2019 Kent State FOOTBALL GAME 13 VS UTAH STATE Kent State Athletic Communications The Opening Kick Dan Griffin Process Color KENT STATE (6-6, 5-3 MAC) Primary Football Contact E-mail: [email protected] VS UTAH STATE (7-5, 6-2 MWC) Work: (330) 672-8468 Friday, December 20, 2019 • 7:30 p.m. ET Cell: (330) 814-5921 Toyota Stadium(20,200) • Frisco, Texas ESPN2: Anish Shroff, John Congemi & Kris Budden FLASH FACTS School Information Radio: WHLO 640 AM (Ty Linder, Rob Polinsky, Meghan Donovan) Name Kent State University Location Kent, Ohio 44242 Kent State looks to pick up its first bowl win in to hit 24 or more field goals this season. Founded 1910 Enrollment 38,323 (all campuses) four tries as they face Utah State in the 2019 • Against Ball State, Isaiah McKoy became the Alumni Worldwide 241,000 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. first Kent State wideout with three touchdowns Nickname Golden Flashes in a game since Eugene Baker did it in 1997. Mascot “Flash” the Golden Eagle McKoy now has seven touchdown catches this Colors Navy Blue and Gold FACTS Affiliation NCAA Division I season, all of which are 21 yards or longer President Dr. Todd Diacon • Kent State was the only FBS team that won • Sean Lewis has his FlashFAST sytem rolling Alma Mater Wisconsin its final three games to become bowl eligible innjust his second year at the helm. The Gold- Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen • The Golden Flashes’ three game win streak en Flashes’ four game improvement from their Alma Mater Minnesota State Mankato ’85 to close the season started in improbable Deputy AD Casey Cegles 2-10 season in 2018 is tied for the eighth-best fashion. The Flashes trailed Buffalo 27-6 with Conference Mid-American (East Division) improvement in the FCS. A big reason behind Home venue Dix Stadium (1969) under eight minutes to go. Three touchdowns the turnaround has been the offense, which im- Surface/Capacity FieldTurf/25,319 sandwiched between a recovered on-side kick proved to 34.8 points per game in MAC play in and blocked punt, tied the game at 27. Matthew 2019, up from 22.8 points per game in 2018 and Coaching Staff Trickett hit a walk-off 42-yard field goal to mark Head Coach Sean Lewis 13.8 points per game in 2017. the largest fourth-quarter comeback in the FBS Alma Mater Wisconsin ’07 • Dustin Crum is a big reason for the contin- Record at Kent State (Years) 8-16 (Second Season) this season. Overall record Same ued improvement of the FlashFAST offense. The • 1954, 1972, 2012 and now 2019 are the junior led the MAC in completion percentage only bowl dates in Kent State history. The Flash- Assistant Coaches (68.2%), yards and touchdowns in MAC play this Offensive Coordinator / QBs / TEs Andrew Sowder es lost to Delaware in the 1954 Refigerator Bowl season. His 18:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio Defensive Coordinator / Assoc. HC Tom Kaufman in Evansville, Indiana, lost to the University of is the best in school history and helped him rise Special Teams Coordinator Zac Barton Tampa in the 1972 Tangerine (now Citrus) Bowl to #25 in the FBS in passing efficiency (156.1) Offensive Line Bill O’Boyle and to Arkansas State in the 2012 GoDaddy Running Backs Macky MacPherson and the top mark in the Mid-American Confer- Bowl. Wide Receivers Matthew Middleton ence. Defensive Line Colin Ferrell • Matthew Trickett became the first player • 1973-74 Kent State and Utah State have Outside Linebackers Joe Coniglio since Dri Archer in 2012 to earn the MAC’s Special met twice prior in their respective histories. The Safeties Will Windham Teams Player of the Year. Trickett set a school re- Secondary Justin Hood teams had a home-and-home in 1973 and 74 Director of Player Personnel Steve Schrum cord for field goals with 24 including three game with each team winning on the road. Graduate Assistant / Defense James Alexander winners. Trickett is one of just five place kickers Graduate Assistant / Offense Matt Battaglia Graduate Assistant / Defense Dan Conwell 2019 Kent State Schedule Graduate Assistant / Offense Matt Johnson Date Opponent Site/Stadium Time Head Football Sports Performance Jeff Sobol Aug. 29 at Arizona State (PAC 12 Networks) Tempe, Ariz./Sun Devil Stadium L, 30-7 Sun Devils swarm Kent State offense, hold to just 200 yards Team Information Sept. 7 KENNESAW STATE (ESPN3) Kent, Ohio/Dix Stadium W, 26-23 (OT) First year of football 1920 Trickett helps give Flashes first overtime win since 2000 All-time record 348-570-28/97 years Bowl record 0-3 Sept. 14 at Auburn (ESPNU) Auburn, Ala./Jordan-Hare Stadium L, 55-16 Last bowl 2012 GoDaddy.com Auburn’s rushing attack cuts loose for more than 400 yards Result L, 13-17 vs. Arkansas State Sept. 21 BOWLING GREEN* (ESPN3) Kent, Ohio/Dix Stadium W, 62-20 2018 overall record 2-10 Flashes erupt for most yards ever in a game, most points since 2004 2018 MAC record/finish 1-7, 6th East Oct. 5 at Wisconsin (ESPN2 or ESPNU) Madison, Wis./Camp Randall Stadium L, 48-0 Starters returning/lost 17/8 Offense 9/3 Badgers spoil Coach Lewis’ return to Camp Randall Stadium Defense 6/5 Oct. 12 at Akron* (ESPN3) Akron, Ohio/InfoCision Stadium W, 26-3 Specialists 2/0 Golden Flashes capture Wagon Wheel for first time since 2014 Letterwinners returning/lost 36/17 Oct. 19 at Ohio* (CBSSN) Athens, Ohio/Peden Stadium L, 45-38 Offense 15/8 Crum’s 4TD Performance not enough in shootout in Athens Defense 18/8 Oct. 26 MIAMI* (ESPN+) Kent, Ohio/Dix Stadium L, 23-16 Specialists 3/1 Basic Offense Spread RedHawks weather the storm and hold off Flashes in the rain Basic Defense 3-4 Nov. 5 at Toledo* (ESPN2 or CBSSN) Toledo, Ohio/Glass Bowl L, 35-33 Flashes comeback bid falls inches short at Toledo Athletic Communications Nov. 14 BUFFALO* (CBSSN) Kent, Ohio/Dix Stadium W, 30-27 Secondary Football Contact Taylor Czajkowski Flashes storm back from 21 down with under eight minutes to play E-mail [email protected] Nov. 23 BALL STATE* (ESPN+) Kent, Ohio/Dix Stadium W, 41-38 Phone (330) 672-3084 Cell (785) 221-4405 Crum’s career day helps Flashes outlast Cardinals on Senior Day Address 106 M.A.C. Center, Nov. 29 at Eastern Michigan* (ESPN+) Ypsilanti, Mich./Rynearson Stadium W, 34-26 P.O. Box 5190; Kent, OH 44242 Flashes become bowl eligible for first time since 2012 Press Box Phone (330)-672-2036 Dec. 20 vs Utah State (ESPN2) Frisco, Texas/Toyota Stadium 7:30 p.m. ET Website KentStateSports.com Flashes in first bowl since 2012, fourth bowl all-time Twitter @KentStAthletics, @KentStFootball 1 2019 Kent State FOOTBALL GAME 13 VS UTAH STATE KENT STATE MEDIA SERVICES TV/VIDEO/RADIO NOTES & RELEASES WEEKDAY INTERVIEW SCHEDULE Saturday’s game can be seen on ESPN +. The Updated Kent State football game notes are All interviews with Kent State players and game can be heard live on 640 AM WHLO and available in PDF format at www.kentstate- coaches must be coordinated through the Ath- the free Golden Flashes Radio channel on iHeart- sports.com. To receive the notes via e-mail, letic Communications office. In-person interviews contact Director of Athletic Communications Dan for coaches and players will be con ducted after Radio with a one-hour pregame show. Ty Linder Griffin at 330.672.8468 or [email protected]. practice on select days only (typically Tuesday & handles the play-by-play duties and is joined by Wednesday). Tuesday and Wednesday practices 11th-year color analyst Rob Polinsky. Meghan CREDENTIALS routinely end between 10:45-11:30 a.m. Coaches Donovan will be on the sideline. By 2017, iHeart- and players generally are not available for inter- All members of the media wishing to cover Radio reached over 100 million registered users. games in a working capacity must seek appro- views immediately before or during practice unless priate press or photo/video passes in advance. special circumstances warrant. In addition, select Requests should be made at least one week players will be available at Sean Lewis’ weekly THE COACHES in advance of game day on kentstatesports. Monday press conferences. Sean Lewis is the youngest head coach in the Media members should call at least one day com. If time permits, credentials will be mailed; FBS at age 33 and earned his first victory against otherwise, they will be left at the media will-call in advance for phone interviews, which will be Howard in Week 2 of the 2018 season. He picked window on the west side of Dix Stadium. conducted around practice, meetings and class Media sideline credentials will be issued only schedules. up his first Mid-American Conference win against to accredited photographers and reporters on as- his former school Bowling Green, 35-28. Lewis signment. Both a credential and an armband must PROFESSIONAL SCOUTS spent the previous six years under Dino Babers be displayed for access to field level. Armbands Professional scouts may receive credentials by at three different schools, most recently spending may be picked up in the media area on the first sending a request via e-mail (dgriff34@kent. two seasons as co-offensive coordinator and quar- floor of the press box. Media members may not edu) to Director of Athletic Communications Dan terbacks coach at Syracuse. The Orange proved work between the 25-yard lines as suggested in Griffin. If space permits, seats will be provided the NCAA game management manual.