Kent State welcomes Delaware State for home opener

Kent State Athletic Communications

THE OPENING KICKOFF

After splitting a pair of season-opening road games at a pair of BCS schools, Kent State makes its 2007 debut at Dix Stadium at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 against Delaware State.
The game will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools, and the Golden Flashes’ first contest against a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent. KSU will be attempting to improve to 6-1 in its last seven home openers as the Football Championship Subdivision Hornets play their final game of the season outside of the MEAC.

The contest marks the Flashes’ only appearance at home over the course of the first five weeks of the season.

FLASH FACTS

• A win over the Hornets would move Kent State to 2-1 for the first time since 2003.
• Delaware State is the only opponent on this year’s schedule that the Flashes have never faced before. The Flashes are 25-22-1 all-time against FCS schools (formerly I-AA).
• Running back Eugene Jarvis is 22nd in the nation at 122.0 rushing yards per game, while quarterback Julian Edelman had a career-high 135 rushing yards at Kentucky. The pair have helped KSU to 263.0 ypg (15th in the nation).
• Defensive backs Jack Williams and Fritz Jaques lead the Flashes with 16 tackles each, while linebacker Jameson Konz has a pair of sacks.

THE SERIES

Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between Kent State and Delaware State, with the Hornets being the only new opponent on the Flashes’ 2007 schedule. KSU has never faced a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school before and is 25-22-1 all-time against Football Championship Subdivision schools (formerly I-AA).

KSU VS. FCS SCHOOLS UNDER MARTIN
YEAR OPPONENT RESULT SCORE

2003 Youngstown St. W 16-13

2004 Liberty W 38-10

2005 SE Missouri St. W 33-12

The Flashes have won six straight against FCS opponents dating back to a 26-20 loss to Youngstown State on Sept. 16, 2000.

TELEVISION

None, although live video of the game can be seen via the K-Zone on http://www.kentstatesports.com/

RADIO

Together for the sixth straight year, Bill Needle (play-by-play), Tom Linder (color analyst) and Ty Linder (sidelines) call the excitement of Golden Flashes football on the Kent State Sports Network. KSU football may be heard on flagship station WNIR 100.1 FM in Northeast Ohio.

WEBSITE

Live audio for all Kent State football game broadcasts, live video of select games and live stats are available via the K-Zone on the official athletic department web site (http://www.kentstatesports.com/).

THE COACHES

• Doug Martin (Kentucky ‘85) is in his fourth season as a head coach, owning a 13-23 record at the helm of the Golden Flashes. He was promoted to head coach March 1, 2004, after serving as Kent State’s offensive coordinator in 2003.
• Al Lavan has a 20-14 record in his fourth season at Delaware State. Overall, he is 22-15 in five seasons as a head coach, including a 2-1 mark at Eastern Michigan in 2003 after taking over for Jeff Woodruff, who was fired after the Eagles started 1-8.

UP NEXT

Kent State makes the short trip west to visit arch rival Akron on Sept. 22 at noon. The Mid-American Conference opener for both schools will be broadcast on ESPN Regional. Meanwhile, after a week off, Delaware State returns to MEAC action at Hampton on Sept. 29.