Football Opener at Illinois Delayed to Saturday
8/31/2015 4:54:00โฏPM | Football
Games Notes ย ย ย Golden Flashes Radioย ย ย ย Live Statsย ย ย BTN2Go
Following a lengthy lightning delay on Friday night, Kent State's season opener at Illinois was postponed until Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Flashes and Fighting Illini will meet in a 2 p.m. EDT game that will be broadcast live on WHLO 640 AM and iHeartRadio's Golden Flashes Channel. Due to the postponement, the Big Ten Network will not be broadcasting the game, but live internet video is available BTN2Go..
The 2015 Flashes will beย a much more experienced group thanย a year ago.ย Twenty four Golden Flashes (12 offense, 12 defense) got their first career start last season, but Friday night's lineup will have a different feel to it.
Facts In A Flash
โข The Flashes return their top 11 tacklers from 2014, including junior safety Nate Holley, who ranked third in the FBS in tackles per game (12.5).
โข Kent State returns the bulk of its offensive line from 2014, which did not allow more than one sack in its last seven games.
โข Junior QB Colin Reardon ranks 4th in career completions (414) at Kent State, and sixth in both career passing yards (4,423) and TD passes (26).
โขย Kent State's only win against the current Big Ten lineup was a 35-23 victory at No. 15 Rutgers in 2012. The Scarlet Knights entered the game 7-0.
โข Junior left tackle Reno Reda was chosen to wear number 54 this season, to carry on the legacy of former teammate Jason Bitsko.
โข Junior running back Nick Holley closed out 2014 with a career best two-touchdown game with 95 rushing yards on 14 carries against Akron.
โข Senior safety Jordan Italiano was tabbed Smartest Player in College Football by NFL.com this summer. The pre-med/biochemistry major carries a 3.979 grade point average.
โข Kent State returns six Academic All-MAC selections and five MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes.
โข Senior Anthony Melchiori ranked 12th in the nation in punting average in 2014, helping the Flashes rank 16th in net punting.ย ย
โข The Flashes began their 2015 preseason camp with an unprecedented eight-day road trip to Xenia, Ohio.ย The four-hour bus ride began the mission of Head Coach Paul Haynes getting his team "comfortable with being uncomfortable."
Against The Big Ten
Kent State and Illinois are meeting for the first time in program history.ย The Golden Flashes have never defeated an opponent representing the Big Ten and are 1-13 against teams currently in the Big Ten. Kent State most recently fell at Ohio State last season. The Flashes defeated Rutgers in 2012, prior to the Scarlet Knights joining the Big Ten.
TV/Video/Radio
Friday night's game can be seen on Big Ten Network with Eric Collins (play-by-play), Glen Mason (analyst) and J Leman (sideline).ย Live video is also available on BTN2go.com.ย 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 sixth year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky.ย Matt Miller is the sideline reporter.ย iHeartRadio can be heard on a computer, smart phone or tablet.
The Coaches
โข Paul Haynes enters his third year at his alma mater with victories in his most recent game (Akron) and his most recent non-conference game (Army).ย In 2013, Haynes became the first Flashes' head coach to win his debut since 1988. He was a two-time All-MAC safety at Kent State from 1987-91, despite joining as a walk-on. He returned as an assistant in 1999 and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2000. After seven seasons on an Ohio State staff that won six Big Ten titles (2005-11), Haynes spent 2012 as defensive coordinator at Arkansas.ย His tenure has also brought Kent State's academic achievements to new heights with the highest term and cumulative team grade point averages in program history.
โข Bill Cubit (Delaware '75) took over as interim head coach on Friday, Aug. 28.ย Cubit is also in his third season as offensive coordinator, joining the Fighting Illini during Tim Beckman's second season.ย He was the head coach at Western Michigan from 2005-12, which included a 2-2 record against Kent State.ย Cubit led the Broncos to three bowl appearances and a 51-47ย mark in nine seasons.ย He has also served as offensive coordinator at Stanford, Rutgers, Missouri and Western Michigan.ย Cubit's also been on the other side of Kent State's biggest rival, serving as running backs coach at Akron during Haynes' junior & senior years.
WebSite, Twitter & Youtube
For Kent State football stories, statistics, photos, video and more, visit KentStateSports.com.ย For daily football updates follow @kentstathletics and @kentstfootball on Twitter and Kent State Golden Flashes Football on Facebook.ย For an extensive video library visit GoldenFlashesTV on YouTube.
Carrying Momentum
Kent State finished the 2014 season with a dramatic 27-24 victory over archrival Akron, denying the Zips of bowl eligibility.ย With a minute to play in the game on a third-and-goal at the five, Colin Reardon found Chris Humphrey in the back of the end zone for game-winning TD.ย ย Jordan Italiano sealed the win with an interception at midfield.
Up Next
Kent State hosts Delaware State in its 2015 home opener Saturday, Sept. 12 at Dix Stadium.ย The Golden Flashes have won their last 12 games against FCS opponents.Critical First Half
Kent State's win over Akron came with what has become a critical component, a halftime lead. Since the beginning of 2012, Kent State is 15-0 when leading at halftime and 1-19 when trailing at the break.
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Smartest, Toughest, Smallest
Senior defensive linemanย Nate Terhune was named Toughest Player in College Football by NFL.com in the summer of 2014.ย In 2013, Terhune shattered his fibula at LSU and returned exactly four weeks later.ย He didn't take painkillers during rehab, which allowed him to lift weights. One month after returning, Terhune scored on a 61-yard fake punt, hurdling an Ohio defender.
In addition to Jordan Italiano's smartest player recognition in 2015, NFL.com also recognized junior receiver Ernest Calhoun as No. 12 among the smallest players in the nation, making an impact. At 5-6, 151 pounds, Calhoun made 33 catches for 319 receiving yards last season and led the Flashes with 1,033 all-purpose yards.
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Freakish Strength
Sophomore nose tackle Jon Cunningham made Bruce Feldman's (Fox Sports) list of Top 25 Freaks in college football for both his intensity and animation on the sidelines and his freakish strength in the weight room. Despite standing under six foot tall, Cunningham has a wing span of 6-7.25.ย This summer, he squatted 700 pounds and pulled up a 350-pound hang clean.
โข Last year, Nate Terhune made the Freaks List, not only for his toughness, but his freakish flexibility, which is by far the best on the team.
Long Awaited Return
Fifth-year senior tight end Kyle Payton is expected to take the field for the first time since the 2012 season.ย Payton played in 13 games in 2012, making two starts. A medical condition forced him to watch from the sidelines the next year. ย
Four other key players are returning to the fold after missing the entire 2014 season:
Anthony Pruitt- Senior, OL
Trayion Durham- Senior, RB
Chris Fairchild- Junior, DL
DeVante' Strickland- Senior, LB
โข Durham ranks fifth among Kent State's career rushing leader 2,756 yards.ย He ranks ninth among KSU all-time rushing touchdown leaders with 24.
โข Pruitt made four starts at right guard and played in every game in 2013 after making the adjustment from the defensive line.
โข Fairchild has played in 22 career games, making six starts at nose tackles in 2013.
โข Strickland has played in 33 career games, making six starts at linebacker in 2013.ย He began his college career as a safety.
Stability on O-Line
Kent State's offensive line showed evidence of improvement throughout 2014, despite seven different starting five combinations. The current five slated for Friday have been working together since the beginning of spring practice.
Opening Games
Since 1946, Kent State is 32-34 in season opening games.ย The Flashes last win came in 2013 against Liberty.ย Friday marks just the second opener on the road for Kent State since 2007.ย The Flashes have won two of their last five road openers including a 23-14 win at Iowa State in 2007.
Last year's most impressive individual opening game performances came from Nate Holley and Ernest Calhoun.ย Holley made 18 tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble against Ohio.ย Calhoun made a career-high 11 catches.
