1965 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

1965 Kent State Golden Flashes football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record5–4–1 (3–2–1 MAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1964
1966 →
1965 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Bowling Green + 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Miami (OH) + 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Western Michigan 3 – 2 – 1 6 – 2 – 1
Kent State 3 – 2 – 1 5 – 4 – 1
Marshall 2 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Toledo 2 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 1
Ohio 0 – 6 – 0 0 – 10 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1965 Kent State Golden Flashes football team was an American football team that represented Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. In their second season under head coach Leo Strang, the Golden Flashes compiled a 5–4–1 record (3–2–1 against MAC opponents), finished in a tie for third place in the MAC, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 144 to 114.[1][2] The season marked Kent's first winning season in a half-decade, its first as a major college program, and its longest unbeaten streak since 1956 that was not surpassed until 1973.[3][4]

The team's statistical leaders included Willie Asbury with 998 rushing yards, Ron Mollric with 407 passing yards, and Billy Blunt with 337 receiving yards.[5] Four Kent State players were selected as first-team All-MAC players: halfback Willie Asbury, offensive tackle Jon Brooks, defensive back Pat Gucciardo, and offensive guard Ed Musbach.[6] Asbury ,who went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year.[7]

  1. ^ "2016 Kent State Football Record Book" (PDF). Kent State University. p. D6. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  2. ^ "1965 Kent State Golden Flashes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  3. ^ 2023 Kent State Football Record Book, Kent State University, 2023, pp. 7-8, 10, kentstatesports.com/documents/2023/8/28/2023_Football_record_book.pdf Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  4. ^ 1965 Kent State Media Guide, Kent State University, 1965, p.10 (Kent became a major college program in 1962).
  5. ^ 2016 Record Book, p. D17-D19.
  6. ^ 2016 Kent State Football Record Book, pp. D41–D42.
  7. ^ Kent State 2023 Football Record Book, supra, pp. 43, 48.