|
CLEVELAND — Kent State fans will have to wait until late in the season to see much of the Golden Flashes in person, as the Mid-American Conference released the 2010 conference football schedule Monday. The Flashes play just one home conference game prior to the end of October, before closing with four of their final five at Dix Stadium.
Kent State kicks off the 2010 season by hosting Murray State on Thursday, Sept. 2. The Flashes then hit the road for five of their next six contests, beginning with a demanding swing to Boston College (Sept. 11) and Penn State (Sept. 18) on consecutive weekends. After a bye week, Kent State opens MAC play Oct. 2 at Miami.
The lone home game during the swing is a big one, as the Golden Flashes battle Akron Oct. 9 for Homecoming. Kent State has squared off against the Zips on Homecoming just four times in the last 63 years (1951, 1992, 1996 & 1998). The Flashes then return to the road for a pair of conference tilts in northwest Ohio — first at West Division foe Toledo (Oct. 16), before heading to Bowling Green the following Saturday (Oct. 23). The game with the Rockets will be just the second meeting between the two schools in the last 11 years.
The Golden Flashes kick off a three-game homestand by welcoming Ball State to Dix Stadium Oct. 30. Temple arrives on Nov. 6, followed by a visit from Army Nov. 13 as Kent State wraps up its non-conference slate. A trip to Western Michigan Nov. 20 marks the Flashes’ first venture outside of the state of Ohio since the Sept. 18 date with the Nittany Lions.
Kent State then closes out the regular season by hosting defending MAC East champion Ohio the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 26). The affair with the Bobcats is part of ESPN’s mutliple-game selection plan that gives the network flexibility in choosing the best match-up that day.
The Marathon MAC Championship game, which will be broadcast live on ESPN2, is scheduled for Dec. 3 at Ford Field in Detroit.
“I’m happy that we’re opening again on a Thursday night because it’s a great way to get the students involved,” KSU head coach Doug Martin said. “Having our bye week fall after playing on the road at two BCS schools is a tremendous advantage before we open conference play. It’s also great to have Homecoming against Akron and to host a team like Army late in the season.”
Starting times will be released at a later date. The Flashes do not face Buffalo this year due to the imbalance caused by having seven teams in the East Division.
The Golden Flashes wrapped up the 2009 campaign with a 5-7 overall mark and a 4-4 record in the MAC, finishing .500 or better in the conference for the third time in six seasons under head coach Doug Martin and for just the fifth time in the last 22 years. Call the Kent State Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 672-2244 for season ticket information.
Date Day Opponent Site Time
Sept. 2 Thursday MURRAY STATE Kent, Ohio TBA
Sept. 11 Saturday at Boston College Chestnut Hill, Mass. TBA
Sept. 18 Saturday at Penn State University Park, Pa. TBA
Sept. 25 Bye
Oct. 2 Saturday at Miami* Oxford, Ohio TBA
Oct. 9 Saturday AKRON* (Homecoming) Kent, Ohio TBA
Oct. 16 Saturday at Toledo* Toledo, Ohio TBA
Oct. 23 Saturday at Bowling Green* Bowling Green, Ohio TBA
Oct. 30 Saturday BALL STATE* Kent, Ohio TBA
Nov. 6 Saturday TEMPLE* Kent, Ohio TBA
Nov. 13 Saturday ARMY Kent, Ohio TBA
Nov. 20 Saturday at Western Michigan* Kalamazoo, Mich. TBA
Nov. 26 Friday OHIO* (ESPNU/ESPN360#) Kent, Ohio TBA
Dec. 3 Friday Marathon MAC Championship Game (ESPN2) Detroit, Mich. TBA
|
