1974 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

1974 Kent State Golden Flashes football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record7–4 (2–3 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDick Scesniak (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorDennis Fitzgerald (4th season)
Home stadiumDix Stadium
Seasons
← 1973
1975 →
1974 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 10 Miami (OH) $ 5 0 0 10 0 1
Ohio 3 2 0 6 5 0
Toledo 3 2 0 6 5 0
Kent State 2 3 0 7 4 0
Bowling Green 2 3 0 6 4 1
Western Michigan 0 5 0 3 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1974 Kent State Golden Flashes football team was an American football team that represented Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Don James, the Golden Flashes compiled a 7–4 record (2–3 against MAC opponents), finished in fourth place in the MAC, and outscored all opponents 254 to 161.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included Larry Poole with 1,070 rushing yards, Greg Kokal with 1,265 passing yards, and Ken Dooner with 451 receiving yards.[3][4] Six Kent State players were selected as first-team All-MAC players: defensive back Cedric Brown, tight end Ken Dooner, defensive end Marvin Elliott, defensive lineman Larry Faulk, running back Larry Poole, and center Henry Waszczuk.[5]

After the season on December 23, James resigned and departed for the University of Washington in Seattle.[6][7] He was credited with turning a "mediocre" Kent State program into a MAC power in four years;[8] their 9–2 record in 1973 was the best in program history.[9]

  1. ^ "2016 Kent State Football Record Book" (PDF). Kent State University. p. D7. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  2. ^ "1974 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. ^ "1974 Kent State Golden Flashes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  5. ^ 2016 Kent State Football Record Book, p. D42.
  6. ^ "Kent State coach is Huskies' choice". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 23, 1974. p. 19.
  7. ^ "UW: Kent State's James". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 24, 1974. p. 12.
  8. ^ "James: Challenge excites me". Akron Beacon Journal. (Ohio). December 24, 1974. p. B4.
  9. ^ "Rose Bowl in James' plans at UW". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. December 24, 1974. p. 13.