Darrell Hazell was hired to coach Kent State in 2011. The idea of reaching a BCS bowl out of the Mid-American Conference was implausible enough that he didn't have a bonus clause for such an accomplishment inserted into the contract. To do so is standard in college football. Did you even consider it?

"Actually," Hazell said sheepishly on Friday, "I did not."

Well, he wasn't exactly alone.

MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said it's always been a goal of the conference, and Northern Illinois does have such a bonus in Dave Doeren's contract ("I guess I got lucky my agent thought of it," he joked), but in the 15-year history of the BCS no MAC school has ever threatened to crash the party (see link for full article).

MAC has credentials to bust into its first BCS bow

When the Kent State Golden Flashes take to the field Friday night in Detroit at the 2012 Marathon MAC Championship Game, it will be one of the most amazing football stories not only in the MAC, but in all of college football.


The Flashes will enter Ford Field against three-time West Division, and defending conference champion Northern Illinois with an 11-1 record. It's Kent State's best record in its 90-year football history.



The Golden Flashes are ranked in the top 25 in all four major polls (AP-Writers, ESPN/USA Today-Coaches, Harris-Fans, and the Bowl Championship Series) for the first time in school history.

Their six-game turnaround from 2011 is tied for the best in FBS in 2012 along with Ohio State and Middle Tennessee.

How did this happen? For many years KSU football was down among one of the worst programs in the FBS. They were last seen on the college football map in 1973 when Don James was the head coach and their best player was a beanpole linebacker by the name of Jack Lambert.

When did this metamorphosis start? (see link for full article)

Kent State’s Improbable Run To Detroit

Despite all it has accomplished this season, Kent State is not satisfied with just a trip to Detroit.



"When the clock hit zero, it was all about Northern Illinois," said senior Kent State linebacker C.J. Malauulu.



This is going to be the toughest game of the season to this point for the two teams. Both have overcome countless obstacles to get to this point. As both team's have seemingly unstoppable offensive units, the team that has the ball last will have to love its odds.



Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Kent State 38, Northern Illinois 35 (see link)
This post was edited on 11/30 8:19 AM by nashvillegoldenflash

The Sports Network preview and prediction

Here is a link to the media teleconference with Coach Darrell Hazell.



MAC Football Championship Media Teleconference

When most college football fans think of the Mid-American Conference, if they think of the Mid-American Conference, it's in the context of nonconference fodder to pad nonconference records and fill seats for an additional home game. At best, the MAC recalls high-scoring diversions on a random Tuesday or Wednesday night. They generally do not think of ranked teams, BCS bowls, or the annual MAC Championship Game as appointment viewing.

But then, there's a first time for everything. This season, for example, is the first time four teams from the MAC have appeared in the top 25 in the same season. Friday night's collision between Kent State and Northern Illinois will be the first time the MAC title game
features two ranked teams, or two teams with more than 10 wins apiece. It will be the first time most of the country has had a chance to catch two of the most written-about but little-seen stars in the nation, prolific NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch and electric Kent tailback Dri Archer. And it will certainly be the first time anyone has considered a MAC game a potential play-in for a major bowl game.
As a sign of the expansion-driven times, it will also be the only non-BCS conference whose championship comes down to two teams that are both guaranteed to still be in the same conference in two years.

"A BCS bowl] would put an exclamation point on what has been a banner year for the conference," said Pete Lembo, in his second year as head coach at Ball State, one of six MAC teams that finished the season with at least eight wins. "We've had some terrific out-of-conference wins against BCS teams. We've had some great competition in our conference. And to cap it off with a potential appearance in a major bowl game would really finish off what has been a spectacular year." (see link for full article)



This post was edited on 11/29 8:37 PM by nashvillegoldenflash

Stable MAC is ready for its close-up

The Flashes are favored by 7 (see link).

Las Vegas Odds

If you haven't noticed, a lot of teams ranked ahead of Kent State lost today. And with UCLA losing to Stanford, that means #16 through #21 lost this weekend. Boise State, ranked #22, did not play. So given that #23 Kent State won on Friday, it appears that the Flashes, along with Boise State, still have a shot at finishing in the top 16 and a chance at a BCS Bowl. As you know to qualify for a BCS Bowl, Kent State would have to either finish in the top 12 in the final BCS standings (which the Flashes won't be able to do) or in the top 16 in the final BCS standings and ahead of one of the BCS conference champions, which appears to be Louisville or Rutgers from the Big East. #20 Louisville (9-2, 4-2) dropped its second straight but still has a chance for a BCS bowl bid by beating first-place Rutgers (9-2, 5-1) on Thursday. Although #18 Rutgers (9-2, 5-1) has a good chance to defeat Louisville on Thursday for a Bowl Championship Series berth, the Scarlet Knights will go into the game with little momentum after the Pittsburgh Panthers dominated them at Heinz Field racing to a 21-0 halftime lead and coasting to a 27-6 win. But since Kent State soundly defeated Rutgers on October 27, the Flashes should be able to make the argument that they deserve to finish ahead of the Scarlet Knights if they win the MAC Championship. Thoughts?



This post was edited on 11/24 9:41 PM by nashvillegoldenflash

BCS Standings

Kent State is ranked #17 (see link).

BCS Standings - November 25, 2012

WHAT'S AHEAD: Kent State will play for its first Mid-American Conference title since 1972 when it faces Northern Illinois at Ford Field in Detroit on Friday. The Huskies have the edge in experience. Northern Illinois is in its third straight title game, but the Flashes haven't backed down from a challenge all season other than their loss to Kentucky in the second game of the season. Both teams are 11-1 overall, 8-0 in the league and are nationally ranked (see link for full report).

Kent St. Team Notes

The link below gives the current injury report on Northern Illinois.

INJURIES

Northern Illinois is favored by 6½ (see link).

Las Vegas Odds

The Flashes keep moving up in the AP Poll (see link).

The Associated Press Top 25 Poll

The Flashes still only lead the MAC in two categories but they continue to dominate opponents.

KSU Team Report

Bowling Green favored by 2 (see link).

Las Vegas Odds

Regardless if the Flashes defeat the Bobcats this Friday, Kent State is in the MAC Championship game. Since so many Flash fans have been waiting so long for this opportunity, I have created a countdown clock for this event (see link).

Countdown

Here is the KSU team report through week twelve (11/17). The Flashes are still leading the MAC in net punting and turnover margin (see link).

KSU Team Report

Flashes move up from #25 to #23. Northern Illinois is #24 (see link).

The Associated Press Top 25 Poll

See link.

Kent State in AP Top 25 poll

Here is a link for all the MAC Championship and Bowl Game information.

KENT STATE FOOTBALL MAC CHAMPIONSHIP & BOWL GAME

I love the way Coach Hazell shows emotion when he addresses his players. I honestly believe if the Flashes go all the way to the MAC Championship Game, it will because of high level of emotion from the coaches and the players. Some of you know I follow Tampa high school football. Below is a video of head coach Jason Stokes of Gaither High School giving an emotional pre-game talk prior to a district game vs. Tampa Bay Tech. The reason Coach Stokes is so emotional is because his team must win to make the playoffs. The speech must have worked because Gaither's team won 35-32 to capture the Class 7A-District 7 championship.

This post was edited on 11/14 7:32 AM by nashvillegoldenflash

Jason Stokes pre-game talk vs Tampa Bay Tech

Here are the Massey ratings of the MAC (see link).

Massey ratings

The Flashes are favored by 5 (see link).

Las Vegas Odds

Ranked from 17 to unranked.



AP Ballots

Notice how Bowling Green is leading the MAC in six categories (see link). The boys better be ready to play this Saturday at Bowling Green otherwise the Falcons will more than likely take advantage of turnovers and mistakes.

KSU - Team Report

Rutgers guy here. I just wanted to come over, and offer my apologies, regarding all the Polls and their inability to look past what league you play in. Kent State football should be rated in ALL Polls withing the top 25, and definently ahead of Rutgers, who is at 23, or 20 depending at what Poll you look at.

The thing that many writers and Poll voters seem to take into account is, yes the Conference you play in, but also the loss to Kentucky. Which is a horrible team out of the SEC. But, what they fail to note is that this was YOUR WTF game, and should have beaten them easily.

Keep up the great season. Hope for an awesome Bowl game, and maybe we will meet again.