstown State University football alumni to the 40th Anniversary Football Team.
Defensive lineman Mychal Savage, who played from 2005-09, linebacker Tim Johnson, active from 1999-2000, offensive lineman Brad Samsa who was rostered from 2005-08 and running backs Jaleel McLaughlin and Jamaine Cook, who played from 2020-22 and 2009-12, respectively, were named to the team.
Over 2,000 public votes were casted over the course of 40 days.
In the league’s 40 years of history, 20 MVFC teams appeared in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Championship game.
YSU held four NCAA Division I title game appearances before entering the league in 1997. In the same year, the program went on to win the championship.
McLaughlin is the most recent graduate to be featured on the roster. Having graduated in 2022, he was picked up by the Denver Broncos in 2023 as an undrafted free agent.
During his career at YSU, McLaughlin recorded 3,418 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns.
Mike Kern, associate commissioner of the MVFC, said they wanted to use the 40th anniversary to celebrate the success of conference players throughout the conferences history.
“We looked at a number of things, some of it was their NFL experience, a lot of the times they were named All-American, record holders, top-10 on rushing, passing, receiving lists [and] statistical milestones,” Kern said. “We worked with all the sports information directors at our schools to ask them for help.”
The conference was created Aug. 21, 1985 as the former Gateway Conference Football Division and included six original members — Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State University, University of Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois University, Missouri State University and Western Illinois University. Indiana State University was added June 1985.
“I’ve been in the league for 34 years, so I had a chance to see most everyone that’s either nominated or on the list,” Kern said. “I just remember all the great plays and players that we have and some of them that didn’t make the list that were also worthy.”
Since 1985, there has been minimal movement regarding team additions and departures as most changes happened after 2008.
North Dakota State University and South Dakota State University were both added in 2008. The University of South Dakota and the University of North Dakota joined in 2012 and 2020, respectively.
Murray State University is the most recent addition, as the institution joined in 2023.
Kern said he hopes teams in the conference will continue to be successful regarding player retention, as staying in the league will set players up for success.
“When [YSU] joined the league, they didn’t win the league, they won the national championship. That spoke volumes to the rest of the FCS at how good our league is,” Kern said. “You can win a national championship and not win our league.”
