Flashes Open 2013 Season Thursday Against Liberty
8/26/2013 1:50:00 PM | Football
Game Notes V2 Golden Flashes Radio ESPN3 Live Video
Coming off a program record 11-win season, Kent State's next journey begins Thursday, Aug. 29, hosting Liberty at 6 p.m. inside Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes return five All-Mid-American Conference players from a team that went 8-0 in league play and made its first bowl appearance in 40 years. The head coaching debut of former Kent State defensive back Paul Haynes can be seen on ESPN3.
Facts In A Flash
• The Golden Flashes carry over a 10-game regular season winning streak from 2012.
• Kent State has won eight straight home games, dating back to the midpoint of the 2011 season.
• Eight returning players on offense have made at least five career starts.
• Six returning players on defense have made at least six career starts.
• The Flashes biggest offseason question marks were replacing a four-year starting quarterback, two all-conference linebackers and three starting offensive linemen, including Brian Winters, who was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
• Consensus All-American Dri Archer led the nation in rushing yards per carry (9.0) and kick return average (36.9) and ranked fifth in all-purpose yards in 2012.
• Archer and Trayion Durham combined for 2,745 rushing yards.
• Senior Roosevelt Nix is second among active FBS players in career tackles for loss (52.0), fifth in forced fumbles (10) and 14th in sacks (20.5).
• Behind Anthony Melchiori, KSU ranked 12th in the nation in net punting (40.0).
• Kent State finished 2012 fourth in the FBS in turnover margin (+20) and were ranked No. 25 in the final 2012 BCS Standings.
• With 11 wins, the Flashes shattered the program record for victories in a season set in 1973 (9-2).
• Liberty's Turner Gill is 3-1 as a head coach against Kent State and 2-0 at Dix Stadium.
The Series
Kent State won its only meeting with Liberty in 2004 at Dix Stadium. Josh Cribbs completed 20-of-29 passes for two touchdowns and ran for 105 yards and a score on 13 carries in the Golden Flashes' 38-10 victory.
TV/Video/Radio
Thursday's game can be seen on ESPN3 and MAC-Sports.com with Frank Giardina (play-by-play) and John Gregory (color).
All Kent State games can be heard live on 640 WHLO and Golden Flashes Radio on iHeartRadio. Ty Linder will handle the play-by-play duties and is joined in the booth for the fourth year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky. The iHeartRadio channel works on a PC, smart phone or tablet.
