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'{{Infobox NCAA football school | TeamName = Kent State Golden Flashes football | CurrentSeason = 2016 Kent State Golden Flashes football team | FirstYear = 1920 | Image = Kent State football.svg | ImageSize = 200 | AthlDirectorDisp = Joel Nielsen | AthlDirectorLink = Joel Nielsen | HeadCoachDisplay = Paul Haynes | HeadCoachLink = Paul Haynes (American football) | HeadCoachYear = 4th | HCWins = 12 <!-- As of games through 2016 season --> | HCLosses = 35 <!-- As of games through 2016 season --> | OtherStaff = | Stadium = Dix Stadium | FieldName = | StadiumBuilt = 1969 | StadCapacity = 25,319 | StadSurface = [[FieldTurf]] | Location = [[Kent, Ohio]] | NCAAdivision = I FBS | ConferenceDisplay = Mid-American Conference | ConferenceLink = Mid-American Conference | ConfDivision = East | PastAffiliations = [[Ohio Athletic Conference]] | ATWins = 320 | ATLosses = 499 | ATTies = 28 | BowlWins = 0 | BowlLosses = 3 | BowlTies = | NatlTitles = | ConfTitles = 1 | DivTitles = 1 | Heismans = | AllAmericans = 39 | uniform = MAC-Uniform-KSU.png | FightSong = Fight on for KSU | MascotDisplay = | MarchingBand = Marching Golden Flashes | PagFreeLabel = Rivalries | PagFreeValue = [[Wagon Wheel (trophy)|Akron Zips]] | PagFreeLabel2 = | PagFreeValue2 = | WebsiteName = KentStateSports.com | WebsiteURL = http://www.kentstatesports.com }} The '''Kent State Golden Flashes football team''' is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of [[Kent State University]] in [[Kent, Ohio]]. The team is a member of the [[Mid-American Conference]] East division, which is part of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]'s [[Football Bowl Subdivision]] (formerly Division I-A). The Golden Flashes played their first game in 1920 and since 1969 have played their home games at [[Dix Stadium]]. The head coach since December 2012 is [[Paul Haynes (American football)|Paul Haynes]], a Kent State alumnus who played for the Flashes from 1987–91. ==History== ===Early History (1920–1945)=== The first attempt to establish a football team was in 1914, one year after the first classes were held on campus and four years after the school was founded in 1910. The team played two practice games against local high schools, but was discontinued by the athletic board and faculty to focus on basketball season. While there was hope the team would return for the 1915 season, no team was established until 1920.<ref>{{cite book |title=Chestnut Burr |year=1915 |page=132 |url=http://www.library.kent.edu/burr/1915 |publisher=Kent State University |accessdate=September 29, 2014}}</ref> The team played their first game October 30, 1920, against [[Ashland University|Ashland College]], a 6–0 loss under coach Paul Chandler. The first Kent State home football game was held November 6, a 7–0 loss to sister school [[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green]]. The final game of the season was a home game scheduled against [[John Carroll University|St. Ignatius College]] of [[Cleveland]], but the game was not played and counted as a forfeit win for Kent.<ref>{{cite book |title=Chestnut Burr |year=1921 |pages=138–140 |url=http://www.library.kent.edu/burr/1921 |publisher=Kent State University |accessdate=September 29, 2014}}</ref><ref name=history>{{cite web |title=Record Book |year=2012 |url=http://static.psbin.com/b/i/zj84k6tpi6dn5e/FALL_ASRB_08_football_2012.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Kent State University |accessdate=April 14, 2013}}</ref> The team would not record their first true victory until November 14, 1925, a 7–6 win over [[West Liberty State College]]. Outside the forfeited win in 1920, Kent State would fail to score in their first 14 games, posting a record of 0–13–1 before finally putting points on the board in a 7–6 loss to West Liberty in 1923. During that streak, Kent State would suffer the worst loss in school history, a 118–0 loss to [[Baldwin–Wallace College]], also in 1923. Following the 7–6 loss to West Liberty, a new shutout streak began which lasted 8 games, in which the Flashes, then known as the "Silver Foxes" went 0–6–2. The streak began with the second most lopsided loss in school history, an 82–0 loss to [[Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania|Slippery Rock]]. The streak finally ended with a 6–6 tie with the [[Indiana University of Pennsylvania|Indiana (PA) Normal School]] in 1925, the game which preceded Kent State's first true victory. Kent State posted their first winning season in 1928, going 4–2–2.<ref name=history/> Kent State would join the [[Ohio Athletic Conference]] beginning in the 1931 season, playing in the OAC through the 1950 season except for the 1943–1945 seasons, which were cancelled due to American involvement in World War II. Under coach G. Donald Starn, who coached Kent State from 1935–1942, the Flashes would begin to taste success, posting winning seasons in 1938 (6–2), 1940 (8–1), and 1942 (5–3). During their time in the OAC, the Flashes never won a conference title, but did finish second in 1940 with a 4–0 conference record. The team finished third in both 1948 and 1949, going 3–0 and 2–0 respectively in conference play.<ref name=history/> ===Trevor Rees era (1946–1963)=== In 1946, the program was revived after the conclusion of [[World War II]] under head coach [[Trevor J. Rees|Trevor Rees]],<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6902483/the_evening_independent/</ref> who would coach the Flashes to their first era of consistent success. During his tenure, which lasted 18 seasons, the Flashes would post winning seasons in all but 5 of them. In 1950, the team opened their first true stadium, [[Memorial Stadium (Kent)|Memorial Stadium]], by defeating [[Marietta College]] 57–0. The next season saw the Golden Flashes join the [[Mid-American Conference]]. Rees would guide the team to its first bowl appearance in the 1954 Refrigerator Bowl. Rees coached Kent State from 1946–1963, posting a record of 92–63–5 (.591).<ref name=history/> Rees retired as Kent State head coach following the 1963 season.<ref>http://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=dks19690514-01.2.36</ref> ===Leo Strang era (1964–1967)=== [[Leo Strang]] took over for Rees in 1964, and under his tutelage, the Golden Flashes struggled, compiling a 16–21–2 record.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/leo-strang-1.html</ref> Kent State failed to win more than five games under Strang's leadership, and Strang resigned following the 1967 season.<ref>http://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=dks19671122-01.2.2</ref> ===Dave Puddington era (1968–1970)=== [[Washington University Bears football|Washington University]] head coach [[Dave Puddington]] was hired to replace Strang,<ref>http://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=dks19680925-01.2.31</ref> and Kent State's struggled continued. The program posted a 9–21 record during Puddington's three seasons,<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/dave-puddington-1.html</ref> the best of which was a 5–5 campaign in 1969.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1969-schedule.html</ref> Puddington was fired after the 1970 season. The most notable event to occur during the Puddington era was the [[Kent State shootings]] of 1970, when the [[Ohio National Guard]] opened fire on a group of university students, killing four and injuring nine.<ref>http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2010/05/gary_pinkel_missouri_football.html</ref> ===Don James era (1971–1974)=== In 1971, [[Don James (American football)|Don James]] took over as head coach.<ref>http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-football/legendary-washington-football-coach-don-james-dies-at-age-80/</ref> Under James, and with notable players such as [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] inductee and former [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] middle linebacker [[Jack Lambert (American football)|Jack Lambert]], current [[Alabama Crimson Tide football]] coach [[Nick Saban]], and former [[Missouri Tigers football]] coach [[Gary Pinkel]], Kent State was finally able to celebrate its first—and so far only—Mid-American Conference title in 1972 followed by a trip to the [[1972 Tangerine Bowl]].<ref name=history/> James would coach at Kent State four seasons (1971–1974), posting an overall record of 25–19–1 (.567)<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/don-james-1.html</ref> which included a 9–2 record in 1973.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1973-schedule.html</ref> James left after the 1974 season to accept the head coaching job at the [[Washington Huskies football|Washington]].<ref>http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/2011/01/27/p-i-archive-the-day-don-james-became-uw-football-coach/amp/</ref> ===Dennis Fitzgerald era (1975–1977)=== [[Dennis Fitzgerald]], who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach after James' departure,<ref>http://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=dks19821001-01.2.64</ref> was able to lead the team to an 8–4 record and second-place MAC finish in 1976<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1976-schedule.html</ref> and a winning 1977 season,<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1977-schedule.html</ref> Fitzgerald was unable to revive the Kent State football program and left the program after the 1977 season.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/154147411/</ref> ===Ron Blackledge era (1978–1980)=== [[Ron Blackledge]] was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach following Fitzgerald's departure.<ref>http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/20160625/starks-famous-ron-blackledge</ref> Kent State's struggles continued, with the Golden Flashes posting records of 4–7,<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1978-schedule.html</ref> 1–10<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1979-schedule.html</ref> and 3–8<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1979-schedule.html</ref> for a total mark of 8–25.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/ron-blackledge-1.html</ref> Blackledge was fired following the 1980 season.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/ron-blackledge-1.html</ref> ===Ed Chlebek era (1981–1982)=== Succeeding Blackledge was [[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College]] head coach [[Ed Chlebek]].<ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19801220&id=BgYgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oWQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2919,4672842&hl=en</ref> Chelebek has previously turned around the BC football program and was expected to do the same at Kent State. Unfortunately, he couldn't. The Golden Flashes followed a 4–7 campaign in 1981<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1981-schedule.html</ref> with a winless 0–11 season in 1982.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1982-schedule.html</ref> Chlebek was fired following the 1982 season.<ref>http://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=dks19830315-01.2.41</ref> ===Dick Scesniak era (1983–1985)=== [[Utah Utes football|Utah]] offensive line coach [[Dick Scesniak]] was hired as Chlebek's replacement<ref>http://articles.latimes.com/1986-04-01/news/mn-1466_1_kent-state</ref> and, once again, Kent State's football struggles persisted. Scesniak's teams posted records of 1–10,<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1983-schedule.html</ref> 4–7<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1984-schedule.html</ref> and 3–8<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1985-schedule.html</ref> for a total of 8–25.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/dick-scesniak-1.html</ref> Scesniak passed away of a heart attack on April 1, 1986.<ref>http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-04-02/sports/0210190249_1_kent-state-college-football-coaching-state-university-football</ref> ===Glen Mason era (1986–1987)=== [[File:102207-GlenMason.jpg|thumb|Coach Mason]] [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]] offensive coordinator [[Glen Mason]] was hired as Kent State's head coach in 1986.<ref>http://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=dks19860825-01.2.67</ref> In his two seasons in Kent posted two consecutive 2nd place MAC finishes including a 7–4 overall mark in 1987,<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1987.html</ref> the Flashes' first winning season since 1977. Following the 1987 season, Mason was hired by the [[Kansas Jayhawks football|Kansas Jayhawks]].<ref>http://articles.latimes.com/1987-12-30/sports/sp-21587_1_ohio-state</ref> Kent State alumnus [[Nick Saban]] was a finalist to succeed Mason, but he didn't get the position.<ref>http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/01/06/saban-now-master-started-pupil-under-don-james/78309630/</ref> ===Dick Crum era (1988–1990)=== Former [[North Carolina Tar Heels football|North Carolina]] head coach [[Dick Crum (American football)|Dick Crum]] was hired to replace Mason.<ref>http://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=dks19880119-01.2.3</ref> Despite high hopes for his tenure, Crum's Golden Flashes never put together a winning season in three years, compiling a record of 7–26.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/dick-crum-1.html</ref> Crum was fired following the 1990 season.<ref>http://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=dks19901116-01.2.28</ref> ===Jim Corrigall era (1994–1997)=== Former Flashes standout [[Jim Corrigall]] began in 1994 and became the first coach since Don James to coach more than three seasons, though he lasted only four. Although some progress was made, the Golden Flashes best season under Corrigall, a 3–8 campaign,<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/1997-schedule.html</ref> proved to be his last in 1997. Three wins in 1997 were the most wins for Kent State since 1988. Corrigall had an overall record of 8–35–1 in four seasons.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/jim-corrigall-1.html</ref> ===Dean Pees era (1998–2003)=== Dean Pees was hired in 1998 and suffered through the Flashes' most recent winless season (0–11 in 1998) before leading the team to a slow recovery. In 2001 Kent State posted their first winning season since 1987 when they were led by quarterback [[Joshua Cribbs]] to a 6–5 overall record, 5–3 in the MAC. Pees left Kent State after the 2003 season to take the defensive coordinator job with the [[New England Patriots]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) under head coach [[Bill Belichick]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Pees: Not seeking contract renewal |url=http://www.espn.com/boston/nfl/news/story?id=4826721 |author=Reiss, Mike |date=January 15, 2010 |work=ESPN.com |accessdate=February 26, 2017}}</ref> ===Doug Martin era (2004–2010)=== Coach [[Doug Martin (football coach)|Doug Martin]] was promoted from offensive coordinator and began his tenure as head coach in 2004. His best season was the 2006 season, which saw Kent State go 6–6 overall and 5–3 in the MAC, finishing second in the East division.<ref name=history/> Kent State began the 2010 season with hopes of contending for a MAC title, but early losses at [[Miami RedHawks football|Miami]] and [[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo]] ended any hope for a title. The team did record its first-ever sell-out at Dix Stadium on October 9 when a crowd of 24,211 watched the Flashes defeat the arch-rival [[Akron Zips football|Akron Zips]] 28–17 to reclaim the [[Wagon Wheel (trophy)|Wagon Wheel]].<ref>{{cite news |title=KSU enjoys first-ever Dix Stadium sellout |url=http://www.recordpub.com/news/sports_article/4910452?page=0 |newspaper=[[Record-Courier (Ohio)|Record-Courier]] |author=Carducci, David |date=October 12, 2010 |accessdate=February 16, 2011}}</ref> In the days following a 38–3 loss at [[Western Michigan Broncos football|Western Michigan]], which dropped the team's record to 4–7 and 3–4 in the MAC, Doug Martin announced his resignation, effective at the conclusion of the season.<ref>http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2010/11/doug_martin_stepping_down_as_k.html</ref> The team responded with a 28–6 upset win over the first-place [[Ohio Bobcats football|Ohio Bobcats]] at Dix Stadium to finish with a record of 5–7 overall and 4–4 in the MAC.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kent State 28, Ohio 6 |url=http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=303302309 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=November 26, 2010 |accessdate=February 16, 2011}}</ref> Martin finished his tenure with a record of 29–53 ({{Winning percentage|29|53}}) overall and 21–35 ({{Winning percentage|21|35}}) in the MAC.<ref>{{cite news |title=Doug Martin to resign as head football coach |url=http://kentwired.com/doug-martin-to-resign-as-head-football-coach/ |work=KentWired.com |author=Johnston, Josh |date=November 21, 2010 |accessdate=February 16, 2011}}</ref> ===Darrell Hazell era (2011–2012)=== [[File:Kent State BG 2012.JPG|thumbnail|right|Kent State players and fans celebrate near the end of the Flashes 31–24 victory over the Falcons at [[Doyt Perry Stadium]] that clinched the 2012 MAC East title]] [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]] wide receivers coach [[Darrell Hazell]] was hired to replace Martin.<ref>http://www.espn.com/ncf/news/story?id=5937582</ref> Hazell was the first [[African American]] head football coach in the history of Kent State football.<ref>http://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=5939930</ref> In Hazell's first season, 2011, the team had two three-game losing streaks, but also had a five-game winning streak in the latter half of the season. Kent State dropped their first three contests, which included losses at eventual BCS national champion [[2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] and [[2011 Kansas State Wildcats football team|Kansas State]] and a home loss to [[2011 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football team|Louisiana-Lafayette]]. Hazell's first win at Kent State came on September 24, in a 33–25 win over [[2011 South Alabama Jaguars football team|South Alabama]] at [[Dix Stadium]]. The team then dropped their first three MAC games before defeating [[2011 Bowling Green Falcons football team|Bowling Green]], which was the start of a five-game winning streak that included a 35–3 win over arch-rival [[2011 Akron Zips football team|Akron]] at [[InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field]], Kent State's first win in Akron since 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kent State dominates Akron to maintain possession of Wagon Wheel |url=http://recordpub.com/news/sports_article/5123293 |author=R-C Staff |date=November 13, 2011 |accessdate=October 28, 2012 |newspaper=[[Record-Courier (Ohio)|Record-Courier]] |page= B1}}</ref> The season ended with a 34–16 loss at [[2011 Temple Owls football team|Temple]]. The Flashes finished third in the MAC East with a 5–7 record overall and 4–4 in the MAC.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kent State Golden Flashes Schedule – 2011 |url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/2309/year/2011/kent-state-golden-flashes |work=ESPN.com |year=2011 |accessdate=October 28, 2012}}</ref> The 2012 season began with a 41–21 win over [[2012 Towson Tigers football team|Towson]] at Dix Stadium, followed by a 47–14 loss at [[2012 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]. Following the loss, the Flashes defeated [[2012 Buffalo Bulls football team|Buffalo]] at [[University at Buffalo Stadium]] and followed that with a come-from-behind 45–43 win over [[2012 Ball State Cardinals football team|Ball State]] in Kent. A 31–17 win over [[2012 Army Black Knights football team|Army]] at [[Michie Stadium]] was the first victory for Kent State over a non-conference team on the road since 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kent State tops Army 31–17 |url=http://recordpub.com/news/slideshow/5222070 |author=Staff and wire reports |newspaper=[[Record-Courier (Ohio)|Record-Courier]] |date=October 14, 2012 |accessdate=October 28, 2012 |page=B1}}</ref> The winning streak reached six, the longest for Kent State since 1940, after a 35–23 win over undefeated and 18th-ranked [[2012 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team|Rutgers]] at [[High Point Solutions Stadium]]. The win was the Flashes' first over a ranked opponent after entering the game 0–22 against ranked teams.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kent State gets first ever win over ranked foe by dropping Rutgers |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=323010164 |date=October 27, 2012 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=ESPN.com |accessdate=October 28, 2012}}</ref> The win earned Kent State votes in the October 28, 2012 [[AP Poll]], [[Coaches' Poll]], and the [[Harris Interactive College Football Poll]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 NCAA Football Rankings – Week 10 (Oct. 28) |url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/week/10 |work=ESPN.com |date=October 28, 2012 |accessdate=October 28, 2012}}</ref> The team continued winning, beating [[2012 Akron Zips football team|Akron]] in the [[Wagon Wheel (trophy)|Battle for the Wagon Wheel]] game at Dix Stadium, followed by a 48–32 win over the [[2012 Miami RedHawks football team|Miami RedHawks]] at [[Yager Stadium (Miami University)|Yager Stadium]]. The win over Miami set a new team record for consecutive victories in a season at eight and tied the [[1973 Kent State Golden Flashes football team|1973 team]] for most wins in a season at nine. On November 11, the Flashes were ranked 25th in the weekly AP poll, their first time being ranked since November 5, 1973, when they were ranked 19th for one week.<ref>{{cite news |author=Moff, Allen |title=Kent State football team ranked in AP poll for first time since 1973 |date=November 12, 2012 |url=http://www.recordpub.com/sports/2012/11/12/kent-state-football-team-ranked-in-ap-poll-for-first-time-since-1973 |accessdate=November 14, 2012 |newspaper=Record-Courier |page=B1}}</ref> [[File:Kent State Ohio 2012.JPG|thumbnail|left|Kent State vs. Ohio at Dix Stadium in 2012. The Flashes won the game 28–6 to clinch an 8–0 season in MAC play]] Kent State clinched their first-ever MAC East Division title and spot in the [[2012 MAC Championship Game]] with a 31–24 win over [[2012 Bowling Green Falcons football team|Bowling Green]] at [[Doyt Perry Stadium]] on November 17.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kent State Wins MAC East Division With Thrilling 31–24 Win Over Bowling Green |author=Moff, Allen |date=November 18, 2012 |newspaper=Record-Courier |url=http://www.recordpub.com/sports/2012/11/17/kent-state-wins-mac-east-division-with-thrilling-31-24-win-over-bowling-green |accessdate=November 24, 2012}}</ref> Following the win over Bowling Green, the Flashes rose to #23 in the AP poll and entered the Coaches' and Harris polls at #25. Kent State was also ranked for the first time in the [[Bowl Championship Series]] standings at #23.<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 NCAA Football Rankings – Week 13 (Nov. 18) |url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/week/13 |publisher=ESPN |work=ESPN.com |date=November 18, 2012 |accessdate=November 24, 2012}}</ref> The team climbed as high as 17th in the BCS standings following their regular season-ending win over [[2012 Ohio Bobcats football team|Ohio]] at Dix Stadium on November 23, which clinched their first-ever undefeated season in MAC play and set a record for most wins in a season with 11.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://recordpub.com/sports/2012/11/23/kent-state-completes-best-football-season-in-school-history |title=Kent State Completes Best Football Season in School History |author=Moff, Allen |newspaper=Record-Courier |date=November 24, 2012 |accessdate=November 24, 2012}}</ref> They were also mentioned as a potential [[Bowl Championship Series#BCS Buster|BCS Buster]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8675458/bcs-standings-notre-dame-sec-winner-play-title-top-9-unchanged |title=Top 9 unchanged in BCS standings |publisher=ESPN.com |date=November 25, 2012 |accessdate=November 26, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/21141913/what-we-learned-as-top-of-bcs-holds-bottom-may-lead-to-armageddon |title=What We Learned: As top of BCS holds, bottom may lead to armageddon |first=Tony |last=Barnhart |publisher=[[CBSSports.com]] |date=November 26, 2012 |accessdate=November 26, 2012}}</ref> Kent State, however, fell in overtime to [[2012 Northern Illinois Huskies football team|Northern Illinois]] in the [[2012 MAC Championship Game|MAC Championship Game]]. Following the loss to NIU, Kent State accepted the invitation to play in the [[2013 GoDaddy.com Bowl]]. Kent State fell to [[2012 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team|Arkansas State]] in the game by a score of 17–13 to finish 11–3 overall.<ref>{{cite web|title=GoDaddy.com Bowl: Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves |url=http://www.sidearmstats.com/southalabama/fbmedia/ |publisher=Side Arm Stats |accessdate=January 6, 2013 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Darrell Hazell accepted the head coaching position at [[Purdue Boilermakers football|Purdue]] on December 5,<ref>http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8713343/darrell-hazell-named-coach-purdue-boilermakers</ref> but Purdue granted Hazell permission to coach Kent State in the bowl game, the first bowl appearance by the Flashes since the [[1972 Tangerine Bowl]]. ===Paul Haynes era (2013–present)=== [[Paul Haynes (American football)|Paul Haynes]], a Kent State alum who had previously served as defensive coordinator at [[Arkansas Razorbacks football|Arkansas]], was hired as Kent State's head football coach on December 18, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Flashes Heading to GoDaddy.com Bowl |url=http://www.kentstatesports.com/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/Bowl |publisher=[[Kent State University]] |accessdate=December 3, 2012 |date=December 2, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206043258/http://www.kentstatesports.com:80/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/Bowl |archivedate=December 6, 2012 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Darrell Hazell pulls double-duty for Kent State, Purdue |url=http://www.recordpub.com/sports/2012/12/28/hazell-pulls-double-duty-for-ksu-purdue |author=Moff, Allen |date=December 28, 2012 |accessdate=April 14, 2013 |newspaper=[[Record-Courier (Ohio)|Record-Courier]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2012/12/kent_state_hires_paul_haynes_a.html |title=Kent State hires Paul Haynes as football coach |author=Alexander, Elton |date=December 17, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]] |accessdate=April 15, 2013}}</ref> Haynes is the second [[African American]] head coach in the history of Kent State football. In Haynes' first season, the Golden Flashes finished with a 4–8 record.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/2013-schedule.html</ref> Kent State followed that season with a 2–9 mark in 2014<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/2014-schedule.html</ref> and consecutive 3–9 seasons in 2015 and 2016.<ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/2015-schedule.html</ref><ref>http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kent-state/2016-schedule.html</ref> ==Rivalries== ===Akron Zips=== Kent State's biggest rival is [[Akron Zips football|Akron]], located {{convert|10|mi|km}} from the Kent campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://recordpub.net/news/sports_article/5225825?page=0 |title=Wagon Wheel battle holds its own place among rivalries |author=Tom Hardesty |date=November 1, 2012 |publisher=Record Publishing Co, LLC. |work=www.recordpub.net |accessdate=June 5, 2013}}</ref> The two schools first met in 1923 and have played 56 times through the 2013 meeting. Akron went 11–0–1 in the first 12 meetings in the series between 1923 and 1941, with no games played from 1924–27 and 1937–39. Kent State started a 10-game winning streak in 1942 through 1954, though no games were played during the [[World War II]] years of 1943–45 when neither school fielded teams. After the 1954 meeting, the rivalry was scrapped due to a lack of competition. It was reinstated in 1972 and has been an annual contest since 1983. In 1992, Akron joined the MAC and the rivalry became a conference game.<ref name=kent>{{cite web |url=http://www.kentstatesports.com/sports/fball/2004-05/releases/585269.html |title=Football Hosts Akron in Battle for the Wagon Wheel |year=2004 |publisher=Kent State University |work=www.kentstatesports.com |accessdate=June 5, 2013}}</ref><ref name="2012 Media Guide">{{cite web |url=http://gozips.com/sports/fball/2012-13/2012_FB_Media_Guide/2012_FB_Media_Guide |title=2012 University of Akron Football Media Guide |publisher=University of Akron Athletic Department |work=www.gozips.com |accessdate=May 8, 2013}}</ref> Since 1946, the two teams have played for the [[Wagon Wheel (trophy)|Wagon Wheel]]. The story goes that [[John R. Buchtel]] was searching for a site to start a new college in 1870 near what is now Kent State University when his wagon became stuck in the mud. The horses pulled the wagon apart and one of the wheels ended up being buried. Buchtel would eventually settle on a site in [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]] for Buchtel College. In 1902, while digging for a pipeline in [[Kent, Ohio|Kent]], the wheel was discovered and eventually came into the possession of Kent State dean of men Dr. Raymond Manchester. It was he who suggested in 1945 that the wheel be used as a trophy for the winner of the Kent State-Akron football game.<ref name=kent/> ==Championships== ===Conference championships=== Kent State has won 1 conference championship in school history.<ref>http://www.mac-sports.com/Portals/20/2012%20MAC%20History%20and%20Records.pdf</ref> {| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="80%" !bgcolor="#002664"| <span style="color:white;">Year !bgcolor="#002664"| <span style="color:white;">Conference !bgcolor="#002664"| <span style="color:white;">Coach !bgcolor="#002664"| <span style="color:white;">Record |- align="center" | 1972 || [[Mid-American Conference]] || [[Don James (American football)|Don James]] || 6–5–1 (4–1–0) |- align="center" | colspan=2 bgcolor="#eaab00"| '''Total conference championships''' | colspan=2 bgcolor="#eaab00"| '''1''' |} ===Division championships=== Kent State was a MAC East Division champion during the [[2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2012 season]].<ref>http://www.kentstatesports.com/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/20121117n6kgye</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- style="background-color: #002664; text-align:center;" | <span style="color:white;">'''Year''' || <span style="color:white;">'''Coach''' || <span style="color:white;">'''Conference Record''' || <span style="color:white;">'''Overall Record''' || <span style="color:white;">'''Outright/Shared''' || <span style="color:white;">'''Bowl Game''' |- style="text-align:center;" | 2012 || [[Darrell Hazell]] || 8–0 || 11–2 ||Outright|| GoDaddy.Com Bowl |- style="text-align:center;" | colspan="6" style="background-color: #002664; text-align:center;"| <span style="color:white;">'''1-time MAC East Champions'''<span style="color:#FFAB1B;">'' |} ==Bowl games== '''Division I-A/FBS Bowl Games''' {| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#002664" | <span style="color:#eaab00;">'''Season''' || <span style="color:#eaab00;">'''Bowl''' || <span style="color:#eaab00;">'''Date''' || <span style="color:#eaab00;">'''Opponent''' || <span style="color:#eaab00;">'''Result''' |- | [[1972 Kent State Golden Flashes football team|1972]] || style="text-align:center;"|[[1972 Tangerine Bowl|Tangerine Bowl]] || style="text-align:center;"|December 29, 1972 || style="text-align:center;"|[[1972 Tampa Spartans football team|Tampa]] || style="text-align:center;"| L 21–18 |- | [[2012 Kent State Golden Flashes football team|2012]] || style="text-align:center;"|[[2013 GoDaddy.com Bowl|GoDaddy.com Bowl]] || style="text-align:center;"|January 6, 2013 || style="text-align:center;"|[[2012 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team|Arkansas State]] || style="text-align:center;"|L 17–13 |- style="text-align:center; background:#002664;" | colspan="1"|<span style="color:#eaab00;"> '''Total''' | colspan="2"|<span style="color:#eaab00;"> '''2 bowl games''' | colspan="2"|<span style="color:#eaab00;"> '''0–2''' |} ===Other bowl games=== The Golden Flashes participated in the 1954 [[Refrigerator Bowl]] against the [[Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football|Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens]] on December 5, 1954. They lost 19–7. ==Facilities== {{Main article|Dix Stadium}} [[File:Dix Stadium panorama.jpg|thumb|left|350px|Dix Stadium from the south end zone, 2014]] The Flashes' home field is Dix Stadium, located along Summit Street on the eastern edge of the KSU campus just east of [[Ohio State Route 261]]. The stadium opened in 1969 and has a seating capacity of 25,318. Dix Stadium features a FieldTurf playing surface, which was installed in 2005. It was originally a natural grass field until 1997, when an Astroturf surface was installed. From 1997 to 2004, the stadium also hosted the Kent State field hockey team until a new facility for field hockey was built immediately north of the stadium in 2005.<ref name=dix>{{cite web |title=Dix Stadium |url=http://kent.sidearmsports.com/sports/2013/7/16/dix%20stadium.aspx |work=KentStateSports.com |year=2014 |accessdate=May 7, 2014}}</ref> Dix Stadium was most recently renovated in two phases in 2007 and 2008. Phase one included construction of a large canopy over the press box, new entrance gates, and a ticket office, all completed prior to the 2007 season opener. Phase two included the demolition of the south end zone seats and construction of a new high definition scoreboard, concession area, and plaza in the sound end zone area.<ref name=dix/> [[File:Kent State Field House 2014.JPG|thumb|right|Kent State Field House in 2014]] Adjacent to the stadium to the north are two natural grass practice fields. Immediately east of the stadium is the Kent State Field House, which opened in 1990. The Field House includes a full-size football field, a six-lane indoor track, and a weight training room named for Kent State football alumnus [[James Harrison (American football)|James Harrison]]. The building, one of the first indoor football facilities built in Ohio, is also used by several other Kent State athletic teams during the year and is the home indoor venue for the men's and women's track teams. It includes locker rooms for women's soccer, field hockey, softball, and men's and women's track.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kent State wants men's basketball at the front of university marketing and promotionsKent State wants men's basketball at the front of university marketing and promotions |url=http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2016/04/kent_state_wants_mens_basketba.html |author=Alexander, Elton |date=April 1, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]] |accessdate=April 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Field House |url=http://kent.sidearmsports.com/sports/2013/7/19/GEN_0719130359.aspx |year=2014 |work=KentStateSports.com |accessdate=May 7, 2014}}</ref> Dix Stadium is the third facility the Flashes have called home. From the team's inception in 1920 through the 1940 season, they played at [[Rockwell Field (Kent State)|Rockwell Field]], which was located adjacent to the original campus buildings on what is now known as The Commons. Rockwell Field was shared with the track and baseball teams and was plagued with drainage and quality issues its entire existence as an athletic field. For seating, it initially had no seating before primitive wooden bleachers were added in the 1930s. At its peak, the bleachers held approximately 3,000 people, with crowds reported for some games as large as 5,000.<ref>{{cite book |title=Chestnut Burr |url=http://www.library.kent.edu/burr/1934 |year=1934 |page=114 |publisher=Kent State University |accessdate=November 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=KSU Cops Fourth From Mount, Remains Unbeaten |url=http://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=tks19401015-01&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------# |date=October 15, 1940 |newspaper=The Kent Stater |accessdate=November 6, 2015 |page=4}}</ref> In 1941, the team moved to the new Athletic Field along Summit Street, a Works Progress Administration project that included separate football and baseball fields, with the football field surrounded by a cinder track. Seating was again provided on primitive wooden bleachers. After the football team was restored in 1946 following the return of men from World War II, a drive started in the late 1940s to build a permanent grandstand around the existing field. [[Memorial Stadium (Kent State)|Memorial Stadium]] opened in 1950 with seating for 7,000 fans, a new electronic scoreboard, permanent press box, and field lighting. It was expanded multiple times and by 1966 seated approximately 20,000 people. Most of Memorial Stadium was used in the construction of Dix Stadium as the Memorial Stadium seating areas were dismantled in 1969 and transported to the current site in a new configuration.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dedicate New KSU Stadium to University's War Dead |date=October 16, 1950 |pages=1, 3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Kent State University Athletics|author=Gigenbach, Cara |author2=Walton, Theresa |year= 2008|publisher= Arcadia|location= [[Charleston, South Carolina]], [[Chicago]], [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]], and [[San Francisco, California]]|isbn=9780738551760|page= 51}}</ref><ref name=stadiumhistory>{{cite press release |title=Football stadium |year=1969 |publisher=Kent State University Office of Sports Information}}</ref> ==Notable players== [[File:DixStadium083.JPG|300px|right|thumb|West stands in a 2008 game at [[Dix Stadium]] against the [[Ohio Bobcats]].]] Despite the overall lack of success in the program, Kent State has produced a number of standouts including several prominent figures in college football, the [[Canadian Football League]] and in the [[National Football League]]. ===College football=== *[[Lou Holtz]], former head coach of the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame Fighting Irish]] and [[South Carolina Gamecocks football|South Carolina Gamecocks]] *[[Gary Pinkel]], former head coach of the [[Missouri Tigers football|Missouri Tigers]] and [[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo Rockets]] *[[Nick Saban]], current head coach of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide]]; former head coach of the [[LSU Tigers football|LSU Tigers]], [[Michigan State Spartans football|Michigan State Spartans]] and Toledo Rockets (college), and [[Miami Dolphins]] ([[National Football League]]) ===Canadian Football League=== *[[Walter Bender (Canadian football)|Walter Bender]], former CFL player *[[Jim Corrigall]], former [[Toronto Argonauts]] player and member of [[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]] *[[Jim Goss]], former [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] player *[[Gerry Tuttle]], former [[BC Lions]] player *[[Jay McNeil]], former [[Calgary Stampeders]] player ===United Football League=== *[[Shawn Bayes]], [[Hartford Colonials]] ===National Football League=== 40 Kent State alumni have either played in or are currently playing in the [[National Football League]]—although as noted below, not all of them played football at the school.<ref name=history/> ====Current players==== Eight former Kent State football players are currently on active NFL rosters, and two other current NFL players are Kent State alumni.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.databasefootball.com/players/bycollege.htm?sch=Kent+State+University|title= NFL Players who attended Kent State University|accessdate=29 November 2008 |work= DatabaseFootball.com|publisher= Database Sports|year= 2007}}</ref><ref name=media09>{{cite news|url=http://www.kentstatesports.com//pdf5/629104.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=11400 |title=History and Records |accessdate=31 August 2009 |work=2009 Kent State Football Media Guide |publisher=Kent State University |year=2009 |format=PDF |page=92 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814124721/http://www.kentstatesports.com:80/ |archivedate=14 August 2009 |df= }} </ref> In 2007, two former Flashes football players and a former Flashes basketball player were named to the [[Pro Bowl]]. Current NFL players from Kent State include: ;Former Golden Flashes football players *[[Art Best]], [[Chicago Bears]], [[New York Giants]] *[[Joshua Cribbs]], [[Cleveland Browns]], [[Oakland Raiders]], [[Indianapolis Colts]] *[[Julian Edelman]], [[New England Patriots]] *[[Abram Elam]], [[Dallas Cowboys]] *[[Josh Kline]], [[New England Patriots]] *[[James Harrison (American football)|James Harrison]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] *[[Daniel Muir]], [[Indianapolis Colts]] *[[Rico Murray]], [[Cincinnati Bengals]] *[[Jack Williams (American football)|Jack Williams]], [[Denver Broncos]] *[[Usama Young]], [[New Orleans Saints]], [[Cleveland Browns]], [[Oakland Raiders]] *[[Jameson Konz]], [[Seattle Seahawks]], [[Dallas Cowboys]], [[Denver Broncos]] *[[Monte Simmons]], [[Philadelphia Eagles]] *[[Ishmaa'ily Kitchen]]. [[Cleveland Browns]] *[[Brian Winters (American football)|Brian Winters]], [[New York Jets]] *[[Dri Archer]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] *[[Casey Pierce]]. [[Detroit Lions]] *[[Jack Lambert (American football)|Jack Lambert]], former [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] player and member of [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] *[[Don Nottingham]], former player for [[Miami Dolphins]] and [[Baltimore Colts]] *[[O.J. Santiago]], former tight end for the [[Atlanta Falcons]], [[Cleveland Browns]], [[Oakland Raiders]] and [[New England Patriots]] *[[Andy Harmon]], Defensive tackle for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] *[[Pete Mikolajewski]], former [[San Diego Chargers]] player *[[Eric Wilkerson]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ;Other Kent State products in the NFL *[[Antonio Gates]], [[San Diego Chargers]] — played [[Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball|basketball]] at KSU *[[Jermail Porter]], [[Kansas City Chiefs]] — an All-American [[collegiate wrestling|wrestler]] at KSU<ref>{{cite news |first= Jonas|last= Fortune|title= No experience necessary: KSU's Porter going to Patriots |work= Ohio.com|date= April 27, 2009|accessdate= May 30, 2009 |url= http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/43803877.html}}</ref> ===Retired numbers=== {{Kent State Golden Flashes football retired number navbox}} == Future non-conference opponents == Announced schedules as of October 19, 2015 {| class="wikitable" |-style="background: #002664; color: white" align="center" | '''2017''' | '''2018''' | '''2019''' | '''2020''' |-align="center" | at [[Clemson Tigers football|Clemson]] | at [[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Illinois]] | at [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State]] | vs [[Kennesaw State Owls football|Kennesaw State]] |-align="center" | vs [[Howard Bison football|Howard]] | vs [[Howard Bison football|Howard]] | at [[Georgia Southern Eagles football|Georgia Southern]] | |-align="center" | at [[Marshall Thundering Herd football|Marshall]] | at [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] | vs [[Kennesaw State Owls football|Kennesaw State]] | |-align="center" | at [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]] | vs [[Georgia Southern Eagles football|Georgia Southern]] | | |} <ref name="nonconfopp">{{cite web| title=Kent State Golden Flashes Football Schedules and Future Schedules|publisher=fbschedules.com| url=http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/mid-amer/kent-state-golden-flashes.php|accessdate=2016-06-21}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== * {{Official website|1=http://kentstatesports.com/index.aspx?path=football}} {{Kent State Golden Flashes football navbox}} {{Kent State University}} {{Mid-American Conference football navbox}} [[Category:Kent State Golden Flashes football|*]] [[Category:Sports clubs established in 1920]] [[Category:1920 establishments in Ohio]]'