Flashes Picked Second in Preseason Poll
7/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Detroit
- The Mid-American Conference News Media Association projected Kent State to finish second in the East Division in the release of its preseason poll Wednesday (July 25) at Ford Field during MAC Football Media Day. The Golden Flashes received 203 points and 13 first place votes, finishing just behind Ohio, who claimed 216 points and 16 first place votes.
Western Michigan edged Central Michigan 11-10 among selections for the MAC Championship Game winner. The Broncos and Chippewas also finished first and second respectively in the West Division poll.
The Flashes will open conference play Sept. 22 at Akron. The Zips were picked to finish third in the East followed by Miami, Bowling Green, Temple and Buffalo. In addition, the conference announced the Kent State - Akron game has been added to the ESPN Regional package. The game, which now begins at noon, will be seen across most of Ohio.
"It's great to have expectations heading into the season," said KSU head coach Doug Martin. "It's another sign of the maturation of this program. The East is really wide open and we're going to have to be ready to play every Saturday."
Senior defensive back Jack Williams (62 tackles, 4 interceptions) and junior quarterback Julian Edelman (1,859 yards, 10 TDs, 124.4 passer rating) joined Martin at Media Day to discus the upcoming season. Interviews with Martin, Edelman and Williams can be seen on the web at www.mac-sports.com.
Kent State, which returns 16 starters and 42 letterwinners from last year's squad, opens the 2007 campaign on Aug. 30 at Iowa State. The Flashes tied for fifth in the nation last season with a five-game improvement in the win column.
