1973 Kent State Golden Flashes football team
American college football season
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The 1973 Kent State Golden Flashes football team was an American football team that represented Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. In their third season under head coach Don James, the Golden Flashes compiled a 9–2 record (4–1 against MAC opponents), finished in second place in the MAC, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 300 to 131.[1][2] Nick Saban, a defensive back for the Golden Flashes the previous three seasons, was a graduate assistant on James' staff during the 1973 season.
- Don James (3rd season)
| 1973 Kent State Golden Flashes football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Record | 9–2 (4–1 MAC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Dick Scesniak (3rd season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Dennis Fitzgerald (3rd season) |
| Home stadium | Dix Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15 Miami (OH) $ | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent State | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Michigan | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toledo | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The team included brothers Larry Poole, a tailback, and Tommie Poole, a defensive tackle.[3]
Don James was credited with turning a "mediocre" Kent State program into a MAC power in his four years as head coach.[4] The team's 9–2 record in 1973 was the best in program history.[5]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 15 | 1:30 p.m. | Louisville* | W 10–3 | 10,217 | [6] | ||
| September 22 | 1:30 p.m. | at Ohio | W 35–7 | 14,450 | [7] | ||
| September 30 | 10:30 p.m. | at San Diego State* | L 9–17 | 28,416–28,461 | [8][9] | ||
| October 6 | 1:30 p.m. | at Western Michigan | W 39–15 | 19,300 | [10] | ||
| October 13 | 1:30 p.m. | Bowling Green |
| W 21–7 | 25,137 | [3] | |
| October 20 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 12 (small) Eastern Michigan |
| W 34–20 | 14,406–14,426 | [11] | |
| October 27 | 3:30 p.m. | at Utah State* | W 27–16 | 8,703 | [12] | ||
| November 3 | 1:30 p.m. | Marshall* |
| W 35–3 | 9,004 | [13] | |
| November 10 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 17 Miami (OH) | No. 19 |
| L 10–20 | 27,363 | [14] |
| November 17 | 7:30 p.m. | at Toledo | W 52–16 | 12,021 | [15] | ||
| November 24 | 11:00 a.m. | Central Michigan |
| W 28–7 | 3,870 | [16] | |
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Team players drafted into the NFL
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Gerald Tinker | Wide receiver | 2 | 44 | Atlanta Falcons |
| Jack Lambert | Linebacker | 2 | 46 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
