The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

I can't vouch for the quality of the analysis, but it is something to read

<a href='http://www.collegefootballnews.com/mac/2005_Previews/KentState_Preview.htm' target='_blank'>KSU CFN Preview</a>

I do not know who was giving them information, or if they were going off the spring prospectus, but I think that was pretty good. I do not have the worries about the running back position. I think between Keys, Jarvis and the kid they picked up late, someone will get a lot action as the season goes on. Of course, we also know Martin won't run if he doesn't need to. :D

The only obvious mess up in the analysis was making assumptions about the net punting. They didn't give up big returns with the exception of the Miami game. The net punting was bad because of all of the negative net they added up with the blocks.

CFN is not the most respected source in the world, but I've never seen such optimism for the program form an outside source before.

What was that guy smoking?

"The season will be a success if ... Kent State goes to a bowl game. There's too much experience and the MAC schedule too favorable to shoot for anything less than seven wins and be in the mix for the post-season."


Memo, I am very enthused about this team, however... A BOWL GAME? Once step at a time. How about we string together a couple of winning seasons. I think that is a goal in 2 years, with Machen developing with some additional talent, but Miami and BG are kings of the hill and we have a ways to climb.

Someone is really wrong. This guy has us competing for the East...Athlon has us coming in fifth.

Don't need to say who I hope is right. :D

Shoot, with as many bowls as there are now if we get a winning season we have pretty good chance of a bowl. I may be wrong but last year with so much parity in the NCAA there were only a few teams with winning records that did not get a bowl ... could happen. Athlon is taking the easy way out ... Kent in fifth whats new?

I think the guy is very positive in his review .. but he seems to have done his research and got most of it right. Just looking at the assessment of the Oline gets me pumped ... for once they look solid and deep ... Dline too. Season can't come soon enough ....

True or not, I enjoyed finally reading an article that has the Flashes sounding like the season isn’t a forgone conclusion. That said, defense is what is going to separate the upper tier from the lower tier in the MAC this year. There are a lot of really strong MAC offenses out there. It seems like everyone has the potential to score 30 points a game. But the Defense is why the writer gave us such a high rating. When you look at our D it has a real potential to be great this year.

I understand his point about the schedule too. We have Miami at home for homecoming, our first MAC game and traditionally one of our best crowds of the season. It seems like so many of our seasons come down to an early pivotal game and this is another one. A win could set this team off to another level, a loss… well we have seen it before. But a win, could really make this team become something special. Maybe we won’t win the East, but we could get bowl eligible at six and seven isn’t out of the question. This is a team of dangerous potential and nobody, not even the players know how good they could be.

BTW I am going to Lake Tahoe before the MSU game. I will be putting my money on the Flashes and taking the points. This has got to be one of the better picks of the year.

To be fair, CFN was pretty close in their assessment of us last year, calling 6-5 when we came in 5-6. It was also the year most of us were more optimistic than CFN, calling 8-3 or so.

Let's hope his history proves his accuracy.

Strongly agree that it's nice to finally read something positive about the football program from an outside perpsective.

I did enjoy the article...I still believe the RB position will be fine If his knee is 100% i still think Drajer can tear it up (well be very solid at least) I think he could be a quicker chad brinker from ohio bobcats...also Jarvis from the Burgh is a fireplug...they need confidence...that is all that will keep them out of the hunt (Confidence equals close Loss or win early against the "big" boys or Miami) Kent needs to win games like Rutgers, which they had :rolleyes: and keep it closer against teams like Iowa

Picked up Phil Steel's 2005 guide today. He's also pretty positive, calling us the likely thrid in the East with a potential of 7 wins win a very tough schedule.

Quote:3. Kent State -I have to call for a three way tie for third place in the MAC East as Kent, Akron and Ohio are just too close to call at this point. Talent-wise, I give the edge of the three to Kent, but of the three, they play the toughest schedule. Kent does have some value going for them as they outgained MAC foes by 123.7 ypg last year, which was actually the second best mark in the conference. They have my #2 rated defense in the league and of the middle three teams I rate them best along the lines with my #6 O line and #1 D line. The negatives are that they lost Josh Cribbs and face the toughest schedule but they are capable of achieving a winning record.

Special for Zips lurkers :
4. Akron -&nbsp; Akron was very fortunate last year. They went 6-2 in the MAC despite outgained by 48.9y pg. They have twelve starters back which ties them for fewest in the MAC. They are weak along the lines with my #12 ( that would be last) O line and #10 D line and of course they must replace QB Charlie Frye. Normally that would have me calling for fifith or sixth place but talent wise they are closer to middle of the pack MAC teams. They also get the majority of them at home plus two of their road games are vs. Buffalo and Ball State, two teams I peg for sixth. Akron has the best (i.e. easiest) schedule of the MAC East&nbsp; and that may be enough to get them into a tie for the third spot and a possible winning season.

Too bad we can't see the #1 rated MAC D line vs. the #12 rated O line as the season opener.

I picked up the Sporting News magazine yesterday. I liked their ranking of KSU as 70some nationally a little bit better than Athlon's 114. Along the same lines as most, they have Akron and Kent State pretty even for 3rd and 4th in the East. I assume they gave Akron the nod for 3rd because of being at home at the end of the year. I don't see it for Akron with as much as they lost, but maybe I am underestimating the Zips.

As for us, TSN ranks the units for each conference like Steele does. I don't think we have the worst offensive backfield in the league, but I understand that is likely because there is no sample of play for Machen or the running backs. Most of the rankings I agreed with.

The coaching was ranked low. It doesn't surprise me. Coach Martin is not loud and boisterous who goes looking for publicity like many other MAC coaches. Rekstis and Wauford seem to fit that mold. I think the coaching staff will get its due after this fall. BTW, Rekstis earlier this spring received an award as the top college assistant in the area by one of the NE Ohio foundations. At least somebody recognized his success.

FIDO Wrote:Shoot, with as many bowls as there are now if we get a winning season we have pretty good chance of a bowl. I may be wrong but last year with so much parity in the NCAA there were only a few teams with winning records that did not get a bowl ... could happen.

Only three bowl-eligible teams sat out the bowl season last year: Akron, South Carolina and Clemson. Of course, the latter two sat home voluntarily.

The move to a permanent 12-game schedule could change the bowl landscape dramatically, though most folks seem to interpret NCAA rules as saying teams will need to be 7-5 to go to a bowl. I'm skeptical, but we'll say.

Bottom line - if your Flashes can put together a winning season, they'll at least be in the bowl hunt.