FLASH Back Week 3: September 19, 1981 vs TSDTR
9/19/2020 10:05:00 AM | Football
KENT, OHIO- It's week three of the Kent State Football Flashback as we take a look at standout performances each week across Kent State football history.
This week, we take a look at the Wagon Wheel rivalry and the Golden Flashes' game against the school down the road on September 19, 1981.
The 1981 season marked the beginning of the Ed Chlebek era. Chlebek took over for Ron Blackledge, who left after the 1980 season to begin a 20-year career coaching offensive lines in the National Football League.
Chlebek was still looking for his first Kent State win. The former Eastern Michigan and Boston College head coach dropped a tough 20-17 decision to Western Michigan in his Kent State debut. The Golden Flashes had dropped the last Wagon Wheel game, 15-13 in 1979. Getting the Wheel back and Chlebek's first win would be doubly sweet.
The weather would do the teams no favors on that September Saturday. High winds would wreak havoc on both teams' passing game. As a result, it would be Kent State's defense that stole the show.
Ron Pittman gained 91 yards on 21 carries and a score. The Flashes managed just 76 yards through the air in the windy conditions but put the game out of reach with the lone passing touchdown of the game. Quarterback Pat Gladfelter found Chuck Floyd for a 40-yard pitch and catch in the second half that sealed the game.
The Flashes stymied the Akron offense, picking off four passes and holding them to under 200 yards of total offense. Chlebek would get his first Kent State victory and return the Wheel to Dix Stadium with a 17-6 victory.
The Chlebek era would be a short one at Kent State. He led the Flashes to a 4-8 season in 1981 but would leave for the Canadian Football League after the 1982 season. He helped the Toronto Argonauts win the 1983 Grey Cup as their offensive coordinator. Chlebek also had a stint in the USFL, serving as offensive coordinator of the Arizona Outlaws. When Chlebek was on staff, the team played in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team was led by Doug Williams at quarterback and had a young defensive lineman named Toby Covel. After the USFL folded, Covel turned his focus to country music where he plays under his stage name of Toby Keith.
Next week, we will wrap up the September slate of our Flashback series as we look at Kent State's contest with Mount Union on September 26, 1952.
