Kent State University Football: A Century of Golden Flashes

Kent State University's football program, known as the Golden Flashes, has a rich history spanning over a century. From its humble beginnings in 1920 to its recent successes and challenges, the program has become an integral part of the university's identity and athletic tradition. This article explores the key moments, figures, and rivalries that have shaped Kent State football.

Early Years and Struggles (1910s-1940s)

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. The team played their first game October 30, 1920, against 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. The final game of the season was a home game scheduled against St. Ignatius College of Cleveland, but the game was not played and counted as a forfeit win for Kent.

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. The streak finally ended with a 6-6 tie with the Indiana Normal School in 1925, the game which preceded Kent State's first true victory.

Kent State joined 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 canceled due to American involvement in World War II. Under coach Donald Starn, who coached Kent State from 1935 to 1942, the Flashes began 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 Trevor Rees Era and MAC Conference (1950s-1960s)

In 1946, the program was revived after the conclusion of World War II under head coach Trevor J. Rees, 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, 3 of which were the 1961-1963 seasons. In 1950, the team opened their first true stadium, Memorial Stadium, by defeating Marietta College 57-0. The next season saw the Golden Flashes join the Mid-American Conference.

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Leo Strang took over for Rees in 1964 inheriting a program that had won only eight games the prior three seasons and had endured a seven game losing streak. He compiled a 16-21-2 record over his 4 year tenure, a .436 win/loss percentage. Since 1967, only one other Kent coach with an equal or longer tenure has had a better win/loss percentage. He had Kent's first winning season in a five years (1965 season)-which was its first at the major college level-and had its longest unbeaten streak since 1956. Strang resigned following the 1967 season, winning his last three games against Louisville, Marshall, and Xavier.

Coaching Changes and Struggles (1970s-1990s)

Washington University head coach Dave Puddington was hired to replace Strang, and Kent State struggled. The program posted a 9-21 record during Puddington's three seasons, the best of which was a 5-5 campaign in 1969. During the 1969 season, the Flashes also moved into Dix Stadium, which was not fully completed until January 1970. Following the departure of Don James, Kent State went through a period marked by mostly losing seasons and regular coaching changes, with no coaching tenure lasting more than three seasons until 1997.

Succeeding Blackledge was Boston College head coach Ed Chlebek. Chelebek has previously turned around the BC football program and was expected to do the same at Kent State. Unfortunately, he couldn't. Utah offensive line coach Dick Scesniak was hired as Chlebek's replacement and, once again, Kent State's football struggles persisted. Ohio State offensive coordinator Glen Mason was hired as Kent State's head coach in 1986. In his two seasons in Kent posted two consecutive 2nd place MAC finishes including a 7-4 overall mark in 1987, the Flashes' first winning season since 1977. Former Flashes standout Jim Corrigall began in 1994 and became the first coach since Don James to coach more than three seasons, lasting four. Although some progress was made, the Golden Flashes best season under Corrigall, a 3-8 campaign, proved to be his last in 1997. Three wins in 1997 were the most wins for Kent State since 1988.

The Modern Era: Growth and Bowl Appearances (2000s-Present)

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. 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.

Kent State began the 2010 season with hopes of contending for a MAC title, but early losses at Miami and Toledo ended any hope for a title. 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 Alabama and Kansas State and a home loss to Louisiana-Lafayette. Hazell's first win at Kent State came on September 24, in a 33-25 win over South Alabama at Dix Stadium. The team then dropped their first three MAC games before defeating Bowling Green, which was the start of a five-game winning streak that included a 35-3 win over arch-rival Akron at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field, Kent State's first win in Akron since 2003. The season ended with a 34-16 loss at Temple.

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The 2012 season began with a 41-21 win over Towson at Dix Stadium, followed by a 47-14 loss at Kentucky. Following the loss, the Flashes defeated Buffalo at University at Buffalo Stadium and followed that with a come-from-behind 45-43 win over Ball State in Kent. A 31-17 win over Army at Michie Stadium was the first victory for Kent State over a non-conference team on the road since 2007. The winning streak reached six, the longest for Kent State since 1940, after a 35-23 win over undefeated and 18th-ranked 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. The win earned Kent State votes in the October 28, 2012 AP Poll, Coaches' Poll, and the Harris Interactive College Football Poll. The team continued winning, beating Akron in the Battle for the Wagon Wheel game at Dix Stadium, followed by a 48-32 win over the Miami RedHawks at Yager Stadium. The win over Miami set a new team record for consecutive victories in a season at eight and tied the 1973 team for most wins in a season at nine.

Kent State clinched their first-ever MAC East Division title and spot in the 2012 MAC Championship Game with a 31-24 win over Bowling Green at Doyt Perry Stadium on November 17. Following the win over Bowling Green, the Flashes rose to No. 23 in the AP poll and entered the Coaches' and Harris polls at No. 25. Kent State was also ranked for the first time in the Bowl Championship Series standings at No. 23. The team climbed as high as 17th in the BCS standings following their regular season-ending win over 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. They were also mentioned as a potential BCS Buster. Kent State, however, fell in overtime to Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship Game. Following the loss to NIU, Kent State accepted the invitation to play in the 2013 GoDaddy.com Bowl.

Sean Lewis was hired as head coach in 2018 and served for five seasons, compiling an overall record of 24-31 and 19-17 in MAC play. He led Kent State to bowl game appearances in 2019 and 2021, including the program's first-ever bowl win, a 51-41 victory over Utah State in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. In 2021 he also led the team to only their second appearance in the MAC Championship game. Kenni Burns was hired as head coach in 2023. In his first season, he led the team to a 1-11 record, the worst in FBS college football. Since 1920, Kent State has employed 24 head coaches for football. The team did not hold a football team from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II. Trevor J. Rees holds the most wins in program history with 92 wins, while Doug Martin holds the mark for most wins since 1970 with 29.

GoDaddy.com Bowl Appearance

The Golden Flashes' appearance in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in January was a significant event for the program and the university. The team arrived in Mobile, Ala., to cheers and police escorts. City leaders, local football fans, and representatives from the GoDaddy.com Bowl rolled out the red carpet for Kent State’s players and coaches. As part of the evening’s entertainment, several members of the team took to the microphone and did their own play-by-play of the Sugar Bowl as it was projected on several big-screen televisions at the stadium.

The week leading up to the game was filled with various activities. Players and coaches were honored during a parade through downtown Mobile. The annual Mardi Gras-style parade culminated a week of bowl-related celebrations and included floats brought in from New Orleans. Kent State President Lester A. Lefton and his wife, Linda, rode in a convertible and greeted fans along the parade route. Players and coaches spent more than an hour touring the USS Alabama, a famed battleship that engaged in extensive combat during World War II. At first, many players smiled as they moved quickly around the ship’s decks and marveled at the enormous size of the 680-foot-long vessel. Most players had trouble navigating the small doorways and climbing the thin ladders to reach the upper decks. Tour guides shared stories of how the crew bonded during times of attack and how each person had to pull together for the crew to survive. Kent State head football coach Darrell Hazell also was present as players broke into groups of three and then began moving room-to-room spending time with the young patients ranging in age from 4 to 16.

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However, the game itself was a disappointment for Kent State. With Dri Archer sidelined by a knee injury suffered in the second quarter, senior quarterback Spencer Keith led the Golden Flashes on a march that ended just 20 yards shy of the end zone. "It's a huge difference when you don't have the fastest player on the field," said Keith, referring to the loss of Archer. "We fought through it, though. Keith had been knocked out of the game three plays earlier when he was hit in the ribs by blitzing Arkansas State defensive back Tausean Holmes. "I kept trying to go, but I was hopping around," said Archer. "It was tough," said Archer, who stood on the sideline with a towel draped over his head after KSU took over at its own 23 yard line with 4:5 0 to play. "I had my head down the majority of the drive. Kent State took an early lead thanks in large part to Archer. Arkansas State answered with back-to-back touchdowns in the second quarter - a 10-yard run by David Oku and a 31-yard pass from Ryan Alpin to J.D. After Kent State trimmed the Red Wolves' lead to 14-10 on a 42-yard field goal by Freddy Cortez, the two teams traded field goals in the third quarter before battling through a scoreless fourth. "Obviously we didn't do enough in the red zone," said Kent State head coach Darrell Hazell. The game was broadcasted on ESPN and Watch ESPN with Mark Jones (play-by-play), Brock Huard (color) and Jessica Mendoza (sideline).

Rivalry with Akron

Kent State's biggest rival is Akron, located 10 miles (16 km) from the Kent campus. 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. Since 1946, the two teams have played for the 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 for Buchtel College. In 1902, while digging for a pipeline in Kent, the wheel was discovered and eventually came into the possession of Kent State dean of men Dr. Raymond Manchester.

Facilities

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. 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. 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. 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.

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, 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. 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 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.

Notable Figures

Several individuals associated with Kent State football have achieved significant recognition in the sport.

Lou Holtz: Attended Kent State, where he played linebacker from 1956 to 1957. Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his contributions as the head coach at Notre Dame. He had a career college head coaching record of 249-132-7. Holtz's 1988 Notre Dame team went 12-0 with a victory in the Fiesta Bowl and was the consensus national champion.
Gary Pinkel: Attended Kent State, where he played tight end from 1970 to 1973, and was a graduate assistant from 1974 to 1975. Pinkel was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his contributions as the head coach at Toledo and Missouri. He served as the head football coach at the University of Toledo from 1991 to 2000 and the University of Missouri from 2001 to 2015, compiling career record of 191-110-3.
Don James: One former Kent State coach is also enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, mostly for their contributions while coaching at other schools. His 1991 Washington team won a share of the national championship after completing a 12-0 season with a decisive win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
Jim Corrigall: Attended Kent State, where he played defensive end from 1967 to 1969. One former Kent State player has been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Jack Lambert: Attended Kent State, where he played linebacker from 1971 to 1973. One former Kent State player has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He went on to win 4 Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Conclusion

Kent State University's football program has experienced a rollercoaster of highs and lows throughout its history. From its early struggles to its recent successes, the Golden Flashes have persevered and become a source of pride for the university and its community. With continued dedication and support, the program looks forward to a bright future on the gridiron.

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