Gentleman I apologize if sometimes I seem negative in my posts. I am just a die hard Kent fan that just wants to see the team WIN after so many bad years. I grew up in Kent and graduated from Kent so I know all the history of the program. I have seen bad coaching, bad play and also a horrible fan base. I wish nothing but the best for the program which I believe is happening right now. I use to sit in the stands every game which they tore down, which sucks but honestly it is good for the stadium. All I want is to see the program grow which it is. Every team at Kent is great but not the football program and that bothers me. If every other team on campus can win a MAC championship why not the football team? Steve you are a great guy for starting this site and I was at a lot games you were at when you were a student and tell me it was not pathetic; trust me I was there. What I am is saying I support Kent as much as anyone and I will buy the beers when we win the MAC. I will be at the bowl game on the sidelines.
Posted on 10/29 8:24 PM | IP: Logged
beasterd,
IMO Kent State football is heading in the right direction. Doug Martin is the right coach for our kids and the progress is being displayed on the field this season. There are no guarantees, but this team is in a great position to win this season. It has a nice blend of veterans like Mixon, Frist, Lainhart, Hartman, Sadler etc. and young talented freshman and sophomores. As Steve has pointed out, look at how many plays are being made by underclassman. This season could and should result in a winning record. However, I am even more excited about the next couple of years watching all these youngsters develop!
This program needs more supporters like yourself!
Keep the faith and Go Flashes!!
Posted on 10/30 8:18 AM | IP: Logged
I have had that feeling many times in the past. Wait til tomorrows game. That is tell a lot about this team.
Posted on 10/30 10:07 AM | IP: Logged
Originally posted by gflash68: I have had that feeling many times in the past. Wait til tomorrows game. That is tell a lot about this team.
GFlash...this isn't to start an argument with you, and I'm not picking on you.
With that disclaimer out of the way, why does tomorrow's game carry any more meaning than the Ohio game?
This is what bothers me...Kent State can't win.
They go out and beat Miami, a team that has dominated them for years, and they get picked apart because they gave up 500 yards of offense.
They lose to Bowling Green and it's "same old Kent State."
They rebound and win at Eastern Michigan and it's "they didn't play anybody, wait until next week."
Then, they go down to Ohio and dominate. And now it's "let's see what they do next weekend. That game will tell us a lot about this team."
If they win, will we then talk about beating Akron as the key benchmark of the season? Then it goes on to Buffalo and Temple?
Kent State has overcome a lot this season. And yes, lots of teams have injuries. Ask Oklahoma when they lost a game they should have won without their starting quarterback or USC when they lost to Washington with their starting quarterback on the sidelines.
Notre Dame lost to USC with the Irish's best wide receiver on the sidelines.
Injuries have a major impact in football and Kent State has overcome two major injuries--Jarvis and Morgan. They also overcame a rough start to get back to .500 and 3-1 in the league.
The Western Michigan game doesn't make or break Kent State's season. It doesn't have any more bearing on the season than the Miami game or the Bowling Green game or the Ohio game.
Posted on 10/30 11:00 AM | IP: Logged
Maybe I'm wrong, but what I think people mean when they attach extra significance to the upcoming game, whichever game it may be, is that they are really saying they think it's important to the one thing that finally counts: how did we do this season?
We have had good short stretches in various seasons, but the good season has eluded us way too many times. This week's game is critical because of where we are now, not because beating WMU is important in and of itself. Every game is important, but because we beat Miami and EMU and Ohio, and also because we lost to BG, this game is a very important one to our season. At this point, a fifth loss really hurts our bowl chances and a second MAC loss really hurts our division chances. We really need this game!
That said, it is fantastic that we have a big game on Oct. 31! That is progress. How many seasons have been over in September?
Posted on 10/30 1:39 PM | IP: Logged
axeme, I understand that with success comes higher expectations. I don't have a problem with that.
You win and there's more at stake.
I just don't like the concept of always changing the benchmarks.
KSU has overcome a lot. They've faced adversity and instead of folding, they have continued to improve and win games in the process.
The negative people are just waiting for the Flashes to fall again so they can pounce...."see, same old Kent State."
It would be nice to see their efforts acknowledged and to not have their season judged on one or two games.
Posted on 10/30 3:04 PM | IP: Logged
I find this thread and the one on negative boards very much related. Therefore, I am going to make a reply that could go at either place. If you go through my post over the years. you will see that winning or losing is not the thrust of my post, nor is it the main way I judge my program. To judge a program firstly on the W or L is for amateurs. If you look at my brief statement about tomorrow's game, you do not see reference to if we W or L. I have attended many games that my team won, and have been disgusted in the performance. In turn, I have been to many, many games that my team lost and have felt very good about the program and performanc. Having said all that, it is possible that we may win tomorrow, and I will not be happy with the game. I will give you an example. After the CC game early this season, I was disgusted with the performance even though we won the game. CC was a bad team. We looked just as bad and worst yet, we looked "un-coached". We looked just as bad against Iowa State. I hated the loss, but I hated losing to a team that we could have beaten more. We do not have to be disappointed in our talent level any longer. It is good enough to win. The players need to be given a fair shot and this means coaching it up. I can foresee the possibility that we may not win tomorrow, and I could come away sad, but saying, I agree that we are indeed better. I truly hope that we win and look like a good team in doing so. Now, that will be progress that we can all agree upon.
BTW, to post that negativism on bbs is done because of some alter ego deficiencies only allowed in the world of hidden identities, in hopes of having effect, smacks of a back handed jab at those of us who are not negative by nature; but think we know what we are observing on the field and not liking it. I have disdain for negativism when it is not deserved as much as the next person. I also, have the same disdain for people, who are blinded by their own fanaticism to the point that they misjudge others of differing perspective. So, in short, the "can't win" did not come from me. I do not believe in can't win. I might believe in can win, can't play; or, did not win, can play. I always believe in winning. GO FLASHES, PLAY GOOD AND WIN. Is that too much to ask?
Posted on 10/30 3:43 PM | IP: Logged
"It doesn't have any more bearing on the season than the Miami game or the Bowling Green game or the Ohio game."
I totally disagree with the notion that this game is not more important than previous games. Given the standings, the amount of games remaining, etc, every game going forward is even more important than the last.
Successful teams are always trying to improve in every game they play as the season progresses. Since KSU is only 1 game back of Temple, the game against WMU has much more importance. Should the Golden Flashes win today, next week's game against Akron will be even more important than this game.
Posted on 10/31 11:16 AM | IP: Logged
william...I understand your point and maybe I wasn't clear enough in sharing my opinion.
I know that as the season progresses the games carry more meaning. That's only natural when a team competes for a title.
My point was that the Flashes' season shouldn't be judged on this week's game. And next week, the Akron game shouldn't have any more meaning--in judging the success of the season--than any other.
It doesn't matter if KSU starts the MAC at 3-1 then goes 0-4 or if they start 0-4 then finish 3-1.
I go back to what I said about the benchmark changing on a weekly basis. The Flashes have had success this season. They've overcome adversity that in the past would have crippled this program. They've won games against teams that have dominated them in the past,and they've done it with some major injuries.
Last week, before the Ohio game,everyone talked about how important that game was. They went in and dominated, and instead of celebrating that success I hear, "well, we'll see how good this team is this week."
In short, in my opinion, I don't think it's fair to always judge a team on its next game.
Posted on 10/31 11:37 AM | IP: Logged
beasterd:
I am happy that you love Kent State football but only wished that you loved them win or lose. With me, I love Kent State University and all of its athletic teams unconditionally. How can anyone do that you ask? Well as a student, I always believed that Kent State belonged to me and feel that one must love what is his. Back in 1996, I drove up to Oxford only to see Kent lose 64-6 to Miami. The very next year, I drove up to Athens to see the Flashes lose to Ohio 31-7. Neither time did I walk away hating our football team. Disappointed yes. As a matter of fact, I felt down right embarrassed after the 64-6 loss at Miami. But never did I feel ashamed of my school. Do I expect every alum to love Kent State athletic teams unconditionally as I do? No, but I would like to see students and alums not only support the teams when they are winning but also when they are struggling. Because if you think about it, that is the time that they need you the most. BTW, I decided to respond after the win today because if I had done it sooner, it would have looked like I was preparing everyone for a loss. Otherwise, why would I have stated this before the game if I had thought Kent would win?
Posted on 10/31 7:32 PM | IP: Logged
I never said I hated them when they lose just disappointed. Trust me I back the whole athletic department as well. I did my internship with them and still have connections as well. I will be at the Kent, USF basketball game which is an 8 hour drive for me the day before thanksgiving so with all due respect do not question my support for Kent. We obviously both went to Kent, but I grew up in Kent so I have followed them my whole life.
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