Kent State Announces 2007 Football Schedule
3/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
KENT, Ohio - Match-ups with five bowl teams from a year ago, including the national championship runner-up, and five home games highlight the 12-game 2007 Kent State University football schedule announced today (Mar. 14) by the school and the Mid-American Conference. Coming off a second-place finish in the MAC East Division last season, the Golden Flashes (6-6, 5-3 MAC in 2006) face a challenging slate this fall as they look to compete for a league championship.
“We are very pleased to have our 2007 schedule,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Laing Kennedy. “It is a schedule that will work well for Kent State and offers an opportunity to keep moving forward with our football program.”
The Golden Flashes will play four non-conference games in addition to their eight-game MAC schedule. With Temple University joining the league as a football-only member, conference teams will play an unbalanced conference schedule as they did in 2000 and 2001. The Golden Flashes will play a full schedule of six games within the MAC East Division and two cross-over games with the MAC West.
Three of the four non-league games are on the road. The schedule totals five home games and seven road contests. Eleven of the 12 games are slated for Saturdays.
After opening each of the last four seasons against a team from the Big Ten Conference, the Golden Flashes will open the season Thursday night, Aug. 30, at Iowa State University, facing a Big 12 Conference foe for the first time since 1989. The Flashes and Cyclones have met four times previously, but not since the 1982 season.
“I am excited about the Iowa State game because it is a contract we entered into several years ago and gives us the opportunity for an excellent home game against a quality opponent in two years,” Kennedy said.
Following the opener, the Flashes will settle into a stretch of eight straight Saturdays, beginning Sept. 8 at the University of Kentucky. Head coach Doug Martin's alma mater is appearing on Kent State's schedule for the sixth time overall, but first since 1993.
“We're pleased to be playing a quality program like Kentucky, one that is coming off a successful season, a bowl game, and one that has ties to our program through Coach Martin,” added Kennedy.
The home opener will be Sept. 15 against a first-time opponent, Delaware State University. Kent State opens MAC play the following weekend with the first of two straight road games, at the University of Akron in the annual “Wagon Wheel Game” Sept. 22. The Flashes then go to defending MAC East champion and GMAC Bowl participant, Ohio University Sept. 29.
For the first time in recent memory, Kent State's October slate features three home games, starting with Miami University on Homecoming Oct. 6. After an Oct. 13 visit to Big Ten champion and BCS National Championship Game runner-up Ohio State University, the Flashes return home to host Bowling Green State University Oct. 20 and defending MAC and Motor City Bowl champion Central Michigan University Oct. 27.
“Our October schedule gives us something we haven't had for several years,” said Kennedy. “And that's good, exciting football weekends here at home, starting with homecoming against Miami. Additionally, the Ohio State game Oct. 13 is an opportunity to play a premier program in-state and one that is in close proximity for our fans.”
Following a bye week, Nov. 3, the Flashes face the fifth 2006 bowl team on their schedule, Northern Illinois University on at the road Nov. 10. The next weekend, Nov. 17, Kent State makes its second straight trip to Temple University, but this year it is an East Division game with Temple becoming a football-only member of the conference this season. The Golden Flashes close out the regular season Nov. 24 at home against the University at Buffalo.
“We are really excited about our 2007 schedule,” added Coach Martin. “We are particularly excited about our out-of-conference cchedule with games at Iowa State, Kentucky, and Ohio State, and our home game with Delaware State. We also have a very exciting home conference schedule with Miami, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and Buffalo all coming to Dix Stadium.”
Game times will be announced at a later date.
2007 Kent State Football Schedule
Aug. 30 at Iowa State
Sept. 8 at Kentucky
Sept. 15 DELAWARE STATE
Sept. 22 at Akron*
Sept. 29 at Ohio*
Oct. 6 MIAMI* (Homecoming)
Oct. 13 at Ohio State
Oct. 20 BOWLING GREEN*
Oct. 27 CENTRAL MICHIGAN*
Nov. 3 Bye
Nov. 10 at Northern Illinois*
Nov. 17 at Temple*
Nov. 24 BUFFALO*
HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
* denotes Mid-American Conference (MAC) game
| 2007 Kent State Football Schedule | |
| MAC Composite Schedule |
