For those of you who don't spend a lot of time on the main board here is the link provided by NIURedBlack to the CFN preview. Thoughts?
<a href='http://www.collegefootballnews.com/mac/2004_Previews/Kent_State_Preview.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.collegefootballnews.com/mac/200...ate_Preview.htm</a>
After reading that site, I am impressed by the depth of their reporting. It seems fair, impartial and a little optomistic. All in all, I think that was one of the best evaluations of KSU football I have ever seen. I want to go back to that site just before the season to refresh my knowledge of the team.
Kudos CFN! Is is September yet?!
It's our secret...but we'll have a better team than most people on the main board believe. Maybe only a game or two above .500, but we will have one or two juicy upsets.
Martin is the intangible. Can he and his new defensive staff pull the same magic for the defense? I'm betting the D will be improved and the O consistent with last year, which should help us turn the corner.
The main board is all business as usual. If you listen to them, you'd thing things never change: Toledo, BG, and NIU in the West, Miami and Marshall in the East like it has always been that way and always wil be.
We have surprises in store this year, but let them think we are always 2-6, despite the fact that we are .500 over the last 3 years in the MAC. And this may be our best team in over 15 years.
From what I read, I believe it is a reasonably fair analysis. I agree with the following statement that "the defense has its hands full in this offensively potent conference, and they can’t let the offense put up 33 points a game for six games straight and still lose four of those games." I also agree that the winner of the Akron-Kent game could make an outside run at a MAC East title. Because Kent has back to back games against Miami and Marshall, it is imperative that the Flashes defeat the Zips on 9/23 at home so that they can build confidence before going on the road to Central Michigan and Miami.
Everyone knows that Kent will score a lot of points. The question is will Kent's defense show considerable improvement over last year.
I will not be able to attend the Akron game but I am planning to attend the Homecoming game with Marshall and may even go to Oxford for the Miami game.
I can't wait for the season to start. It should be an exciting conference race. I hope the Flashes will be able to stay healthy because as usual they do not have a lot of depth in several positions.
Let us all hope that the fans turn out this year. Go Flashes!!!
Nashville,
You hit the nail on the head...Depth. That is consistently an issue with the Flashes. While it is improving, if the first team goes down, the Flashes rarely have strength the cover it. This is where the Marshalls and Miamis are probably the most better than us. Not necesarily the first team, but the second and third.