The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

As I watch the OU-Toledo game tonight on ESPN2, I can’t help not feel proud of the MAC and a sense of pride of being a part of the Mid American Conference. Although I don’t believe the Akron-Kent game will look nearly as good on ESPN2 as this game because of the high number of injuries that Kent will have for the game and the small crowd that is likely to be on hand, I nevertheless look forward to watching the game on Thanksgiving Day. However, I wish that Kent could go into the game with all of its players and not with the group that they have playing now.

No one will ever know how good Kent could have been with all the players the team had at the beginning of the season, but I believe the Flashes could have been reasonably good. It is just unfortunate that Kent will be playing the game on national television with so many of its best players banged up or on the sidelines.

I know that this is going to be taken as smack but ohh well.

Aren't injuries a part of football that have to be "planned for" to a certain extent? I mean isn't that why we have depth charts?

Quickzips, I agree. I wouldn't call it smacktalk.. Injuries are a big part of football. It would be crazy to think that you couldn't go through a season without them. I'm not sure how much better we would have been either, but i think even our OL backups are hurt..

Regardless, I feel that the Akron-KSU game should always be the first game of the season for both teams like it was the last couple years.

Injuries, sminjuries. The problem with Flash football is our players and coaches are just not that good.

The Flashes have been inconsistent at best this season offensively, collecting just 327.3 ypg which has produced only 19.6 ppg. The main reason for KSU's lack of success on offense has been the team's rushing attack, or lack thereof. On the year, the Flashes have simply been dreadful on the ground, averaging just 51.0 ypg, which is the worst effort in the nation. Last week against the Broncos, Kent State tallied 374 yards of total offense, but the team collected just one yard on 28 carries. Out of the team's 136 first downs, only 28 have come on the ground. With the absence of the rushing attack, quarterback Michael Machen has had to shoulder the majority of the offense and thus far has struggled with the added pressure. Against WMU, Machen completed 25-of-45 pass attempts for 336 yards and one score, however he also tossed two picks and was sacked four times. On the season, Machen has completed just 53.3 percent of his passes for 1,720 yards and has nine touchdowns verses 14 interceptions.

While the KSU offense has been inconsistent, the defense has been simply dreadful, allowing 32.8 ppg behind an abysmal 451.5 ypg. The unit has struggled against the pass, permitting 227.6 ypg, but the real problem area for this defense has been against the run. KSU ranks 111th in the nation at stopping the run, allowing an astronomic 223.9 ypg and has already allowed 20 rushing touchdowns. Last week WMU collected 407 total yards, including 158 yards on the ground. KSU surrendered just 17 first downs in the setback and also held the Broncos to just 2-of-15 on third down attempts. Four different players recorded eight tackles for the Flashes, including Stevon Moss who also forced a fumble and recorded an interception. Justin Parrish, who has 68 tackles on the season, finished the contest with seven stops.

You have to be good to begin with to blame injuries for losses.