Football FLASH Back: September 12, 1977
9/12/2020 10:00:00 AM | Football
KENT, OHIO- It's week two of the Kent State Football Flashback as we take a look at standout performances each week across Kent State football history.
This week, we travel back to September 12, 1977 when Kent State took on the Illinois State Redbirds.
By 1977, the Flashes had made a seamless transition from head coach Don James (who had left for Washington after the 1974 season) to his defensive coordinator, Dennis Fitzgerald. His eight-win 1976 season was tied for the second-most in program history. The Golden Flashes finished 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference and were riding a five-game winning streak into week one of the 1977 campaign.
Kent State carried that momentum from 1976 into 1977, wasting little time before getting on the board against the Redbirds. The Golden Flashes' defense, led by 1987 Varsity "K" Hall of Fame inductee Jack Lazor, forced a punt on the game's opening drive, allowing Tom Roper to take over. The running back and return man brought back the ensuing punt for a 73-yard score to put Kent State up early. He struck again on the Flashes' next possession with a 41-yard run and scored his second touchdown three plays later.
The Golden Flashes' defense feasted on a now-pressing Redbirds' offense. Mickey Mund recovered a fumble and Darryl Hoyett picked off a pass on the next two Illinois State drives. Kent State turned the miscues into 10 points and put the game out of reach in the first half and ultimately rolled to a 33-14 victory.
Kent State would finish the 1977 season at 6-5 overall and 5-4 in the Mid-American Conference. It would be the third and final season for head Dennis Fitzgerald who departed after the season to become the Defensive Coordinator at Syracuse. After a brief stop at Tulane, Fitzgerald would spend much of the 1980s with the Pittsburgh Steelers, coaching linebackers (including Kent State great Jack Lambert) and special teams.
Next week will be our first historic look at the "Wagon Wheel Rivalry" as Kent State hosted the school down the road on September 19th, 1981.
