1971 Kent State Golden Flashes football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record3–8 (0–5 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDick Scesniak (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorDennis Fitzgerald (1st season)
Home stadiumDix Stadium
Seasons
← 1970
1972 →
1971 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 14 Toledo $ 5 – 0 – 0 12 – 0 – 0
Bowling Green 4 – 1 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Western Michigan 2 – 3 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Miami (OH) 2 – 3 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Ohio 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Kent State 0 – 5 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1971 Kent State Golden Flashes football team was an American football team that represented Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their first season under head coach Don James, the Golden Flashes compiled a 3–8 record (0–5 against MAC opponents), finished in sixth place in the MAC, and were outscored by a total of 304 to 169.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included Renard Harmon with 566 rushing yards, Larry Hayes with 848 passing yards, and Jeff Murrey with 259 receiving yards.[3][4] On defense, Jack Lambert led the team with 155 total tackles, including 68 solo tackles.[5] Other notable players on the team included Nick Saban and Gary Pinkel.

Don James was announced as Kent State's football coach on December 12, 1970, following the resignation of Dave Puddington. Prior to being hired by Kent State, James was a defensive coach for Colorado.[6]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11at NC State*
W 23–2124,300[7][8]
September 18at Cincinnati*
L 20–427,329[9]
September 25at Ohio
L 21–3716,781[10]
October 2Iowa State*
L 14–1713,551[11]
October 9at Western Michigan
L 0–3117,200[12]
October 16Bowling Green
L 33–4613,643[13]
October 23at Xavier*
W 24–133,255[14]
October 30Northern Illinois*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Kent, OH
L 7–2610,545[15]
November 6Marshall*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Kent, OH
W 21–06,884[16]
November 13Miami (OH)
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Kent, OH
L 0–307,963[17]
November 20at No. 13 Toledo
L 6–4120,201[18]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1971 Kent State Golden Flashes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB Renard Harmon
QB 14 Larry Hayes Jr
TE Gary Pinkel
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 72 Pete Jepson So
DE 77 Jack Lambert So
SS 12 Nick Saban Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

References

  1. ^ "2016 Kent State Football Record Book" (PDF). Kent State University. p. D7. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  2. ^ "1971 Kent State Golden Flashes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  3. ^ 2016 Record Book, p. D17-D19.
  4. ^ "1971 Kent State Golden Flashes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  5. ^ 2016 Kent State Football Record Book, p. D20.
  6. ^ "James Selected As Kent State's New Grid Coach". Fort Myers (Fla.) News-Press. December 13, 1970. p. 3D.
  7. ^ Scott Bosley (September 12, 1971). "Kent Stuns Wolfpack!". The Akron Beacon Journal. pp. B1, B3 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Joe Tiede (September 12, 1971). "Late Kent St. FG Stuns Wolfpack". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. pp. Sports 1, 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Bill Ford (September 19, 1971). "Bearcats Out-Flash Kent State". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Bobcats Nab 37-21 Win Over KSU". The Lima News. September 26, 1971. p. E4 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Scott Bosley (October 3, 1971). "Last-Minute FG Tops Kent, 17-14". The Akron Beacon Journal. pp. B1, B6 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Olg Olson (October 10, 1971). "Western Michigan back on beam 31-0". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. D2 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Scott Bosley (October 17, 1971). "BG Blitz Tops Kent 46-33". The Akron Beacon Journal. pp. B1, B6 – via Newspapers.comḐ.
  14. ^ Paul Ritter (October 24, 1971). "Breakdown Negates XU Effort". The Cincinnati Ennquirer. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "N. Illinois 26 Kent State 7". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. UPI. October 31, 1971. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Scott Bosley (November 7, 1971). "Kent State Defeats Herd 21-0: First Shutout In Four Years". The Akron Beacon Journal. pp. B1, B7 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Jim Ferguson (November 14, 1971). "Miami Smokes Kent". Dayton Daily News. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Toledo 41 Kent State 6". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. November 21, 1971. p. Sports 5 – via Newspapers.com.


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