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

Well it has been 354 days since Kent State has lost a Football game, the longest streak since WW2, and with the season just days away, how is everyone feeling about the upcoming season?

The roster has been updated with the new weights.

It finally appears on paper that the Defense will be able to play the 3-4.

Lot of weight gain. K. Gamble leads the weight for LB at 270+.

The Oline doesn't have anyone weighing under a 280 (minus what appears to be a backup LS).

By comparison, there were 8 OLinemen under that mark in Lewis's first year.

Bangda has tacked on 15 lbs.

It's so nice to see a the progress on paper and looking forward to seeing the results!

I think the storyline that will be most interesting to me is who steps up at the skills positions? As explosive as our offense was last year only 4 players had more than 10 receptions and 3 of them are gone. Are there going to be guys ready to step in and replace them? I'd hate to see Crum have a disappointing season because of shakey WR play. He's currently 12th on Walter football's QB rankings for this draft class.

Also, is someone capable of challenging for carries or is it going to be mostly Williams and Bangda?

Another interesting storyline around the league will be what do you do if you lose a couple games in the first 4? In a 6 game season 2 loses could end any hope of a championship. So if a team is sitting at 2-2 after 4 do they bench their stars that haven't burnt redshirts yet? That could be a very interesting storyline to follow regarding Crum. If the first 4 games don't go as planned. Maybe he thinks it's better for his future take the redshirt and get a full season in before entering the draft.

no need to worry about redshirt playing this year. NCAA isn't counting this season towards eligibility.

Oh interesting. I hadn't heard that. Then it will be a really interesting NFL draft.

How's that going to work with next year's recruits?

(10-25-2020 01:14 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  Oh interesting. I hadn't heard that. Then it will be a really interesting NFL draft.
sting
How's that going to work with next year's recruits?

NCAA waiving 85 scholarship limit for at least one year.
Going to be interesting if schools increase funding for the additional scholarships in these tough financial times.
No additional funds coach will have to make a choice.

No fans for the first 2 home games. EMU and zippys

(10-29-2020 10:26 AM)luckyflash Wrote:  No fans for the first 2 home games. EMU and zippys

Our team has been preparing for this for years. If anyone knows how to play in front of an empty stadium it's us!

(10-29-2020 10:58 AM)anti-zip Wrote:  

(10-29-2020 10:26 AM)luckyflash Wrote:  No fans for the first 2 home games. EMU and zippys

Our team has been preparing for this for years. If anyone knows how to play in front of an empty stadium it's us!

Both opponents are used to empty stadiums as well. Would've been better to play Toledo and Ohio.

So who else will be sitting in lawn chairs across from the stadium along Summit St?

On a side note, I got the email this morning for the stadium photo touts and I give the school props for following the trend across sports and also finding a way to raise funds. However, I think the price tag of $99 is a bit steep, I’ve seen pro sports teams charge less and our season tickets could be bought for less than half of that. I think with that price they’ll hardly get anybody buying them and it will look sillier with just a few in the empty stadium than if they charged a more reasonable price which would lead to far more cutouts and ultimately raise more money. Just my humble opinion, but again, nice idea and I do hope they’ll raise some money.

(10-31-2020 08:38 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  On a side note, I got the email this morning for the stadium photo touts and I give the school props for following the trend across sports and also finding a way to raise funds. However, I think the price tag of $99 is a bit steep, I’ve seen pro sports teams charge less and our season tickets could be bought for less than half of that. I think with that price they’ll hardly get anybody buying them and it will look sillier with just a few in the empty stadium than if they charged a more reasonable price which would lead to far more cutouts and ultimately raise more money. Just my humble opinion, but again, nice idea and I do hope they’ll raise some money.

Agree 100%. I think it illustrates the difficult
financial situation the program faces.
But to quote an old wise friend. “ it’s better to make slow
nickels than fast dimes” Let’s see what response they get.

(10-31-2020 08:45 AM)Older and Older Wrote:  I think it illustrates the difficult
financial situation the program faces.
But to quote an old wise friend. “ it’s better to make slow
nickels than fast dimes” Let’s see what response they get.

Ironically, it also summarizes my thoughts and personal opinion on fundraising since Joel took over as AD. It always appeared to me that Joel was so focused on chasing the big whale that the lower level donors were forgotten or taken for granted. While he was chasing the criminal donating to name the basketball court after, others were alienated. When you got somebody donating say $200 get them up to $500 etc...and soon enough you got quite a boost in donations. Charge $40 a sign and you’ll make 100s of sales, charge $99 and I’d be surprised fans buy a dozen which won’t even be noticeable in that stadium. I’d also guess 1/2 of the sales will be by coaches or employees.

(10-31-2020 08:38 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  On a side note, I got the email this morning for the stadium photo touts and I give the school props for following the trend across sports and also finding a way to raise funds. However, I think the price tag of $99 is a bit steep, I’ve seen pro sports teams charge less and our season tickets could be bought for less than half of that. I think with that price they’ll hardly get anybody buying them and it will look sillier with just a few in the empty stadium than if they charged a more reasonable price which would lead to far more cutouts and ultimately raise more money. Just my humble opinion, but again, nice idea and I do hope they’ll raise some money.

+1. I think I saw BGSU was charging $45.

Plus GA Season tickets are $45. So you are telling me it costs 2x as much to be there virtually? Dumb

I'll buy one for basketball if they let mine just be a blank sign that says "bad call ref". It'll probably be applicable most of the time.

(10-31-2020 12:00 PM)thanksjim Wrote:  

(10-31-2020 08:38 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  On a side note, I got the email this morning for the stadium photo touts and I give the school props for following the trend across sports and also finding a way to raise funds. However, I think the price tag of $99 is a bit steep, I’ve seen pro sports teams charge less and our season tickets could be bought for less than half of that. I think with that price they’ll hardly get anybody buying them and it will look sillier with just a few in the empty stadium than if they charged a more reasonable price which would lead to far more cutouts and ultimately raise more money. Just my humble opinion, but again, nice idea and I do hope they’ll raise some money.

+1. I think I saw BGSU was charging $45.

Plus GA Season tickets are $45. So you are telling me it costs 2x as much to be there virtually? Dumb

Well for $100 I could’ve had one in the Jake for the 30 home games the Tribe had, I can get one in Philly for the Eagles 8 home games and possibly get on National tv or I can get one next to the other 4 they sell and hopefully get some obscure online airtime during one of our 3 home games. Well, at least it goes to a good cause.

PS: Watching the Buckeyes- State Penn game and even theirs are cheaper.

Quote:PSU:Fans can either send in a picture of themselves wearing white Penn State gear or use a pre-made template. Cutouts will cost $85 for fans while active Penn State students can get one for $65. Fans will save $10 on each cutout if they buy two or more.

OSU: Fan cutouts will be located in A-Deck (cost: $50), and a limited number of cutouts can be purchased on the 50-yard line (cost: $75). Student fan cutouts will be located in the student section in the south stadium stands (cost: $25) .

Here's to an undefeated season and very little coaching turnover at the end of the season so we can keep this staff one more year.

Has anyone seen any previews on the team or who's looking like they're ready to step up so far? The one I've seen didn't even mention Bangda and made it sound like Williams would be our running game. So I assumed it was pretty much just going off last year's box scores and the looking at incoming recruit rankings.

Here's Allen Moff's preview from today's Record-Courier. It may be behind a paywall.

https://www.record-courier.com/story/spo...102197002/

Highlights:

Junior Bill Kuduk, a transfer from Kansas State, starts at right tackle with four other o-line starters from last season. But Julian Sams, who's up to 300 pounds, won't play in the opener. (No reason given.) Sams is now starting at center. Sentior Jack Clement will start Wednesday.

Behind Isiah McKoy at wide receiver are sophomore Dante Cephus and senior Keshunn Abram. Slot receivers are junior Isaac Vance and sophomore Ja'Shaun Poke. Vance, Poke and Abram have seen extensive special teams action.

Xavier Williams was first person mentioned at running back. Second was freshman Marquez Cooper, who was called "one of the stars of preseason camp." Behind them was Jochim Bangda and Bryan Bradford.. Bangda was listed at 231 pounrds, Bradford at 243. Both are sophomores.

Junior defensive lineman Zayin West got one of the single-digit jersey numbers in preseason. He's only lineman returning. Others linemen mentioned were sophomore Buddha Jones and seniors Jabbar Price and Sekou Diaby.

Linebacker starters were senior Mandela Lawrence-Burk, junior A.J. Musolino, senior Kesean Gamble and sophomore Brandon Coleman. Senior Cepeda Phillips was called unavailable (no reason given) for the opener.

Also not playing Wednesday is senior safety Keith Sherald, who is "working through an injury." Top safeties were listed as junior Jeremiah Salaam, sophomore Dean Clark and junior C.J. Holmes, who landed at KSU after playing at Notre Dame and Penn State the last two years.

Cornerbacks are senior Elvis lHines and junior Tony Butler, a grad transfer from Nebraska.

Punter is junior college transfer Ian Henzi.

(11-01-2020 09:36 PM)cschierh Wrote:  Punter is junior college transfer Ian Henzi.

What happened to the Aussie Punter? I saw he wasn't on the roster.

That looks to be the only part of the team that may take a step back, at least on paper

Thanks for sharing that.

As for punting, I'm not too worried. If we have problems, Trickett has shown he can handle double duty.