KSU's Doug Martin wants his veteran team to look and play the part when Kent opens its season Thursday against Murray State.
A team with a number of returning lettermen has Kent State football coach Doug Martin optimistic entering Thursday's home opener against Murray State.THIS WEEK'S MAC GAMES
Thursday: Kent State vs. Murray State, 7; C. Michigan vs. Hampton, 7; Buffalo vs. Rhode Island, 7; Ball State vs. SE Missouri St., 7 ; N. Illinois at Iowa State, 8
Friday: Temple vs. Villanova, 5; Toledo vs. Arizona, 8, ESPN
Saturday: Akron vs. Syracuse, 6; Miami (Ohio) at Florida, noon, ESPN; W. Michigan at Michigan State, noon, ESPN2; E. Michigan vs. Army, 7; Ohio vs. Wofford, 7; Bowling Green at Troy, 7
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The key word around Kent State football is experience. Head coach Doug Martin wants his veteran team to look and play the part when Kent opens its season Thursday, 7 p.m. against Murray State at Dix Stadium.
"There is a lot of excitement about this football team. Now it is up to us to go out and prove we are worthy," Martin said.
Expectations for a winning season shines the spotlight on an offense that has plenty of returning players including quarterback Spencer Keith, tailback Eugene Jarvis and wide receiver Tyshon Goode. But it is also an offense that has been long on highlight-type plays, but short on overall points.
Martin expects that to change this season.
"The offensive side is where the experience needs to show," he said. "We've shown a lot of improvement in spring and fall, particularly at the wide receiver position. That alone will help us be a better football team."
Calling the defense: Toledo and defense did not go together last season as the Rockets allowed a whopping 407 yards and 37 points per game, ranked 12th in the league in turnovers, eighth in pass defense and eighth in run defense. None of this set well with head coach Tim Beckman, who arrived at UT with the reputation of a defensive maven while an assistant at Oklahoma State, Ohio State and Bowling Green.
"We've got to continue to strive to tackle better, and to be around the football better," Beckman said. "But [after] a year around the system, you can see us mature as a defensive unit. We look forward to showing we are a much better defense."
Top billing: Syracuse may have been 4-8 last season, but Akron's first-year head coach Rob Ianello sees "an excellent football team" coming into InfoCision Stadium at 6 p.m. on Saturday to take on the Zips in their season opener. Syracuse certainly has the chance to open the season strong as games against Maine and Colgate round out September's schedule after a road date at Washington.
Leading the Orangemen is tailback Delone Carter. The senior product from Copley has rushed for 1,871 yards in his career, including 170 yards on 30 carries in Syracuse's 28-14 win last season over the Zips.
"Anybody who plays Syracuse will have to account for Delone Carter," Ianello said.
Unsettled at QB: Coach Frank Solich makes it clear that Ohio will be playing two and possibly three quarterbacks this season, and at least through the first few weeks.
"We have named a starter [for Saturday's opener vs. Wofford) but we have not announced it, and that will likely be the case throughout the year," Solich said. "I'm not one to generally do that type of thing, but it probably makes sense for us, the way we want to handle the quarterback situation this year.
"We've got guys that have specific abilities. Phil [Bates] is by far the best rusher we've got at the quarterback spot. Boo [Jackson], when he's scrambling, has a knack for finding guys in the open field.
"Tyler Tettleton has had an excellent spring, and an excellent fall camp, so they all bring something a little different to the table. It probably makes sense for us not to announce it ahead of time to allow preparation for a specific style of quarterback."